dvm360: How to Talk to Clients about Vaccinations

Vaccine hesitancy has become a regular part of companion animal practice. A nationally representative survey of 2,200 US dog owners found that 37% consider canine vaccines unsafe, 22% consider them ineffective, and 30% think they are medically unnecessary. Research also shows that hesitancy toward human vaccines and hesitancy toward pet vaccines tend to go hand in hand, a pattern known as vaccine spillover. Clients often arrive already primed by outside influences, and understanding where that hesitancy started is just as important as knowing how to address it.

Some breeders can fuel doubts about vaccination before clients ever set foot into the office. Before the first veterinary visit, many new pet parents are advised by breeders to skip certain vaccines or told their pet is already fully vaccinated. Some breeder contracts even say the health guarantee is void if the owner follows certain vaccine protocols, which can discourage clients from following evidence-based veterinary advice.

Instead of arguing with the breeder’s advice, listen to the owner, acknowledge it, and offer a different vantage point.

For example, saying, “I know you really care about your pet’s health and so do I. Let’s talk about the current guidelines we recommend and why, so you can feel good deciding what is best for you both” helps start a conversation about evidence based care without making the client feel caught in the middle.

Dr. Reagan Bugg is a veterinarian and Regional Doctor Mentor at Thrive Pet Healthcare, where she is an associate at The Pet Hospitals in Memphis, Tennessee, and serves the East Coast region as a doctor mentor for early-career and established veterinarians alike. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017.

Bugg has a deep passion for mentorship and veterinary education. She has traveled across the country to lecture at veterinary schools on topics such as contract negotiation, case-based learning, and practical guidance for surviving the first year in veterinary practice. In addition to her speaking work, she has hosted more than 30 extern veterinary students at the clinic level and brings that same devotion to her regional mentorship role, supporting veterinarians at every stage of their careers.