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2
Companion-Animal Medicine
This chapter describes the workforce changes in the companion-animal sector over the
last 30 years, assesses the current need for companion-animal services, projects the demand for
companion-animal veterinary services in the next five years, and estimates the supply of
companion-animal veterinarians in that time period. Finally, alternative models for meeting the
needs for companion-animal veterinary services in the future are proposed.
COMPANION-ANIMAL VETERINARIANS
Of the 90,201 members of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
employed in the United States in 2010, the employment status is known for 76,803 (85%)
(AVMA, 2011a). Of that number, over 70% spend all or part of their time devoted to
companion-animal practice, a proportion that has remained relatively steady for the last 14 years,
having increased markedly since the 1960s (AVMA, 2010a). Most companion-animal
veterinarians spend 100% of their time on companion animals (companion-animal-exclusive).
The remaining are categorized by AVMA according to the estimated amount of time they spend
on companion animals: 90% (companion-animal-predominant), 49% (mixed animal), and 6%
(food-animal-predominant) (AVMA, 2009a).
LIFESTYLE BENEFITS OF COMPANION-ANIMAL MEDICINE
Veterinarians in private practice are typically practice owners or work as associates in
practices established by others, including animal health care companies, such as Banfield,
which, with a network of 2,000 veterinarians and over 750 pet hospitals, is the largest such firm
in the United States. One factor that attracts veterinarians to companion-animal private practice
is lifestyle. Although most companion-animal practitioners work full-time, they work the least
number of hours per week of all private practitioners (AVMA, 2009a; AVMA, 2011a).
Companion-animal-exclusive owners work a mean of 45.9 hours per week (median 45),
compared to food-animal-exclusive (mean 52.7 hours, median 51.5 hours) and equine (mean
53.8 hours, median 53.0 hours) practice owners. The comparison for associates is similar, with
companion-animal-exclusive associates working a mean and median of 44.2 and 44.0 hours per
week, or approximately 8 hours less than food-animal-exclusive associates, and approximately
14 hours less than equine associates (AVMA, 2011a).
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26 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
In addition to working fewer hours in general, the development of emergency clinics in
urban and suburban settings has diminished the after-hours obligations for companion-animal
practitioners. In many instances companion-animal practice owners in a region cooperate to
establish emergency clinics that see clients from all practices after-hours. These factors and
others serve as incentives to attract a majority of new veterinarians entering the profession to
pursue companion-animal private practice.
Earnings6
The median and average incomes of companion-animal practice owners reflect different
aspects of the earnings of that workforce. A number of very high earners in the industry pull the
average income upwards. The median might be a better indication of the income of most of the
mid-level earners. However, the trends in both measures can be useful. In 2007, the median
income of a companion-animal-exclusive practice owner was $133,000, which was about the
same as practice owners in food-animal or equine private practice. In 2009, the median income
of exclusive practice owners increased to $139,000, while that of food-animal-exclusive and
equine practice owners was $133,000 and $109,000, respectively. Between 2005 and 2009, the
average income for companion-animal-exclusive practice owners increased from $142,501
(2005) to $155,518 (2007) to $171,119 (2009) (AVMA, 2011a).
The median income of a companion-animal-exclusive associate in 2007 was $85,000,
demonstrating the substantial financial benefit of practice ownership over an associate position.
However, salaries are rising for associates as well as owners. Between the years 2005 and 2009,
the average income for companion-animal-exclusive associates rose from $79,827 (2005) to
$91,592 (2007) to $97,074 (2009) (AVMA, 2009a; AVMA, 2011a). The companion-animal-
exclusive associates in the 90th percentile of earnings saw their mean income increase 22%
($109,000 to $133,000) from 2005 to 2007 (AVMA, 2009a), and to $145,000 in 2009 (AVMA,
2011a).
Among associates in all areas of private practice, the mean earnings of companion-
animal-exclusive associates was the highest in 2007 (AVMA, 2009a; see Figure 2-1). This was
also true in 2009 with mean associate incomes reported as follows: companion-animal-exclusive
$97,074, companion-animal-predominant $86,982, food-animal-exclusive $87,765, food-animal-
predominant $79,790, equine $85,055, and mixed animal $73,000 (AVMA, 2011b). Real
income, expressed in 1997 dollars and corrected for retail price inflation for private practice
associates in all sectors, increased from a mean of $64,218 in 2005 to $69,431 in 2007 (an 8%
increase over 2 years).
The income gap between companion-animal-exclusive associates and associates for other
species also widens with experience. companion-animal-exclusive associates with 25 years or
more experience earn substantially more (median income $115,000) than equally experienced
associates in food-animal-predominant (median income $64,000) or equine medicine (median
income $91,000) (AVMA, 2009a).
