Let Sleeping Dogs Lie? the Quiet Rise of Anti-Competitive Vet Practices

Have you ever glanced into a passerby’s stroller, anticipating the sight of a cooing baby, only to lock eyes with a chihuahua or a pomeranian instead? In Canada’s urban centers, this sort of scene is no longer out of the ordinary. In many households around the world, pets are starting to be seen less as property, and more as family members. This newfound status is reflected in everything from gourmet pet food to elaborate birthday parties (guilty as charged). With over 60 percent of Canadian households now including at least one pet, the bond between humans and their animals has never been stronger.

This surge in pet ownership has fueled a boom in the veterinary industry, which in 2025 has become more essential—and more expensive—than ever before. But as Canadians pour their hearts and wallets into the care of their pets, it’s worth paws-ing to take a closer look. Behind the glossy exterior of high-tech clinics lies a growing industry rife with corporate consolidation, anti-competitive practices, and rising costs. For many, the question is no longer, “can we treat our pets like family?” but rather, “can we afford to?”

Amid the surge in pet ownership, a critical issue looms large in the background: a nationwide shortage of veterinary professionals. While demand for veterinary services has skyrocketed, particularly since the pandemic, the number of veterinarians has not kept pace, creating significant bottlenecks in access to care. The shortage of veterinary professionals is having a significant impact on people and their pets, exacerbating wait times and straining existing clinics. For many pet owners, this shortage translates into delayed appointments and rushed consultations, impacting both accessibility and quality of care. Veterinarians, overburdened by the rising demand, face burnout, further threatening the stability of the industry. This growing strain on veterinary services has created an opening for corporate consolidators to step in, reshaping the industry for better or worse.

The Rise of Corporate Consolidation

Once dominated by independent practitioners, Canada’s veterinary industry has undergone a dramatic shift toward corporate ownership in recent years. In 2009, almost all veterinary practices were independently owned. Since 2012, however, consolidators have bought up hundreds of clinics across the country. Corporate-owned veterinary practices now make up 20.4% of the market share and employ an estimated 40% of Canadian veterinarians. Among corporate consolidators, the three largest in Canada are international conglomerates. British company IVC Evidensia owns VetStrategy, a German investment fund owns National Veterinary Association, and American company Mars Inc (yes, that Mars) owns VCA Canada.

The trend of corporate consolidation mirrors a broader global shift in the veterinary industry, where private equity firms and multinational corporations have identified veterinary practices as lucrative investments. The appeal lies in their steady revenue streams, which are bolstered by the global rise of pet ownership along with an increased willingness of pet owners to spend on their animals’ healthcare. Consolidators often target well-established practices, leveraging their reputations while implementing cost-cutting measures and standardized protocols across multiple locations to maximize profits.

In Canada, this shift has raised concerns about the long-term implications for both practitioners and clients. Consolidation in any industry can lead to higher prices for services, as corporate ownership can often lead to shifting priorities (e.g., profits for shareholders over quality of services). Corporate oversight may also limit veterinarians’ autonomy in clinical decision-making, as corporate policies and profit-driven targets may influence the care provided. For independent practitioners, competing with large corporate entities that benefit from economies of scale and greater bargaining power is increasingly challenging, further accelerating the trend of consolidation.

The Medication Monopoly

The cost of pet medications is another major issue when it comes to affordability in veterinary medicine. Unlike medications for humans, which are usually filled at pharmacies of the patient’s choice, pet medications are typically dispensed directly through veterinarians. According to a recent report by the Competition Bureau, this closed distribution system restricts competition and drives up prices.

While both pharmacists and veterinarians are legally allowed to dispense veterinary medication, veterinarians are often the sole point of access for pet owners to receive their prescription. This is due to a widespread practice referred to as exclusive distribution, where manufacturers only sell to veterinary-owned distributors. This anti-competitive practice prevents alternative suppliers, such as pharmacists and online pharmacies, from dispensing medications directly to the consumer. These practices can result in significant markups, forcing pet owners to pay premiums for even basic medications like flea treatments or antibiotics. The Competition Bureau’s report suggests that allowing pharmacists to dispense pet medications could create a more competitive market and reduce costs to consumers.

