The corporatization of veterinary medicine is ramping up. In 2021, an industry analysis showed that independent vets still controlled 82% of practices in the US, but that number is expected to drop to just 50% by the end of 2023.

To some, this is progress. After all, corporate veterinary practices tend to have more money to invest in state-of-the-art equipment, meaning more resources for the health of your pet. However, as with any “big-box” business, corporate veterinary practices have many downsides.

What is a corporate veterinary clinic?

Traditionally, veterinary clinics were owned and operated by one or more veterinarians. They worked for themselves and determined their practice’s procedures and protocols on their own. Starting in the 1950s, corporate veterinary clinics began cropping up. Rather than an owner-operator model, these clinics are owned and managed by corporations. Their business models often seem to focus on profit over patient care. They may be busier, less personal, and have rigid guidelines their practitioners must follow.

Banfield and Veterinary Clinics of America (VCA) are the two biggest corporate veterinary entities in the United States, with Banfield operating more than 800 clinics and VCA running more than 600. There are also several smaller regional veterinary chains throughout the US and the UK.

The choice of who to trust with your pet’s health is one you should not take lightly. Here’s why we recommend trusting your dog or cat’s health to an independent vet instead of a corporate practice.

Independent vets have more freedom to personalize your pet’s care.

You know how Subway has a specific routine for making your sandwich? Well, corporate veterinary practices also set forth a set of protocols their employees must follow when caring for your pet. These rules apply to everyone from the front desk staff right up to the doctors.

Banfield’s corporate veterinary clinics, located inside PetSmart stores across the country, offer standardized care through their proprietary software package, PetWare. The system is based on computerized treatment protocols borrowed from Kaiser Permanente, the massive network of human hospitals.

New Banfield vets attend their Doctor Academy at company headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Here, they learn to navigate PetWare’s touchscreen menus to diagnose patients and determine treatment. The system requires vets to recommend certain diagnostics and therapies depending on the diagnosis. For example, if a dog has atopic dermatitis (itchy skin), doctors must “recommend antihistamines, shampoos, serum allergy testing, lab work, a skin diagnostic package, and anti-inflammatories.” They are additionally “encouraged to recommend a biopsy, analgesics, topical medications, antibiotics, a therapeutic dietary supplement, an allergy diet, and a flea control package.” It could add up to nearly $1,000 to treat a problem that may be as simple as a flea infestation.

While Banfield claims to have updated PetWare to allow for more personalized care from their vets, independent veterinarians maintain full autonomy over the care they offer to your pets. They are not bound by pre-determined protocols or financial quotas.

Independent vets have the option to spend more time with you and your pet.

When you take your pet to the vet, whether for a routine physical exam or to address a problem, you rightly expect some face-to-face time with the doctor. In the world of corporate veterinary medicine, this may be too much to ask.

As part of their wellness plans, Banfield asks pet parents to drop their dogs and cats off at the clinic for the day in order to take advantage of the included twice-yearly wellness exams. Former Banfield technician, Donna Smith, compared the staff at her clinic to a “pit crew,” pulling pets out of cages, performing 90-second physical exams, then popping them with vaccines the way race car mechanics tighten screws and change tires.

“I once saw a doctor vaccinate the wrong dog because we had paperwork everywhere and so many dogs lined up,” Smith says.

In contrast, independent veterinarians choose how to fill their schedules. Some opt for 20 - 30 minute appointment blocks for routine visits, and up to an hour for more complicated cases. Mobile veterinarians and those who do house calls are able to offer clients even more flexibility with their time.

corporate Vaccine protocols and “standards of care” may not be what’s best for your pet.

There was a time when basic canine vaccines were recommended yearly. In 2003, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) amended that recommendation to every three years for the core vaccines (distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus). Ronald Schultz, a retired immunologist at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, says even this is more than necessary. In fact, he believes most dogs only need one series of puppy shots to maintain immunity against these diseases for a lifetime.

