US pet owners spent $36.3 billion on veterinary care in 2023, while demand and costs kept rising at an 8.5% inflation rate. At the same time, the US private-practice workforce totaled 115,468 veterinarians and continues to face a global shortage estimated at 500,000 by 2030. These pressure points help explain why clinics expand services in some areas and struggle to staff appointments in others.
Key Takeaways
- There were 115,468 private practice veterinarians in the US in 2023
- US pet owners spent $36.3 billion on vet care in 2023
- The global veterinary services market size was valued at USD 41.49 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030
- 67 million US households own pets in 2023
- US vet visits for dogs average 2.1 per year per dog 2023
Recent veterinary industry data shows steady growth in demand for pet care services and spending.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Workforce30 stats
01
There were 115,468 private practice veterinarians in the US in 2023
02
US veterinary workforce totals 127,000 veterinarians in 2022
03
32% of US vets are in small animal exclusive practice as of 2023
04
Average US vet salary $151,000in 2023, up 8% from prior year
05
12,500 new US vets graduated in 2023 from 33 colleges
06
28% of US vets work in mixed animal practice
07
Veterinary technician employment in US 114,000 in 2022, projected 20% growth by 2032
08
41% of US vets are female as of 2023, up from 27% in 2008
09
Global veterinarian shortage estimated at 500,000 by 2030
10
UK has 18,500 registered vets in 2023
11
US vet assistant jobs 102,000 in 2022, 19% growth projected
12
15% of US vets employed by corporates in 2023, up from 8% in 2018
13
Australia 12,000 vets in 2023, density 4.5 per 10,000 people
14
Canada 15,200 vets in 2022
15
9.2% unemployment rate among new US vet grads in 2023
16
Veterinary practice manager average salary US $75,000in 2023
17
India 65,000 vets for 1.4 billion people in 2023
18
25% of US vets over age 60 in 2023, retirement wave incoming
19
Brazil 40,000 vets, mostly urban
20
EU vets total 170,000 in 2022
21
US receptionist in vet clinics average wage $18/hour in 2023
22
70% of US vets report burnout in 2023 survey
23
South Africa 4,500 vets in 2023
24
Veterinary radiologist shortage US 20% vacancies in 2023
25
Global vet tech programs graduated 10,000 annually
26
New Zealand 2,800 vets in 2023
27
US corporate vet employment 22,000 vets in 2023
28
52% of US female vets work part-time vs 28% males in 2023
29
Veterinary nurse salary UK £28,000 average in 2023
30
Mexico 15,000 vets in 2023
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While the veterinary workforce is growing, diversifying, and even getting a modest pay bump, the industry finds itself in a paradoxical scramble to fill a half-million global shortage, all while trying to stanch the burnout bleeding from its current practitioners and absorb a tidal wave of new graduates saddled with eye-watering debt.
02 · Category
Expenditures and Economics28 stats
01
US pet owners spent $36.3 billion on vet care in 2023
02
Average vet bill per US dog visit $132in 2023
03
42% US pet owners have pet insurance covering $1.5 billion claims 2023
04
Vet care inflation US 8.5% in 2023
05
Corporate vet acquisitions 120 practices US 2023, $2.5 billion value
06
Average US vet clinic revenue $1.2 million annually 2023
07
Pet Rx spending US $7.3 billion in 2023
08
28% US pet owners skipped vet care due to cost 2023
09
Wellness plan revenue $4 billion US vets 2023
10
Emergency vet visit average cost $1,500US 2023
11
Livestock vet expenditures US farms $3.2 billion 2023
12
Pet dental procedure average $800-1,200 US 2023
13
Vet debt US clinics average $500,000per practice 2023
14
Insurance reimbursements average 80% of claims US 2023
15
Boarding/kennel revenue $2.1 billion US 2023
16
Supply costs 25% of vet clinic expenses US 2023
17
TPLO surgery average $3,500-$7,000 US 2023
18
Annual pet insurance premiums average $600US 2023
19
Vet payroll 55% of practice expenses US 2023
20
OTC pet meds sales $2.8 billion US 2023
21
Facility rent 8-12% of revenue US vet clinics 2023
22
Cancer treatment average $4,000-$10,000 per pet US 2023
23
Credit card usage 60% of vet payments US 2023
24
Lab fees 10% of total expenditures US vets 2023
25
Spay surgery average $350dogs US 2023
26
Marketing spend 2-5% revenue US clinics 2023
27
MRI/CT average $2,000-$3,000 per scan US 2023
28
Food/treat sales $1.5 billion in vet clinics US 2023
Interpretation
Expenditures and Economics Interpretation
We've become a nation that happily finances our pets' health like luxury cars, treating them to MRIs and credit card-funded TPLO surgeries, while vets themselves struggle under a mountain of debt just to keep the clinic lights on.
