Weekly companion animal news: April 3, 2023

U.S. pet ownership down, spending up since 2021: APPA

U.S. pet ownership has fallen since 2021 while spending has increased with inflation, according to new data from the American Pet Products Association. Sixty-six percent of U.S. households own a pet, according to APPA’s 2023-2024 National Pet Owners Survey. The association reported $136.8 billion in total sales in the pet industry last year, up 10.8% from 2021. “While we outperformed our 2022 forecast, we know this increase can be attributed in large part to higher-than-anticipated inflation, and we expect spending will follow a similar trajectory and remain steady in 2023,” said APPA President and CEO Peter Scott. The biggest increase in spending last year was in the pet food and treats category, up 16.2% to $58.1 billion, according to APPA.

As inflation pushes pet food prices up, customers cut back on nonessential items

While pet owners often say they’ll cut down on their own food before their pets’, steep inflation is making that commitment more difficult, The Wall Street Journal reports. In February, pet food prices were 15.2% above year-ago prices, far more than the 10.1% inflation seen in the human food-at-home category, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pet owners are cutting back on nonessential items like toys first. Petco said it saw sales of higher-margin discretionary items fall 7.8% in the quarter ending January 28, and both Petco and Chewy expect slowing revenue growth this fiscal year.

How much does it cost to own a dog in 2023?

U.S. dog owners spend an average of about $1,188 on their dogs each year, although the costs can range quite a bit, according to a new survey by Rover. According to Rover’s analysis, upfront costs for new dog owners in 2023 range from $1,135 to $5,155. Annual costs for essentials such as dog food, toys and flea medicine range from $610 to $3,555. “Optional extras” such as emergency veterinary bills, dog walking and an apartment pet deposit cost dog owners between $1,390 and $4,095 per year. More information is in the analysis by Rover.

Grant will support San Francisco SPCA programs to keep pets and families together

The San Francisco SPCA last week announced it has received a $100,000 grant from the San Francisco Foundation to support programs that aim to keep families and their pets together. These programs include the SF SPCA’s mobile vaccine clinic, the city’s first fixed-fee community veterinary clinic, and the Community Medicine Education Training Program, a workforce development program. The grant will also enable financial assistance to San Francisco residents with low incomes, according to the announcement.

Shelter medicine receives full recognition as veterinary specialty

The American Board of Veterinary Specialties has approved a petition for full recognition of shelter medicine as a veterinary specialty. The shelter medicine practice specialty is part of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. “Animal shelters and rescues have become more prominent, and the number of animals in need of care has grown,” said Tom Van Winkle, executive director of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. “As the demands of shelter medicine continue to evolve, this recognition will make it possible for specialists to go beyond a conventional veterinary education and improve the health and welfare of shelter animals.”

Arkansas expands veterinary technician role with new specialist certification

A new law in Arkansas will allow for a dramatic expansion of the scope of practice of veterinary technicians in the state, the VIN News Service reports. The law, passed late last month, creates a state certification for a veterinary technician specialist role with authority to diagnose, develop treatment plans and establish, on a preliminary basis, a veterinarian-client-patient relationship in collaboration with a veterinarian. The role outlined in the new law builds on a national veterinary technician specialist certification. It was supported by both the Arkansas Veterinary Technician Association and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.

Arkansas bill would create state scholarship fund for veterinary students, aiming to improve rural animal care

A bill in the Arkansas Senate would create a scholarship fund in the state’s Department of Agriculture for veterinary students. Recipients would be required to begin in-state employment within a year of graduation and would have to work for at least two years in Arkansas. The bill aims to address a veterinarian shortage in the state, particularly in rural areas, said Senator Rick Hill, who sponsored it. “The main issue that we’re facing is trying to get these veterinarians to areas that are economically challenged….It will provide a great service for an underserved area,” Hill told KAIT.

New bill would make xylazine a federally controlled substance

Lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate have introduced legislation that aims to crack down on the illegal use of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer. While it’s used as a sedative and pain reliever for animals, it has also increasingly been found in illicit drugs. The legislation would list it as a Schedule III controlled substance, meaning it has a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.” Other Schedule III drugs include ketamine and anabolic steroids. The bill would also enable the Drug Enforcement Administration to track the manufacturing of xylazine to ensure it’s not diverted to the illicit market, The Hill reports.