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Understanding The Value of Preventative Care and Services for Pets

Understanding The Value of Preventative Care and Services for Pets

Updated On November 8th, 2024

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Reviewed By Stephen Reyes

Senior Vice President, Pet & Vet Services

Every pet parent knows that keeping their pet healthy is a key component of a long and happy life together… along with lots and lots of belly rubs of course. But in addition to being a big responsibility, affordable care that’s easy to access is also top of mind for pet parents.

According to a recent report in Newsweek, data from the American Pet Products Association showed spending on pets in the U.S. grew to $147 billion in 2023. Of this total, vet care and vet-related product sales represented approximately $38.3 billion, while other services, such as grooming, accounted for $12.3 billion.

Some of this growth is due to an increase in number of pets in households, following the significant increase in adoptions and new pets in home following the pandemic. But pet parents are also increasingly spending more on veterinary services.

Among veterinary customers, 44% of dog owners and 41% of cat owners increased their vet care spending between 2022 and 2023, with approximately 42% of vet customers considering the cost of veterinary services to be a significant potential challenge, according to Packaged Facts.

Interestingly however, the combined increase in pets coupled with greater awareness of the potential costs of veterinary care has seen pet parents become more proactive in preventative care and lean more into routine checkups.

Packaged Facts’ U.S. Pet Market Outlook Report 2024-2025 showed that among those who have used veterinary services in the last 12 months, 94% of dog owners and 88% of cat owners have done so for regular/annual checkups. In fact, 57% consider annual pet health check-ups at their vet one of the most important services for the health and wellness of their pets.

It’s clear that more than ever, pet parents are seeing preventative veterinary services as part of a holistic approach to their pet’s health and wellbeing and as a way to head off serious health issues, not just a necessity when things go wrong.

Vaccinations also play a vital role in preventative care, and mobile and weekend clinics are helping busy pet parents make pet care part of their everyday routines.

A recent survey of Petco customers, conducted earlier this year in partnership with Kynetec, found that speed, convenience, and value for the money were the key drivers of using one of our Vetco vaccination clinic over another provider.

Visits to the vet are also equipping pet parents with more general guidance about pet care – such as deciding which food or supplements to feed – with 54% of Millennials/Gen Zers and 74% of Baby Boomers listing veterinarians as the most trusted source of pet care information, according to Packaged Facts.

Interestingly though, it’s not just hospital and vaccination visits that are being used as part of preventative care.

Packaged Facts 2024-25 report found that 53% of pet parents consider grooming one of “the most important services for the health and wellness of your pets” – second after veterinary services.

While professional grooming is an important part of keeping your pet looking and smelling fresh – especially after an encounter with a particularly muddy puddle – pet parents are increasingly using grooming visits as an additional way to proactively monitor and prevent certain health issues.

Over half of the pet parents we surveyed earlier this year said their pet experienced specific skin conditions, including itchy, dry or sensitive skin or suffered from the presence of fleas and ticks*.

The same number said they used professional grooming services to proactively manage or prevent specific issues, such as fleas and ticks, dental care, gland expression and various skin and coat issues. This has led to expanded grooming services –  including walk-in services – that address specific needs as well as special packages specifically tailored for anxious or itchy pets.

Given the affordability of grooming - with half of the pet parents we surveyed saying it was the most affordable pet service they used - it’s no surprise that more and more pet parents are using the groomer as the first stage of preventative pet care.

Combine that with the convenience of grooming in a Petco location where you can also buy an over-the-counter remedy if needed - or even go straight to the vet if it’s a more serious issue – this means pet care can become more accessible and affordable for millions of pet parents across the country.

So, while the potential costs of pet care may seem daunting, the old adage of “prevention is better than cure” remains as true for our furry family members as it does for human health. But please, don’t forget the belly rubs too.

*Circana Petco Pet Services Custom Survey Results, May 2024

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