If a vet is routinely evaluating a horse, he or she is better equipped to pick up on developing issues such as lameness, exercise intolerance, or endocrine disorders before they become bigger and more expensive problems for the client. | Photo: iStock

Equine wellness plans are popping up in veterinary practices with increasing frequency. And for good reason—these packages are a win-win-win for clinic, client, and patient.

Some of a wellness plans’ benefits include:

• Maximizing a veterinarian’s opportunities to check in and evaluate how a horse is doing throughout the year and to provide preventive medical services when appropriate;
• Taking the responsibility off the horse owner to remember to schedule appointments because the clinic sends out reminders;
• Ensuring owners provide proper medical care for their horses;
• Providing clients with more interaction with their veterinarian; and
• Reinforcing the veterinarian’s role as a guiding resource for medical decisions for the horses.

Benjamin Buchanan, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, of Brazos Valley Equine Hospital, in Texas, described how equine practices can integrate wellness packages into their business models