The 2017-2018 edition of the Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook found that nearly 57 percent of all U.S. households owned a pet at end of 2016. Of those, 38 percent owned one or more dogs, 25 percent owned one or more cats.
More than 13 percent of U.S. households owned a specialty or exotic pet in 2016, a 25 percent increase from 2011. The incidence of poultry owned as pets climbed 23 percent in five years, with 1.1 percent of all U.S. households now claiming poultry as pets.
Source: Pet Product News, November 20, 2018. Link.
Examining current trends in pet ownership and care provides our members with information they can use to better serve their clients and protect the health and welfare of their pets” . . . Dr. John de Jong, president of the AVMA
INSIGHTS: Pet ownership is highest in more rural states. The rising incidence of specialty, exotic and poultry pets will challenge multi-species practices. Salespersons can help veterinary teams identify which regional practices have DVMs with non-traditional expertise.