Veterinary healthcare, or veterinary science, is a medical specialty concerned with the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the health of domestic and wild animals. Veterinary healthcare focuses on effective animal health management by diagnosing and treating diseases. It includes over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, nutraceuticals, parasiticides, antibiotics, and supplements, used to treat animal diseases associated with digestive, reproductive, immunological, respiratory, and urinary system of animals.
Market Statistics:
The Global Veterinary Healthcare Market is estimated to account for US$ 33,095.6 Mn in terms of value by the end of 2022.
Drivers:
Rise in demand for veterinary healthcare due to increase in awareness about veterinary healthcare is expected to propel the growth of the global veterinary healthcare market over the forecast period. For instance, in August 2022, the European Animal Health Agency extended its ASF (Stop African Swine Fever) awareness campaign. The campaign has been extended for the 3rd consecutive year. It is run in partnership with local authorities in countries, such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Opportunities:
Increase in adoption of companion animals and increasing health concerns in animals is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for players in the global veterinary healthcare market. For instance, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in July 2020, there were around 103 million cattle and 32.05 million beef cows in the U.S. and the number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Moreover, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles, reported that the rate of adoption was doubled in June 2020, with daily adoptions of about 10 to 13 per day.
Restraints:
High cost of veterinary healthcare services and the availability of counterfeit products or drugs are major factors expected to hinder growth of the global veterinary healthcare market. For instance, according to the American Pet Products Association, veterinary care costs continue to rise, with the U.S. consumers spent around US$ 123.6 billion in 2021 on veterinarian care and product sales. Moreover, the prevalence of illegal veterinary medicine is quite high in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, as per the data provided by Health for Animals.