Petworking at WVC 2025: Chewy Health's Veterinary Clinics

Continuing Petworking's examination of the reimagining of traditional veterinary clinics to create spaces that are not just functional, but comfortable for both pets and their parents, I'm excited to share my interview with Dr. Heather Zaretsky from #WVC2025.Chewy is rapidly emerging as a major player in veterinary care, having already opened 8 clinics (most recently in Austin and Alpharetta), and has plans for continued expansion. During our talk Dr. Heather and I explored Chewy's approach to veterinary care which includes:🛋️ Comfortable clinical environments with couches instead of sterile exam rooms📱 Ipads and exam room screens that show patient information, history, and care plans📊 Digital transparency with screens showing pet parents the same diagnostic images vets see🏠 Unique kennel enclosures without anxiety-inducing metal bars🎓 Comprehensive training (7 weeks for doctors in new clinics!)💳 Membership models that remove financial barriers to regular careUltimately, the goal in veterinary medicine is to make pet care more accessible for pet parents, and to make care more comfortable for the pets.Clinics like the ones Chewy is building create a genuinely calmer environment that allows pets to feel more at ease in a traditionally stressful environment, while making it easier for veterinarians to provide care.When pets are less stressed, veterinarians get more accurate readings and can provide better treatment. And isn't that what everyone is striving for?