Sometimes it feels as if you can throw a rock and hit three animal hospitals. While this is simply what happens to accommodate the high demand of so many pet owners, if you’re a veterinarian, it can be difficult to distinguish your practice in such a crowded marketplace.
By offering services that your competitors do not, you can make your business more valuable to your patients and their owners—not to mention more lucrative. Here are some ways that veterinarians can expand their practices in order to set themselves apart as the leading care providers in their respective markets.
Eye Care
Our pets may not see the same way we do, but their eyes can still fail. Glaucoma, or damage to the optic nerve due to fluid buildup within the eye, can afflict aging cats and dogs as well as humans. Certain breeds of purebred dogs, namely beagles, basset hounds, and cocker spaniels, are particularly susceptible to developing glaucoma as they age. Moreover, for cats who rely on their keen sight, vision loss can be extremely debilitating. By implementing tonometric exams in your practice, you can screen for glaucoma in your patients and protect these animals’ valuable sight.
House Calls
If you’ve ever tried to wrestle a cat into a carrier, you know that going to the vet can be an intensely traumatic experience for a pet. Even dogs who think they’re going for a fun ride in the car will quickly learn to associate certain stimuli, such as bumps in the road, with an inevitable trip to the doctor’s office. By offering house calls for pets who are extra-anxious about seeing the vet, you’ll find that your patients are much easier to examine, and their humans will become loyal to your practice. While no animal hospital can bring every service into the home, routine check-ups are possible.
Laser Therapy
Perhaps one thing pets hate more than being trundled off to the vet’s office is taking their prescribed medicine when they come back home. New developments in laser therapy have obviated some medications, allowing for alternative treatments for cats and dogs. Focused lasers can reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and accelerate tissue repair—all greatly beneficial for pets on the mend.
Whether you’re a veterinarian, a vet tech, or simply a customer whose pets need care, you surely have some more ideas as to how veterinarians can expand their practices. Discuss some of these concepts, among others, during your next trip to the animal hospital. Successful veterinary practices and pets living longer, healthier lives are two things we all want more of.