6
Veterinarian salary data are drawn from AVMA Compensation Surveys, which are based on a randomized,
stratified sample of employed U.S. veterinarians (including AVMA members and nonmembers). The response rate
of the Surveys is about 25%. If DVMs who are more successful are more likely to respond, the reported rate of
earnings may exceed actual averages.
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 27
FIGURE 2-1 1997-2009 Associate mean income by practice sector.
SOURCE: AVMA Biennial Compensation Surveys.
Specialization Increases Earnings
An increasing number of veterinarians are becoming specialists by pursuing advanced
study and board certification in one of 21 areas of expertise. In 1989, 15% of veterinary
graduates pursued advanced study in some specialty (not just companion-animal-related). In
2008, the figure increased to 40.0% and jumped to 49.2% in 2010 (AVMA, 2011c). One
explanation for this trend is an increase in the demand for specialized services. Pets are living
longer and receive more specialized veterinary care, for example, oncology and orthopedic
surgery.
Companion-animal practitioners’ earnings are substantially increased with board
certification. The mean and median incomes of companion-animal practice owners who were
board certified in 2009 were $208,446 and $175,000, respectively, versus $168,586 and
$139,000 for practice owners who are not board certified (AVMA, 2011a). Another possible
reason that a growing number of veterinary graduates who seek the higher incomes that
specialists can potentially earn is also related to the need to service their educational debt
(Chieffo et al., 2008). Even with taking lost income during specialty training into consideration,
the return on investment from specialty board certification, as measured by lifetime earnings,
compares favorably to that of practice owners and associates (Gordon 2010). Those who pursue
advanced study and specialize no doubt do so for professional fulfillment, as well as financial
gain. As is discussed in greater detail in the Chapter 10 and elsewhere, graduates from veterinary
colleges are facing educational debt burdens due to rising tuition costs that are increasing more
rapidly than starting salaries.
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28 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
Women and Companion-Animal Medicine
Since the late 1970s, the number of women entering veterinary schools has been growing
(while the number of male applicants has been declining). Women now represent about 80% of
the students in U.S. veterinary schools (Slater and Slater, 2000). As noted earlier, since 2009,
there were more female than male AVMA members, most identifying themselves as companion-
animal practitioners; in 2010, women comprised 56% of the companion-animal-exclusive
veterinary workforce (AVMA, 2011B).
Women in veterinary medicine work fewer hours than men (Brown and Silverman,
1999a), but anecdotal evidence suggests that younger veterinarians, men and women, place a
higher priority on having time for their personal lives than previous generations (Kennedy,
2004). This plays a significant role in career decisions, and may continue to do so in the future.
However, women are more likely to work part-time, exit the labor market more often,
and, although interested in owning their own practices, are less likely to pursue that route
following graduation (Smith, 2006; Felsted and Volk, 2000). Whether as a practice owner or an
associate, women earn less than men (AAHA, 2004). Although the flexibility of a profession in
companion-animal veterinary medicine may be considered a worthwhile tradeoff, the earnings
discrepancy between men and women (discussed in greater detail in Chapter 10) suggests that
future earnings increases of companion-animal practitioners may follow a lower pay trajectory as
women come to dominate the field..
DEMAND FOR COMPANION-ANIMAL VETERINARY SERVICES
The primary sources of demand for veterinary services are the growth in the number of
pets owned in the United States and the growth in expenditures for veterinary medical services
per pet-owning household. While the percentage of American households owning companion
animals has stayed relatively constant in recent years (57.9% in 1991 vs. 59.5% in 2006), the
growth of the U.S. population has been paralleled by increases in the pet population, especially
dogs and cats, whose numbers have increased sharply since 1996 (Figure 2-2).
Average veterinary expenditures per pet-owning household grew even more quickly than
the populations of companion animals, particularly those by dog and horse owners, which are
nearly twice the average expenditures per cat-owning household (Figure 2-3). Increased
expenditures per household, stated in dollars of 2006 purchasing power, reflect in part an
increased number of pets per household, some increase in the number of annual visits to
veterinarians, and increased expenditures per pet.
