Veterinary Practice News   •   Veterinary Practice News Canada   •   VetMedTeam   •   VetCE   •   Veterinary Professionals' NextGen

PetIQ to open veterinary services clinics in Walmart stores

The company projects more than 1,000 additional veterinary services clinics in retail-partner locations through 2023

March 20, 2018

PetIQ announced it is opening 20 veterinary services clinics in Walmart locations. This marks the beginning of PetIQ's plan to expand veterinary services to leading retailers following the acquisition of VIP Petcare in January of this year, according to the pet medication and wellness company.

"We are excited to announce this partnership with Walmart to open 20 veterinary clinics," said Cord Christensen, chairman and CEO of Eagle, Idaho-based PetIQ. "The first two locations will open next week with all 20 locations to open over the next 90 days. I am incredibly proud of our team who in a very short period of time has leveraged our cross-functional capabilities to introduce our first VetIQ Petcare clinics. We are excited to provide pet parents and their pets a unique experience in conjunction with our retail partners."

PetIQ said it plans to open more than 1,000 additional veterinary services clinics in retail-partner locations through 2023. Today, PetIQ and VIP serve more than 40 retail partners representing more than 60,000 locations. The company's plan would require opening veterinary clinics in fewer than 2 percent of its current retail locations.

"We believe the combined company retail locations we serve represent a significant opportunity for us to grow our veterinary services offering," said Christensen. "This will enable us to further achieve our mission of providing access to convenient and affordable veterinarian care for all pet owners, including those who currently cannot afford the care they need. We are very excited to participate in this high-growth and high-potential veterinary services segment."

In 2017, Packaged Facts reported that pet owners spent $27 billion on veterinary services and products and project spending to reach $34 billion by 2021—a market that PetIQ said it believes can be accessed through the VetIQ clinic model.

 

Comments
Post a Comment

18 thoughts on “PetIQ to open veterinary services clinics in Walmart stores”

  1. I think this would be great if it is affordable. Veterinarian services are so expensive that it is hard to get good affordable services.
    We need knowledgeable and compassionate veterinarians and their staff.
    There are many people that want to take care of their pets when they become ill but can not afford high bills. It would be nice if there was some kind of payment plan as well.

    1. Veterinarians go through 8 years of school in order to become Doctors People need to realize that pets are optional and if you plan to get a pet of any kind you need to be prepared to pay for medical bills and healthcare costs just like you would for a child. They are a long term commitment and veterinarians do a lot of free services for animals who are dumped off and abandoned at their clinics. Banfield offers a pet insurance plan. Highly suggest it if you plan to get a pet.

      1. Banfield does NOT offer an insurance plan. They offer a Wellness plan that is only applicable at their clinics. As an ER veterinary technician for the past 10 years, I have seen time and time again sick animals with Wellness plans that Banfield refuses to see no matter the time of day because they are "too busy". Once they have your money, they don't care about your pet. Look into a REAL insurance plan such as from Trupanion. Many Insurance companies that provide car/home insurance are also offering pet insurance such as Nationwide and Progressive.
        With these new "minute clinics" where do you draw the line between affordable and just plain cheap vet care. If they are only offering a limited amount of services such as vaccines, nail trims and anal gland expression, are the patients truly getting any care. Part of what makes veterinary care from a reputable clinic valuable, is the time and knowledge that is imparted by the doctor. For example, are these clinics going to be offering testing for heartworm disease or even talking to clients about heartworm preventatives. Will owners be informed of how devastating and the disease can be, how costly the treatment and yet it is completely preventable. What about flea and tick prevention which spread other diseases? Will they discuss intestinal parasites and that by not treating their pets, they could be putting their children at risk for blindness from roundworms? How about other preventative care such as annual bloodwork, dental cleanings, etc. that could end up saving owners a ton of money in the long run by catching problems well in advance of a major crisis.
        To expand on what Joyce pointed out, veterinarians attend 4 years of college and 4 years of vet school. Many also spend another year as Interns making less than minimum wage. Specialists spend another 3-4 years in residency programs. In 2016 the average vet student graduated with over $140,000 in debts and 20% of students had over $200,000 of student loan debt (AVMA). Many clinics have the same type of equipment that your own doctor would have and sometimes more. For example, digital radiographs, blood analyzers, ultrasound (sonogram), full-surgery suites, endoscopy, and ultrasonic cleaners for dentals. Specialty clinics will even have CT scanners, MRI units and laparoscopic equipment for minimally invasive surgeries. They have staff that is there 24 hours a day even on weekends and holidays.
        That being said, if you still think veterinary care is crazy expensive then be forewarned that you get what you pay for. If can't afford gas, insurance, oil changes, tires, taxes, title and tags, you shouldn't own a car. If you can't afford vaccines and preventative care, you shouldn't own a pet.

      2. Right on. And, many of us will offer payment plan to clients who are well established, meaning you come to us for your regular yearly well care, buy your flea/tick/ heartworm prevention from us instead of online. It's called loyalty and many of us will honor that and help when needed. If you only show up when your pet is sick, and go to tractor supply for vaccines, etc, well, there ya go.

    2. Also, the reason Veterinarins don't do payment plans is because if customers agree to xrays and other tests many times the customer will abandon the animal if it becomes too expensive. The clinic and veterinarian has to pick up the cost and they have an obligation to treat the animal in a humane way. There are plenty of animal insurance programs out there. If you become sick you go to the doctor whether you can afford it or not; pets are no different. Most veterinarians have over $100K in debt after 8 years of college. They deserve to be paid equally like doctors who treat you.