Impacts on Pet Owners and Care Accessibility

The combined effects of corporate consolidation and anti-competitive practices have tangible consequences. A growing number of Canadians are delaying or forgoing what should be essential veterinary care. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Shelter Medicine & Community Animal Health found that the most common barriers to veterinary care were affordability and the inability obtain an appointment. These barriers have resulted in pets being surrendered to shelters or left untreated for preventable or manageable conditions. In some cases, pet owners have even opted for euthanasia instead of treatment due to the prohibitive cost of what would otherwise have been an easily treatable ailment, such as a bone fracture.

It’s a heartbreaking reality for many pet owners to be forced into an impossible choice: prioritize their pet’s health or their financial survival. For those who see their pets as family members, the emotional toll of being unable to afford care is immense—leaving them to grapple with feelings of guilt, helplessness, and grief. This struggle has only intensified in an era of rising inflation and economic uncertainty where the cost of living continues to climb, and job stability feels more precarious than ever. For countless Canadians, the love they have for their pets is boundless, but their financial resources are not, creating a deeply painful divide between what they want to provide and what they can realistically afford.

What Can Be Done?

From a regulatory perspective, the Competition Bureau recommends that the provinces and territories mandate the supply of pet medications to pharmacists in order to allow for alternative suppliers to enter the market and increase competition and innovation. They point to Quebec as a case study, where pharmacists secured access to pharmaceuticals from a national distributor in 2021, which has resulted in increased competition and greater consumer choice for pet owners in the province. The Competition Bureau strongly suggests that provincial regulators take competition into account when evaluating what kind of legislative changes would be in the best interest of animals and their owners.

Increased public awareness of the issues surrounding veterinary medicine is also crucial to ensuring that the consumer base is better equipped to navigate the complexities of veterinary care. In recent years, there has been a growing effort by experts and advocates to do just that. As I was writing this article, CBC Marketplace published a piece on how the corporatization of vet clinics is driving up prices across Canada. During their investigation, they spoke to one corporate-owned veterinary employee that claimed that increases in service fees have been both frequent and unexplained, believing them to be primarily based on the corporation’s drive for raising profits.

This kind of reporting is invaluable in fostering consumer awareness and empowering pet owners to make more informed choices about their pets’ care. The CBC Marketplace article goes a step further by providing a searchable database of veterinary clinics owned by the three major corporate chains in Canada, giving consumers the tool to identify and, if they wish, actively support independent veterinary practices in their communities. By equipping Canadians with this knowledge, it becomes easier to navigate their pet’s care and make decisions that align with their values and budgets.

The issues surrounding veterinary care in Canada are complicated. There are myriad factors outside of the industry’s control that can contribute to its rising cost and barriers to access, such as a shortage of veterinary practitioners, inflation, and supply chain issues. The anti-competitive practices within the industry that exacerbate the cost and access to veterinary care, however, can and should be addressed by regulatory oversight. These challenges demand systemic reform. Policymakers, industry leaders, and regulators must work together to ensure that affordability and accessibility are prioritized while maintaining innovation and quality of care. The Competition Bureau has already laid out a roadmap for change, but its recommendations will only become a reality if stakeholders act decisively.

Pets bring comfort, joy, and a sense of companionship into the lives of millions of Canadians. We owe it to them to ensure that veterinary care isn’t some rare treat reserved for the financially fortunate, but a core and accessible part of responsible pet ownership. The burden of addressing these issues shouldn’t rest solely on individual pet owners—it’s about reflecting the values of a society that sees its animals not as commodities, but as sentient beings who are worthy of quality care. Accessible and affordable care isn’t just about dodging a dog-eat-dog system; it’s about fairness, compassion, and keeping the love that we have for our pets from costing an arm and a paw.