The economic recession that began in December 2007 (with national unemployment at
4.9%) has been long and deep, and unemployment rose to 10.2% in October 2009. It will be
some time before surveys of animal owners and veterinary practices reveal the effect of the
recession on veterinary medicine. Anecdotal evidence points to declines in spending by pet
owners. The effect may be largest in areas that have the highest unemployment rates, such as
California, Nevada, Michigan, Rhode Island, and South Carolina, where unemployment
exceeded 12% in October 2009 (BLS, 2009). A recent examination of veterinary practices shows
a 3% decrease from 2006 to 2009 in the average amount that clients spend before they stop
treatment (Verdon, 2009). There is also a substantial decrease in the number of announcements
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 29
FIGURE 2-2. Numbers of pets in American households.
SOURCE: Calculated from AVMA, 2007a.
FIGURE 2-3 Average annual expenditure per pet-owning household.
DATA SOURCE: Calculated from AVMA, 2007a.
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30 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
BOX 2-1
Pet Insurance
In Europe, up to 50% of pet owners buy pet health insurance. Pet insurance has probably played a
central role in supporting the development of specialty practices in the United Kingdom (Petplan, 2008).
In the United States, less than 1% of pet owners’ expenditures on pets are for pet insurance (Pulliam
Weston, 2009). It is uncertain, but expanded sales of pet insurance might increase total spending for
veterinary services for pets. Pet insurance has been available in the United States for several decades, but
the market penetration remains slight. Because basic veterinary services are available at modest cost in
many cities, sales of veterinary services are sensitive to price, particularly for low-income households
(Brown and Silverman, 1999a). A 10% increase in price would lead to a 4% decrease in services on the
average. Although insurance spreads the price of costlier services among insurance clients through
premium payments, the cost of operating an insurance company adds to the total cost. People who want to
spend more per pet are more likely to buy insurance than people who intend to spend less, but it is not
necessarily the case that a person who is induced to buy insurance would see more dollars flow to
veterinarians than they would have spent directly on veterinary service without insurance.
of job openings posted in the AVMA placement service.7 Because a larger share of the veterinary
profession focuses on services to companion animals, professional incomes become more
sensitive to changes in the aggregate performance of the economy and vulnerable to declines
during recessions.
However, despite the economic downturn that began in 2007, the starting salaries for
graduates of the class of 2009 increased by 6.8% and 7.2% in the companion-animal-exclusive
and companion-animal-predominant sectors, respectively, when compared to the class of 2008
(Shepherd, 2008, 2009). Graduates in 2010 saw a modest increase in starting salaries, with
$71,462 (3.3% increase) for graduates entering careers in the companion-animal-exclusive
sector, and $68,826 (4.0% increase) for the companion-animal-predominant sector (AVMA,
2011c). In 2011, however, starting salaries for students entering the companion-animal-exclusive
sector declined to $69,789, while those for the companion-animal-predominant sector edged
upwards to $69,654 (Shepherd, 2011). The most compelling evidence of the demand for
veterinary manpower is the increase in income.
In the long-term, the demand for companion-animal services may be more durable than
other veterinary sectors. The extent to which owners of companion animals use pet insurance
may influence spending in the future (see Box 2-1). In addition, the largest growth rate in pet
ownership is in retired couples, and the aging of the baby boomers will have its effect on the
need for companion-animal veterinary services in the coming years (AVMA, 2007a).
Predicting Future Needs for Companion-Animal Veterinarians
Since the proportion of households in the United States with companion animals has been
historically constant, then the number of pets (and pet visits to veterinarians) might be
reasonably correlated to size of the U.S. population. Thus, it might be possible to calculate the
7
Count of advertisements of openings for DVMs in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 31
demand for veterinary services in the future using data on the current number of pet visits
annually (and an estimate of the number of veterinarians who cared for those animals during the
visits) and information on the current size and projected growth of the U.S. population. In the
following section of the report, the committee used information from various sources to develop
predictions about future needs for companion-animal veterinarians. Given the uncertainty at
various points in the analysis, including the influence of the economic downturn on demand, the
predictions should only be considered as broad estimates. Indeed, the committee would like to
see better and more continuous data collection on companion-animal practices and the demand
for services.
Current Pet Visits and Veterinarians
In 2006 there were 188.7 million pet visits (dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets) to
veterinarians who either spent full time treating companion animals (companion-animal-
exclusive) or some lower fraction of time (companion-animal-predominant, mixed animal, and
food-animal-predominant). Using AVMA membership information on the numbers of
veterinarians in each category and the percentage of time spent treating companion animals, the
committee calculated that services for the 188.7 million pet visits were met by the full time
equivalent (FTE) of 48,158 veterinarians. Box 2-2 describes the assumptions the committee
made in calculating its estimate of total companion-animal FTEs working in 2006. Table 2-1
illustrates the results of the committee’s calculations.
