Veterinary Services Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Global Veterinary Services Market Trends and Insights

Rising Pet Ownership & Humanisation of Animals

Pet ownership reached 94 million U.S. households in 2025, up from 56 million in 2011, and Generation Z now represents the fastest-growing cohort of new owners^{[1]American Pet Products Association, “2024–2025 National Pet Owners Survey,” americanpetproducts.org}. This demographic expects oncology, cardiology, and behavioural therapies once reserved for human medicine. High-net-worth clients also purchase concierge plans that bundle genomic screening, nutrition counselling, and 24/7 tele-access to specialists. Such premiumisation strengthens cash-flow visibility across the veterinary services market while justifying equipment upgrades and specialist training.

Increasing Incidence of Zoonotic & Chronic Animal Diseases

The 2024 H5N1 influenza episode affected more than 800 U.S. dairy herds, with 66 confirmed human infections traced to animal exposure. Companion pets live longer, which increases chronic conditions: 73% of dogs and 64% of cats were diagnosed with dental disease in 2024. These dual pressures support sustained laboratory, imaging, and bio-security spending within the veterinary services market.

Growing Livestock Productivity & Food-Safety Requirements

USDA surveillance programs safeguard export credibility and detect antimicrobial resistance, reinforcing demand for herd-health consulting and vaccination campaigns. Low-income regions register lower vaccination rates, opening service-outsourcing opportunities for multinational providers. State-funded incentives, such as Virginia’s USD 110,000 grants for rural large-animal practice, aim to correct workforce gaps.

AI-Enabled Triage & Diagnostics Boosting Clinic Capacity

Thirty percent of veterinarians now deploy AI tools for imaging, cytology, and practice-management workflows. Solutions such as Vetscan Imagyst analyse slides in minutes, easing caseload spikes amid clinician shortages. Machine-learning models also forecast local disease outbreaks, allowing clinics to pre-position treatments, an efficiency dividend that strengthens the veterinary services market.

Global Shortage & Burnout of Veterinarians

Forecasts show a deficit of 70,092 veterinarians by 2032 versus only 52,926 graduates, a shortfall aggravated by student debt that averages USD 400,000^{[2]American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, “Workforce Demand Study 2025,” aavmc.org}. Burnout exceeds 40%, and suicide risk remains elevated, pressuring clinic rosters in the veterinary services industry. Rural zones suffer most, with 243 U.S. counties classified as shortage areas in 2025.

Escalating Cost of Advanced Procedures & Equipment

Veterinary care prices climbed 7.6% between May 2023 and May 2025, far above general inflation. Capital-intensive MRI or CT units push independent practices toward corporate buyers or referral strategies. Sixty percent of owners cite affordability as the main barrier to care, curbing elective spending in parts of the veterinary services market.

Segment Analysis

By Service: Preventive Care Dominance Drives Digital Transformation

Preventive and wellness care captured 31.02% of 2025 revenue, anchoring the veterinary services market. Subscription wellness plans and annual health screens generate predictable margins, while pharmacy auto-refills deepen client stickiness. The veterinary services market size for tele-health is set to climb from USD 392.98 million in 2026 to USD 0.54 billion by 2031, a 6.45% CAGR. AI-enhanced imaging lifts throughput and supports surge capacity. Surgical demand stabilises as minimally-invasive techniques cut recovery time. Dental procedures remain lucrative, averaging USD 170-350 per case, and 73% of dogs need at least one intervention during their lifetime.

Diagnostic laboratories enjoy cross-selling with clinics, and e-prescribing platforms streamline drug compliance. Emergency and critical-care centres face labour constraints, prompting corporate groups to open 24-hour hubs linked by tele-ICU dashboards. Rehabilitation, acupuncture, and hydro-therapy gain traction as pets age, extending lifetime spending in the veterinary services market.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Animal Type: Companion Animals Lead Growth Amid Livestock Surveillance Expansion

Companion animals constituted 62.68% of revenue in 2025 and will post the fastest 6.63% CAGR through 2031. Dogs continue as the largest sub-segment, with oncology and cardiology services mirroring human care protocols. Urban cat ownership rises among millennials and Generation Z, pushing demand for feline-only clinics. Equine medicine remains niche but commands high average transaction values for lameness diagnostics and sports-injury rehabilitation.

Production animals demand service integration after the H5N1 dairy-herd outbreak highlighted public-health risks. Cattle operators now purchase real-time monitoring and vaccine-compliance audits. Swine and poultry producers expand comprehensive bio-security packages, and aquaculture ventures request specialised health plans, both adding breadth to the veterinary services market. Small ruminants gain attention as consumers diversify protein sources, further widening the client base.

By Provider Ownership Structure: Corporate Consolidation Accelerates Amid Independent Innovation

Corporate chains held 40.92% of 2025 revenue. Mars Incorporated alone operates nearly 3,000 clinics worldwide after absorbing VCA for USD 9.1 billion and later acquisitions. National Veterinary Associates split its specialty and general-practice businesses ahead of a possible IPO. Mission Veterinary Partners and Southern Veterinary Partners plan a merger covering 730 sites, a deal currently under antitrust review.

Mobile and house-call practices clock a 7.49% CAGR, appealing to time-pressed owners and clinicians seeking lifestyle balance. The Vets and BetterVet merger extended mobile reach to 30 cities, lifting the segment’s share of the veterinary services market. Universities and referral centres offer advanced modalities, such as interventional radiology, and act as talent incubators while generating premium caseloads.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Delivery Mode: Traditional Clinics Adapt While Digital Platforms Surge

Brick-and-mortar facilities still account for 73.58% of 2025 spending, supported by the hands-on nature of diagnosis and surgery. Yet the tele-consultation slice of the veterinary services market is growing at 7.18% CAGR. California’s Assembly Bill 1399 and similar rules in Colorado formalised virtual-care protocols and broadened technician duties, unlocking efficiencies. Wearables capture vitals, allowing remote monitoring between visits, and AI triage guides owners to in-person care when warranted.

Farm and mobile services bridge rural gaps, especially in shortage counties. Airvet raised USD 11 million to scale a virtual triage platform, seeking to mitigate an estimated 15,000 veterinarian deficit by 2030. Traditional clinics respond by extending hours, adding curbside drop-off, and embedding cloud practice-management to keep pace with the digital pivot.

Geography Analysis

North America retained 42.01% of global revenue in 2025. Mature insurance penetration, robust e-commerce pharmacy channels, and One-Health policy integration sustain premium-price elasticity. Multinational chains cluster around U.S. urban centres, and Canadian operators observe similar consolidation but tailor offerings to public-health mandates. Mexico’s rising middle class fuels double-digit pet-food growth, a signal of downstream service opportunity.

Europe shows steady uptake. The United Kingdom’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons streamlines accreditation, facilitating cross-border clinician mobility. Germany and France invest in surveillance platforms that link animal and human epidemiological data. EQT’s acquisition of VetPartners indicates capital inflows aiming at clinic platform scaling across member states. Regulatory harmonisation for tele-medicine and prescription data interoperability aids clinic groups in capturing operational synergies across the veterinary services market.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-expanding zone at 5.57% CAGR. China’s pet-medical spend hit 1,062 billion yuan in 2024 and keeps rising despite fragmentation. India’s pet-food market is growing at 15.37% CAGR and pulls ancillary services such as dietetic consults and dermatology. Japan’s super-aging dogs spur demand for geriatric care, while South Korea pioneers AI algorithms for small-animal imaging. Australia’s clinic roll-ups attract European buyers hunting for exposure to a high-compliance market. Collectively, these dynamics enlarge the veterinary services market size for the region.