Veterinary Vertex
Veterinary Vertex
AVMA Journals
Can Pet Owners Get a Veterinary Appointment? What a Secret Shopper Study Revealed
19 minutes Posted Mar 7, 2026 at 6:00 am.
Cold Open & Sponsor Message
Welcome And Study Focus
Why Secret Shopper Methods Work
Call Script And Study Design
Choosing Diverse States
Outcomes: Access, Waits, Travel
Appointment Availability Findings
Barriers: Phones And Holds
Practical Fixes For Practices
Rural Gaps And Long Drives
Comparing To Human Healthcare
Tech, Automation, And Front Desk
Specialty Care And Future Questions
Pet Owner Planning And Insurance
Research Next Steps
Closing And Where To Read
0:00
19:42
Download MP3
Show notes
Send us Fan Mail Worried pet parent meets phone tree is a stress spiral no one needs—so we put it to the test. We sat down with health services researcher Dr. Simon Haeder to unpack a large secret shopper study that mimicked real owners calling nearby clinics to book first-visit puppy care. Across six diverse states, the results upend common assumptions: two-thirds of callers landed an appointment, average waits hovered around six days, and typical drives were about 13 minutes. Even better, d...