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. They also fielded a supplemental survey with 1,008 pet owners to provide additional context on vet visits, pet adoptions, and telemedicine.
Financial concerns rose among respondents in the most recent wave of the study as many stimulus protections expired in August. Overall, 52% of respondents were indicated being “very to extremely concerned” about the impact Covid-19 is having on their personal finances compared to 49% saying the same in the previous wave of the study conducted in May.
The need to save more money is holding strong at 48% which mirrors the results of the previous wave. A total of 24% of respondents reported a willingness to spending more money during this crisis which is virtually unchanged from the 25% reported last from the last wave.
With respect to pet expenses, respondents did indicate a slight increase in levels of concern regarding their ability to financially care for the family pet, increasing from 36% versus the 33% reported at the beginning of the crisis.
YTD results for the week ending October 17, 2020, remained ahead of 2019 performance with particularly strong performance for feline and canine core vaccines (+8.3% and + 6.8% respectively) as well as veterinary supplies (+8.0%). While national performance across the 32,000+ practices and shelters in the Animalytix marketplace remains robust overall, certain markets continue to struggle including Brooklyn NY (surgical supplies down 17.9%), Plattsburgh / Watertown NY (canine core vaccines down 10%) and Orlando / Port St. Lucie FL (Feline Core vaccines down 5.2%). While weekly results were mixed for all segments versus the same week’s results in 2019
Year to date, 95% of the Vetalytix market areas (225/ 236) reflect parity or increases over prior year to date purchasing as measured by the proprietary Animalytix Veterinary Consumption Index (VCI), a $1.8B+ market basket of exam room and surgical suite consumables which acts as a proxy for practice patient volume. While industry performance is generally positive as measured by VCI, selected regions continue to struggle with what appears to be a slow recovery of patient volumes. Notable among the group are Providence, RI and Santa Rosa, CA down -1.9% and -6.4% respectively as measured by the VCI Index.
*Map displays YTD Canine Core vaccine sales courtesy of Animalytix
YTD totals for reported parasiticide sales for the week ending October 17, retreated slightly from the YTD results at 5.6% (vs the previous 8.5%) across the combined performance of 32,000+ practices and shelter locations in the Animalytix Marketplace. Week over week results of sales for heartworm preventatives and flea / tick preventatives for both canine and feline patients showed modest declines while the combination flea & heartworm preventatives for canines were up sharply nationally at +30% for the week. Sales for canine heartworm preventatives continue to outpace all segments at 9.3% growth while canine combo flea/ heartworm products and canine flea & tick products posted growth of 5.6% and 5.0% respectively YTD. Feline flea and heartworm preventatives continue to lag the other categories with overall sales growth YTD at 2.8%.
Among the 236 Vetalytix Market Areas, 200 (85%) reported net YTD growth in total parasiticides purchases through the most recent week.
*Map displays YTD Canine/Feline F/T/HW Parasiticide sales courtesy of Animalytix
For the week ending October 17, the YTD practice revenue improved with year to date growth of 4.5% for the ~4,000 reporting practices. Though total invoices continue to lag prior year to date, this week saw a positive move to (-1.0%) YTD over 2019 bringing invoices closer to parity with last year.
Overall, 147 of 236 reported zones posted net revenue growth for the week vs prior week’s year to date. This contrasts with total invoice counts which remain slightly below PY results and slightly down from last week’s position at (-1.0%) with only 47% (111 / 236) of market areas reporting parity or above 2019 YTD totals.
Across all zones, Portland, ME and Indianapolis, IN both met the “Return to Revenue” threshold position this past week going positive year to date. The “Return to Revenue” threshold has now been met by 82% or 193 of 236 market zones reported year to date.
Map displays YTD total hospital revenue courtesy of Animal Care Technologies
*Indicates Merged Zone Group
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