Use of and satisfaction of pet owners with a clinical behavior service in a companion animal specialty referral practice.

Objective: To determine whether availability of a veterinary behavior service aids in the recruitment of clients to a referral practice who may not have chosen to visit a referral practice otherwise and to assess the priorities and satisfaction of first-time clients.

Design: Prospective survey study.

Sample: 87 questionnaires completed by pet owners.

Procedures: Owners of dogs and cats visiting the Behavior Medicine Clinic, a veterinary behavior service, at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center for the first time were asked to participate in a 10-question survey at the end of their initial appointment.

Results: 59 of 87 (68%) new clients had never visited the Veterinary Medical Center for any other specialty service; in addition, 56 of 87 (64%) had never taken a pet to any specialty practice prior to their appointment with the Behavior Medicine Clinic. Seventy-four of 85 (87%) clients reported that they were likely to bring their pet to another specialty service on the basis of their experience with the Behavior Medicine Clinic.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: On the basis of the survey findings, availability of veterinary behavior services may result in recruitment of first-time clients to a referral center. Clients' experience with a veterinary behavior service may increase their likelihood of visiting other specialty practices within the same hospital, potentially increasing revenue for the entire practice.