Logan Reid
The number of animal hospitals in the US is difficult to pinpoint, but there are about 49,320 enterprises in the Veterinary Services industry as of 2025. This includes private practices, corporate-owned clinics, and mixed-practice facilities. The US has seen a rise in the demand for veterinary care, with an estimated 69 million households owning dogs and 45.3 million owning cats. This increase in pet ownership has resulted in a projected 17% growth in veterinary jobs from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average occupation. However, there is a critical shortage of large animal veterinarians, with only 5.3% of vets in food animal practice, which is a concern for animal health, food safety, and rural communities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of veterinarians in the US | 118,000-126,138 |
| Number of veterinarians needed by 2030 | Additional 41,000 |
| Projected shortage of veterinarians by 2030 | 15,000 |
| Projected job growth rate for veterinarians from 2020-2030 | 17% |
| Number of veterinary enterprises in 2025 | 49,320 |
| Number of dog-owning households | 69 million |
| Number of cat-owning households | 45.3 million |
| Percentage of veterinarians in food animal practice | 5.3% |
| Percentage of veterinarians in companion animal work | 69.7% |
| Percentage of veterinarians in mixed practice | 3.2% |
| Challenges in accessing veterinary care for livestock | 3.7 million livestock jobs at stake |
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What You'll Learn
There are about 126,138 veterinarians in the US
The demand for veterinarians in the US is high, and it is expected to grow by 17% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average occupation. This increasing demand is driven by a booming pet ownership market, with millennials constituting the largest demographic of pet owners. The pet supplement industry is also experiencing significant growth, reflecting pet owners' desire for natural wellness solutions for their furry companions.
However, the veterinary profession faces challenges, such as veterinarian burnout, which costs the industry between $1 and $2 billion annually in lost revenue. Turnover and reduced working hours are significant contributors to these losses. To address this issue, practices are investing in technology and workflow improvements to survive the crush of demand. Additionally, large organizations are advocating for policy changes to address the chronic shortage of veterinarians, especially in rural areas.
The consolidation trend in the veterinary industry is also notable, with corporate groups employing approximately 40% of practicing veterinarians. While fewer than 40% of veterinary clinics are corporate-owned, those that are tend to be larger than average private practices, leading to a disproportionate employment share. This trend is projected to continue, with predictions that 25% of veterinary practices will be part of a corporate group by 2023, accounting for half of all veterinary visits.
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75,349 vets work in private practice
There are approximately 126,000 practicing veterinarians in the United States, with around 75,000 working in private practice. This means that about 60% of veterinarians in the US work in private practice.
Veterinarians working in private practice make up a significant portion of the veterinary workforce in the country. Private practice veterinarians provide essential care for companion animals, such as dogs and cats, which are owned by millions of households in the US. The demand for veterinary services is high, especially with the recent boom in pet ownership, particularly among millennials.
Working in private practice offers veterinarians certain advantages. According to surveys, veterinarians in private practice reported higher satisfaction with feeling known by upper management, hospital culture, the ability to dismiss difficult or abusive clients, and mentorship opportunities. Private practices tend to be smaller in size compared to corporate-owned clinics, which allows for a more personalized work environment and closer relationships with colleagues and management.
However, the veterinary profession also faces challenges, with burnout being a significant issue. The high cost of burnout among veterinarians in the US is estimated to result in billions of dollars in lost revenue annually. Turnover and reduced working hours due to burnout have a substantial impact on the industry. Younger veterinarians are particularly affected, working longer hours than their more experienced colleagues and facing a greater struggle to achieve a work-life balance.
To address these challenges, large organizations are advocating for efforts to prevent veterinarian burnout and shortages. Investments are being made in technology and workflow improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce the workload on veterinarians. Additionally, the job outlook for veterinarians is positive, with an expected growth rate of 17% to 20% from 2020 to 2030, indicating a recognition of the importance of their role in society.
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There is a shortage of large animal veterinarians
The US is facing a shortage of veterinarians, with an estimated 41,000 additional veterinarians needed by 2030. This shortage is particularly acute when it comes to large animal veterinarians. Large animal veterinarians are those who care for cattle, horses, pigs, and other livestock. They are often based in rural areas and may have to travel to farms to treat animals.
A 2023 Johns Hopkins report found that the number of veterinarians working with livestock animals has decreased by 90% since World War II, now accounting for less than 2% of all veterinarians. This has resulted in a crisis, particularly in rural America, where farmers and ranchers struggle to access veterinary care for their livestock. This shortage is not just an issue for individual farmers, but it can also lead to problems with food security and safety, and the identification and mitigation of zoonotic diseases.
There are several reasons for the shortage of large animal veterinarians. One significant factor is financial barriers. The cost of veterinary school is high, often leaving graduates with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Large animal veterinarians also tend to earn less than small-animal veterinarians, particularly those working in high-end urban clinics. As a result, new graduates may opt for the higher salaries of companion animal practice over livestock care. The economics of running a rural veterinary practice can also be challenging, with lower incomes and higher overheads than urban practices.
