US pet owners prefer face-to-face veterinary visits
Despite the increased accessibility of new technologies, recent research shows in-person veterinarian interactions are still the first choice for most pet owners.
The disruptions and behaviors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic don’t seem to have changed most pet owners’ preferences when it comes to seeking the services of a veterinarian. Higher quality service and honest feedback are among the reasons owners cite for preferring to take their pets to a veterinary clinic rather than using online resources.
Hands-on care
A survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) of 1,000 pet owners concluded that 88% of respondents believe that having a veterinarian physically examine their pet and talk to them in person about their pet’s health needs leads to the best care.
Additionally, more than 72% of pet owners said they prefer to meet a veterinarian in person to establish a relationship before allowing them to care for their pet virtually.
Health and safety first
Pet owners prioritize health and safety for their pets when choosing veterinary care, and they also believe that in-person visits and physical examinations are key to providing quality care for pets.
According to the AVMA’s research, 76% of owners in the US put their pet’s health and safety above all else. Nearly 8 out of 10 pet owners indicated that they prefer a veterinarian to oversee their pet’s care, and believed it would be dangerous for anyone other than a licensed veterinarian to make recommendations about life-or-death decisions for their animals.
Waiting times
While the pandemic resulted in longer appointment wait times, pet owners now overwhelmingly said they had not had an issue getting a timely appointment for their pet.
The survey concluded that 76% of respondents had to wait less than a week for a non-emergency appointment and 60% had to wait between 1 and 3 days.
Of those whose pets needed emergency care, 78% received help in 2 hours or less. This puts the profession closer to pre-pandemic wait time levels and is consistent with data gathered from other recent AVMA consumer surveys.
Demographic differences
Breaking the data down by demographics, urban pet owners have more experience with – and are more open to – using telemedicine than those in suburban or rural areas. Residents in rural areas and cat owners, specifically, are less enthusiastic about telemedicine. One reason is that those in rural areas often have more difficulty accessing reliable internet. While some argue that telemedicine is the answer to rural access to care, it seems residents in these areas are less receptive to telemedicine than urban pet owners. In addition, pets in rural locations often already receive less care, increasing the likelihood of health issues that have not been addressed and making a physical examination even more important.
Providing peace of mind
The survey’s results reveal that pet owners want to be confident that their animal companions receive the best care. This is a significant factor in their choice of a veterinarian-led care team.
In addition, animal owners prefer using telemedicine services with a veterinarian who already knows their animal and has established a relationship with them in person. These results mirror the AVMA’s ongoing efforts to champion the use of telemedicine after an in-person visit has been established.
The AVMA, the leading advocate for veterinary medicine in the US, representing more than 105,000 members, shares the desire and need for pet owners’ peace of mind when seeking quality care for pets and animals.
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