Christmas & New Year Holiday Marketing Ideas for Veterinary Practices : Creative Ways to Engage Clients and Pets

As the holiday season approaches, veterinary practices have a unique opportunity to engage with their clients in festive and meaningful ways. Whether it's sharing pet care tips for the holidays, running fun competitions, or offering seasonal promotions, there are countless strategies to help you build up your client community and make your practice stand out. 

This blog compiles a variety of creative marketing ideas to give you the headstart and select the ones that you will apply, from celebrating Christmas and New Year’s to acknowledging diverse holidays of your clients like Hanukkah. Dive into these festive ideas to keep your clients engaged, informed, and feeling the holiday cheer!

• Write blog posts like "Holiday Safety Tips for Pets" and "How to Keep Pets Calm During New Year Fireworks."
• Send email newsletters offering festive care advice such as avoiding holiday hazards like chocolate and tinsel.
• Create downloadable checklists or infographics, e.g., “Safe Holiday Foods for Pets.”
• Give tip ideas to make your pets stay at a boarding house more restful and fun.

• Share pet gift guides on social media with links to local businesses that you have alliances with, promoting items like personalised collars, grooming gift vouchers, or fun toys.
• Package some of your best pet gifts that you have at your practice in-house like food, toys, grooming elements, healthy chews and other treats. A good upsell, revenue generator, but also helps your clients give good pet gifts to their pets.
  • Holiday Pet Care Bundles - Package grooming tools (brushes, shampoos), dental chews, and healthy snacks for a festive care set.
  • Toys & Treats Stocking - Create Christmas stockings filled with pet toys, balls, and healthy treats.
  • Winter Wellness Kits - Include supplements, food samples, and comfort items like blankets or beds.
  • Customised Gift Baskets - Offer personalised baskets featuring age-specific foods, treats, and grooming essentials.
• Feature a “Holiday Pet Gift of the Day” series on Instagram, showcasing a different product each day.
• Offer gift vouchers for vet services or pet wellness packages, marketed as perfect holiday gifts.

• Host a "Best Dressed Christmas Pet" competition and encourage clients to share their festive pet photos.
  • Enter our Best Dressed Christmas Pet competition by posting a photo of your furry friend in their holiday outfit directly on our Facebook or Instagram page.We can’t wait to see you pet Christmas vibes, and we’ll pick a winner for a pawsome Pet prize pack! Tag us @YourVetPractice and use #AussieChristmasPets. Entries close 16th December - we can’t wait to see your festive fur-babies!"   (Take a photo of your prize, or some example photos of Christmas pets)

• Set up a "Pet Photos with Santa" day at the practice, allowing clients to bring pets for festive photoshoots one afternoon or in the weekend.

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• Promote the event through email and social media, encouraging clients to book slots or drop by with their pets.
• Share the photos on your social media channels, tagging clients and creating a festive community feel.
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• Offer discounts on services like grooming or check-ups, themed around Christmas or New Year (e.g., "Merry Pet Check-ups").
• Bundle services like vaccinations and health check-ups into festive packages at reduced rates.
• Provide limited-time holiday wellness packages, promoting long-term care as a thoughtful gift idea.
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• Share reminders about preparing pets for boarding during holiday trips, emphasising the importance of up-to-date vaccinations and check-ups.
• Offer promotions for pet boarding services, including added perks like complimentary grooming or toys.
• Create a blog post on "Holiday Boarding Tips" with advice on packing essentials for pets (e.g., familiar items like a blanket, toys or a piece of clothing).
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• Share posts on keeping pets safe from holiday dangers such as decorations, toxic plants, and fireworks.
• Send out vaccination reminders before families leave for holiday trips, tying in with boarding offers.
• Post a festive "12 Days of Pet Safety" series, focusing on different hazards and how to avoid them.
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• Run interactive polls or quizzes (e.g., "Which Christmas treat is safe for my pet?").
• Use festive hashtags like #MerryPets and encourage clients to tag their holiday pet photos for a chance to be featured on your page.
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• Promote gift certificates for wellness packages, grooming, or vet services, offering them as perfect gifts for pet owners.
• Offer limited-time discounts on gift certificates for pet care during the holiday season.
• Send email blasts advertising the convenience of gift certificates for last-minute holiday shoppers.
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• Partner with local shelters or pet charities for a “Holiday Donation Drive,” encouraging clients to donate pet food, toys, or funds - by leaving a donation (money collection on your website, or dropping off into a basket at your clinic).
• Run a “Giving Back” campaign where a percentage of holiday service fees goes to a local animal charity.
• Organise community events like festive walks or pet-friendly gatherings, with proceeds going towards pet rescue organisations.
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• Launch a New Year campaign encouraging pet owners to set health goals for their pets, offering wellness check-ups or diet plans.
• Run a “New Year, New You (and Your Pet)” promotion with discounted services aimed at improving pet health.
• Share posts and blogs about making New Year’s resolutions for pets, like scheduling regular vet visits or starting new exercise routines.
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• Publish holiday-themed blog posts like “Healthy Holiday Treats for Pets” or “How to Keep Pets Calm During New Year’s Eve.”
  • Write up some of your recipes on some treats clients can make themselves that you approve of  ( DIY Treats for Pets )
• Send out festive newsletters filled with seasonal tips, promotion details, and practice updates.
• Include a holiday message from your team, thanking clients for their loyalty and support over the year.
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• Post behind-the-scenes photos of your team in festive attire, decorating the clinic, or enjoying holiday activities with their pets.
• Share a fun “Meet the Team” holiday edition on social media, with each team member sharing their favourite pet-related Christmas memories.
• Feature a "Team Holiday Wishlist" post, where staff share what they hope for in terms of pets' well-being in the new year.
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• Send out festive-themed postcards reminding clients of upcoming appointments or services that would benefit their pets.
• Include reminders about vaccinations, grooming, or wellness check-ups to ensure pets are healthy for the new year.
• Add a personalised touch by sending digital Christmas cards from the practice with key reminders.
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• Decorate your practice with festive, pet-safe decorations and share the process on social media to boost engagement.
• Create a fun competition where clients vote on their favourite decoration or holiday setup in the practice.
• Encourage clients to visit the clinic to see the decorations, take photos, or participate in holiday events.
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• Add a festive touch to your branding (e.g., holiday-themed logo or cover photos).
• Share holiday safety tips and advice for pets to build trust and provide value.
• Interact with your clientele, by getting them to participate in activities to spread the word.

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• Avoid over-decorating social media posts to keep branding professional.
• Don’t exclude holidays important to your client base, eg. Hanukkah. Look at your clientele demographics.
• Avoid overly promotional content without providing value.
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Staying festive yet mindful ensures your content resonates with a wide audience.

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