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nderstanding both internal performance metrics and broader economic
and consumer trends are critical to maintaining veterinary practice
health — especially as financial pressures persist for pet parents.
Affordability remains a growing concern for pet parents in 2026. Inflation, higher
interest rates, and a softening job market may all affect their ability to spend,
according to Chris Doherty, DVM, assistant director of strategic business research
and outreach for the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) veterinary
economics division, who spoke at Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) 2026.
"Overall, consumer spending makes up a huge proportion of the broader
U.S. economy. It's also very important to veterinary practices," Dr. Doherty said
during the lecture.
If a pet parent feels confident in their job security and income, they may be more
willing to schedule a dental cleaning with extractions for their dog. If they're
concerned their job or income is at risk, they're more likely to delay the procedure.
Because shifts in consumer confidence and spending directly influence
practice revenue, it's essential for veterinary teams to closely monitor their own
performance. Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarking
them against both industry averages and historical practice data can help
practices spot potential challenges early and respond proactively.
Tracking Your
Practice's
Vital Signs
From consumer confidence to KPIs, here's
what veterinary practices need to monitor
Most spending at the veterinarian is discretionary
spending that our consumers are making for
the health of their pets. The way that people
feel about the economy is going to have a bearing
on that discretionary spending that they do or
do not engage in."
DR. CHRIS DOHERTY
M A R K E T WATC H
