CURATED* FOR YOUR REFERENCE
Below is a list of curated articles and references that focus on the increasing costs of veterinary medicine, the increase in corporate ownership of veterinary hospitals, the lack of regulation for internship programs (and how regulations imposed on human medicine interns have decreases errors).
NEw York times
Why You’re Paying Your Veterinarian So Much (2024)
People have grown more attached to their pets — and more willing to spend money on them — turning animal medicine into a high-tech industry worth billions.
the observer
Veterinary Practices are Increasingly Corporately Owned, and Pets Owners Pay the Price
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to paying veterinarians (2020)
PP4C Comment / Opinion / Summary: This article talks about the practice of “Production” compensation (how much revenue a veterinarian brings in for the practice).
CBC NEWS (Canada)
Corporations are buying local vet clinics — raising questions about price, choice and quality of care (2024)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/veterinarians-corporate-consolidation-1.7207186
FORTUNE
Many Americans can’t afford vet care. Is a new business model to blame?
NEWSWEEK
Veterinary Interns Speak Out Against Exploitation (2017)
PP4C Comment / Opinion / Summary: This article discusses the lack of regulation and limited oversight around veterinary internships.
https://www.newsweek.com/2017/01/27/veterinary-internship-exploitation-544253.html
LA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE
The Surge of Private Equity in Veterinary Medicine
the atlantic
Why Your Vet Bill Is So High (2024)
Corporations and private-equity funds have been rolling up smaller chains and previously independent practices.
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This article includes information about:
Banfield, VCA, and BluePearl (owned by Mars)
National Veterinary Associates (owned by JAB holdings)
Mission Veterinary Partners and Southern Veterinary Partners (owned by Shore Capital Partners)
Thrive Pet Healthcare (a chain majority-owned by TSG Consumer Partners)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/vet-private-equity-industry/678180/
usa today
A big pet peeve: Soaring costs of vet care bite into owners' budgets (2024)
Selected quote (curated by PP4C) “Independent vets worry a profit-focused approach may spike prices and worsen care.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/16/vet-pet-care-cost-rising/73098326007/
*These are curated resources. We aren’t trying to attack any specific veterinary corporation. We only want every pet parent to know what we wish we had known. ***Although there may be lots of articles and information out there that highlight amazing things that National Veterinary Associates, Mission Veterinary Partners, Southern Veterinary Partners, ThrivePet Healthcare, VCA, Banfield and Blue Pearl have done, we figure they have great marketing departments who can knock it out of the park on all the great things they do.