The veterinary profession is facing a critical issue where some vets are being put under “consistent pressure” to generate income for their practices, the BBC has been told. The pressure is coming from the veterinary industry’s large corporate groups, which are driving up costs for pet owners and potentially making excessive profits.

The Financial Impact

According to a recent survey by the British Veterinary Union (BVU), the big six veterinary care providers in the UK – IVC Evidensia, Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merial, Dechra and Virbac – have increased their profits significantly over the past decade. The survey, which involved 275 veterinary staff, found that:

• The sector has become more profit-driven since non-vets were allowed to take over practices in 1999.
• Monitoring and targets have an impact on the decisions of almost 40% of nurses and just over 17% of vets.
• Bills for pet owners have risen by more than 60% between 2015 and 2023, figures from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) show.

The Pressure on Vets

IVC Evidensia, one of the big six pet-care providers in the UK, is a major player in this issue. The company owns more than 900 surgeries and has a significant influence on the veterinary industry. A survey of seven vets working for IVC Evidensia, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that they are monitored and set targets by the company.

• The vets are encouraged to compete against other practices owned by IVC over the number of certain procedures they carry out on animals.
• IVC’s approach to monitoring and targets is designed to improve the clinical care of pets, but it has been criticized for putting financial pressure on vets.
• Vets are asked to explain why their “average transaction value” is “very low” and their use of a certain procedure is also “very low”.

Consequences for Vets

The pressure on vets has had several consequences, including:

1. Feeling forced to upsell to pet owners, resulting in higher bills for them.
2. Feeling chastised for not bringing in enough money.
3. Being intimidated by performance charts that compare their practice to their area and the whole of IVC.
4. Being asked to carry out certain procedures on pets, which can be time-consuming and may not be in the best interests of the animal.

Concerns About Corporate Ownership

The rise of corporate ownership in the veterinary industry has also raised concerns about the impact on patient care. A survey of 275 veterinary staff, carried out by the British Veterinary Union (BVU) for the CMA, found that:

• Monitoring and targets have an impact on the decisions of almost 40% of nurses and just over 17% of vets.
• Vets are sometimes asked to carry out procedures that may not be in the best interests of the animal.
• The CMA is currently investigating concerns about corporations buying hundreds of independent vet practices, pushing up prices and making potentially excessive profits.

Technological Advances and Changing Expectations

Technological advances and changing expectations of pet owners may also be contributing to the rise in vet bills. The big six veterinary care providers are monitoring the average amount per animal a vet generates across all their consultations.

“I felt chastised for not bringing [in] enough money,” says one vet who wishes to remain anonymous. “The income is the thing by which you are monitored.”

The Need for Change

The BBC has spoken to several vets who believe that the current system is not in the best interests of pets or their owners. They argue that the pressure to generate income is putting financial pressure on vets and may lead to them prioritizing profits over patient care.

IVC’s Response

IVC Evidensia has responded to some of the concerns raised in this article. The company stated that:

• “IVC Evidensia never pressures our vets or vet nurses to prioritise revenue, or average transaction value, over appropriate contextualised clinical care.”
• “Our vets and vet nurses comply with the Code of Professional Conduct set out by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in all things, including on providing estimates for the first 24 hours of emergency or complex care, and daily estimates for each subsequent 24 hour period”.

The Future of Veterinary Care

The issue of pressure on vets to generate income is likely to continue to be a topic of debate in the veterinary industry. The BBC will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.