The Challenge of Veterinary Emergencies

When a Bernadoodle named Cody swallowed a Kong toy, Kathleen Whitman and her family faced a critical moment that led to swift action. Initial X-rays at their suburban veterinary clinic indicated a foreign object lodged in Cody’s intestines.

Upon referral to a corporate emergency hospital, the family was stunned to receive a $10,000 estimate for surgery. “They literally told me in the waiting room with a clipboard, thinking I was just coming in and we were doing $10,000,” Whitman stated. Determined to find a more affordable solution, she reached out to Vetique, a boutique veterinary clinic located in Chicago’s Gold Coast.

A Personal Touch in Veterinary Care

At Vetique, Dr. Jessica Trice and Dr. Jennifer Remnes provided the necessary surgery for a cost significantly lower than the corporate quote. During the procedure, Whitman and her daughter enjoyed Prosecco in the waiting area while receiving regular updates on Cody’s condition. “The humans were taken care of just as much as the puppy in distress was,” Whitman remarked.

Kara Adams, who chose Vetique for her 16-year-old rescue dog, Shadow, had a similar experience. After communicating her financial constraints, she was presented with a manageable payment plan by the clinic, a gesture that made a significant impact on her during a stressful time. “I was crying because otherwise, what would I do? I didn’t have any other options,” Adams shared.

Corporate vs. Independent Veterinary Practices

Dr. Trice and Dr. Remnes, both former vets at corporate-owned chains, founded Vetique to combat the growing trend of quantity-over-quality in veterinary medicine, which they experienced firsthand. Trice, with a decade at Banfield and five years at VCA, explained, “We feel the best way is not pushing about the number of quantity, because it gets very sloppy and you lose that interaction and relationship with the clients.”

Remnes echoed similar sentiments, describing her early career challenges amid high patient volumes. “As a new grad, I was seeing like 30 pets a day,” she noted. The shift towards corporate demands often leads to burnout among practitioners, as evidenced by a 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, indicating that veterinarians face serious mental health struggles more than the general population.

Remnes mentioned, “We have forums on Facebook where our industry has one of the highest suicide rates,” underscoring the toll that corporate priorities can play in the profession.

Adapting to Rising Costs in Pet Care

Both Trice and Remnes prioritize fair pricing for their services. Remnes remarked on the discernible rise in corporate prices over the years, noting, “It’s like, ‘Well, we can actually probably charge more, because we offer all these experiences along with it.’” Despite this, the founders aim to provide an affordable and high-quality experience.

Operating independently funded by a bank loan, Vetique aims to create a new culture in veterinary medicine rather than compete with corporations. “We’re creating a new veterinary culture,” Trice explained.

The Rise of Corporate Ownership in Veterinary Medicine

According to John Volk, a senior consultant with Brakke Consulting, the appeal of the veterinary industry for investors has grown due to its continual annual growth and the minimal accounts receivable typically involved. Notably, Mars Inc., the parent company of popular candy brands, has made significant inroads into veterinary care via acquisitions, including Banfield Pet Hospital and VCA Animal Hospitals, controlling over 2,000 clinics across North America.

This consolidation has raised concerns about the effects on pricing and service quality. Senator Elizabeth Warren addressed these issues in a January 2023 letter to the Federal Trade Commission, emphasizing the potential negative impact of such corporate consolidation on consumer prices.

Innovative Approaches to Veterinary Care

Among the new practices challenging traditional models are setups like Bond Vet, known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere designed to enhance the client experience with transparency in pricing and services. CEO Garrett Lewis describes their initiative as addressing the shortcomings of both clinical and cluttered veterinary spaces. “The industry has two categories of clinics historically — many designed very clinical, cold and sterile, and then others called mom and pop, which could be cluttered or dirty,” Lewis explained.

In addition, VEG ER for Pets advocates a “no walls” philosophy in emergency care, allowing pet owners to remain with their animals throughout treatments. This approach, founded by Dr. David Bessler, underlines a commitment to customer transparency, in stark contrast to traditional emergency practices that often isolate pets from their owners during critical moments.