Industry Intelligence

Veterinarians Industry News.

Trade news and market shifts written for veterinarians who need to know what’s changing before their competitors do.

Veterinary Visits Are Down. Prices Are Up. What Gives?

Donn Adolfo · July 4, 2026 · 4 min read

Emergency Vet Staffing Shortage: What the 2024 Data Shows

Patient volumes in emergency and specialty veterinary care showed signs of stabilizing in 2024, but staffing shortages and compensation pressure continued to define the operating environment. For independent practice owners, the gap between demand and available workforce is not closing on its own.

Donn Adolfo · June 30, 2026 · 4 min readRead

Mars Petcare Surges Ahead in Veterinary AI Search Visibility: What Independents Need to Know

Mars Petcare controls nearly a third of veterinary AI search citations, while 80% of independent clinics don't appear at all. This shift reshapes how pet owners find care. Here's why this matters if you run an independent practice.

Donn Adolfo · June 26, 2026 · 4 min readRead

Veterinary Staffing Crisis: What Falling Short 15,000 Vets Means Now

The US is heading for a deficit of 15,000 veterinarians by 2030. Practice owners face a tightening labor market, rising salaries, and operational challenges. Here is what this shortage means for your clinic.

Donn Adolfo · June 25, 2026 · 3 min readRead

Missed Calls Are Costing Veterinary Clinics Real Business: How Big Is the Leak?

Veterinary practices miss an average of 22-28% of incoming calls, and 85% of those callers will not try again. Learn why this operational reality is far from harmless and what can be done about it.

Donn Adolfo · June 24, 2026 · 4 min readRead

Veterinary Visits Drop as Pet Owners Delay Care: What Practices Can Do

Veterinary visits are dropping, with a reported 3% decline nationally and clients stretching out the time between appointments by nearly 50% compared to three years ago. Explore the main reasons and concrete steps practices can take to safeguard revenue and patient outcomes.

Donn Adolfo · June 23, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Veterinary Visits Drop as Price Sensitivity Hits Record Highs: What Practices Need to Know

Veterinary clinics are seeing fewer visits and growing price sensitivity from clients. Revenue is up slightly, but the time between appointments keeps stretching. Here is what this trend means for practice operations and how owners can respond.

Donn Adolfo · June 19, 2026 · 3 min readRead

Veterinary Staff Shortage: The Growing Gap Facing Local Practices

The US veterinary profession is on track to fall 15,000 veterinarians short of demand by 2030. With more pets and fewer providers, clinics must rethink hiring, workload, and client care. Here is what the staffing gap looks like - and what it means for veterinarians on the ground.

Donn Adolfo · June 15, 2026 · 3 min readRead

AI Search Is Changing How Pet Owners Find Vets

The shift from traditional Google searches to AI-generated answers is already affecting which veterinary practices get found first. Data from 2026 shows the gap between visible and invisible practices is widening fast, and the causes are addressable.

Donn Adolfo · June 11, 2026 · 4 min readRead

Veterinary Sector Faces Negative Growth Forecasts: What It Means for Your Practice

Industry forecasters are now predicting negative growth in veterinary client visits, with economic pressure squeezing both pet owner spending and practice revenue. The data paints a clear picture of a sector in contraction, and independent practice owners need a concrete response plan.

Donn Adolfo · June 7, 2026 · 4 min readRead

Veterinary Client Price Sensitivity Hits Record High in 2025

A new AVMA survey shows 81% of veterinarians are seeing increased price sensitivity from clients, up from 72% in 2024. Fewer visits and more pushback on diagnostics are the operational reality. Here is what the data says and what practices can do about it.

Donn Adolfo · June 1, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Veterinary Job Market Shifts: Relief Vets, Pay Raises, and Hiring Gaps

The veterinary job market is in motion. Relief vets are increasingly taking permanent positions, associate compensation is rising, and practice owners are competing harder than ever for qualified staff. Here is what the current data says and what it means for your hiring strategy.

