Early-Year Veterinarian Industry Stakeholder Sentiment

How animal health stakeholders feel about the year ahead.

The start of each year follows a familiar rhythm of trade shows and industry events, providing critical insights and setting the tone for the months ahead. This year has been no exception, with key gatherings offering valuable perspectives on the state of the animal health industry and its trajectory.

VMX Orlando: A strong start

VMX serves as the industry’s kickoff event. The atmosphere in Orlando was energetic and optimistic, signaling a potential break from the COVID-driven boom-and-bust cycle of the past five years. Notably, AI and emerging technologies garnered significant attention, reflecting a growing industry-wide acceptance, especially at the practice level, where innovation is desperately needed.

The Animalytix market update: Sobering realities

Held virtually in February, the Animalytix Market Update provides a data-driven look at the previous year’s animal health market trends and the performance of veterinary practices nationwide. The report confirmed ongoing challenges, with small animal practices, the backbone of industry growth, posting less than 2% growth in 2024. Key indicators, including wellness visits and vaccine uptake, were down year-over-year.

Dr. Travis Meredith, a veterinarian and industry expert overseeing Animalytix’s veterinary practice initiatives, offered a practitioner’s perspective on 2024. His key concern was the growing imbalance between rising salaries and declining productivity, a trend that is unsustainable. The typical response – raising prices – risks suppressing demand, triggering a negative cycle that is particularly dangerous in uncertain economic conditions. Finding a way to break this cycle is critical if the industry hopes to return to its historic growth trajectory.

WVC Las Vegas: Betting on the future

Viticus Group, the organization behind WVC, announced a new conference in Nashville for 2026 – an optimistic wager on renewed growth. The energy in Las Vegas echoed that of VMX: high-paced, positive, and well-attended.

The Outlook: Navigating uncertainty

Despite these positive signals, 2025 is shaping up to be another low-growth year for animal health. Current VetWatch data through early March paints a concerning picture: Veterinary visits are down 4.8% year-over-year, invoices have dropped 6.7%, patient numbers have declined 5.7%, and revenue is down 1.6%. Other industry sources report similar trends.

However, there are bright spots. Investors remain confident in the sector, innovation continues to drive meaningful advancements, and forward-thinking companies are making strategic investments in the future. The firms that embrace this proactive mindset are positioning themselves as industry leaders, and that’s the mentality the rest of us must adopt if we want to thrive in the years ahead.