In the fast-paced modern world, it can feel as if your to-do list presses upon you from every single direction. From work to maintaining a house. To maintaining life in general and keeping stomachs full; it can be extremely difficult to remember everything that needs to be done. And with time only speeding up year by year (you will not convince me that there isn’t a hand speeding up the clocks) it is very easy for time to get the better of you. And, hence, for your pet’s annual booster date to pass you by.
But just whose responsibility is it to remember the booster vaccines? Is it up to your veterinary clinic to send you reminders? Or is it up to you as the owner to circle that date in the calendar and get your pet booked in?
The responsibility falls on both parties.
Surveys show that the most common reason owners miss their appointments is forgetfulness; followed by writing down the wrong date or time. Without reminders, a portion of appointments will get missed. This not only has a negative impact on patient care, it is essentially a waste of the clinic’s time. In order for clients to be compliant to veterinary healthcare, the veterinary team has to work together to ensure clients are fully informed of what they need to ensure pet’s health and welfare. And reminders play a large part in this.
Recalling clients for routine checks and preventative health is important for an animal’s health and welfare. Keeping owners informed of upcoming treatments not only generates good patient follow-up and care, but can also ensure good continuity of care. And will be more likely to keep a client loyal to a veterinary clinic over a long period of time. It fosters good communication, client education and improved healthcare.
Surveys show that three reminders are optimal: the month before the service is due; one around the date the service is due; and a final one the month after treatment if the client hasn’t responded. A 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey demonstrated that texting is the preferred mode of communication. Many practices have adopted this method of communication now.
When does the responsibility fall on the owner?
Whilst the veterinary clinic is there to provide advice and ensure you are well-informed of everything your pet needs for optimal health, it is technically your responsibility – at the end of the day – to ensure that routine checks and treatment are undertaken.
Making sure that your contact details at the clinic are kept up to date. This is so reminders are sent to the right phone or email. As well as confirming that you haven’t ‘opted out’ of clinic reminders is also important. Keeping tabs on any changes in phone numbers, email addresses and primary persons-of-contact, and informing the clinic of these changes, is vital.
Failing this, it is always beneficial that you have a calendar with all of your pet’s treatment as back-up. So that annual vaccinations don’t accidentally get missed, and your pet is not vulnerable to disease without you realising. Also, having a chat to your clinic at the first visit regarding what reminder strategies they have in place will ensure that you’re all set up on their system and will get those reminders to the right place!
At the end of the day preventative care is in the best interest of both the owner and the vets – but above all the pet
So, doing all we can to ensure that we are working together to optimise animal care will only benefit the patient. In the midst of our busy lives, the ping of that text message through all of that background noise benefits the beloved pet more than we can know.
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