M/A/R/C Research completed a third wave for its COVID-19 Animal Health Tracker among 1,003 pet owners between August 17th-19th, 2020. A supplemental survey of 1,008 pet owners was conducted to provide additional context on vet visits, pet adoptions, and telemedicine.
In wave #3, 34% of pet owners reported mood and behavioral changes as a reason for scheduling a telemedicine visit. Lethargy and lower activity was given as a reason by 24% of respondents indicating hyper-vigilance was playing a role in the conditions that prompted a telemedicine visit. Skin rash was the top reason for scheduling a telemedicine visit according to 43% of respondents. Some 44% of respondents said they probably or definitely would use telemedicine in the future indicating that interest in this service remains high.
Wave #3 of the study found telemedicine continued to be stable with no noticeable jumps in usage compared to wave 2. Both waves were very similar in the top two box scores on familiarity with a 39% extremely and very familiar in wave #2 and 40% in wave #3. Among Wave #3 respondents, 26% reported having a telemedicine visit during the Covid restrictions which is slightly up compared to 23% in the last wave. A growing number of respondents are reporting an excellent to very good experience with their telemedicine visits, moving from 80% in wave #2 to the current results of 87% in wave #3.
Packaged Facts - a leading provider of pet industry news.
Packaged Facts 2020 reports on pet owner psychographics during this Covid-19 year.
Even though pet owners overall have a higher income than average, among those pet owners who strongly agree that pets are family, there is a significant awareness of and concern regarding pet health care costs.
For the week ending January 2, 2021, the final week for 2020 reporting, the canine and feline core vaccine indices combined and expanded with the inclusion of the “Lifestyle” vaccines for Lyme, Lepto, and FeLV, ended at a robust 9.0% YTD growth across the 32,000+ practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. Growth in Kennel Cough vaccine purchases, which provide a measure of the pet mobility, is more modest, at 2.6% growth YTD but with a steadily improving trendline. Growth in purchases for products designed to address behavioral issues in pets finished nearly flat with YTD growth of 0.7%. Purchases of medications for chronic conditions and surgical consumables are trending in the upper end of the typical growth ranges for those sectors with both ending at 5.4% growth YTD respectively.
Among the “Bellwether” Vetalytix zones selected for routine reporting primarily based on the relative size of annual core and lifestyle vaccines purchases, the Miami, FL zone ended in the lead at 19.3% growth over 2019. The Nashville, TN and Columbus, OH were next among the leaders YTD both ending with 15.1% growth over 2019. Lagging among the “Bellwether” zones are Houston, TX and Denver, CO with 6.1% and 5.9% growth respectively compared to 2019 YTD. Annual core and lifestyle vaccine purchases were selected as the principal “Bellwether” metric given 50% or more of annual visits to a veterinary practice are associated with the administration of these products.
*Map displays YTD Core & Lifestyle Vaccines sales courtesy of Animalytix
Final YTD totals for reported parasiticide purchases across all segments for the week ending January 2nd , remain ahead of 2019 results by 7.7% among the 32,000+ practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. The canine combination flea and heartworm sector continues led the market with 12.8% growth YTD followed by canine heartworm preventatives which posted YTD growth of 7.3%. Feline flea and heartworm preventatives continued their recent upward trend, moving to 5.3% ahead of 2019 results ending behind canine flea and tick preventatives which finished the year at 5.7% ahead of last year.
Among the leading “Bellwether” parasiticide market zones, Raleigh, NC finished in the lead with 14.7% growth YTD in total parasiticide purchases followed closely by Birmingham, AL at 13.4%. Among the lagging “Bellwether” zones is Tampa, FL at (-1.1%) YTD growth versus the same YTD period in 2019.
*Map displays YTD Canine/Feline F/T/HW Parasiticide sales courtesy of Animalytix
For the final 2020 week ending January 2nd, aggregate YTD practice revenues improved from 5.0% the previous month to 5.6% growth for the ~4,000 reporting practices. The growth in unique patients and clients continue to improve as well with total invoices ending just below 2019 results at (-0.3%).
Among the leading “Bellwether” market zones, San Diego, CA ended in the lead with a 12.8% YTD growth. Among the lagging zones, the Philadelphia, PA market ended in the weakest position reporting a (-5.1%) revenue growth and (-7.4%) growth in unique patients YTD compared to 2019.
Following more current trends, the 3-week rolling average practice revenue growth nationally reflected the holiday weeks’ impact on veterinary business this week going from +2.0% last week to (-1.1%). Four census divisions had a positive 3-week average revenue growth rate for the final week. New England leads all divisions for the most recent 3-week period with average revenue growth of 4.0%. The addition of the rolling 3-week average revenue growth index is designed to provide a view of relative robustness of growth trends (e.g., market velocity) for each reporting zone. A positive value indicates rolling revenue growth vs the previously reported 3-week period.
Map displays YTD total hospital revenue courtesy of Animal Care Technologies
*Indicates Merged Zone Group
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