Veterinary Medicine for Sale: When profit replaces purpose (#317)

Increasingly, private equity firms and multinational corporations are in charge. Not veterinarians.

In the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada, thousands of once-independent practices are now owned by:

• Mars Inc. (owns Banfield, VCA, BluePearl, AniCura, and more)

• JAB Holdings (Companion Pet Partners, NVA, and others)

• BC Partners (backed PetSmart/Chewy and vet chains)

• Vets First Choice/Covetrus (now under Clayton, Dubilier & Rice)

For the most part, these firms prioritize return on investment over professional autonomy.

Clinical decisions, pricing structures, and even which diagnostics to run are increasingly driven by corporate policy and profit margins, not the veterinarian's judgment.

What day is it?

Metaphorically, It’s late.

The golden era of independent, relationship-based vet medicine is slipping.

• Young vets are graduating with six-figure debt into a market where most jobs are at corporate chains.

• Burnout is rampant. Suicide rates in the profession are among the highest of any healthcare field.

• Clients are disillusioned by rising prices, eroded trust, and the sense their pet is being upsold rather than cared for.

The Direction of Veterinary Medicine: Key Issues

• Corporate Consolidation:

• The profession is being transformed into a financial instrument.

• Consolidators seek scalable assets, uniform services, and predictable profits. Innovation often takes a back seat.

•  Veterinary Education:

• New vet schools (some unaccredited or with distributive clinical models) are opening with the backing of private investment.

• There is concern about:

• Erosion of educational standards.

• Underpaid, overworked faculty.

• Graduates underprepared for complex practice.

• Access to Care:

• High fees driven by corporatized care models are limiting access.

• Middle-class clients are struggling.

• Lower-income families are effectively excluded from veterinary services.

• Ethics and Autonomy:

• Many vets feel they can no longer practice in alignment with their values.

• They're told what meds to dispense, what tests to run, and how long to spend in consults - often by someone with no clinical training.

• Mental Health and Morale:

• Younger veterinarians are burning out or leaving the profession entirely.

• Compassion fatigue, debt, and loss of purpose are taking their toll.

• Some are now rallying for unionization or alternative business models.

• Technology and Telemedicine:

• These offer real potential, but also threats.

• Apps like Chewy’s CarePlus or teletriage services are shifting the client relationship to third parties and data algorithms.

• The Role of Non-Vet Stakeholders:

• Pet insurance companies, pharma giants, venture capitalists, and tech platforms are all staking claims.

• Their influence grows, while the voice of the veterinarian often diminishes.

Rick’s Commentary

As I have said before, veterinary medicine stands at a crossroads.

Will we reclaim the soul of veterinary medicine?

Or will we surrender it to the same profit-hungry forces that have transformed human healthcare?

The solution may lie in the following:

• Strengthening independent practice.

• Reforming veterinary education.

• Empowering veterinarians to take leadership roles.

• Regulatory reform to slow corporate domination.

• Innovative models like cooperatives, nonprofit clinics, or social enterprise vet hospitals.

It’s late. The time is now.

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