Why Strong Relationship with Local Vets Helps Dog Daycares

As a dog daycare or kennel owner, your top priority is ensuring the health and safety of the dogs in your care. For this reason, it is crucial to establish and maintain a strong relationship with local veterinarians. Being on good terms with local vets is going to make sure you get fast service whenever one of your pets-in-care requires it.

It might not be something you think about often as a dog daycare owner, but good relationships with local vets is a smart business move. In this blog post, we will explore five benefits of having a close working relationship with a trusted veterinarian.

1. Emergency Care

One of the most important benefits of having a strong relationship with a veterinarian is the ability to quickly access emergency care. This is especially important for dog daycares and kennels, as a sudden health issue with a dog in your care can arise at any time. With a trusted veterinarian on hand, you can be sure that the dog will receive prompt and appropriate treatment. Being on a first-name basis makes a difference. If one of your pets has an issue and you call the vet, it's nice if they don't have to ask who you are, where you work, etc. It's going to make your life a lot easier if you can simply call and say, "Hey, it's Kelly from Muddy Paws. I have a dog that's having breathing issues. Can I bring him in?" instead of having to schedule an appointment since they aren't familiar with you or your business.

2. Health Monitoring

A veterinarian can play an important role in monitoring the health of the dogs in your care. Regular check-ups can help identify any potential health issues early on, allowing for quick treatment and reducing the risk of serious complications. Additionally, a veterinarian can provide you with regular updates on the health of the dogs in your care, which can be useful for keeping track of their overall well-being. You might want to consider offering on-site vet services as a part of your business plan as well. Perhaps every few months, you contract with a local vet and he or she comes in and gives your dogs a simple checkover. You can bill your clients that are interested in getting a quick check-up and you can help them take care of their pets.

3. Vaccinations and Medical Records

Another benefit of having a close relationship with a veterinarian is the ability to keep up-to-date with the latest vaccination recommendations. A veterinarian can help ensure that the dogs in your care are up-to-date on their vaccinations, and can provide you with any necessary medical records. This is especially important for dog daycares and kennels, as a high percentage of dogs in your care may come from different households, making it difficult to track their vaccination records. If you have a good relationship with your local vets, you might be able to call them and have them email you vaccine records for various pets in their care. Instead of having the owner contact their vet and then forwarding the vaccine info, you can simply call the vet yourself and have their assistant send over the vet records.

4. Training and Advice

A veterinarian can also provide valuable training and advice on a variety of topics related to dog care. This can include information on dog behavior, nutrition, and exercise, as well as advice on specific health concerns. With the help of a trusted veterinarian, you can be sure that you are providing the best possible care for the dogs in your care. Perhaps you have a dog in your care that is showing some signs of malnutrition. You can contact your "vet friend" and send them a picture to see if they agree with your diagnosis or maybe the dog just has a thin frame, for example.

5. Marketing Opportunities

Having a strong relationship with a veterinarian can also provide you with marketing opportunities. For example, you can partner with your local veterinarian to host events and workshops, which can help raise awareness of your business and attract new customers. Additionally, a veterinarian can also refer clients to your business, providing you with a steady stream of new customers. When someone takes their new puppy to the vet and asks for a referral for a local boarding facility, you want to be the first one that comes to their mind. Referrals are the bread and butter of the pet care industry, so having vets refer your business makes great business sense.

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