The veterinary industry is changing rapidly, and clinics may struggle to keep up. Demand for pet care services remains high, but many clinics face staffing shortages, financial difficulties, and altered client behavior. These challenges can make it difficult to meet the needs of pet owners and veterinary professionals.
According to the Provet Cloud 2025 Veterinary Insights Report, which surveyed 600 veterinary professionals from the UK, US, Spain, and Italy, these challenges are shaping the industry's future in ways that require immediate attention.
Veterinary professionals are experiencing the reality of simultaneous growth and crisis. With increasing demand, clinics must balance financial sustainability with the need to attract and retain skilled staff while maintaining a high standard of care.
The report confirms what many in the profession have felt for years: change is inevitable, and adaptation is necessary. Now, it’s time to shift our focus toward actionable solutions.
Workforce challenges: Retention, burnout, and mental health
The veterinary industry has long struggled with burnout, mental health challenges, and staff retention issues. Our report highlights that stress levels among veterinary professionals are high, averaging 6.6 out of 10 across surveyed regions. Notably, this stress level is significantly higher than figures reported in other healthcare sectors.
Long hours, heavy caseloads, and a lack of mental health support fuel burnout in veterinary team members. A striking 78% of respondents agree that veterinary practices don’t offer sufficient mental health resources. Additionally, 73% believe there remains a stigma around burnout and mental health in the profession.
For many, veterinary medicine has proven an unsustainable career. To change that, clinic and industry leaders must strive to set higher standards. In addition to shifting the mindset away from a workaholic culture, possible solutions include:
- Flexible working models — Remote, hybrid, and flexible schedules can reduce the stress of balancing work and personal responsibilities. Fifty-nine percent of US respondents and 54% of UK respondents reported staff retention challenges, making flexibility a potential game-changer.
- Technology adoption — AI-driven tools, automation, and cloud-based practice management software can improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens.
- Compensation and mental health support — Sixty-seven percent of US veterinarians and 89% of Spanish veterinarians felt their pay did not reflect the value of their work, indicating that better compensation could help.
Overworking existing staff is not sustainable. The industry must seriously invest in modern, supportive workplace solutions to ensure long-term stability.
Changing client expectations
Pet owners’ expectations and behaviors have changed alongside the profession. Most clients expect conveniences such as online booking, digital communications, and price transparency, and they have no problem leaving a clinic that doesn’t offer these features. Here’s what the report said about client demand:
- More than 70% of respondents reported increased service demand in the past 12 months.
- Telemedicine demand continues to grow. In the US, 42% of clinics offer telemedicine services, up from 29% in 2023.
- Client loyalty is declining, with 63% of respondents agreeing that pet owners no longer stick with a single clinic.
Veterinary teams can adjust to changing client expectations by:
- Adopting digital tools such as automated appointment reminders, mobile apps, and telemedicine platforms.
- Offering transparent pricing and flexible payment options.
- Implementing wellness plans and subscription services.
Financial challenges: Profitability and competition
Despite reporting higher service demand in the past 12 months, profitability remains a concern for many hospitals globally. The report found that 56% of small clinics and 44% of corporate practices noted profitability declines, and 88% of respondents stated that rising living costs have negatively impacted their practice.
Pricing competition is another challenge. Sixty-eight percent of respondents feel their clinics face fierce pricing competition, with Spain (83%) and Italy (74%) experiencing the highest levels. This is especially difficult for small, independent clinics trying to compete against larger chains with more resources. Also of note, 77% of respondents stated they’d prefer to work for a small independent practice over a corporate clinic, citing quality of care as a main concern.
Clinics facing pricing competition and financial strain can adopt several strategies to achieve stability. Here are some possibilities:
- Shifting to value-based pricing, so clients understand the value of services rather than focusing solely on cost.
- Diversifying revenue streams while increasing access to care (e.g., telemedicine, financing options, wellness plans).
- Improving operational efficiency with technology that cuts costs without compromising patient care (e.g., cloud-based practice management software, client communication platforms, or AI scribe tools).
Key takeaways
The 2025 Provet Cloud Veterinary Insights Report provides critical data that can help guide the profession in a positive direction. Key takeaways include:
- Staff shortages and mental health go hand in hand. Providing competitive compensation, mental health resources, and a better work-life balance can reduce turnover.
- Meeting evolving client expectations is essential – embracing digital tools, wellness plans, and telemedicine is becoming increasingly important.
- Technology enables efficiency, profitability, and client satisfaction. More than half of respondents stated that their team was open to learning new technologies, indicating a positive shift toward digital acceptance.
- Adaptability will define the future success of veterinary practices. Those that embrace new business models and cost management strategies will thrive.
- Change is overdue in the profession, and the time to implement solutions is now.
The veterinary industry has reached a tipping point. The 2025 Provet Cloud Veterinary Insights Report revealed that known stressors are persistently hurting individuals, cutting veterinary careers short, and leaving the profession in need of new talent.
Now is the time for veterinary professionals at all levels to embrace change and support one another to position the industry for long-term success. Investing in people, technology, and client care can help us navigate new and existing challenges while improving the state of the industry and the lives of those who make it great.
Provet Cloud’s Pledge
Our veterinary software company exists to make your job as a veterinary professional easier. Our cloud-based product helps you perform at the top of your game, maximize efficiency, and get home on time to balance your work and life responsibilities.
Read the full 2025 Veterinary Insights Report to learn more about the industry’s challenges, or schedule a demo to learn how our software can help you address them.
