How to get more veterinary clients
A new client at a vet clinic can mean ten or fifteen years of visits for one pet, and often more pets after that. Most choose their vet after a quick search and a careful read of the reviews. Here is how to win more of those choices and keep the clients you win.
Where new vet clients come from
- Search: "vet near me", "animal hospital", "emergency vet", "cat vet"
- New pet owners: puppies, kittens and adoptions
- New residents who need to find a vet in a new town
- Referrals from clients, groomers, trainers, boarding and shelters
- Urgent visits from pet owners whose regular vet cannot see them
Win the search
- A complete Google Business Profile: every service, species you treat, accurate hours including weekends and holidays (see our holiday hours guide), and photos of your team and clinic.
- Warm, frequent reviews. Pet owners write emotional reviews, and future clients read them closely. Ask after positive visits with a direct link; our review request templates work for clinics.
- Kind replies to every review, especially difficult ones after a loss.
Welcome new pet owners
Shelters, rescues, breeders, groomers, trainers and pet stores all meet new pet owners before their first vet visit. Build relationships, offer to talk to their adopters or clients, and make new pet appointments easy to book.
Be visible for urgent care
If you see urgent cases, show it clearly. Pet owners who cannot reach their regular vet search for someone who can see them today, and many stay with the clinic that helped.
Keep clients for life
Reminders, wellness plans and friendly follow up keep pets on schedule. Every loyal client is also a source of referrals to friends with new pets.
If you would like the search side handled, see our veterinarian SEO service, or get your free Maps audit.
Questions owners ask
Where do most new veterinary clients come from?
Local search and word of mouth. People search for a vet nearby, compare reviews and photos, and often ask neighbors or local groups. New pet owners and people who have just moved are the biggest groups.
Should we partner with shelters and rescues?
Many clinics do. Newly adopted pets need a vet, and a good relationship with local shelters and rescues introduces your clinic to new owners at exactly the right moment.
Do wellness plans help with growth?
Wellness plans keep pets coming in regularly and make clients more loyal. Loyal clients refer friends, which is one of the best sources of new clients a clinic has.
Find out who is getting your calls
The free Maps audit shows where you rank across your service area, which competitors are taking the calls you are missing, and exactly what it would take to become the first call. The findings are yours to keep.
Get your free Maps audit