03 · Category
Market Size and Growth30 stats
01
The global veterinary services market size was valued at USD 41.49 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030
02
In the US, the veterinary services industry revenue reached $62.5 billion in 2023
03
The US companion animal veterinary market is projected to reach $24.6 billion by 2025
04
Veterinary diagnostics market globally was $3.8 billion in 2021, growing at 9.5% CAGR to 2028
05
Europe veterinary medicine market size was EUR 6.2 billion in 2022
06
US veterinary equipment market valued at $1.9 billion in 2023, expected to hit $2.8 billion by 2030
07
Global veterinary telemedicine market to grow from $1.2 billion in 2022 to $4.5 billion by 2030 at 14% CAGR
08
Indian veterinary services market expected to reach INR 25,000 crore by 2025
09
US livestock veterinary services revenue $15.4 billion in 2023
10
Global animal health market size $49.5 billion in 2022, projected $78.2 billion by 2030
11
Veterinary software market worldwide $1.65 billion in 2023, CAGR 10.8% to 2030
12
Australia veterinary services market $3.2 billion AUD in 2023
13
China veterinary medicine market $12.1 billion in 2022
14
US emergency veterinary services segment growing at 7.5% annually
15
Global veterinary vaccines market $9.2 billion in 2023, to $14.8 billion by 2030
16
Brazil veterinary market size $2.8 billion in 2022, CAGR 6.8%
17
UK veterinary services turnover £5.6 billion in 2023
18
Veterinary robotics market global $200 million in 2023, to $1.2 billion by 2032
19
Canada veterinary services industry $4.1 billion CAD in 2023
20
Asia-Pacific veterinary diagnostics market $1.1 billion in 2022, CAGR 8.9%
21
US vet services inflation-adjusted revenue up 4.2% in 2022
22
Global pet vet care market $28.5 billion in 2023
23
Veterinary pharmaceuticals market $28 billion in 2022, to $43 billion by 2030
24
South Korea vet market $1.9 billion in 2023
25
Veterinary hospital construction market US $1.2 billion annually
26
Middle East vet services market growing at 7.1% CAGR to 2028
27
US small animal practice revenue average $1.8 million per clinic in 2023
28
Global vet reference lab market $2.3 billion in 2023
29
Veterinary staffing market US $10.5 billion in 2023
30
World veterinary artificial intelligence market $0.4 billion in 2023, to $2.1 billion by 2030
Interpretation
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
While the global veterinary industry—fueled by everything from AI-driven diagnostics to a surge in emergency care—now commands a multi-billion dollar price tag, its true value is measured in the quiet comfort of a healthy pet and the secured livelihood of a farmer, not just in its impressive financial prognosis.