BOX 2-2
Calculation of Companion-Animal, Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Veterinarians
Veterinarians who work with pets devote 100% (companion-animal-exclusive), 90% (companion-
animal-predominant), 49% (mixed animal), and 6% (food-animal-predominant) of their time to
companion animals (AVMA, 2009a). The majority of companion-animal specialists in private practice list
themselves as companion-animal-exclusive. The percentage of veterinarians working part-time is 6.7%
for food- animal-predominant, 7.4% for mixed animal, 14.5% for companion-animal-predominant, and
19.4% for companion-animal-exclusive. Those working part-time work an average of 21-23 hours per
week (AVMA, 2009a). Part-time veterinarians were counted as 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) for the
purposes of this analysis. It was presumed that the 13,083 veterinarians whose employment was listed in
the AVMA membership database as unknown would be similar to the 68,385 veterinarians whose career
choices are listed, and that the number working part-time also would be similar (AVMA, 2006). The FTE
devoted to companion-animal private practice in 2006 is outlined in the table below.
The estimate that 188.7 million pet visits in 2006 were accommodated by 48,158 DVM
FTEs can be equivalently stated as 3,918 visits per DVM FTE per year. In the context of a
typical work year, 3,918 visits per DVM FTE equates to approximately 83-87 visits per DVM
FTE per week (assuming the work year includes 2-3 weeks vacation, 6-9 holidays, 4-5 days of
continuing education, and 5-6 sick days).
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32 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
TABLE 2-1 Companion-Animal Full-Time Equivalents in 2006
Number of CA Total
Veterinarians Half-time FTE FTE Total FTE
DVM FTEs
Food-animal-
4,924 165 4,594 4,759 286
predominant
Mixed animal 5,192 192 4,808 5,000 2,450
Companion-animal-
6,745 489 5,767 6,256 5,630
predominant
Companion-animal-
44,065 4,274 35,516 39,790 39,790
exclusive
Total 48,158
NOTE: CA=Companion-animal, DVM=Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, FTE=Full-time
equivalent
To investigate if the relationship between the number of veterinarians and the number of
pet visits might be confirmed by other data, the committee sought input from current companion-
animal practice owners listed in the AVMA membership database.8 Companion-animal practices
in rural, urban, and suburban communities were included in an exploratory survey that asked
practice owners, among other things, to provide the average number of office calls per week for
the practice, along with the number of veterinarian FTEs employed. That information was used
to calculate the average number of office calls per veterinarian (DVM) per week.
Based on the responses of practice owners, the committee found that the average number
of office calls per DVM per week was 70. For those practices in which the gross revenue per
DVM was above the mean ($462,782) the average number of visits per week per DVM was 87,
while those practices with gross revenue per DVM below the mean saw an average of 56 visits
per DVM per week.
For another point of reference and to determine the expectation of visits per week in a
corporate veterinary practice, the committee obtained data from Banfield. Each DVM FTE at
Banfield is expected to service 110 visits per week (J. Payne, Banfield, the Pet Hospital, personal
communication, June, 2008). The Banfield practice is comprised primarily of wellness visits,
with a lower number of time-consuming procedures (such as surgery) being performed than in
non-corporate veterinary practices, so higher numbers of visits per week could be expected.
Notwithstanding the limitations of the AVMA membership data and the survey
limitations, the committee’s calculation of between 83 and 87 visits per DVM FTE per week
falls in the middle of the range of reported figures from the surveyed practice owners and
Banfield.
8
The committee’s Survey of Companion Animal Practice Owners included a sample of 596 owners drawn from the
total number of 17, 886 such owners in the AVMA membership database. The survey responses should be treated as
suggestive only, as they may be biased in unknown ways because the sampling frame is incomplete—it does not
include owners who do not belong to the AVMA or AVMA members who do not indicate their employment
category (15 percent). Moreover, the response rate of 48.2 % (287 responses) provides the potential for non-
response bias. See Appendix B for details.
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 33
TABLE 2-2 Predicted DVM Full-Time Equivalents Needed in 2016 Based on Committee
Estimates
Visits per Week Work Weeks per Year Visits per DVM FTE 2016 CA DVM FTE
per Year
70 45 3,150 65,950
70 46 3,220 64,516
70 47 3,290 63,144
87 45 3,915 53,063
87 46 4,002 51,910
87 47 4,089 50,805
NOTE: CA=companion-animal, DVM=Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, FTE=full-time
equivalent.
