Should Vets Bother Collecting Reviews on Their Facebook Page?

If you run a veterinary practice, you’ve probably asked yourself at some stage: Do Facebook reviews actually matter? Most clinics know that Google reviews carry serious weight for local search rankings and map results, but what about those simple “yes/no” recommendations on your Facebook business page? Are they worth chasing?

In a word: yes. While they don’t influence SEO in quite the same way as Google, Facebook recommendations play a powerful role in building trust, spreading the word among pet owners, and giving clients without Google accounts a place to share their experiences. Let’s look at how they work, why they still matter, and how they fit into a smart review strategy for vets.

Facebook used to offer a five-star rating system. A pet owner could click a star, write a quick note, and their rating was averaged into your overall score. But in 2018, Facebook simplified the process. Now it’s just one question:

“Do you recommend this business?”

Clients answer “Yes” or “No” and can add comments, photos of their pets, and tags such as caring staff, gentle handling, or great value.

From a clinic’s perspective, this works in your favour:

• It’s easy. Owners don’t have to weigh up whether you were a three, four or five, they just make a quick decision, which means more people are likely to leave feedback.
• It’s richer. The extra context from comments and photos tells the story behind the recommendation, which is often more persuasive than a star rating alone.
• It’s social. Recommendations can show up in the feeds of a reviewer’s friends, so your clinic’s reputation spreads through local networks in a way that feels natural and authentic.

The downside? A “No” can feel harsher than a middling star score. But what really matters is how you respond. A professional, empathetic reply can turn a negative into an opportunity to demonstrate your care.

So why bother asking for Facebook reviews at all? Three key reasons:

1. Not everyone has a Google account. If you only point people to Google, you’ll miss out on clients who would gladly leave feedback but can’t. Facebook gives them another channel.
2. Pet owners do use Facebook. Particularly in veterinary care, many clients still look up clinics on Facebook to check opening hours, browse photos, or gauge the “feel” of a practice. Seeing positive recommendations is reassuring.
3. It supports your overall online presence. While Facebook reviews don’t directly boost your Google ranking, they add credibility and influence how pet owners view your clinic, which in turn affects clicks and enquiries.

That said, if your goal is to boost local SEO, Google reviews must come first. Google uses review signals: number, recency, sentiment, and keywords, to determine where you show up in Maps and search results.

Here’s how to encourage more pet owners to leave reviews:

• Ask genuinely. If a client is smiling after their consultation, simply say: “We’d love it if you could share your experience in a Google review, it really helps other pet owners find us.”
• Make it easy with QR codes. A plaque at reception, in your consulting rooms or a code on your invoices lets clients scan and go straight to your review page.
• Pick your timing. The best moment to ask is when the positive experience is still fresh.  The best ones to start the conversation are the vets themselves.
• Embed it in your routine. If every vet asked every client, reviews would build up steadily and consistently.

A practice with plenty of recent Google reviews looks far more trustworthy than one with only a handful from years ago. 

To make your review strategy even stronger, add a third option alongside Google and Facebook: a feedback form on your website.

Why? Because it achieves two things:

1. It channels complaints constructively. If someone had a frustrating experience, perhaps a long wait or confusion around medication, they may not want to leave a public review, but they do want to be heard. A private form gives them a safe outlet and gives you a chance to resolve issues directly.
2. It gives you insight. Feedback forms highlight recurring themes, so you can improve processes and client communication over time.

Here’s a neat psychological trick: if you present three QR codes (Google, Facebook, Feedback), make the feedback form option red. The colour naturally draws the eye and signals importance, nudging unhappy clients towards that option instead of venting publicly.

So, should vets chase Facebook reviews? Absolutely. They may not pack the SEO punch of Google, but they add another layer of trust and give more pet owners a chance to share their stories.

A balanced approach looks like this:

• Google reviews boost your clinic’s visibility in local search.
• Facebook recommendations capture feedback from those without Google accounts and spread trust across social circles.
• Website feedback forms give you a private channel to hear negatives and act on them quickly.

Think of it like preventative care for your reputation. Just as regular check-ups keep pets healthy, regular reviews and feedback keep your practice visible, trusted, and responsive.

The practices that stand out online aren’t always those with huge ad budgets. They’re the ones that consistently collect and showcase trust. Reviews, recommendations, and feedback are the modern version of word-of-mouth, and they’re just as important in veterinary care as they are anywhere else.

So, set up your three QR codes, train your team to ask with warmth, and remember: pet owners genuinely like helping clinics that care for their animals. If you provide a great service, and we know you do, the reviews will follow.

Ready to strengthen your clinic’s reputation? Contact us today to get started!