Other factors include the physical demands of the job, long and unpredictable hours, and the difficulty of attracting new graduates to rural areas. The work can be isolating, and the lifestyle may be unappealing to new graduates. The mental health and wellbeing of veterinarians is also a significant issue, with high levels of burnout and poor mental health outcomes across the profession.
To address the shortage, programs like CREAM and several new initiatives are working to incentivize prospective veterinarians to enter the industry. These programs also aim to study and address the social and cultural factors that contribute to the shortage. For example, Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is piloting a program to better understand the scale of the issue and offer practical solutions. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program is another initiative that offers debt relief of up to $75,000 for qualified individuals who work in areas with veterinary shortages.
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Veterinary jobs are expected to grow by 17% by 2030
The number of veterinary jobs in the US is expected to grow by 17% between 2020 and 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This equates to 14,500 new jobs by the end of 2030. The growth rate is much higher than that of other occupations.
This projected increase in veterinary jobs can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, pet ownership is booming, with millennials constituting the largest pet-owning demographic. During the pandemic, about 30% of the US adopted at least one pet, and millennials now account for 32% of all pet owners. Cats and dogs are the most common pets, with 69 million households owning a dog and 45.3 million owning a cat.
Another factor contributing to the growth of veterinary jobs is the increase in pet care spending. The pet industry in the US is thriving, with pet spending projected to reach $143.6 billion in 2023. Food and treats make up the highest spending category, followed by veterinary care and products, which account for $37 billion. As pet owners increasingly view their pets as family, they are more willing to invest in their pets' health and well-being. This includes a rise in spending on pet supplements, which is expected to reach $1 billion by 2027.
In addition to the growing pet population and increased spending on pet care, advancements in veterinary medicine and nutrition have also played a role in the projected growth of veterinary jobs. The average life expectancy of cats and dogs has increased over time, with improved veterinary care, better nutrition, and expanded treatment options contributing to longer and healthier lives for pets.
However, it is important to note that the veterinary profession also faces challenges. Student loan debt is a significant issue, with veterinarians holding an average of $154,451 in student debt. Additionally, burnout is a prevalent problem, with high rates of clinical depression and unhappiness reported among veterinarians. The profession also struggles with a shortage of veterinarians, with an estimated 15,000 veterinarians needed to meet the demand for companion animal healthcare by 2030.
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Corporate groups employ approximately 40% of vets
The number of veterinarians in the United States is approximately 126,138, with 75,349 working in private practice. Corporate groups employ about 40% of these practicing veterinarians, but fewer than 40% of all veterinary clinics are corporate-owned. This is because clinics that are part of consolidation groups tend to be larger than the average private practice, and so they employ a disproportionate percentage of the market.
The corporatization of veterinary medicine has been a growing trend in recent years. The success of VCA, a large veterinary hospital chain, led to the formation of several national and regional chains, such as Banfield Pet Hospital, BluePearl, and Heartland Veterinary Partners. Private equity firms view companion animal practices as a safe investment with good returns, and so they are funding many of the acquisitions by corporate groups. Brakke Consulting, which tracks corporate purchases of veterinary clinics, estimates that there are about 3,500 company-owned veterinary clinics in the United States. John Volk, an analyst with Brakke, estimates that corporations own about 10% of general companion animal practices and 40 to 50% of referral practices.
The top corporate owner of veterinary practices is Mars Inc., a privately held company known for M&Ms and Pedigree, Iams, and Nutro pet foods. In recent years, Mars has dramatically grown its Petcare subsidiary with acquisitions such as Banfield, BluePearl, Pet Partners, and VCA, which it purchased for $9.1 billion in 2017. The vice president of Mars Veterinary Health, Marta Monetti, stated that the company owns over 2,000 veterinary hospitals in the United States and Europe and employs over 50,000 veterinary professionals, making it the world's largest employer of veterinarians.
The trend toward consolidation in the veterinary industry is expected to continue. Brakke Consulting predicts that 25% of veterinary practices will be part of a corporate group in 2023 and that these clinics will account for 50% of all veterinary visits. This consolidation has been driven by the increasing demand for veterinary services, with the job outlook for veterinarians from 2020 to 2030 expected to grow by 17% (later updated to 20%), much faster than average. However, there are concerns about the potential negative impacts of corporatization, including the loss of the traditional model for veterinary practice acquisition, where the owner sells to an associate veterinarian or another veterinarian not employed by the clinic.
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Frequently asked questions
There are about 126,138 veterinarians in the US, with 75,349 working in private practice.
There are 49,320 veterinary enterprises in the US as of 2025.
No, there is a shortage of veterinarians in the US, especially in large animal veterinary care. By 2030, there will be a shortage of 15,000 veterinarians.