Estimating Future Visits and Veterinarians
Assuming that pet ownership per household remains relatively constant, as it has in
recent years, and the frequency of veterinary visits per pet is consistent, the number of pet visits
in 2016 can be projected from growth in the U.S. population. In 2006, there were 188.7 million
pet visits and the U.S. population was 298,362,000, making the number of pet visits per person
0.632. Multiplying that factor by the projected U.S. population in 2016, (328,678,000 people;
[U.S. Census Bureau, 2010]), the predicted number of pet visits in 2016 will be 207,742,496.
The number of veterinarians needed to attend to the approximately 207.7 million pet
visits in 2016 will depend on the number of pet visits handled per DVM FTE per week and the
number of weeks each DVM FTE works per year. The committee calculated a range of
estimates, using a low end figure of 70 pet visits handled per DVM FTE per week (the average
of survey responses) and a high of 87 (the average of responses from practices with gross
revenue per DVM FTE above the mean). The total number of pets treated will vary depending on
the number of weeks worked per year, which the committee estimated would vary from 45 to 47
per FTE. Table 2-2 shows that the predicted range of DVM FTEs needed in 2016 is between
50,805 and 65,950, based on the variables described above. Recent data suggests that the demand
for pet services has weakened due to the economy but it is too early to tell if this trend will
reverse itself. In the absence of better data on both the demand for pet services and the number of
pets attended to by veterinarians in a given year, the predictions in Table 2-2 should only be
considered as broad estimates.
The weak economy notwithstanding, responses to the committee’s survey of current
veterinary practice owners lend support to the committee’s predictions of increased future
demand for more veterinarians in the companion-animal sector. When asked how many DVM
FTEs they would like to add in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, the survey response was an
average of 1.42, 1.24, 1.14, 1.14, and 1.17 respectively. Banfield, which employed 1,533 DVM
FTEs in 730 hospitals in 2008, described plans to expand in 2012 to a total of 3,479 DVM FTEs
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34 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
in 1,100 hospitals, and by 2016, to 5,516 DVM FTEs in 1,450 hospitals. The additional Banfield
hospitals will be new hospitals, not purchased from existing practices.
FUTURE SUPPLY OF COMPANION ANIMAL VETERINARIANS
A key question is whether the estimated number of FTE companion-animal veterinarians
needed in 2016—a figure somewhere between 50,805 and 65,950 (based on predicted numbers
of pets and pet visits)—will be available. To answer that question, it is necessary to estimate 1)
how many currently working companion-animal veterinarians will still be working in 2016 and
2) the projected number of graduates from U.S. veterinary colleges who will join the companion-
animal sector between now and 2016. Using data from a number of sources about retirements,
graduation rates, and trends in career preferences, the committee predicts that under projected
circumstances, the number of companion-animal veterinarians available will be approximately
51,445, exceeding the lower demand estimate and falling short of the higher demand estimate.
As predicting the future is inherently difficult, the committee acknowledges the uncertainty of
presenting a single estimated figure. The assumptions and calculations that went into developing
this estimate are described in the following section.
Estimating the Number of Companion-Animal Veterinarians Working in 2016
To calculate how many veterinarians currently working in companion-animal medicine
would still be working in 2016, the committee used 2007 demographic and membership
information from AVMA, and assumed that the percentage of time spent on companion animals
among companion-animal-exclusive, companion-animal-predominant, mixed animal, and food-
animal-predominant practitioners to be consistent with current reports, as described earlier in this
chapter. The committee assumed an average career span of 35 years and also assumed that
veterinarians who will be less than 65 years of age in 2016 would be working full-time and part-
time in 2016 in the same proportions as reported currently. The committee counted veterinarians
who will be 65-70 years of age in 2016 as 0.25 FTE each (under the general assumption that
much less of their time, collectively, would be spent in the clinic). Based on these assumptions,
the total FTE of veterinarians employed currently who will contribute to companion-animal
veterinary services in 2016 is 38,329. The results of the committee’s calculations are displayed in
Table 2-3.
Estimating the Number of New Companion-Animal Veterinarians
Predicting the number of veterinary school graduates who will join the companion-
animal private practice workforce by 2016 is a little less straightforward. To develop its
projection, the committee used various estimates of the total numbers of new DVMs graduating
during the years leading up to 2016, and made assumptions about the percentage of those who
would choose to enter companion-animal practice, including the proportion of those who would
seek advanced degrees in an area of specialization related to companion-animal medicine. The
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 35
TABLE 2-3 An Estimate of Veterinarians Employed in 2008 Expected to be Working in 2016
Veterinarians Age and Work Category
<65
<65 CA
part
< 65 full 65-70 65-70 Total
<65 DVM total Total
time time DVM FTE FTE
FTE FTE
FTE
FA-predominant 174
2,819 2,630 94 2,724 717 179 2,903
Mixed 1,782
3,628 3,360 134 3,494 566 142 3,636
CA-predominant 4,055
4,608 3,940 334 4,274 929 232 4,506
CA-exclusive 34,448 27,765 3,342 31,107 4,842 1,211 32,318 32,318
TOTAL 38,329
NOTE: NOTE: CA=companion-animal, DVM=Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, FA=food-
animal, FTE=full-time equivalent.
