A mobility clinic is more than a “service”: it is a culture shift towards proactive, planned, and patient-centric OA management. Operational success relies on clear protocols, empowered and educated staff, seamless communication, and constant measurement of outcomes. By embedding these clinics into everyday practice, the veterinary team can ensure animals with OA lead fuller, happier lives, and that owners feel supported every step of the way.
Further reading/references
- AAHA (2003) The Path to High-Quality Care: Practical Tips for Improving Compliance. American Animal Hospital Association.
- AVMA (2025) Language that works: Discover the words and phrases that most resonate with clients. [Online] Available at: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/practice-management/communicating-clients-using-right-language-improve-care
- Bard, A. et al. (2017) ‘The future of veterinary communication: partnership or persuasion? A qualitative investigation of veterinary communication in the pursuit of client behaviour change’. Veterinary Record, 181(17), p. 453.
- Boatright, K. (2022) ‘6 Tools to Improve Veterinary Client Compliance’. Pawlicy Advisor. [Online] Available at: https://www.pawlicy.com/blog/veterinary-client-compliance-tools/
- Brandenburg, Y. (2023) ‘The 6 Stages of Behavior Change: A Tool for Increasing Client Compliance in Parasite Prevention’. Today’s Veterinary Nurse. [Online] Available at: https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/parasitology/parasite-prevention-client-compliance/
- Hanley, A. et al. (2019) ‘Impact of Team Communication Training on Performance and Self-Assessment of Team Functioning during Sophomore Surgery’. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 46(1), pp. 45–55.
- Kedrowicz, A. (2024) ‘Enhancing Veterinarian-Client Relationships with Competent Communication’. Today’s Veterinary Practice. [Online] Available at: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/personal-professional-development/enhancing-veterinarian-client-relationships-with-competent-communication/
- Macdonald, J., Badger, S. and Jeffery, A. (2022) ‘The Veterinary Nurse’s Role in Supporting the Client’. In: BSAVA Manual of Veterinary Nursing. BSAVA.
- Markley, A. et al. (2023) ‘Patient-Centered Physical Rehabilitation in Companion Animals’. Advances in Small Animal Care, 4(1), pp. 21–35.
- Novotny, B. and Wayner, C. (2019) ‘Health Literacy and Client Compliance’. In: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. 5th edn. Mark Morris Institute.
- Shaw, J. and Coe, J. (2024) Developing Communication Skills for Veterinary Practice. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Singler, E. (2025) ‘Vaccine Hesitancy and the Importance of Client Communication’. Trends Magazine. [Online] Available at: https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/vaccine-hesitancy-and-the-importance-of-client-communication/
- Wright, A., Amodie, D. M., Cernicchiaro, N., et al. (2022) Identification of canine osteoarthritis using an owner-reported questionnaire and treatment monitoring using functional mobility tests. Journal of Small Animal Practice 63, 609-618.
- Zhang, S., Dawson, S. and McArthur, M. (2020) ‘A review of the literature on veterinary communication’. BMC Veterinary Research, 16(1), p. 388.