Veterinary Communication Trends: What Pet Owners Expect in 2025
Veterinary medicine—and the expectations of pet owners—have evolved. How your veterinary practice approaches client communication in 2025 could mean the difference between strengthening client relationships and losing ground to more forward-thinking competitors.
Today’s pet owners want a true sense of partnership with their veterinary teams, which means 24/7 availability, fast responses, and consistency. If they don’t get it from you, they’ll find a clinic more sensitive to their needs.
Here’s what practices should know about veterinary communication trends in 2025, and how to use them to their advantage.
Digital communication
Pet owners, many of whom were born and raised in the digital age, expect instant access to their pets’ healthcare information, including treatment plans, records, and direct communication with the veterinary team. They want to check in, ask questions, and receive follow-up instructions quickly and conveniently, without having to play phone tag during business hours.
That expectation means clinics must leverage veterinary communication trends through modern communication channels, such as SMS texting, mobile apps, two-way messaging built into practice management systems, online client portals, and AI chatbots. Practices that rely primarily on phone calls and voicemail to communicate with clients risk falling behind competitors with a digital communication standard.
Frictionless appointment scheduling
Digital natives want simple, flexible options for appointment scheduling. Whether booking preventive care exams, vaccinations, or sick care, clients expect to handle everything online without needing to call during business hours.
Offering convenient scheduling directly through your third-party communication platforms or practice management software can improve client satisfaction by removing the friction associated with making calls. It also frees up your veterinary team for more professionally fulfilling tasks than answering phones, improving the overall well-being of team members and enhancing patient care.
Clients as active participants in pet healthcare
Veterinary communication trends must account for clients who want to actively participate in their pet’s care, rather than watching from the sidelines. Veterinary professionals must prioritize communication skills, such as active listening and empathy, during and after consultations to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
When clients feel heard and informed, they are more likely to trust recommendations, comply with treatment plans, and return for ongoing care. Veterinary teams should strive to truly listen to client input, offer a range of care options, and work with each client to make the best choices for the pet and their family’s situation.
Follow-up communication
Many clients expect a follow-up message after their visits, whether the pet has received a dental cleaning, vaccinations, or new medication. Following up consistently meets this expectation, and for those clients who don't expect it, it's a nice touch that helps you go the extra mile.
Consistent follow-up helps your clinic demonstrate a commitment to patient care, animal health, and client well-being, which reinforces relationships and encourages higher client retention rates. Automating personalized follow-up messages through a cloud-based practice management system can help veterinary teams maintain consistent outreach without adding to the team’s workload.
Social media communication
An active and thoughtful presence on social media has become a key veterinary communication trend. Sharing pet health tips, preventive care reminders, behind-the-scenes moments, and team updates helps create a sense of community around your veterinary practice. Veterinary clinics that invest in meaningful digital communication through social media can reinforce their role as trusted healthcare partners and stand out from the crowd.
Veterinary telemedicine
The expansion of telemedicine has permanently reshaped client expectations. Offering virtual consultations for minor health issues provides a new level of care accessibility while capturing fees for care teams likely already provide, such as email or phone consultations. Telemedicine can be synchronous or asynchronous, allowing the flexibility and extended availability that clients want without straining team schedules.
For pet owners balancing busy schedules, practices with remote veterinary service offerings demonstrate their commitment to modern patient care and client convenience. Telemedicine also supports better health outcomes by encouraging timely consultations that might otherwise be delayed.
Strong client communication is central to your veterinary practice’s success. Effective communication supports improved patient outcomes and contributes to the development of a healthier and more profitable veterinary business. Veterinary medicine will continue to evolve, but the practices that follow veterinary communication trends will thrive in 2025 and beyond.
