Geoff Bennett sets the stage for this content, saying, “As veterinary care prices rise, attention is turning to a major shift in the industry: private equity firms and large corporations buying up veterinary practices across the country.”
Commentary
The dialogue here is yet another public-facing discussion of price, ownership and practice objectives that animal owners are experiencing. We were pleased to see Matt Salois, PhD, included. His perspectives on private equity as neither good nor bad are noteworthy. His comments on operating models, the resulting competition due to size and the effect on the veterinary-client relationships are spot-on.
MARS’ response is certainly true as well: “Diagnostics, treatments, and specialty care that did not exist a generation ago are helping pets live longer, healthier lives. Those advances, along with industry-wide pressures, such as a national shortage of veterinary professionals and rising costs for medical supplies and equipment, have affected the cost of care.”
Source: PBS News, July 1, 2026. Link.
Independent practices, they’re not just nostalgic. They are an important competitive force.” – Matt Salois, PhD
INSIGHTS: This debate is not likely to end soon, if ever. Different from the food animal wars of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, companion animals will not aggregate as herds, so competition will remain price-sensitive, with the value of client-veterinary relationships and accessibility determining which clinic gets the business.
Leave a Reply