Who is VetStrategy? 

VetStrategy is a leading veterinary network in Canada, partnering with 365 practices nationwide. We are dedicated to supporting veterinary teams in delivering exceptional care to pets and support to their families. We are part of IVC Evidensia, one of the world’s largest and most experienced veterinary groups. 

With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and community, we provide extensive expertise, resources, and support to help practices thrive, united by a common purpose of Healthy Animals, Happy Owners. Our values—We Care, We Dare, We Share—guide everything we do, fostering a culture of belonging, leadership, and trust.  

What proportion of the veterinary market in Canada is operated by VetStrategy?

VetStrategy has 365 veterinary practices, making up less than 10% of the approximately 3,800 veterinary practices nationwide. Independent practices account for more than 75% of veterinary practices in Canada.

What are VetStrategy’s values?

• • We Care: Is at the heart of everything we do, demonstrating resilience and mindfulness for the well-being of others. We are committed to creating a culture of belonging by celebrating diversity and inclusion, fostering a positive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

• • We Dare: Embracing challenges with courage and a willingness to lead change. By stepping out of our comfort zones, exploring new possibilities, and driving innovation, we continuously strive for improvement and lead for the future.

• • We Share: Being collaborative, humble, and building trust. We share knowledge, resources, and time to help others, fostering open communication, mutual support, and a strong sense of community.

Why does veterinary care cost what it does? 

Veterinary medicine has advanced significantly in recent years, with improvements in technology, treatments, and diagnostics, in line with the ongoing trend for the humanization of pets and increased owner expectations around the long-term health of their animals. These advances allow higher standards of care but also come with increased costs to acquire and maintain modern equipment, provide specialized training, and ensure facilities meet the needs of our patients and clients. 

Operating costs, as with many other industries, have also risen rapidly due to the inflationary global economy. Additionally, the veterinary industry is facing a global shortage of qualified veterinarians, which has led to necessary investments in competitive pay, enhanced benefits, and improved working conditions to attract and retain talent in the veterinary sector. 

How is veterinary pricing set? 

VetStrategy practices aim to provide outstanding care and outstanding customer service, provide good value for clients, and for pricing to be competitive for their market. Decisions on pricing for treatments and medications are made in consultation with each location. As such, pricing vary across our network, reflecting multiple factors, including the qualifications or specializations of the clinical team, the facilities and services available in local practices, local rents and salaries, and the diagnostic and treatment facilities available. 

At each VetStrategy practice, pricing reflects the exceptional care the dedicated veterinary professionals provide, the expertise and specialization of the team, the modern equipment and techniques available, and the facilities and services available. We remain committed to transparency in pricing and ensuring our clients receive value and choice in their pet’s care. 

Why do veterinary practices choose to join the VetStrategy network?

The veterinary landscape in Canada, and globally, is evolving fast, driven by increasing owner expectations, significant advances in clinical solutions, innovation and technology, changes in the career expectations of veterinary professionals, and challenges such as the systemic global shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Joining a network like VetStrategy offers concrete responses to these macro trends. Practices benefit from the extensive expertise, resources, and financial investment that come with being part of a larger network, including support with time-consuming back-end administration, investments in practice improvements, salaries and benefits, while remaining part of a balanced veterinary ecosystem that includes independent practices. This model continues to attract practices and veterinary teams looking to thrive in this dynamic, vital and fast-changing sector.

Why do practices keep their name and branding when they join VetStrategy? 

VetStrategy operates with a decentralized approach, allowing our practices to retain their individual identities and longstanding community connections. We announce publicly when practices join the VetStrategy network, however they continue operating under their original brand names, as these are often well-recognized and trusted within their local communities.  

This approach honours the legacy and relationships that practices have built over the years as vital parts of their local communities, while enabling them to benefit from the support and resources that come from being part of our broader network. 

For a complete list of our practices, please visit our website at LINK 

What proportion of the veterinary market in Canada is operated by VetStrategy? 

VetStrategy has 365 veterinary practices, making up less than 10% of the approximately 3,800 veterinary practices nationwide.

Independent practices account for more than 75% of veterinary practices in Canada.  

How do you maintain the clinical independence of veterinarians?  

The health and welfare of the animals we treat is at the centre of everything we do. We’re committed to our veterinary professionals having clinical treatment freedom, with each individual veterinarian responsible for the contextual treatment of the pets under their care, following discussions with owners. 

All our veterinarians work in line with the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics published by the CVMA. They are able to draw on the expertise of our wider network, and of our veterinarian-staffed Clinical Board, who help our veterinary professionals maintain high standards and adopt the latest techniques for the activities that are the heart of our operations through centrally shared guidance. 

How do veterinarians decide which treatments to recommend? 

We respect our animal patients and aim always to treat them with empathy, only performing examinations and treatments that are medically and ethically justified. 

All assessments of any treatments potentially required are carried out by our veterinarians based on the clinical need of the animal, to provide the best possible outcome for the animal’s health and welfare and clearly discussed with the owner. Owners are able to make the final decision based on the options presented to them and the veterinarian’s recommendation.  

What training do veterinarians complete before they join a practice? 

Veterinarians are highly qualified professionals, undergoing rigorous training comparable to that of doctors in human healthcare. In Canada, veterinarians complete a minimum of 5 to 8 years of university education, including 4 to 5 years in a professional veterinary program. Many pursue additional specialized training, ranging from 1 to 6 years as interns and residents, with board-certified specialists receiving the most extensive training.

Additionally, veterinarians must fulfill ongoing Continuing Professional Development requirements, which vary by province but typically involve 50 or more hours of education annually