Puppy & Kitten Packs
Veterinary Client Education Materials

Many veterinary practices give puppy and kitten packs out, and those that don't ponder the question if they should. Determining a return on investment is challenging for something that doesn't often elicit feedback or get an immediate reaction. That's why we asked clients – over 1,400 – what they thought of the welcome pack they received from their veterinarian, and we set out to figure out the ROI and what made the most difference in the packs.

The Point of a Puppy & Kitten Pack

1. To welcome a new client and celebrate their pet
2. To provide valuable education and advice
3. To endear a client to your practice and create loyalty

The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association's 2018 Pet Owner survey found that the #1 factor that pet owners consider when choosing a veterinarian isn't pricing or the quality of medicine they practice.

It is the degree to which the practice and veterinary team demonstrate how interested they are in the pet's overall well-being¹.

The data, featured in charts below, from our pet owner survey clearly shows that puppy and kitten packs are an easy and effective way to clearly show your clients that you are interested in their pet's overall well-being. 

Additionally, when clients were asked if they believe they’re currently receiving enough valuable educational information from their vet, 46% of both cat and dog owners indicated that they are NOT!

How Much Should Veterinary Practices Spend on a New Client Welcome Pack?

While there are many uses for welcome packs, some being given to new clients or existing clients who got a new pet, or even used as incentives for wellness plan programs, the range that veterinary practices spend on them varies from free (donated product samples, pamphlets, and photocopied educational material) to upwards of $20. Our data indicates that the average spent on puppy and kitten packs is approximately $5.

Our survey data shows that the key to getting the best ROI from your new pet pack is having a client-perceived value between $10–25, as well as it containing educational information that your clients want and find valuable (rated 8–10 stars). See the specific data below.

Some Pet Packs WOW Clients More Than Others

Welcome packs are often an overlooked opportunity to enhance client loyalty and knowledge. Packs with a higher client-perceived cost and those with higher client-rated information rank higher.

What Clients Want in Their Puppy & Kitten Packs

If you want to go “above and beyond,” you can add some of the items from the lists below. The majority of survey respondents indicated they would also like to see these things in their new pet packs.

What Type of Information Do Pet Owners Want from their Veterinarian?

We asked them to choose their TOP THREE categories that they want or consider valuable information from their veterinarian.

Cat Owners Ranked Information Categories (based on % included in top 3 votes):

1. Prevention and preparation for pet emergencies and illnesses (e.g., poisonous plants, household toxins, pet-proofing, first aid) (64.00%)
   
   
2. Vaccines and diseases (57.50%)
   
   
3. Feeding & food recommendations (41.50%)
   
   
4. Parasite prevention (e.g., fleas, ticks, heartworms) (40.50%)
   
   
5. Spay/neuter (32.00%)
   
   
6. Behavior & training information (23.75%)
   
   
7. Dental care (17.00%)
   
   
8. Pet insurance (13.50%)
   
   
9. Awareness about local pet services (e.g., groomers, sitters, trainers) (10.25%)

Dog Owners Ranked Information Categories (based on % included in top 3 votes):

1. Vaccines and diseases (57.40%)
   
   
2. Parasite prevention (e.g., fleas, ticks, heartworms) (48.00%)
   
   

3. Prevention and preparation for pet emergencies and illnesses (e.g., poisonous plants, household toxins, pet-proofing, first aid) (46.00%)

4. Behavior & training (42.90%)

5. Feeding & food recommendations (40.90%)

6. Spay/neuter (24.54%)

7. Dental care (16.82%)

8. Pet insurance (12.03%)

9. Awareness about local pet services (e.g., groomers, dog walkers, trainers) (11.42%)

When asked if clients believe they’re currently receiving enough of this type of information from their veterinarian, 46% of both cat and dog owners indicated that they are NOT!

The 101 Essential Tips books contain not only information about preparing for and preventing pet emergencies and illnesses but all of the other topics as well!

101 Essential Tips Books in Use

Practices have been using our books since we published our first title in 2016. Some have done away with their entire client welcome pack and use the books instead; others enhance the education they provide by eliminating all the pamphlets and photocopies that took their team considerable time to collate and assemble.

Veterinary Practice Testimonials

"These books are a great educational tool that allows clients to have a valid informational piece in their hands when they walk out the door. Hopefully it avoids some of the Dr. Google searches that misinform clients. This helps my staff and myself be more efficient in exam rooms without spending hours overwhelming new pet owners with information! I love the easy to understand format and my clients do too!"
— Tammy Stevenson, DVM

"This easy and fun to read book is perfect for our new puppy owners. It is the centerpiece of our puppy information packet. The clients love the comprehensive nature of this book and easy to read format. There are plenty of things in this book that I would never have never thought to review with owners. Now I don’t have to! Dr. Nicholas has done it for me." 
— Jon Perchick, DVM

“This book is the “What to expect while expecting” book for cat parents! It accumulates all the practical stuff I have gathered over 20 years of practice that I wish I could teach my clients in a short annual exam. I love that it addresses not just medical but behavioral advice to make your life with your cat the best it can be.” 
— Amie Balandovich, DVM