Top 5 ways to grow your virtual practice with nutrition coaching

Virtual nutrition coaching is an excellent opportunity for veterinarians looking to expand their services and build lasting relationships with pet owners - and Vetster makes it easier than ever. Many pet owners struggle to find reliable, expert-backed nutrition guidance, making this a valuable niche in veterinary telehealth. A recent Royal Canin survey of more than one thousand puppy owners across North America found that 62% feel overwhelmed when choosing a healthy diet and struggle to understand which ingredients to prioritize. Additionally, the growing consumer interest in alternative diets underscores the need for accessible, expert nutritional advice. Telehealth provides an ideal platform for these consultations, ensuring pet owners receive reliable guidance tailored to their pets’ needs.

With Vetster Rx fulfilled by PetMedsⓇ, US veterinarians can recommend a wide range of therapeutic diets, maintenance foods, and high-quality supplements from our robust catalogue—all fulfilled by PetMeds and shipped directly to your client’s door for maximum convenience. This not only enhances the continuity of care but also creates an opportunity to grow your virtual practice through revenue associated with these products. Nutrition coaching also aligns seamlessly with common client concerns such as allergies, gastrointestinal issues, or chronic conditions, allowing you to support better health outcomes while building trust and increasing client engagement.

If you’re looking to grow your virtual practice with nutrition coaching, here are five key strategies to consider.

With so many traditional clinics overwhelmed with packed schedules, there’s often little time for in-depth, personalized counseling on nutrition. While in-clinic veterinarians recognize the importance of proper diet in pet health, it can be difficult to find the time to provide a comprehensive nutrition strategy for every patient. This is where virtual nutrition coaching can thrive.  By offering dedicated sessions focused on personalized dietary plans, you can provide pet owners with the detailed guidance they might not receive in a traditional clinic setting.

Cat owners are traditionally underserved and often struggle to find veterinary guidance, as cats visit traditional clinics far less frequently than dogs. Nutrition consultations from the comfort of home can serve as a key entry point for fostering relationships with dedicated cat owners who might otherwise hesitate to seek professional advice when an in-clinic visit is required.  Virtual consultations provide a low-stress way to engage with a veterinarian without the challenge of transporting their feline friends to a clinic.  Educating cat owners about proper nutrition, weight management, and common diet-related issues can encourage more proactive care and strengthen your client base.

One of the biggest advantages of offering virtual nutrition coaching is its ability to foster ongoing engagement. Unlike many other veterinary services, nutrition coaching naturally involves regular check-ins to assess the pet’s progress, make adjustments, and address new concerns as they arise.  Features like discounted follow-ups can incentivize clients to return for continued support. Establishing these recurring touchpoints not only benefits pets by ensuring consistent care, but also strengthens client loyalty and boosts your practice’s long-term success.

Just like humans, pets are experiencing rising obesity rates, leading to a surge in related health problems such as arthritis and diabetes. Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in managing weight and preventing other chronic illnesses. However, successful weight loss requires consistent monitoring, ongoing support, and client compliance over time. Virtual care makes it easier for pet owners to stay on track with their pet’s weight management plan by offering convenient follow-ups, progress assessments, and dietary adjustments without the need for in-person visits. In addition to a weight tracker in the Vetster app for pet owners to use, the Vetster platform in partnership with PetMeds can ship therapeutic diets anywhere in the US directly to your clients.

By positioning yourself as a trusted expert in pet nutrition, you can educate pet owners on weight management strategies that promote longevity and a higher quality of life for their pets. This approach not only improves pet health but also resonates deeply with owners who want their companions to live as long and as happily as possible.

Nutrition plays a surprisingly significant role in reducing many of the unpleasant tasks that pet owners dislike. In some cases, diets and supplements can minimize issues like bad breath from periodontal disease and may even reduce the necessity for daily tooth brushing, especially following a professional dental cleaning. Diet can also play a role in reducing the messes associated with chronic digestive problems and excessive shedding.

With more than a thousand therapeutic diets and other foods available on Vetster and ready to ship directly to your clients home, combining nutrition and telemedicine has never been easier. By framing your nutrition recommendations around tangible, everyday benefits, you can appeal to pet owners' desires for convenience and practical solutions, making them more likely to invest in your guidance.

Enhancing your knowledge of how nutrition impacts specific medical conditions can help you provide even more effective guidance as a pet nutrition coach. Check out Vetster’s library of articles that explore the role of diet in managing various health issues in pets, equipping you with evidence-based insights to support your recommendations. Vetster is a perfect fit for integrating nutrition coaching into your practice. Leveraging these resources is not only a great way to enhance your clinical impact, it’s also a valuable opportunity to build your practice and grow revenue through professional product recommendations tailored to your clients’ needs.

• Nutritional support for allergy treatment
• Nutritional support for GI conditions
• Using Vetster to support weight loss
• Nutrition in arthritis management
• Nutrition and oral health
• Nutritional support for urinary conditions
• Nutrition and diabetes management
• Nutrition for cognitive health
• Nutrition solutions for otitis
• Nutrition’s vital role in managing kidney disease in pets
• The impact of nutrition on cancer management