Top 10 Vet Trends in the Industry
Keeping up with competitors in the veterinary industry requires you to be in the know about vet trends and innovations. The industry is constantly changing, and new technology and advancements continue to impact how veterinary clinics deliver patient care.
Learn how key trends like telehealth, AI diagnostics, wearable tech, and client engagement are shaping this industry and why your practice must adapt accordingly.
The rise of telehealth in veterinary medicine
More veterinary practices across the country have begun offering remote consultations and telehealth services to improve access for pet owners. Offering virtual visits for routine check-ups and follow-ups streamlines scheduling and reduces clinic congestion, but it also gives vet clinics a competitive advantage to attract new patients.
Integration of artificial intelligence in diagnostics
The rise of artificial intelligence in recent years has also shaped how veterinary practices operate. More vet clinics are using AI to inform diagnostics and streamline certain services. For example, AI tools allow for faster, more accurate diagnostics with enhanced image analysis. Vets can use these insights to create personalized treatments and reduce diagnostic time.
While vets should never rely solely on AI to diagnose conditions or make decisions, it can act as a valuable tool to improve veterinary care. Learning how to use this technology wisely and thoughtfully can go a long way toward reducing a practice’s workload and producing better outcomes for patients.
Wearable technology for pets
Advancements in tech have enabled pet owners to monitor their pets’ health more closely outside of the vet’s office. For example, health monitoring tech can provide real-time tracking of vital health stats like heart rate and temperature, which is crucial for many pets with chronic illnesses. Veterinarians can also prescribe wearable tech to monitor an animal’s symptoms over a longer period than they can in the office.
Continuous data supports early detection and preventive care, helping pet owners know when to schedule appointments or take their pet in for emergency treatment. Many wearable devices allow pet owners to send data directly to their veterinarians for consistency in care.
Advancements in veterinary practice management systems
Another major vet trend is the introduction of more advanced practice management systems that streamline administrative tasks and support patient care. For example, modern platforms can automate scheduling, reminders, billing, and many other tasks, allowing staff to focus on higher-level processes. These systems allow for unified patient data to support better care coordination, and they are flexible to grow with the practice.
Focus on preventive care and wellness.
More veterinary practices have begun strongly emphasizing preventive care and wellness rather than just reacting to a pet’s symptoms and condition. These vets encourage regular check-ups and early health monitoring and take the time to educate pet owners about wellness strategies. This ultimately leads to fewer emergencies, better patient outcomes, and longer, healthier lives for animals.
Your practice can develop a system to remind pet owners to schedule routine care appointments, such as vaccines and annual check-ups. Perhaps you can also send out an email newsletter with information about common conditions and symptoms to watch out for, as well as preventive steps pet owners can take to keep their pets healthy.
Growth of specialty veterinary care services
Ongoing advancements in veterinary medicine have allowed more vets to become specialists in certain services and treatments. There is a rising demand for services like cardiology, oncology, and dermatology as advancements enable previously untreatable conditions to be treated.
These growing specializations have also led to expanding professional networks, leading vets to refer patients out for specialized consultations. Your practice could become the go-to specialist in your area for certain treatments or conditions, attracting more patients in turn.
Sustainability initiatives in veterinary practices
Many industries have begun emphasizing sustainability in their operations, and veterinary medicine is no exception. More veterinary practices are adopting waste reduction and energy-saving measures to reduce their carbon footprints.
Using sustainable practices attracts environmentally conscious clients and enhances a clinic’s reputation, giving it the upper hand in many clients’ minds. Vets can reduce their environmental impacts through small measures like using paperless communication methods and patient charts or through broader measures like minimizing one-time-use tools and implementing new sterilization procedures.
Increasing popularity of exotic and niche pets
Many pet owners have begun adopting exotic and niche pets outside of the typical cats and dogs. Today, small animal veterinarians should have the skills to treat a wide range of animals, such as reptiles, birds, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats.
Veterinarians who can treat these animals will appeal to a wider patient base and enjoy more consistent revenue, even if the majority of their patients are still cats and dogs. Vets should invest in ongoing training to learn about advancements in exotic pet care and stay on the cutting edge of the growing niche pet market.
Enhanced client communication through digital platforms
Many veterinary practices have also started prioritizing client communication through digital platforms and channels. Instead of solely relying on phone calls to communicate pertinent information, they might use texting and emails to send quick messages and keep clients engaged.
If your practice is looking to implement a new digital communication platform, look for these features:
- Online scheduling that allows clients to easily book their own appointments online. Clients can see your vets’ availability and find appointment times that work for them without needing to call your practice.
- Reminders that automatically send to clients before appointments and remind them to schedule check-ups, vaccine appointments, and other routine visits
- Digital channels that make it easier for pet parents to leave reviews and share feedback after their appointments
These tools reduce manual tasks in your practice and allow your veterinarians to spend more time treating patients.
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Veterinary profession workforce development and retention
While many vet trends reflect changes to the ways practices operate, your clinic can also join the trend of prioritizing workforce development and retention. The vet staffing crisis has led many practices to struggle to keep up with demand, leading to more burnout and staff loss. Investing in retention can help your practice avoid losing employees and promote greater satisfaction among your team.
Provide ongoing education for your vet staff to help them improve their skills and stay current on industry trends. Staff members should have clear development pathways to stay motivated and encourage long-term loyalty to your practice.
Also, consider ways to address burnout and help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, such as by offering more PTO time or flexible scheduling. When employees feel overworked, they may be more likely to leave the industry altogether for one that requires less of a time commitment.
Final thoughts
Several vet trends have affected how veterinary practices interact with clients, manage their practices, and promote animal health. By staying on top of these trends, your practice can maintain a competitive advantage and provide better care to patients, often while saving time and minimizing resource use.
Weave can help your practice integrate many of these advancements into your workflow. Our patient engagement software makes communicating with clients and staff members easy while automating and streamlining countless manual processes in your clinic.
Learn more about our user-friendly veterinary software today by requesting a free demo.