Donn Adolfo · May 28, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Pet Insurance Tops $4.7B: What It Means for Your Practice

The U.S. pet insurance market crossed $4.7 billion in written premiums in 2024, more than doubling from $2 billion in 2020. For veterinary practices, that growth is not just a headline. It reshapes how clients make care decisions and how practices handle estimates, documentation, and follow-through.

Donn Adolfo · May 24, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Local SEO Category Selection Is the Top Ranking Factor for Vet Clinics

The primary GBP category a veterinary practice selects on Google Business Profile is the single most influential factor determining whether that clinic appears in local map pack results. With pet owner visits declining and price sensitivity rising, showing up when a client searches matters more than ever. Here is what the data says and what to do about it.

Donn Adolfo · May 20, 2026 · 5 min readRead

AI Is Cutting Vet Documentation Time. Here Is What Practices Are Actually Using

A new CoVet survey finds veterinary professionals are turning to AI to reduce documentation burden and improve client communication. The shift is real, but how it plays out in day-to-day practice depends on which tools you choose and how your team adapts.

Donn Adolfo · May 17, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Clients Are Skipping Diagnostics: What the 2025-2026 Data Means for Your Practice

Veterinary service prices rose 5.6% year-over-year through March 2026, nearly double overall CPI. The AVMA reports clients are now systematically declining recommended care, starting with diagnostics. Independent practices need to understand exactly what is changing and why it matters for revenue and patient outcomes.

Donn Adolfo · May 12, 2026 · 5 min readRead

AI Scribes in Veterinary Practices: 25% Adoption Now, 50% by 2026

One in four veterinarians is already using an AI scribe, and that number is projected to double within 12 months. The shift is happening faster than any previous technology adoption in the profession, and practices that ignore it are already falling behind on documentation efficiency and staff retention.

Donn Adolfo · May 8, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Veterinary Care Inflation Hits 44% Since 2019: What Clinics Must Know

Veterinary care inflation has reached 44 percent since 2019, and the financial gap between what care costs and what families can afford is reshaping client behavior. The 2026 Pet Care Gap Report documents a growing crisis that is changing appointment volumes, treatment compliance, and the long-term viability of general practice. Here is what the data means for veterinarians running practices today.

Donn Adolfo · May 2, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Veterinary Compliance in 2026: What Practices Must Do Now

Veterinary practices across the U.S. are facing a wave of new compliance expectations in 2026, spanning employment law, animal health documentation, and state-level regulatory changes. Practices that treat compliance as a proactive strategy rather than a reactive obligation are better positioned to avoid penalties and retain staff.

Donn Adolfo · April 27, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Veterinary Industry Enters Recessionary Phase Amid Rising Prices

A new peer-reviewed forecast reveals the veterinary industry has entered a recessionary business cycle, with prices climbing even as real client spending decelerates. For practice owners and veterinarians, the data points to a fundamental shift in how pet owners are engaging with care - and what it means for clinic revenue.

Donn Adolfo · April 25, 2026 · 5 min readRead

75 Million Pet Owners Skipped the Vet in 2026. Here's What That Means for Clinics

A landmark 2026 report found that an estimated 75 million individuals bypassed veterinary visits because of rising expenses or limited appointment availability. The findings land at a moment when veterinarians are already reporting softer visit volumes and stronger price pushback from clients. For clinic owners, the data points to a structural demand problem that requires a deliberate response.

Donn Adolfo · April 21, 2026 · 5 min readRead

Veterinary Care Inflation Hit 44% Since 2019 - What Clinics Face Now

Veterinary care costs have risen 44% cumulatively since 2019, nearly double the national inflation rate. The 2026 Pet Care Gap Report reveals a widening divide between what pet owners can afford and what care actually costs - creating real pressure on clinics caught in the middle.

Donn Adolfo · April 19, 2026 · 5 min readRead