Standard vaccine dosages may also be higher than necessary, especially when you consider the one-size-fits-all protocol of one milliliter per pet that has been used since the 1960s. This means every kitten, cat, puppy, and dog - regardless of weight, age, or health status - is supposed to receive the same vaccination dosage.

This is an understandable concern for many vets who question the lack of safety research on the topic. An estimated one in 200 dogs experience life-threatening reactions such as anaphylactic shock, with many more suffering less severe symptoms.

“Vaccines can kill,” Schultz says. “If you don’t need to vaccinate annually and you do, you’re taking unnecessary risks.”

Corporate practices such as VCA and Banfield have rigid vaccination protocols they recommend to their clients, and staff is discouraged from deviating from the set schedule. With an independent vet, however, vaccinations (and all other health and safety matters), are open for discussion.

If your pet is sensitive to vaccinations, your private practice vet may recommend dosing with an antihistamine and/or corticosteroid prior to injections or splitting vaccines several days or weeks apart. In older pets and those with life-threatening reactions, blood titers to check immunity levels can be performed instead of boosters.

Independent vets are under less pressure to “upsell” their clients.

By now you have likely sensed an emerging pattern regarding the key differences between corporate and independent vets. When a major company is at the helm, the number one priority tends to be the bottom line, and that goal is instilled in every single employee.

The receptionist may try to sell you a fancy new dental product, while the technician offers add-ons you didn’t ask for like nail trims, ear cleanings, and anal gland expressions. Even the vets are expected to “upsell” their clients with procedures and diagnostics that may not be necessary at the time.

From major diagnostic blood panels performed on healthy three-year-old pets (“That’s kind of like doing bloodwork on your 8-year-old child,” says former Banfield veterinarian and practice owner, James Robinson) to yearly dental cleanings on dogs with healthy teeth.

Good dental hygiene is definitely an important part of pet care, but many owners do not realize that these procedures involve the same full anesthesia used in surgical procedures. Anesthetic risks are low but increase with age and certain medical conditions. Routine procedures such as dental cleanings should be carefully considered with your vet, not performed on a scheduled basis like grooming sessions.

On the topic of upselling, former VCA vet, Wendy Beers reported:

“Every month they would print out things to say how many packages you sold, how many procedures you did. And if they came out and said, ‘This month we want everyone to do 20 heartworm tests,’ and you only did eight, well, next month you have to do better. I don’t feel when they’re lecturing us that their chief interest is to make sure animals get the best care.”

You are more likely to form a lasting relationship with an independent veterinary practice.

If you are a busy professional with little time to spend at the vet’s office, a corporate wellness package from Banfield or VCA may be just what you’re looking for. However, as more pet owners consider their dogs and cats members of the family, the standard of care they expect is increasing.

Just like young children, our pets rely on us to make the best health and wellness decisions on their behalf. Finding a veterinarian and support staff you can trust is a vital part of this responsibility.

Many wonderful veterinarians, technicians, and receptionists work for corporate veterinary clinics, but as discussed above, they are bound by certain protocols that may not have your pet’s best interests at heart.

With an independent veterinary practice, you are an essential part of your dog or cat’s treatment and care plans. Similarly, your vet has the freedom to express his or her opinions, not just the pre-set standard of care forced on them by proprietary computer software.

As with any relationship, your association with the veterinary practice you choose should be one of mutual trust and respect.

Learn more about how to choose the right veterinarian for you and your pets!

A Message From Dr. Kent

Corporate mobile vet practices are now appearing with increasing frequency. They tend to have many doctors to cover a wide geographical radius of service. You may not see the same veterinarian twice. In contrast, I am a solo practitioner with 43 years of experience, and you will only see me on each visit. My focus is on building relationships with pets and families. I am readily accessible by email or virtual consultations for follow-ups after an annual visit. I offer concierge services, as well, to allow even greater access to me through an annual membership.

Why You Should Choose An Independent Vet Over A Corporate Practice