Some independent small animal veterinarians
were stricken with panic in January when Banfield
owner Mars Inc. announced that it would purchase
hospital giant VCA Inc.
What changed in the veterinary world between
Jan. 9, when the $7.7 billion transaction was
unveiled, and the day before? Nothing really, except
Mars now owns more than 2,000 hospitals in addition
to diagnostic labs, boarding facilities, a genetic
testing service and a plethora of chocolate candies.
Rest assured, independent hospitals still
dominate the U.S. veterinary industry, making up
an estimated 85 percent of all practices. So, with
the initial emotional reaction behind us, let's think
about how to respond logically. As an independent
practitioner, what can you do — and should you
do — to strengthen your place in the veterinary
world? What challenges do you face?
Continued on page 22
A N O F F I C I A L J O U R N A L O F T H E N A V C
Stop, thief!
4 ways to stop employee
fraud and embezzlement
Page 8
Make your
pharmacy
a cash cow
Learn how to win back
prescription drug sales
Page 26
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017
DEBUT
ISSUE!
Independent veterinarians can
thrive in the face of growing
corporate competition if they focus
on people, processes and profits.
By Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA
Leslie Mamalis
Money Matters
Page 12
14 columns
inside
Charlotte Lacroix
H.R. Huddle
Page 48
Mark Cushing
Politics & Policy
Page 42
A dying
breed
?