VetWatch.com - The veterinary profession's premier resource center for information on the issues that matter most.

M/A/R/C Research Commentary

M/A/R/C Research has conducted multiple online surveys among US pet owners to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on the animal health industry. For a recent presentation, M/A/R/C research conducted research to provide a deep dive into curb-side & telemedicine perceptions.

M/A/R/C conducted an online survey among 1,000 pet owners and 100 veterinarians between August 9-16, 2021.

Almost all Vets incorporated some version of curbside during the pandemic. 94% of Veterinary practices implemented curbside visits during the COVID-19 pandemic (Mar 2020- Mar 2021).

Currently, most Vets have shifted to a hybrid model that offers both in-person and curbside visits.

Nearly all practices are continuing to offer curbside today.

Packaged Facts Commentary

Packaged Facts tracks the competition for pet care mindshare finding that veterinarians remain the source of pet care information most valued by pet owners, as confirmed by Packaged Facts’ February 2021 Survey of Pet Owners - Psychographics About Veterinary Care Services.

Packaged Facts’ February 2021 shows over a fourth of cat or dog owners (27%-28%) identifying the high cost of health care for pets as a significant challenge they’ve faced in the last 12 months—such that health care costs are by far the top challenge faced.

Weekly commentary (click to view)

For the week ending November 27, 2021, year over year growth remains robust with a slight decline from the previous week’s report with each of the respective categories moving between (-0.4%) and +0.6% versus the previous week’s YTD results. The YTD Canine and Feline core vaccine purchasing indices were down by (-0.1%) at +14.2% across the 32,000+ practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. YTD Growth in Kennel Cough vaccine purchases, which provide a measure of the pet mobility, reflected a decrease of (-0.1%) versus the previous week’s results at +14.1%. Growth in YTD purchases of Surgical Suite consumables were down (-0.4%) at +11.3% while Chronic care medication purchases fell by (-0.2%) at +6.9%. Purchases of Parasiticides moved up +0.6% from the prior week’s position at a very robust +13.6% YTD growth. Overall, all segments continue in excellent positions versus 2020 sales volumes, suggesting continued strong recovery for the veterinary wellness and in-house pharmacy sectors.

Among the “Bellwether” Vetalytix zones selected for routine reporting primarily based on the relative size of annual Core and Lifestyle vaccines purchases, all zones are posting positive results vs PY this week. The Los Angeles, CA zone leads with +30.1% growth YTD compared to 2020. The next highest zone is Minneapolis, MN at +18.1% YTD growth vs PY while Indianapolis, IN rounds out our “Bellwether” zones at the bottom with a very respectable +10.0% YTD growth. 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.

1 Select your zone from the map below.

*Map displays YTD Core & Lifestyle Vaccines sales courtesy of Animalytix

Key

< -50%

-50% to -30%

-30% to -10%

-10% to -5%

-5% to 0.0%

+0.0% to +5%

+5% to +10%

+10%

2 Select a category below to see year to date category growth %'s.

Core & Lifestyle Vaccines
Kennel Cough
Chronic
Canine/Feline F/T/HW Parasiticides
Surgical
*The VetWatch sample reflects 32,000+ small animal practices and shelters including mixed and miscellaneous practices as well as emergency, rescue, spay and neuter hospitals in the US.

The next update will be scheduled after Dec. 1st. Enjoy the holidays!

Weekly commentary (click to view)

This week’s totals for reported parasiticide purchases across all segments year to date through the week ending March 6, are ahead of 2020 results by an extremely robust +12.2% among the 32,000+ practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. The most significant YOY change in the market is the +49.7% growth in the canine combination flea and heartworm products (e.g. specifically Simparica Trio), as substitution continues to occurring at the expense of products from the canine flea and tick preventatives which are experiencing a decline softening decline of (-1.9%) YTD. Canine heartworm preventatives purchases moved ahead of 2020’s record strong sales for the same period, posting growth of +2.6%. Feline flea and heartworm preventatives are now ahead of last year at a robust +8.8% growth.

Among the leading “Bellwether” parasiticide market zones, Greenville, SC now leads with +32.0% growth in total parasiticide purchases followed by Philadelphia, PA at +31.8%. Among the lagging “Bellwether” zones is Los Angeles, CA at +1.9% versus the same YTD period in 2020 bringing all “Bellwether” parasiticide market zones into the positive YTD.

1 Select your zone from the map below.

*Map displays YTD Canine/Feline F/T/HW Parasiticide sales courtesy of Animalytix

Key

< -50%

-50% to -30%

-30% to -10%

-10% to -5%

-5% to 0.0%

+0.0% to +5%

+5% to +10%

+10%

2 Select a category below to see year to date category growth %'s.

Canine Flea/Tick
Canine Heartworm
Canine Flea & Heartworm Combos
Feline Flea / Heartworm
*The VetWatch sample reflects 32,000+ small animal practices and shelters including mixed and miscellaneous practices as well as emergency, rescue, spay and neuter hospitals in the US.

Weekly commentary (click to view)

For the week ending November 27, 2021, aggregate YTD practice revenues decreased slightly at +9.2% net growth versus YTD 2020 for the ~4,000 reporting practices. The YTD growth in unique patients(pets) was at +2.4%, while unique client growth was at +2.3% both down (-0.1%) from last week vs 2020 YTD. Invoice growth finished down (-0.2%) compared to last week at +1.4% YTD vs 2020 YTD totals.

Among the leading “Bellwether” market zones, the Minneapolis, MN zone lead with +15.6% in YTD revenue growth and +6.0% growth in unique patients. Most notable among the lagging zones was the Miami, FL market which finished at +1.0% revenue growth and +1.1% growth in unique patients YTD compared to 2020.

Following more current trends, the national 3-week rolling average for practice revenue growth moved down and negative at (-0.1%). Five census divisions posted positive results for the 3-week average revenue growth rates this week with no divisions showing positive movement over last week. The Mountain division is notable for the most recent 3-week period with an average revenue growth of +7.0% down (-0.9%) compared to the prior week. 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 prior year reported 3-week period.

1 Select your zone from the map below.

Map displays YTD total hospital revenue courtesy of Animal Care Technologies
*Indicates Merged Zone Group

Key

< -50%

-50% to -30%

-30% to -10%

-10% to -5%

-5% to 0.0%

+0.0% to +5%

+5% to +10%

+10%

2 Select a data point below.

Unique patients (pets)
Unique clients (persons)
Total invoices
Total revenue

Veterinary Trend Watch

Weekly insight for US veterinary market trends

Welcome to VetWatch, the veterinary profession’s premier resource center for insight and information on the issues that matter most.

1 Select your zone from the map below.

Key

2 Select a category below to see year to date category growth %'s.

1 Select your zone from the map below.

Key

2 Select a category below to see year to date category growth %'s.

1 Select your zone from the map below.

Key

2 Select a data point below.