Worldwide Trends in Veterinary Care
One of the most complex and competing industries globally, the Veterinary industry has had a growing number of customers and an ever-changing landscape in animal health and welfare. As the industry enters a new era, keeping up with the latest trends and developments is essential.
Veterenians Accesibility
Access to veterinarians and veterinary experts varies enormously worldwide according to availability and affordability. Globally speaking, there are approx—1,90,000 vets in Europe and approx. 1,20,000 vets in the USA, while India has only 72,200 vets in the major markets.
Surveys show that the number of veterinarians for small animals represents the bulk of veterinarians in developed markets. In the U.K., while 52.6% of the veterinary sector workers are at a small animal practice, only 3.2% work with farm animals. Three-quarters of private U.S. veterinarians work majorly and exclusively with pets. Despite rising numbers of small animal veterinarians, it needs to catch up with the number of adopted pets.
The U.S. will need 41,000 veterinarians in 2030 to meet pet care needs. However, according to a study by Mars Veterinary Health, the profession is to fall 15,000 short of this number. The British Veterinary Association accounts for a "veterinary workforce crisis" and "storm of shortages" in the U.K. after a drop of 68% in veterinarians registering to come and work in the U.K. in the wake of Brexit. The Australian Veterinary Association has stated that a lot more veterinarians are urgently needed to fill the gaps in the wake of the 'pandemic puppy boom.'
A veterinary workforce that isn't in pace with the rising pet population will put an intense strain on individual veterinarians and their staff. Individuals might need to care for more animals and have less time per appointment, affecting their relationship with clients and mental health.
Even before the pandemic, only 48% of U.K. veterinarians expressed to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, saying "they would still choose the veterinary profession if they could restart their career." This issue has expanded since then and approaching it is crucial for the health of veterinarians and their patients in the long run.
Access to Medicines
In both developed and developing countries, several limitations are holding back access to medicines. According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's (WSAVA) survey, three-quarters of veterinary associations surveyed showed that access to veterinary medical products obstructed their ability to serve their patients and provide quality service. Primary reasons cited for the lack of medical access included the regulatory environment in respondents' countries and manufacturer-related issues like lack of interest because of the small market size and higher cost of products.
The pandemic also influenced access to medicines, despite being listed as "essential" for veterinary practices in many countries and exempt from many closures affecting other industries. A quarter of pet owners said that in 2020, the pandemic had made it difficult to get medicines for their pets despite many countries' efforts to safeguard veterinary services. According to a global pet survey, more than one in 10 pets missed essential, routine treatments. Although the initial challenges from Covid have subsided, the growing 'pandemic pet boom' has created new issues regarding veterinary shortage and the ability to access care.
Vaccine Hesitancy
Even before the pandemic outbreak, vaccine hesitancy was prevalent among pet owners, hindering the progress on pet health. In the U.K., approximately a quarter of pet owners said their dog did not have a primary course of vaccinations when young, despite vaccinations preventing a range of common diseases. Veterinarians in developed nations like the U.S. and Australia have reported increased animal vaccine refusal due to hesitancy or anti-vaccination attitudes before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Respondents in a survey of U.S. and Canadian veterinarians said the human vaccine hesitancy movement has 'increased the number of owners declining or expressing concern about rabies and core vaccinations.'
Innovation in Veterinary Care
Emerging innovations in pet health care highlight the potential for further improving pet health, welfare, and livelihoods. These innovations range from new vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments to new services and products that are more affordable, convenient, and accurate. Here are some of the latest veterinary breakthroughs for pets:
- Gene therapy treatments for cancer account for more than a quarter of all deaths in pedigree dogs in the U.K.
- Tools to reduce the need for antibiotics such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, can help reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
- Innovative pet technology including wearables such as high-tech collars and tracking systems, with the market forecast to be worth some $20 billion by 2027.
- Greater variety of pet nutrition options including single-serve, balanced meals, which can be tailored towards the pet's specific needs.
The pet food and care products market continues to grow worldwide. In Europe, the market is worth an estimated €22 billion a year, with pet health products valued at an additional €2.1 billion, and the industry employs around 300,000 people in total.
With increased demand from clients and employers, veterinary professionals will start valuing themselves, their time, professional expertise, and experience more, leading to increased confidence in the value of veterinary care.
