11 June 2023 | Product and Promotions Guide
Are you comfortable talking to clients
about nutrition, or does broaching
the topic make you a bit anxious?
While nutrition plays a key role in veterinary medicine,
discussing the topic with clients can present challenges.
After all, your clients are probably receiving a wide variety
of nutrition information from pet food manufacturers, pet
store employees, breeders, trainers, and internet groups.
Some clients become entrenched in their beliefs, and
your recommendations may be met with skepticism or
even hostility. Over time, these negative interactions may
decrease your enthusiasm for discussing nutrition.
Fortunately, a 2020 study found that 76% of pet owners
trust their veterinarian's nutritional recommendations and
63% of want their veterinarians to discuss nutrition at
veterinary visits.
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However, there is a gap. The veterinary
clients surveyed in this study stated that nutrition is typically
discussed at only one-third of their veterinary visits.
1
We
must be more consistent in discussing nutrition, for the
health of our patients.