This presentation summarizes the results of a June 2021 survey of veterinary professionals on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on veterinary practices and heartworm management

1. What will the post-COVID future
hold for veterinarians—and
heartworm management?
July 2021
AHS Veterinary Survey

2. Survey Overview
Background:
 A year ago, the AHS surveyed veterinarians
about how COVID-19 was changing how
they practiced, as well as how they were
interacting with clients and earning C.E.
credits
 With the hope that the veterinary
profession is emerging from the pandemic,
the goal was to assess and understand the
current and future needs of veterinarians
and their clients, as well as how to meet
those needs with AHS assets and
information

3. Survey Overview (cont.)
Survey Methodology:
 An email from Dr. Chris Duke was
sent to list of ~14,000 AHS
subscribers June 3, with a reminder
sent June 16th; respondents had 2
weeks to respond
 A total of 506 respondents from 44
states and Canadian provinces
completed the online survey, which
was conducted via Survey Monkey

4. Survey Overview (cont.)
Survey Topics:
 Changes to in-clinic
practices and procedures
over time
 Changes in how
veterinarians seek C.E.
 Changes in how clients
are educated
 Use of AHS resources

5. Survey Findings

6. How have veterinarians reacted to the
COVID-19 crisis?
Some topline insights:
• “Hybrid” is the operative word
• While some practices are starting to operate in ways similar to
their pre-pandemic “norm,” others are still offering curbside-only
services OR a mix or curbside and face-to-face appointments
• Veterinarians also foresee a blend of in-person and virtual C.E.
• Veterinarians are demonstrating their resilience
• The past 16 months may have been a financial and emotional
roller coaster, but veterinarians overall are optimistic about the
future and willing to adapt

7. The COVID-19 crisis significantly
disrupted day-to-day operations
• Well-pet appointments and routine procedures
were delayed for a time; within 6 months, the
majority of practices were offering a full scope
of services
• 1/3 said the disruption led to delays in disease
diagnosis and treatment
• 9 in 10 practices switched to curbside-only
services; as of 6/21, this was still the model for
1/3 of respondents
• Most clinics (>70% ) experienced staff
absenteeism
It’s been an unprecedented year of
change for practices

8. Changes to in-clinic practices and the need to
social distance made client ed challenging.
• 80% implemented new/alternative client ed
strategies
• Phone/video calls (90%), email (65%) and text
messages (53%) were used most
• However, 2/3 of respondents said they have NOT
changed how they educated owners about
heartworms
• Most-used heartworm-education tools were
brochures (69%), handouts printed in-clinic (42%),
clinic social media pages (40%), clinic websites (38%),
posters (31%), client emails (25%) and videos (7%)
Client education underwent reinvention

9. Practices’ economic picture has been dynamic
Veterinary respondents were relatively upbeat about
their bottom line
• ~2/3 said they have more clients now vs. pre-pandemic and that
client visits have increased
• While they lost some clients, they reported gaining more new ones
• Almost 3/4 were optimistic about
the future and only 8% reported
experiencing long-term setbacks.

10. Veterinarians are resilient
Some adaptations made for the sake of social distancing
may become permanent fixtures
• 61% expect to continue curbside service for at least some
clients
• 57% anticipate greater dependence on digital client
communication
• 56% foresee increases in direct shipments of medications
and diets vs. maintaining inventories in-clinic
• 42% predict greater reliance on virtual C.E.
• While 28% said the pandemic strained intra-staff relationships,
46% said these relationships were stronger than ever

11. Pet owners may have socially distanced themselves, but their pets
didn’t distance themselves from heartworms
• Almost 2/3 of respondents said incidence stayed the same; the remainder
were twice as likely to report increases as decreases in incidence
How did the pandemic affect
heartworm incidence?

12. How did the pandemic affect
heartworm management?
Heartworm prevention
• 1 in 5 saw compliance erode
• Reason cited most was decreased client income
followed by clients being less educated about
HW disease. Lack of face-to-face communication
with clients was also a factor
Heartworm testing
• 1/3 reported that more clients delayed HW
testing
Heartworm treatment
• Only 6% said clients were less willing to treat
heartworm-positive dogs than before the
pandemic

13. In 2020 to 2021 surveys, AHS resource
usage stays consistent
1. AHS guidelines
2. HW incidence maps
3. Life cycle illustrations
4. Client ed materials
5. Client info on website
6. Articles in vet pubs
7. AHS guidance on specific challenges
8. Heartworm toolkit app
9. AHS Bulletin
10. AHS social pages
2021 2020
87% 84%
64% 65%
61% 58%
31% 32%
34% 28%
26% 28%
31% 24%
13% N/A
11% 12%
11% 12%

14. Thank you!
A sincere “thank you” to all
participants who took the time to
complete this survey.