Urgent Care Services Target Anxious Pet Parents

Urgent support systems are gaining momentum as many veterinarians note that pets often show symptoms that are not worth an emergency room visit, but go beyond the remit of primary care clinics. North Carolina-based Truss Vet opened its first acute care centre in January to bridge the gap between animal hospitals and general practice vets in the US. With the facility offering both online scheduling and walk-in appointments, owners can get a check-up for their furry friends as soon as they spot ailments.

The demand for such resources is widespread. Headquartered in New York, Bond Vet has opened 34 new primary and urgent pet clinics, and Small Door Veterinary has branched out with eight more locations. These expansions follow the launch of their first acute animal care sites in 2020. 

This trend aligns with the rising demand for urgent healthcare services in the US – there’s been a 60% increase in patient volume in acute care centres since 2019 (Urgent Care Association, 2023). Like their pet-centric counterparts, these facilities are designed to treat non-emergency conditions and are mainly beneficial for millennials – who make up a quarter of their users (PNC Healthcare, 2015) – and those in rural areas, due to their lower costs and convenience.