More veterinarians going it alone as N.S. clinics see surge of corporate takeover

Nova Scotia is seeing a surge of independent pet clinics as veterinarians move away from consolidated care.

International companies from as far as Germany started buying up local clinics before the pandemic, raising questions about who controls animal care and costs.

Dr. Jeff Goodall, who runs the Sunnyview Animal Care Centre in Bedford says consolidation isn’t necessarily bad for the profession but it does have an impact on local clinics and clients.

“I think it is fair to say that corporate takeover has pushed up the cost for clients and the remuneration and pressures for salaries for everybody in the profession,” he tells CityNews Halifax. “Veterinary assistants all the way through to technicians and veterinarians.”

Goodall adds he is aware that one-person clinics have been on the rise in the Halifax area as many veterinarians say they don’t want to work under the corporate model over concerns about the quality of care.

A report last year from the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association noted corporate interests now control 20 per cent of animal hospitals in Canada.