Raising awareness of skin conditions through Healthy Skin Matters

RAISING awareness of common skin concerns in pets – and how we can help relieve them – is at the heart of our Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus.

We are also encouraging clients to book a consultation early, enabling us to manage symptoms promptly and prevent them from escalating.

Itchy skin and ear conditions are among the most common reasons dogs and cats visit the vet. Issues such as persistent itching, dryness, infections, allergies and a dull coat can significantly impact a pet’s comfort and overall wellbeing.

The causes can vary widely, from parasites and environmental or food allergies to underlying health conditions. This is why it’s important to seek veterinary advice if symptoms persist.

However, many pet owners normalise behaviours such as scratching, licking and sore skin, underestimating the importance of skin and ear health, or only seeking treatment once symptoms become severe.

The Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus aims to increase the number of appointments for skin checks, vet nurse clinics, preventative care treatments and nutritional checks. It also encourages the use of regular preventative parasiticide treatments as part of a proactive healthcare plan.

Ultimately, this initiative will not only support earlier intervention and improved patient outcomes but also strengthen the position of our practices and VetPartners as a trusted authority in dermatological health.

What can Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus achieve for your practice?

Increasing the number of pets visiting your practice for skin health checks and treatment can support earlier detection of skin disease through improved education and proactive monitoring.

Running a Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus provides an opportunity to highlight the range of products and services available within your practice, such as veterinary nurse clinics and Pet Health Plans. This helps clients make informed, considered decisions about their pet’s care.

Linking skin health benefits to Pet Health Plans – including parasite control and potential cost savings – can also support growth in membership while reinforcing the value of preventative healthcare.

Tips on running a Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus

• Arrange a full team briefing session to outline why the practice is running the activity, how does it work, what are the benefits to the patient and client, and the part each member of the teams plays in its success.

• Appoint a member of the team to coordinate the Patient Care Focus in practice.

• Communication is key – if the activity isn’t communicated, clients won’t know about it – so ensure materials are displayed in areas of high client footfall including posters, desk cards, leaflets and other material.

• Actively use social media platforms and encourage team members to post regularly. Take inspiration from centrally produced social media packs. Share good news stories and, before and after examples.

• Promote vet nurse clinics via social media and in practice waiting areas.

• Consider running an open day or skin information event during the activity period.

CPD and Learning opportunities

Colleagues are supported with a broad range of CPD and learning opportunities to help colleagues confidently run and maximise the impact of Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus in practice.

Vet Nurse Evolve - 9th April at 2.30pm 

MSD training: Cracking the Itchy Dog: Real Cases, Practical Solutions - 16^th April at 12.30pm

Dechra training: A New Approach to Yeast-Only Otitis - 21^st May at 12.30pm

Dechra training: Ear-resistible Insights into Yeast-Only Otitis - 18^th June at 12.30pm 

A range of marketing materials is available to help you bring your Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus to life and engage your clients

• Posters have been developed to support the Skin Heath Matters Patient Care Focus and offer in practice.

  
  

• Order posters via Pawprint pawprintportal.co.uk to highlight the offer and why Skin health checks are so important to those clients visiting the practice.

  
  

• For Pawprint log -in details for your practice please contact marketing@vetpartners.co.uk

• TV screen materials have also been produced which should be displayed during the Patient Care Focus.

• Please order and display posters prominently in your waiting area and areas of high footfall via PawPrint pawprint.co.uk

• Update your TV screens in line with Patient Care Focus visuals (included in your social media pack)

• Reminders (iRecall)

• Email and SMS reminders will be distributed w/c 27^th April – 8^th May 2026

For further information, see the Healthy Skin Matters Patient Care Focus pack sent to your practice.

Article by Amanda Little, VetPartners PR and Communications Director. Email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk