The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) has developed localized forecasting tools to help veterinary teams educate pet owners about parasite risks in their communities. For over 13 years, CAPC has collaborated with parasitologists and statisticians to create accurate forecasting systems that steer client conversations from problems to solutions. Its 30-Day Pet Parasite Forecasts serve as an essential resource for veterinary practices during a time when efficiency in appointments is critical.
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Riverview Animal Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, utilized CAPC’s forecasts in a client communications campaign. Dr. Amy Tate, co-owner of the clinic, praised the tool as vital for educating clients about local parasite risks. CAPC has been producing monthly forecasts focused on diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and heartworm disease since 2018. These forecasts are designed to assess each county's monthly seroprevalence.
The accuracy of the forecasts has been validated through comprehensive statistical analysis, achieving correlations of 0.9 or higher when compared to laboratory results. CAPC’s forecasting model analyzes over 300 million laboratory test results monthly, allowing it to identify trends that traditional methods might miss. Dr. Stella Self from Clemson University explained that the Bayesian binomial regression model used by CAPC effectively incorporates information from different geographical locations over time.
Innovetive Petcare (IPC), a network of veterinary practices, found CAPC’s forecasts beneficial in driving preventive care initiatives. They targeted clients who hadn’t scheduled preventive appointments in over a year, using localized data to launch impactful email campaigns. Malia Rivera, IPC's vice president of marketing, noted a 20% increase in testing adherence and a 12.5% rise in preventive product purchases.
As wellness visits decrease across the veterinary industry, CAPC's forecasts provide a timely solution by creating urgency around parasite risks and motivating clients to seek necessary care. The relevance of parasites to human health also broadens the conversation, highlighting potential risks to families, particularly children who are in close contact with pets.
CAPC continues to refine its forecasting models, aiming to offer customized monthly reports to practices. This initiative is intended to help practices better communicate immediate threats to pet owners. Dr. Chris Carpenter, CEO of CAPC, emphasized that targeted, location-specific messaging propels client engagement and drives appointment scheduling more effectively than generic communications.
CAPC is actively working with larger hospital groups to disseminate local forecast data to veterinary clients, aspiring to make these tools universally available to enhance practices' preventive care efforts. Carpenter reaffirmed CAPC's commitment to ensuring every pet is tested and protected.