Australia’s love for pets isn’t slowing down, it’s evolving. More households than ever share their homes with furry, feathered, or scaled family members, and they expect veterinary clinics to keep up. For today’s pet owners, convenience isn’t a bonus, it’s the standard.
Australia’s Pet Boom: The Numbers
According to Animal Medicines Australia’s 2024 Pet Ownership Report:
- 73 % of Australian households own at least one pet, around 7.7 million households and 31.6 million animals nationwide
- 49% of homes have a dog, and 34% have a cat
- Australians spend an estimated AU $21.3 billion on pets each year, with vet care a growing share
- 86% of Australian owners say pets improve their wellbeing, making them a real part of the family
- Pet care isn’t just a service anymore, it’s part of everyday life. And as lifestyles become more digital, vet care needs to keep pace.
Convenience Is the Competitive Edge From groceries to GP visits, Australians expect things to be quick and easy online. Vet care is no different. Pet owners want to book appointments as easily as they book a haircut, securely, quickly, and on their schedule. ClinicWise data shows:
- Almost half of online bookings occur outside standard business hours
- Clients are more likely to confirm and attend appointments when they receive instant reminders
- Front desk teams reclaim hours each week, reducing stress and freeing up time for in-clinic care
That’s not just convenience, that’s a measurable business advantage.
Why This Matters for Clinics Australia’s geography can make access tricky, long distances, regional communities, and busy city clinics all affect availability. When clients can’t reach you during business hours, they’ll go elsewhere. Online booking keeps your clinic ‘open’ 24/7, helping capture after-hours appointments and reduce missed opportunities. Every missed call or manual scheduling task adds friction, simplifying the process makes life easier for staff and clients alike.
The New Generation of Pet Owners Millennials and Gen Z are now a big part of the pet-owning population. They’re digital natives who value speed, transparency, and self-service. Clinics that rely solely on phone calls are adding unnecessary friction. Offering instant online booking meets the expectations of these next-generation clients.
Digital Doesn’t Mean Impersonal Some clinics worry that going digital will reduce personal touch. In reality, automating admin tasks, appointment entry, reminders, confirmations, gives your team more time for genuine client interactions. Systems like ClinicWise integrate directly with your Practice Information Management System (PIMS), keeping records up-to-date while reminders and confirmations run in the background. Less stress for staff, smoother experiences for clients.
A Future-Ready Clinic Offers Easy Booking With nearly three-quarters of households owning pets and spending at record highs, clinics that make life easier for clients are the ones that will grow and retain loyalty. Online booking isn’t just technology, it’s a way to show your clinic respects clients’ time, values convenience, and operates at the standard people expect in other areas of life.
Make Booking Simple for Your Clients ClinicWise helps veterinary teams across Australia and New Zealand simplify online bookings, reduce admin, and attract more clients, while keeping your brand front and centre.
- Save time and reduce admin
- Capture after-hours bookings automatically
- Deliver a better client experience
👉 Book a demo today to see how ClinicWise can help your clinic modernise, delight clients, and free your team to focus on what matters most, caring for pets.