TABLE 2-4 Projected Number of Graduates of Accredited Colleges of Veterinary Medicine
2008-2016
Americans in accredited
United States Americans in accredited
Class non-North American
CVMs Canadian CVMs
CVMs
2008 2,477 24 45
2009 2,514 24 56
2010 2,583 24 69
2011 2,672 24 89
2012 2,765 25 132
2013 2,674 24 145
2014 2,768 24 160
2015 2,865 24 176
2016 2,965 24 194
TOTAL 24,283 217 1,066
NOTE: CVM=College of Veterinary Medicine.
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36 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
committee’s analysis focused on information about AAVMC-accredited veterinary schools in the
United States, Canada, and outside of North America.
The committee used information from AVMA and AAVMC on the numbers of graduates
in recent years and on current and projected enrollments to estimate the overall number of DVMs
graduating between the years of 2008-2013 (AAVMC, 2009, 2010; Shepherd, 2009). The
committee assumed increases of 3.5% per year for the classes of 2014-2016, based on increases
from previous years, and assumed that enrollment of Americans in accredited Canadian schools
would remain constant throughout the 2008-2016 period. For accredited veterinary colleges
outside of North America, the committee predicted annual increases of 10% in the classes of
2013-2016.
Table 2-4 summarizes the committee’s projections for new DVM graduates between
2008-2016. In this time period, a total of 25,566 new graduates are expected: 24,283 from U.S.
veterinary colleges, 217 from Canadian veterinary colleges, and 1066 from non-North American
veterinary colleges.
Proportion of New Graduates Pursuing Companion-Animal Medicine
The committee assumed that the percentage of future graduates of U.S. veterinary
colleges who choose to pursue companion-animal medicine would mirror that of the class of
2008, but it made slightly different assumptions about Canadian and non-North American
accredited schools. Because of the cost of education incurred by students attending those schools
is much greater than for those attending U.S. schools, the committee predicted graduates would
choose to enter careers that would generate sufficient income to serve that debt. The proportion
of students entering different careers was assumed to be as follows: companion-animal-exclusive
(40%), companion-animal-predominant (10%), advanced study of all fields (40%), and other
non-companion-animal fields (10%). Table 2-5 presents the committee’s assumptions about the
distribution of new DVMs among career paths from the different colleges.
Three additional calculations are needed to estimate the number of new DVMs joining
the companion-animal private practice workforce. One involves approximating the percentage
graduates seeking advanced training who pursue specialties related to companion-animal
medicine. For this, the committee relied on AVMA market research statistics and data made
available from the American Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Internal Medicine
on residency- or graduate-study trained board certified specialists in 2007. That information
indicated that 36% of board certified specialists in all fields were employed in companion-animal
private practice specialties (AVMA, 2007b; ACVS, 2008; T. Anglim, American College of
Veterinary Internal Medicine, personal communication, October 9, 2008). If a similar proportion
for the projected 10,202 students seeking advanced training can be assumed, there will be 3,714
more companion-animal veterinarians who have pursued advanced training in 2016. It was
projected that 400 of those companion-animal veterinarians would enter careers other than
private practice (such as academe) based on the demographics of veterinarians currently
employed in these sectors. As a result, 3,314 of new graduates who pursued advanced training
should be employed in companion-animal private practice in 2016.
The second calculation involves applying the rates at which companion-animal
practitioners in different types of practice (companion-animal-exclusive, mixed, etc.) work full-
and half-time, which is assumed to follow the current trends discussed earlier. Companion-
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 37
TABLE 2-5 Projected Career Paths for Graduates 2008-2016
United Americans in Americans in
Career Path States accredited Accredited non-North TOTAL
CVM Canadian CVMs American CVMs
CA-exclusive 7,649 87 426 8,162
CA-predominant 1,846 22 107 1,974
Mixed-animal 2,258 0 0 2,258
FA-predominant 656 0 0 656
Advanced Training 9,689 87 426 10,202
NOTE: CA=companion-animal, CVM=College of Veterinary Medicine, FA=food-animal.
