Sharing educational resources with clients

Vetster is reshaping how veterinarians connect with pet owners, offering unparalleled convenience and accessibility. But how can you elevate your virtual appointments to ensure pet owners leave informed, empowered, and ready to care for their pets? One powerful yet often underutilized strategy is sharing educational resources during or after consultations, and Vetster is here to support you with that.

Providing links to articles, podcasts, instructional videos, or other educational materials may not only improve client understanding and compliance, it can also enhance the quality of care and strengthen your role as a trusted advisor. Vetster is standing by with our ever-expanding, searchable library of pet health topics about symptoms, conditions, and other pet health topics. We encourage you to use these as well as your favorite external sources to curate your own list of resources to share with clients.

Here's how resource-sharing can add value to your virtual consultations.

Virtual visits are convenient, but clients may forget important details discussed once the consultation is over. Supplementing client messaging with links to credible resources ensures that pet owners can revisit the information at their own pace.  For example:

• Client education articles on symptoms or conditions discussed during the appointment
• Videos demonstrating how to administer or apply medications
• Videos showing how to evaluate key metrics like gum color, hydration status, or proprioception
• Links to recommended products such as specific supplements, or retail products like head collars or pheromone diffusers.

By providing links to resources on the appointment page, you can reduce follow-up questions and improve compliance.

Pet owners may feel overwhelmed when managing their pets’ health. Your standing as a licensed professional goes a long way in reassuring clients that the resources you share are trustworthy. Sharing reliable resources helps them understand diagnoses, treatment plans, and preventive care measures. It’s also a great way to empower pet owners with knowledge about proactive care strategies.

For example, after discussing obesity and weight loss strategies, include a link to a relevant article or a video demonstrating how to measure pet food accurately.  When addressing osteoarthritis management, share articles on the importance of multi-modal treatment or a step-by-step guide for modifying your home to support a pet with mobility challenges. When prescribing a medication, include a link to the manufacturer’s client information website whenever available.

Tools like these give clients confidence to take actionable steps between appointments.

Sharing vetted resources demonstrates your commitment to the pet’s well-being. It shows that you’re invested in your clients’ success beyond the appointment. Leverage trusted sources such as:

• Vetster
• Academic sources (veterinary schools, universities, scientific studies)
• Professional associations (AVMA, specialty associations)
• Major manufacturers (drugs, diets)
• Major publishers (Veterinary Partner, Vet Lexicon, ASPCA)
• Recognized industry experts (e.g. American Heartworm Society, CAPC, Cattle Dog Publishing, UC Davis Nutrition Service)
• Disease special interest groups (e.g. Canine Arthritis Resources & Education, Upright Canine Brigade, OFA)

If you have your own practice website or blog, direct clients to your personalized content for added credibility.

These are just a few examples to get you started. There are a multitude of trustworthy resources out there, so curate your own list of favorite resources and share them generously with clients to foster trust and encourage them to return to you for future guidance. And remember… Vetster also has your back with our growing library of resources that are only a click away from sharing with clients.

In addition to sharing resources about specific health concerns, keep a list of resources on hand to help clients facing issues accessing care. Just like in traditional practice, it’s helpful to have a plan to mitigate the feelings of frustration and helplessness that sometimes accompany these situations.

• AVMA’s Financial Assistance for Veterinary Care Costs
• Contact information for your local emergency centers
• Pet-friendly transportation services
• Mobile vets in your area

Sharing resources can deepen your connection with pet owners by opening new conversations. Clients who engage with shared materials are more likely to ask informed questions during follow-ups, creating opportunities to strengthen your relationship. Using both external sources as well as sharing links from Vetster’s online library establishes you as a voice of authority when it comes to pet health, increasing client engagement and trust in you as well as Vetster. Set clients up for success by connecting them with the resources they need to take the best care of their pets possible.

1. Curate your library: Compile trusted resources, categorized by topic, such as preventive care, nutrition, behavioral issues, and medication administration.
2. Use Tech Tools: Copy relevant links into the medical record by using Vetster’s direct messaging tool or the Plan section of the DAP.
3. Follow Up: After sharing resources, encourage clients to reach out with questions or schedule follow-ups to discuss progress.

Sharing educational resources is an easy yet impactful way to enhance your virtual consultations. By empowering pet owners, reinforcing key messages, and fostering trust, you create a superior client experience that drives loyalty and better health outcomes for pets.

Incorporate resource-sharing into your virtual practice today, and watch your consultations transform into even more valuable experiences for both you and your clients.

You may create an account as a veterinary professional, or learn more here.