Several stories came out recently as part of a CBC joint investigation with the Fifth Estate, Marketplace, and Radio-Canada’s Enquête and La Facture looking at the changing pet health sector in Canada.
One aspect of the investigation is looking at the rise of corporate consolidators’ ownership of veterinary practices in the past 15 years. The two largest veterinary corporations in Canada are not changing the branding of these practices so clients know that the ownership has changed.
Click here to find out who owns your veterinary clinic
There was also an article published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal in 2023 by Darren Osborne, “The corporatization of veterinary medicine”, looking at the rise in corporate ownership of veterinary practices.
Why choose an independent veterinary practice for your pet?
You are investing in the health of your pets and your community. Your money stays locally, paying folks who live in and contribute to your community. Profits are reinvested in the practice, your neighborhood and your city. Supporting local is not just a buzzword for us, it is a core principle.
You can support a small business owner who shares your culture and values and has an understanding of your relationship with health and well-being. You share a common goal of integrative health care with the team here.
You may have more flexibility in treatment options. There can be more focus on your pet as an individual, and it is less likely that there are countrywide or even continent-wide protocols mandated to create consistency, for conditions that may not apply in your area. We have the flexibility to adopt new tests, treatments, and modalities that we feel will be beneficial for your pet.
You can deal directly with the practice owner that you already have a personal connection with if a concern needs to be addressed.
We want to thank you for choosing Toronto Integrative Animal Health as a partner in your pet’s health care.