TABLE 2-6 Estimated Number of 2016 Companion-Animal FTEs from New Graduates
Career Path Total new Full time Half time Total CA FTEs
graduates FTEs FTEs FTEs Private
Practice
CA-exclusive 8,162 6,579 792 7,371 7,371
CA-predominant 1,974 1,688 143 1,831 1,648
Mixed-animal 2,258 2,091 84 2,175 1,066
FA-predominant 656 612 22 634 38
Advanced Training
3,314 2,671 321 2,993 2,993
CA
TOTAL 16,364 13,641 1,362 15,004 13,116
NOTE: CA=companion-animal, FA=food-animal, FTE= full-time equivalent
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38 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
animal specialists in private practice were presumed to follow the same percentage of full-time
vs. part-time as companion-animal-exclusive veterinarians; that is, 19.4% working half-time.
Finally, the computation of FTE must consider the percentage of time spent on
companion animals by graduates in each practice type, which was applied according to current
trends. Companion-animal specialists are assumed to devote 100% of their efforts towards
companion animals.
The total additional companion-animal DVM FTEs resulting from new graduates in the
classes of 2008-2016, as estimated by the committee, is outlined in Table 2-6 below. The
committee predicts that 13,116 new DVM FTEs will be added to companion-animal workforce
by 2016.
Estimated Total 2016 Supply versus Demand
Based on the committee’s calculations, the projected total supply of companion-animal
DVM FTEs in 2016 is 51,445, comprised of 38,329 currently working veterinarian FTEs, and
13,116 FTE graduates of accredited schools between 2008 and 2016. As noted earlier, based on
differing levels of efficiency of private practices (see Table 2-2), the committee predicted that
the number of veterinarians needed to service an estimated 207.8 million pet visits in 2016 might
range between 50,805 and 65, 950 DVM FTEs. Comparing the committee’s estimates of supply
versus need, it appears that the expected outcome would be either a surplus of 640 or a shortage
of 14,505 FTEs. If one assumes that practices will become more efficient in seeing pets (using an
average efficiency of approximately 80 visits per companion-animal DVM FTE per week with a
46 week work-year), the result is a need for fewer (56,452 FTEs) veterinarians, but still a
shortage of 5,007 FTEs. If the percentage of veterinarians providing companion-animal services
working part-time continues at current levels, for all the companion-animal FTEs needed in
2016, approximately 10% more veterinarians will be needed in the workforce, or 5,508 more
veterinarians than the anticipated supply.
MEETING FUTURE WORKFORCE DEMANDS
If the demand for companion-animal veterinary services follows the trajectory observed
in the past, the committee predicts that the number of veterinarians available in 2016 will be
insufficient to provide those services, at least at current levels of efficiency (the number of pet
visits per veterinarian). To avoid such a mismatch, the demand for services could be met by 1)
more efficient use of paraprofessional staff, such as veterinary technicians, so that client needs
can be met with fewer DVM FTEs; 2) additional graduates of currently non-accredited schools
entering the companion-animal workforce, and 3) more DVMs switching from other veterinary
sectors to companion-animal medicine. A fourth way to fill the gap would be for companion-
animal veterinarians to work more hours per week; however, current workplace trends do not
support that likelihood.
Companion-animal practices are striving to become more efficient; that is, to see more
patients in the same amount of time, with more responsibility for patient care and client
communication being delegated to veterinary paraprofessionals. The private practices that
responded to the committee’s inquiry confirmed this. Practices in which the gross revenue
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 39
generated per DVM was above the mean saw more patients per week per DVM than those below
(87 vs. 56). The time for each office visit was 21 minutes for the practices that reported gross
revenue per DVM above the mean, versus 26 minutes for those grossing below the mean.
Practices with gross revenue per DVM above the mean employed an average of 3.06 veterinary
technicians and assistants per DVM versus 1.94 for lower grossing practices. Several studies
have demonstrated the relationship between paraprofessionals and the revenue level of private
practices: when the number of veterinary technicians and assistants approaches 3 per DVM,
gross and net revenue per DVM rise and more veterinary service can be provided (Brown and
Silverman, 1999b; J. Payne, Banfield, the Pet Hospital, personal communication, June 2008;
Stanley Creighton, National Veterinary Association, personal communication, June, 2008). The
committee’s analysis of private practice responses shows that there is a point of diminishing
returns. Once the number of veterinary technicians and assistants per DVM exceeds 3, there is
little additional gain in gross revenue per DVM (Figure 2-4).
FIGURE 2-4 Impact of veterinary technicians and assistants on DVM practice revenue.
