LATEST VETERINARY CARE ADVANCES

Posted on by Regina D.F. Burdett

SECOND  ARTICLE ON TRENDS AND STATISTICS

As you probably know, some of the latest veterinary care advances are costly. That is, when they are first used by animal health providers. Then when they become more mainstream, the cost of equipment, other tools, and training, tends to level off. And, since pet parents take health seriously, they are buying medical insurance to help cover any additional related expenses.

MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR PETS

BUYING PET INSURANCE IS ON OUR TRENDING LIST!

Estimates show that in 2019, pet parents in the USA and Canada paid a combined USD1.717 billion for insurance premiums. This was, in fact, for accident and illness coverage for 2 million dogs and cats. 

When choosing health insurance for your pets, do your research, pick one that supports a worthy cause. Justice Rescue is an admirable non-profit that focuses on saving animals from extreme abuse and prosecuting the perpetrators.
When choosing health insurance for your pets, do your research, pick one that supports a worthy cause. Justice Rescue is an admirable non-profit that focuses on saving animals from extreme abuse and prosecuting the perpetrators.

That figure represents a 21% increase over the previous year. So as long as pet ownership continues to increase, insurance companies expect business to grow proportionately. And this is precisely why we consider it important enough to mention as a trending medical development for pets.

Interestingly, but not altogether surprising, the largest insured pet populations were located in California and Toronto.

PETS THAT TAKE CBD

CBD FOR PETS IS A NOTABLE TRENDING MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT

There is much to learn about the health benefits and long-term effects of cannabidiol—commonly known as CBD—in humans. Yet, as to be expected, the pet industry is already eyeing this as a lucrative business opportunity. One with the potential to boost sales by offering this compound as a supplement product for companion animals. 

Being used by humans and now pets, the use of cannabidiol (CBD) is expected to grow as more positive research studies are published
Being used by humans and now pets, the use of cannabidiol (CBD) is expected to grow as more
positive research studies are published

Most encouraging is the fact that CBD oil has already proved effective when incorporated into a cancer treatment plan. It helps reduce pain, inflammation and nausea, as well as restore a compromised immune system. There is every likelihood that CBD will stay in the news in the coming months. Veterinary and consumer demand will undoubtedly increase rapidly as positive research studies are published. This is something we all hope will happen. 

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INTEREST GROWS IN LATEST VETERINARY CARE ADVANCES

IMAGING INSTRUMENTS FOR PETS, JUST ONE EXAMPLE

As more people adopt companion animals, practically everything related to their care is in demand. And, that includes veterinary diagnostic imaging. Global Market Insights Inc. estimates the following statistic. That in North America, these medical services will register over 6.5% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) from 2019 to 2025.

Advanced imaging equipment is currently one of the most important trending pet medical developments, some detect tumors down to 0.2 millimeters

Increasing the quality of life of their pets is important to many guardians who treat these sentient beings as family. Consequently, insurance companies are now offering a greater variety of plans to partially or fully cover expensive medical procedures. Imaging instruments are costly. But, they enable doctors to monitor numerous organs in real time, detect neurological diseases and trauma, and save lives.

REMOTE CONSULTING FOR PETS

Although it will never totally replace in-person appointments, telemedicine is being used more and more by pet parents. Why? Because it is generally quick, convenient and wallet-friendly. Here are a few examples of what some websites and apps are designed to do.

Airvet

Launched in 2018, Airvet has an extensive network of licensed veterinarians on call 24/7, and contacting them is fast. It has apps for iPhone and Android, and will soon offer desktop chat capability. For emergencies, you can connect immediately for $30 and this includes up to 72 hours of follow-up care, if needed. 

JustAnswer

This service offers a seven-day trial period for potential clients. It involves unlimited text, phone and email chats at a cost of $1, before you sign up for membership. But this company also provides access to experts in other categories. These include legal, automotive and tech support, as well as veterinary medicine, all included in the monthly subscription.

PetCoach

Petco Animal Supplies Stores runs a website especially for people who are looking for advice for their pets. It has a library of literally thousands of articles as well as answers to most frequently asked questions. Access to this is free. 

However, if pet parents want a vet tech or DVM to answer one specific question, the cost is $5. Replies usually take 12 hours, but usually much less. And, for a detailed chat consultation with a licensed vet, the fee is $20.

Telemedicine for companion animals is one of the latest veterinary care advances being used more and more by pet parents
Telemedicine for companion animals is one of the latest veterinary care advances
being used more and more by pet parents

Vetster

Launched one year ago, Vetster has over 1,800 licensed veterinary professionals in a network that covers the USA and Canada. Because there’s an online profile for each, you get to chose who to consult. Pick the required specialty and you’ll see the fee that they charge, which usually starts at $50. The service is available 24/7 through text, chat and video sessions. You can make an appointment in advance or request immediate attention in emergency events.

Consulting a veterinarian remotely is trending as a popular alternative to in-person consultations
Consulting a veterinarian remotely is trending as a popular alternative to in-person consultations

PARTNERSHIP WITH WALMART FOR NEW CONCEPT VET CLINICS

VET CLINICS AT WALMART STORES FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC

Florida-based Essentials PetCare has partnered with Walmart to offer vet services for limited-income pet parents in underserved neighborhoods. Independently owned and operated, the clinics offer preventative and minor illness care to dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. They do intestinal parasite testing, administer vaccinations, and offer comprehensive bloodwork and urinalysis, and more. Their all-inclusive packages cover categories such as, GI upset, urinary and skin. But what sets them apart is pricing transparency because people know in advance exactly how much each service will cost. 

  • The vet clinic has a separate entrance outside the Walmart Supercenter, here in Port Richey, Florida
    The vet clinic has a separate entrance outside the Walmart Supercenter, here in Port Richey, Florida

Currently, these veterinary clinics are only in a limited number of stores in Florida, Georgia and Texas. However, most importantly,  steady growth is expected in the US market. After all this new pet health concept is likely to catch on fast.

To Sum Up

The chatter and controversy about the latest trends in pet food is something I will lay out in my next article. Looking forward to reaching out again soon.

Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!  

More must-read articles in this category:

Updating the most significant pet care trends in 2021 using the latest statistics https://petpeevesunmasked.com/spotlighting-pet-care-trends/

In this very first article of my brand new blog site—published three years ago—, I asked a question. How Many Families In The U.S.A. Have At Least One Pet? https://petpeevesunmasked.com/how-many-us-pet-families

Here I showed how pet parents were impacting the economy in a big way https://petpeevesunmasked.com/pet-parents-economic-impact

And, this was a breakdown of what it can cost to adequately take care of your pet https://petpeevesunmasked.com/biggest-pet-caring-expenses