More related reading
04 · Category
Pet Ownership and Demographics29 stats
01
67 million US households own pets in 2023
02
86.9 million US pet dogs owned in 2023, up 2% YoY
03
66.5 million US pet cats in 2023
04
11% of US households own fish as pets in 2023, total 11.5 million households
05
Millennials own 33% of US pets, 70 million pet parents
06
45.4 million US bird-owning households? No, 6 million households with birds
07
UK pet dog ownership 12.6 million dogs in 13 million households 2023
08
24% of US households have dogs, highest ownership rate
09
Baby boomers own 27% of US pets
10
Europe 90 million pet dogs, 110 million cats in 2023
11
3.2 million US pet rabbits in 2023
12
Gen Z pet ownership US 36% of their households
13
Australia 29 million pets, 69% households own pets 2023
14
India pet dog population 31 million in 2023
15
38% of US pet owners are single
16
Brazil 60 million pet dogs, 25 million cats 2023
17
20 million US freshwater fish pets in 2023
18
Rural US households 55% pet ownership vs 59% urban 2023
19
China urban pet dogs 27 million, cats 19 million 2023
20
Hispanic US pet owners 49 million pets in 2023
21
Canada 27.9 million cats and dogs combined 2023
22
15% of US households own reptiles, 9.8 million
23
UK 12 million pet cats in 2023
24
Empty nesters US own 18% more pets than average
25
Japan pet dogs 6.8 million, cats 9.4 million 2023
26
62% US pet-owning households have dogs only
27
South Korea pet dogs 6 million 2023
28
Multi-pet households US 43% have both dog and cat
29
France 7.4 million dogs, 14.9 million cats 2023
Interpretation
Pet Ownership and Demographics Interpretation
The numbers don't lie: humanity is fervently outsourcing its need for emotional connection and household chaos to a vast, multi-species support network that now spans the globe, proving that the universal language isn't love, but the rustle of a food bag.
05 · Category
Services and Procedures30 stats
01
US vet visits for dogs average 2.1 per year per dog 2023
02
70% of US dogs receive annual wellness exams
03
Core canine vaccines administered to 85% of US dogs in 2023
04
US cat spay/neuter rate 90% lifetime
05
Dental cleanings for US pets 2.5 million procedures annually
06
Orthopedic surgeries US vets perform 500,000 yearly
07
Telemedicine consults US vets 15 million in 2023
08
Flea/tick preventives given to 75% US dogs monthly
09
Emergency vet visits US 12% of all visits, 4 million cases yearly
10
Heartworm testing US dogs 60% compliance rate 2023
11
Surgical sterilizations 6 million US cats/dogs annually
12
Ultrasound imaging in vet clinics up 25% since 2020
13
Rabies vaccinations US 95% coverage in dogs
14
Chemotherapy treatments for pets 100,000 cases US yearly
15
Routine bloodwork panels 40 million US pets annually
16
Physical therapy sessions for pets 1.5 million in US 2023
17
Endoscopy procedures 250,000 yearly US vets
18
Laser therapy treatments 5 million sessions US 2023
19
Microchipping 8 million US pets in 2023
20
MRI scans for pets 50,000 annually US
21
Acupuncture for animals 2 million treatments US yearly
22
CT scans veterinary US 75,000 in 2023
23
Hospice care plans for pets 300,000 US cases yearly
24
Behavior consults 1 million US pets 2023
25
Herd health visits for livestock 2.5 million farms US
26
Nutrition consults 4 million pet cases annually
27
Ophthalmology surgeries 150,000 US pets yearly
28
Dermatology visits 20% of all US pet appointments 2023
29
Stem cell therapies 10,000 veterinary cases US 2023
30
Reproductive services AI 500,000 cattle US yearly
Interpretation
Services and Procedures Interpretation
While America’s dogs are dutifully checking in for their vaccines and twice-yearly visits, and cats are overwhelmingly fixed, we’re also a nation aggressively extending, investigating, and specializing our pets' lives with millions of scans, therapies, and consults, yet still grappling with the stark math of preventive care compliance and the sobering half-million goodbyes.
Reference
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Veterinary Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veterinary-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Veterinary Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/veterinary-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Veterinary Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veterinary-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
88 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level