Preparing for the Holidays
For mobile veterinarians, the holiday season often brings a mix of challenges and opportunities. With family gatherings, holiday parties, and travel, clients often need veterinary care at unconventional times or for unusual needs. Preparing for the holidays as a mobile veterinarian takes some planning, but it can have great rewards.
At VetBadger, we strive to help all of our clients enjoy a healthy work-life harmony. This is especially true during the holidays. Our all-inclusive practice management platform helps you guard your time, energy, money, and sanity during such a hectic time. Connect with our team today for a free live demo of the software to see if it’s the right fit for your mobile vet practice.
Preparing for the Holidays as a Mobile Veterinarian in 3 Steps
As a mobile vet, the holidays are likely to be some of your busiest days. So, how do you ensure you can care for clients and enjoy your own time during these months? Let’s take a look at three steps that will help you do just that.
1. Manage Your Schedule in Advance
This time of year can bring a whirlwind of pet health needs, from urgent care to last-minute vaccinations for travel. It’s crucial to set and communicate your holiday hours well in advance.
Notify clients as soon as possible which days and hours you will be available and who they should contact in the event of an emergency when you are off duty. If you plan to be available for after-hours urgent calls, be sure to clearly state your fees for these calls. Communicate all of this information frequently in the weeks leading up to the holidays.
2. Help Your Clients Help Themselves
With early, consistent communication, your clients can take steps that will help take the load off you and your team. Encourage them to book routine checkups before the holidays arrive so that your schedule can have more flexibility for urgent cases.
In the weeks before the season hits, send out health reminders to help clients prevent problems for their pets. Offer tips for concerns such as:
- Avoiding toxic food or plant ingestion
- Anti-anxiety options for travel
- Keeping pets safe in extreme weather conditions
- Identifying an emergency vet clinic in the place they’ll be traveling…just in case
3. Stock Up on Essential Supplies and Medications
Since the holidays often include weather events, it’s important to stock up on common medications and supplies in case there are any delays in deliveries. Remind your clients to get their pets’ prescriptions filled early so there are no issues staying on their medication schedule in the hectic days of the season.
As a mobile veterinarian, you’re also likely to get urgent calls from folks who are visiting your area. This is a season where you may have a lot of “one-and-done” clients who live elsewhere. Be sure you have clear, streamlined processes in place to onboard them quickly, treat their pets, and send them on their way.
Be Sure To Take Care of YOU!
Since your clients rely on you to keep their pets safe and healthy, it is easy to take on too much during the holidays, trying to meet all the urgent needs. After all, you love animals and want them to be feeling well!
But remember that self-care is equally important and should be non-negotiable. Schedule time to rest, connect with loved ones, and recharge for the new year. By taking care of yourself, you’re better prepared to continue delivering excellent care to your clients and their pets.
Preparing for the holidays as a mobile veterinarian means balancing care for your clients and their pets with your own well-being. By planning ahead, managing expectations, and communicating frequently, you can navigate the season smoothly.
VetBadger is here to help you enjoy your work and your life during the holidays and beyond. Our intuitive platform helps you build relationships with your staff and clients that allow your practice to thrive while you also get to enjoy life outside of your business. Schedule your free demo today to get started.