The corporatization of veterinary practices in America—Will you be a part of it?

While the corporatization of veterinary medicine might be a cause of concern for you as an independent practice owner, the right guidance can help you succeed in this rapidly changing marketplace. While there has been a significant uptick in activity, corporations have been acquiring veterinary practices for almost 30 years. There are approximately 28,000 to 32,000 veterinary practices currently operating in the U.S. Corporations own roughly 10 percent of general animal clinics and approximately 50 percent of referral practices, which brings total corporate-owned veterinary practices to about 20 percent of all clinics. The acquisition activism of large corporations, backed by private equity firms, has blindsided many veterinarians. This inc...