The effective and efficient use of veterinary technicians is of paramount importance if the
future needs for companion-animal veterinary medical services are to be met. Ideally, veterinary
medical care is a service-oriented business, run by a well-trained health care team that is led by a
veterinarian. The veterinarian is trained to diagnose, prescribe treatment, perform surgery, and
assign prognoses for cases presented. Proper and appropriate use of veterinary technicians, which
utilize their technical expertise, will allow veterinarians to concentrate on the responsibilities that
require their knowledge and skill.
An alternative for meeting the demand for companion-animal veterinary services is to
increase the number of veterinarians devoted to companion-animal private practice. If there is no
substantial increase in the number of graduates from accredited veterinary colleges, the demand
could be met by employing veterinarians from colleges not accredited by the Council on
Education of the AVMA, or by redirecting existing DVMs from other sectors of the profession.
Both are occurring already. The number of graduates from non-accredited veterinary colleges
obtaining licensure is increasing annually. During 2006, 371 certificates from AVMA
Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) were awarded, 160 of
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40 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
which were to U.S. citizens. As of March 2007, 1,826 candidates were enrolled in the ECFVG
program, 336 of whom were U.S. citizens (AVMA, 2007c). The projections in this analysis
suggest that this trend will continue as the need for companion-animal veterinary services
continues to grow. The U.S. citizens who enroll in these non-accredited institutions will pay the
full cost of their education, which is not subsidized by public funds as are most U.S. veterinary
schools, and their ability to obtain licensure in the United States is frequently delayed by a year
or more while they progress through the ECFVG program.
Americans ultimately can obtain licensure and contribute to the veterinary workforce
after having attended a non-accredited institution, but the time required can be longer and the
cost to the students higher than if they had attended accredited colleges of veterinary medicine in
the United States. The high cost of education assumed by U.S. students attending veterinary
school outside the United States, whether accredited or not, necessitates that they will enter
higher-paying practices such as companion-animal-exclusive so their educational debt can be
served more readily.
The redirection of veterinary manpower from other sectors of the profession where
service is sorely needed to the companion-animal sector is also apparently occurring as large
animal practitioners are increasingly becoming mixed animal and companion-animal
practitioners. Increases in the salaries of companion-animal practitioners would foster that
redirection. However, these conditions may be diverting the veterinary workforce away from
underserved, yet important sectors such as public health, food safety, rural practice, and
biomedical research, among others.
Other Factors Affecting Demand in the Future
The assumptions that underlie the committee’s predicted need for a larger companion-
animal workforce in the future must be considered in light of recent information showing the
impact of the economic recession on companion-animal private practice. According to a recently
published survey, the number of pet visits per DVM per week declined from 75 in 1997 to 66 in
2009 (Bayer Health Care, 2011). That information suggests that in spite of an increasing number
of companion animals, owners are not seeking services at the same level as in the past. It remains
to be seen whether this trend will persist when the economy improves.
There also is some indication that companion-animal practices are doing better at
leveraging paraprofessional personnel. The number of veterinary technicians and assistants per
DVM FTE increased from 1.5 in 2003 to 2.4 in 2009 among the survey participants in this study
(Bayer Health Care, 2011).
In addition, despite the high educational debt load incurred when attending U.S.
veterinary schools, and even higher debt incurred when attending non-U.S. schools,, the demand
for enrollment is robust (AVMA, 2007c). While the annual applicant pool through the Veterinary
Medical College Application Service remains steady, it is estimated that annually, at least 340
U.S. citizens are attending veterinary schools at Ross University, St. George’s University, and St.
Matthews University alone (AAVMC, 2011). Precise data on the number of American students
attending accredited and non-accredited veterinary schools outside the United States are not
available; but 500-600 per year is a reasonable, yet conservative estimate. The number of
Americans leaving the United States to obtain a veterinary education must be considered when
analyzing enrollment demand and future workforce supply.
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Equine Veterinary Medicine 41
While some U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine have increased their capacity in recent
years, they are still not meeting the demand. If capacity in U.S. veterinary colleges does not
increase substantially, more and more of the companion-animal veterinary workforce will be
comprised of veterinarians who graduated from colleges outside the United States, and those
redirected from other sectors of the profession. To maintain the quality of and the access to
veterinary education at a reasonable cost to the student, and to meet the need for veterinary
services in all sectors of the profession, the veterinary profession and the U.S. higher education
system must consider this reality carefully.
The trends discussed in this chapter are further explored in Chapter 10, which examine
the dilemma of the companion-animal sector relative to the cost of education. Chapter 11
provides an analysis of these issues in the overall context of veterinary profession and offers
recommendations for addressing them.
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42 Workforce Needs in Veterinary Medicine
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