    3. If you can not afford a pet then you shouldnt own a pet. Payment and are not a thing because people dont pay them. How much do you think it cost to pay for a clinic, on top of products, not including the staff and they vet. This field gets paid shit as it is and your gonna complain that the vet is too expensive… dont have an animal if you cant afford the bills

    4. Do you realize these are discount services. Do not expect quality care. Paying for a staff that cares about your pet is the key. Certified technicians would never stoop to this level. Think about that. Unqualified street people working on your pet. This is ridiculous

  2. I like pets, but I hope they put an outside entrance to the clinics. Some people are highly allergic to animals. We may have to shop elsewhere if it becomes a problem. I would hate that, since 90% or more of my groceries and household goods are,purchased at Walmart.

  3. I always like to get my medical care at the place where I can pick up Tide, a loaf of bread and a case of oil. Males me feel like I am dealing with professionals

  4. This a horrible idea Wal-Mart is doing to much its not sanitary we shop eat at the deli I don't want to look at animals in Grocery store Ill have to shop anywhere that does not have animals in a Grocery Store unbelievable

    1. I hate having to go shopping surrounded by people who cart around all their nasty, snotty, disease ridden children yet I have to. I have to Touch things that kids have put their sticky, grubby hands on and that's disgusting to me. I'd like to go to a restaurant and have a meal without listening to a screaming baby or toddler who won't stop screeching like a Banshee, yet I am forced to because people love their children and want to take them places.

      We all have to make sacrifices. This will be yours. ‍♀️

  5. I am not to surprised by this at all. My question is will they provide decent care. People say they want affordable care but they don't want to pay for it. Vaccinations , yearly check ups , bloodwork ( complete with heartworm) , flea & tick, preventative care, dental, these cost money what kind of pricing are we talking about. The staff are there going to be CVT's or on the job trained assistants. If you only have CVT's & other licensed staff that will cost too.The Walmarts I have been to are gross already so hygiene is already lacking. What do they plan on for using extra care not to spread Lepto & other zoonotic diseases. People don't watch their kids how will unwatched pets play out. Insurance for pets and payment plans don't work for everyone. I can't wait to see what will be proposed .

  6. Horrible idea! Walmart wants to do the cheep and easy stuff but they will not be able to do real veterinary medicine. And if you don't have a history and relationship with a regular veterinarian, don't expect him/her to bend over backwards to take care of your ill pet. It will be like Banfield, which is the dregs of petcare. Just a ripoff. I know, I've worked there!

  7. What happens when a Pet is brought into a store that is sick because the pet owner doesn't understand the difference between a vaccine clinic and a full service hospital? A pet who may have rabies, lepto, parvovirus, etc???? In that high traffic store there seems to be inherent risks is spreading disease. What disinfection controls will be in place? Is management going to close access to potential exposure areas?

    1. First off, rabies is contracted by exchange of bodily fluids. So unless you're licking the animals saliva then you don't have to worry about that. Lepto is contracted by urine so if you're drinking the urine or letting your pet drink the urine of another pet then you would need to worry about Lepto. The only 2 that brings concern are parvo and distemper. But since the clinic will be run by professionals and veterinary skilled people, then they will know the proper protocols for disinfecting areas that the animals have touched/the owners have touched. Bleach ultimately kills everything.

  8. This is the ultimate example of how ignorance perpetuates misinformation and vice versa. If the only way you or your child can pick up a disease from a pet is to directly lick its saliva or drink its urine, and if bleach (that everyone carries around 24/7) simply kills everything, why even vaccinate for anything? Sounds like we need to dismantle the CDC and the Health Department since they have withheld this information, and there are experts already on this page eager to give this simple advice for free. These are the caliber of "professionals and veterinary skilled people" that will be serving you at a Wal-Mart pet clinic. Pet care is not just about someone sticking a needle into a pet for cheap, then reciting something they found on a random online blog. It's about professionals who are experienced and trained with the CORRECT, MOST UPDATED INFORMATION taking the time to explain what and why something is recommended to keep your specific pet healthy & comfortable, with advice on parasites, viruses, medications, behavior, training, nutrition, grooming, and temperament, and who will be there when any bad advice you do follow from anywhere else goes terribly wrong. If you are someone whose pet is "just a cat" or "only a dog" that can be easily replaced like an old shoe, then this Wal-Mart set up could work for you. But if your pet is your family and a treasured companion, then please look for a veterinarian in private practice that truly wants to do the best for your friend.

  9. I as a pet owner committed to my dog's well being would never set foot or a paw in these places. I will only ever use holistic vets for my dog and places like this are anything but holistic. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Comments

New on
VPN Plus+

Join VPN Plus+ today to get access to exclusive content like:

Understanding the relationship between veterinarians, animal abuse, and One Health
Understanding the relationship between veterinarians, animal abuse, and One Health
May pet- and vet-related calendar
May pet- and vet-related calendar
The ULTIMATE guide to movement disorders in dogs and cats
The ULTIMATE guide to movement disorders in dogs and cats
The Touch of Triage: Hypoxia and Shock
The Touch of Triage: Hypoxia and Shock
Join Now!
446977
VPN Plus+ Store
Cart
Checkout - US $0.00
  • 0
  • 1