Centre des médias

Communicating the importance of annual wellness exams is a challenge – and not just in veterinary medicine.  

A recent survey of employed adults found that one in four skip check-ups because they feel healthy. Conflicting work hours came in at a close second, followed by simply not thinking about making an appointment, a dislike for going to the doctor, a fear of hearing bad news, a lack of time, and health insurance issues.  

Veterinary medicine is hindered by all of these challenges, as well as a few unique ones like dogs who suffer from car sickness and cats who hide as if their lives depend on it when they see the dreaded carrier come out.  

And yet, we know the value of these visits cannot be overstated. While vaccinations, parasite prevention, and screenings can become monotonous and rote, it’s truly life-saving work, and it’s our job to help clients see the full scope and significance of what we do while making the experience as stress-free as possible for pets and their owners. 

Components of a Pet Wellness Exam 

What’s in a wellness exam? Your clients may not know, and that could be affecting the value they place on these visits. Simply going through the components with pet owners can help transform a “routine checkup” into a comprehensive evaluation covering every aspect of their pet’s health, from nose to tail. 

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)-American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) preventive healthcare guidelines for dogs et chats provide a foundation for best practices during these visits, but it’s paramount for clients to understand that wellness exams aren’t one size fits all. Your recommendations are tailored to their individual pet, taking into consideration their breed, age, medical history, and lifestyle. 

Preventive Testing Benefits 

Medical histories and physical exams can only tell us so much. Preventive health screenings have clear benefits for your patients, your clients, and your practice.  

Make sure your clients understand that annual screenings help: 

1. Establish baseline values. Annual screenings help establish baseline values for each pet so we can track their health more accurately over time and quickly spot deviations.  

2. Detect disease. Dogs and cats are masters at hiding illness, but routine screenings can provide a more accurate picture of patient health. For example, Nu.Q® on the Element i+™ is an in-house blood test that helps detect some of the most prevalent types of canine cancers, like lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma. Recommended as part of routine wellness testing for all dogs aged 7 and older and at-risk breeds starting at age 4, it can help you inform pet owners of their dog’s risk level for certain cancer types during their appointment.  

3. Alert pet owners to human disease risks. Regular testing allows dogs to act as sentinels for human risk, alerting pet owners to the presence of vector-borne diseases (Accuplex™) and GI parasites with zoonotic potential in their environment (KeyScreen™ GI Parasite PCR).  

4. Improve treatment outcomes. Timely diagnoses typically support better health outcomes.  

5. Save clients money. Annual testing is best seen as an investment. Catching and managing diseases early can be far less expensive than treating advanced illnesses. 

6. Check the efficacy of current prevention methods. If all results come back negative, you can encourage the pet owner that their current prevention plan is working. But if exposure to pathogens is detected, it’s an opportunity to explore knowledge gaps, make adjustments, and discuss the importance of compliance. 

6 Tips for Improving Annual Testing Compliance 

Annual health screenings are key to providing comprehensive preventive care. But because veterinary care is built on partnerships, you’ll need to take steps to get both your team and your clients on board with your recommendations.  

Here are six ways you can increase preventive testing in your practice by building and supporting these vital partnerships:  

1. Educate your team. Ensure all team members know their role in communicating the benefits of preventive testing and that the message is consistent. For example, receptionists can remind clients to bring in fecal samples or inform them of potential blood tests when scheduling appointments. Meanwhile, technicians can delve deeper into the hows and whys of testing in the exam room. 

2. Educate your clients. When it comes to making recommendations, clarity is key. Tell pet owners exactly what you recommend and why. Incorporating real-life scenarios and case studies that reflect positive health outcomes due to testing can be helpful.  

3. Address concerns. Respond to questions and concerns with empathy and transparency. When pet owners are given education and support, they can feel empowered to make informed decisions that align with their values and resources.  

4. Celebrate normal results. Clients can feel an odd sense of disappointment when they pay for tests that return normal results and may need a little help shifting their perspective. Emphasize how these results are used to establish a baseline you can monitor over time. They can also offer significant insights into their pet’s well-being. For example, a normal heartworm test can confirm the efficacy of current prevention methods.  

5. Make a plan. Schedule what comes next before your client leaves – whether it’s a bloodwork recheck in a month, a booster shot in three weeks, or a wellness visit a year from now – and implement a follow-up system that will send them reminders.  

6. Offer financial solutions. As in human medicine, finances can be a significant barrier to preventive care. Be upfront about the costs and provide options like wellness packages and pet insurance.  

There’s one more partnership worth mentioning that can help you provide patients with top-notch care. Collaborating with veterinary diagnostic companies like Antech can ensure you stay up to date on the best options for your clients and their furry companions.