A recently released WHITE PAPER from Vetsource (offers pharmacy, technology and business services for the pet industry), revealed that veterinary patient visits were on average down 3.1% per practice in 2025 compared to the previous year — wellness visits and product-only visits dropped by 3.8% and 6.2%, respectively.
The 3.8% drop in wellness visits indicates clients are continuing to stretch the time between annual exams or forgo preventive care altogether.
The negative year-over-year (YoY) patient visit trend started in 2022: -2.6% in 2024, -1.4% in 2023 and visits to veterinary general practice hospitals declined -3.5% in 2022.
RELATED:
- Vetsource Outlines Path to Stronger Client Relationships and Practice Success (1.15.26)
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vetsource-outlines-path-to-stronger-client-relationships-and-practice-success-302661403.html
- WHITE PAPER: Turning Trends into Opportunities: Insights to Meet Client Expectations and Build Loyalty in 2026
https://assets.vetsource.com/m/792028a0a8071385/original/Turning-trends-into-opportunities-white-paper.pdf
- WHITE PAPER: Veterinary Visits Decline 2.3% in 2024, Declines Continue (4.2.25)
https://www.pets.care/news/2025/04/new-white-paper-reveals-veterinary-visits-decline-2-point-3-percent-in-2024/- The data revealed that visits were down 2.3% in 2024, compared to the previous year — visits are declining, there are fewer active patients, and the frequency between appointments is increasing.
- New Study Reveals Generally Reasonable Access to Preventive Veterinary Appointments for Dogs (1.17.26)
https://www.pets.care/news/2025/12/new-study-reveals-generally-reasonable-access-to-preventive-veterinary-appointments-for-dogs-notable-gaps-in-rural-areas/- A new multi-state study conducted in early 2025 reveals the majority of dog owners can get timely preventive veterinary appointments — In 3.9% of cases, veterinarians didn’t have the capacity to accept new patients.
- New Study Finds More Than Half of U.S. Pet Parents Skip or Decline Needed Veterinary Care (4.16.25)
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-finds-more-than-half-of-us-pet-parents-skip-or-decline-needed-veterinary-care-302429953.html- PetSmart Charities-Gallup State of Pet Care Study finds over half (52%) of U.S. pet parents have either skipped (forgo vet appointments) or declined necessary veterinary care for their pets.