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Category: Mars Petcare

BluePearl in Phoenix AZ becomes First-ever brick-and-mortar AAHA Accredited End-of-Life Care practice

May 15, 2022 Admin

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital (BluePearl), one of the largest specialty and emergency veterinary practices in the U.S., recently…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare, Veterinary

PetSmart Announces Exclusive Partnership with Nom Nom

April 8, 2022 Admin

PetSmart which operates approximately 1,660 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, recently ANNOUNCED an exclusive partnership…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare, Pet Food, PetSmart

Pet Obesity Is On The Rise, Banfield Pet Hospital Report

July 1, 2021 Admin

Banfield Pet Hospital (owned by Mars, Incorporated) which operates more than 1,000 general veterinary hospitals in 42 states, Washington D.C.,…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare

Mars Petcare Launches Mobile App Using Noseprint Recognition Technology to Reunite Lost Dogs

June 13, 2021 Admin

Mars Petcare recently LAUNCHED a beta version of the new NOSEiD mobile app to help reunite lost dogs using first-of-its-kind…

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Posted in: Lost, Mars Petcare

BluePearl Pet Hospital Enters End-Of-Life Market With Acquisition of PetHospice

December 5, 2020 Admin

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital which operates a national network of more than 95 specialty and emergency pet hospitals…

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Posted in: Hospital Groups, In-Home, Mars Petcare

Banfield Pet Hospital Launches 24/7 Access To Pet Health Care Advice With Vet Chat

June 7, 2019 Admin

Banfield Pet Hospital, the largest general veterinary practice in the U.S. (Owned by Mars, Inc.) recently launched VET CHAT, a…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare

‘Millions’ Of Roaches Plagued Pet Food Production Facility

June 7, 2018 Admin

According to a recent in-depth report by FOOD SAFETY NEWS, ‘Millions’ of roaches plagued maker of Pedigree, IAMS, Cesar, other…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare, Pet Food

Mars Inc Completes $9.1B Acquisition of VCA Inc

October 1, 2017 Admin

Mars Inc recently announced it’s successful acquisition of VCA Inc which operates over 800 animal hospitals in the U.S. and…

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Posted in: Hospital Groups, Mars Petcare, Pet Care, Veterinary

Mars Petcare To Acquire Large Veterinary Hospital Group

January 27, 2017 Admin

Mars Incorporated recently announced that they have entered into an agreement to purchase pet healthcare provider VCA INC (NASDAQ: WOOF)…

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Posted in: Hospital Groups, Mars Petcare, Pet Care, Veterinary

Mars Petcare Settles False Advertising Claim

August 5, 2016 Admin

The Federal Trade Commission which protects America’s consumers recently announced that Mars Petcare U.S., Inc., “has agreed to settle Federal…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare, Pet Food

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RECENT POSTS

  • FTC Takes Second Action Against Private Equity Firm, Increased Scrutiny of Veterinary Hospital Acquisitions June 30, 2022
  • Federal Trade Commission Intervenes in Private Equity Firm’s Acquisition of Veterinary Hospitals, Citing Antitrust Concerns June 18, 2022

THE CORPORATIZATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

The acquisition of private-owned animal hospitals by corporate entities such as veterinary consolidators has accelerated over the last few years and is largely invisible to most pet owners because consolidators view the corporatization of a practice as a marketing liability. This has potentially serious implications for competition, pet healthcare costs and may worsen the labor shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
Are Consolidators Helping or Hurting Veterinary Medicine?

MANY CORPORATE PRACTICES LED BY NON-VETERINARIANS
Study conducted by CARE for Pets™ reveals that the majority of veterinary consolidators are led by non-veterinarians. These corporate entities employ a large infrastructure of managers and support teams and require significantly greater revenue to be profitable. It's estimated that 1 out of every 4 companion animal practices in the u.s. are now owned by corporate consolidators.
CEOs of Veterinary Consolidators and Hospital Groups

 

IN FOCUS: LABOR UNION ACTIVITY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
First Veterinary Practice on East Coast to Unionize
According to union leadership, “today’s victory put the veterinary industry and private equity investors on notice about making sure their business model is based on equity and respect. We can’t afford to let this industry go the path of so many other industries destroyed by private equity investors. Now the hard work begins.”

 

THE IMPACT OF PRODUCTION-BASED PAY FOR VETERINARIANS
Today, approximately 2 out of 3 full-time associate veterinarians are paid on commission. Compensation models for veterinarians consist either of a fixed salary, salary plus commission, or 100% commission. Any source of income generated by the doctor for the animal hospital while seeing a client is used to calculate their commission or "production". This has potentially serious implications on pet healthcare costs.

 

CASE STUDY: Lack of Ownership Transparency in Veterinary Practices

Study conducted by CARE for Pets™ reveals many veterinary consolidators communicate misleading statements about ownership information on their individual practice websites which is most likely to create a false impression to pet owners that the practice is independently owned and locally operated.
Is Your 'Local' Animal Hospital Corporate-Owned?

IVPA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: WHY LOCAL MATTERS
CARE for Pets™ interviews the President of the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association (IVPA) about the importance, benefits, and value of independently owned & locally operated veterinary practices to pet owners and their companion animals, and to the local community.
Interview with Dr. Bonnie Bragdon of the IVPA

WILL PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS TAKEOVER PET INDUSTRY?
Today, private equity (PE) firms control thousands of veterinary practices, major pet retailers, pet insurance companies and pet product manufacturers. Other pet care startups are founded and led by former employees of private equity firms and it is not disclosed in a transparent manner.
Private Equity Investments in Pet Care Industry

PRIVATE EQUITY ACQUISITION IS ANTICOMPETITIVE
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says "private equity firms increasingly engage in roll up strategies that allow them to accrue market power off the commission’s radar."
FTC Intervenes PE Acquisition Citing Antitrust Concerns

 

ROLL-UPS MAY EXACERBATE VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE
Corporate entities such as private equity (PE) firms engage in roll-ups (buys several companies in the same market and merges them together) to enhance value and drive higher earnings. Veterinary consolidation leads to fewer and larger firms (less choices for workers). Its prioritization on short-term profits may pressure veterinarians to see high numbers of patients and adhere to appointment time restrictions. These working conditions may exacerbate the labor shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

 

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