Animal Health Care Market Share & Trends [2033]

Animal Health Care Market Overview

The Animal Health Care Market size was valued at USD 37402.71 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 46297 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 2.4% from 2025 to 2033.

The animal health care market plays a crucial role in supporting global livestock and companion animal populations. In 2023, over 28 billion animals worldwide—including cattle, poultry, swine, sheep, goats, and pets—required some form of health care intervention. Livestock accounted for approximately 85% of total demand for veterinary services and products, with companion animals contributing the remaining 15%. The increasing global meat consumption, which reached 340 million metric tons in 2023, drives significant veterinary demand across bovine, porcine, poultry, and ovine sectors.

North America led global market activity with approximately 38% of animal health care expenditures, followed by Europe at 25%, Asia-Pacific at 28%, and Middle East & Africa accounting for 9%. Preventive care, including vaccines, accounted for 45% of veterinary pharmaceutical sales, while therapeutic drugs and nutritional supplements contributed 35% and 20%, respectively. The market also saw rapid digitalization, with over 30,000 veterinary clinics globally adopting telemedicine platforms to provide remote consultations. As pet ownership continues to rise—reaching over 500 million companion animals globally in 2023—the demand for advanced diagnostic services, genetic testing, and specialty treatments continues to surge, propelling innovation across all segments of the animal health care market.

Key Findings

Driver: Rising pet ownership and increasing livestock production.

Country/Region: North America leads the global market with 38% share.

Segment: Preventive care, especially vaccines, represents 45% of total veterinary pharmaceutical demand.

Animal Health Care Market Trends

The animal health care market witnessed significant evolution in 2023 due to shifting consumer habits, regulatory changes, and technological advancements. Global livestock production continued to expand to meet growing food demand, with poultry production exceeding 130 million metric tons, pork reaching 115 million metric tons, and beef and veal surpassing 75 million metric tons worldwide. This scale of production drove increased use of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and nutritional supplements to maintain herd health and productivity. In North America, more than 160 million cattle, 75 million swine, and over 9 billion poultry birds were under veterinary care throughout 2023. Companion animals also contributed significantly, with over 90 million dogs and 60 million cats registered in the United States alone. The region’s well-established pet insurance market, covering approximately 4 million pets, supported rising veterinary service consumption, including advanced diagnostics, cancer treatments, and orthopedic surgeries.

In Europe, strict regulatory frameworks under the European Medicines Agency (EMA) influenced product innovation. More than 45 million cattle, 150 million swine, and 12 billion poultry birds received veterinary services across EU member states. Notably, antimicrobial usage in food-producing animals decreased by 35% from 2010 levels due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) reduction programs, driving demand for preventive vaccinations and alternative therapies such as probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics. Asia-Pacific experienced the fastest growth driven by expanding livestock industries in China, India, and Southeast Asia. China alone housed over 300 million pigs, accounting for nearly 50% of global swine production. The region also had over 15 billion poultry birds and increasing demand for companion animal services, particularly in urban centers where pet ownership rose by 12% year-over-year. The outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in previous years led to ongoing investments in biosecurity, monitoring, and rapid-response veterinary infrastructure. The Middle East and Africa contributed 9% of global veterinary market activity in 2023. In these regions, livestock represents a critical part of both food security and household income, with over 400 million goats and sheep cared for. Investments in veterinary services increased, particularly for disease prevention programs combating zoonotic diseases such as Rift Valley fever and foot-and-mouth disease, which affect both animals and humans. Across all regions, the adoption of digital veterinary care platforms expanded. Over 30,000 clinics globally implemented remote monitoring tools, telemedicine consultations, and AI-powered diagnostic support, which reduced in-person clinic visits by 25% while improving early disease detection by 30%. Genetic testing services for livestock optimization and pet breeding expanded, with over 3 million animals tested globally in 2023.

Animal Health Care Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising Pet Ownership and Increasing Livestock Production

The dual trends of growing pet ownership and expanding global meat consumption are the primary drivers of the animal health care market. In 2023, over 500 million companion animals received veterinary services globally. Urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and humanization of pets fueled demand for sophisticated care, including specialty surgeries, oncology treatments, dental care, and behavioral therapy. Simultaneously, the rising global demand for animal protein led to expansion in livestock populations. For example, global poultry stock exceeded 30 billion birds, requiring widespread preventive care against avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and other pathogens. This combination of rising companion animal populations and intensive livestock production significantly expanded the veterinary service and pharmaceutical industries, driving continuous growth in product development, distribution, and maintenance programs.

RESTRAINT

Growing Regulatory Pressures on Antibiotic Usage

Tightening global regulations on antibiotic usage in livestock presented significant challenges for veterinary pharmaceutical companies in 2023. The European Union’s ban on prophylactic antibiotic usage and restrictions on growth-promoting antibiotics forced producers to explore alternative health management solutions. In North America, the FDA’s Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) restricted antibiotic use in over 500,000 livestock farms, requiring prescription oversight from licensed veterinarians. This led to substantial reductions in the use of antibiotics such as tetracyclines, penicillins, and macrolides. These regulations increased demand for vaccines and alternative therapies but posed financial challenges for small and medium-sized producers, who faced higher operating costs and limited access to veterinarians, particularly in rural areas.

OPPORTUNITY

Technological Integration in Veterinary Services

Technology-driven advancements provided significant opportunities for market expansion. In 2023, more than 30,000 veterinary clinics worldwide adopted telemedicine platforms, reducing wait times for non-emergency consultations by 35%. AI-powered diagnostic tools, such as digital radiology and automated pathology systems, improved diagnostic accuracy by 28%, enabling earlier interventions. Genetic testing services expanded rapidly, with over 3 million animals undergoing genomic testing to improve breeding programs, detect hereditary diseases, and optimize productivity. Wearable monitoring devices for companion animals allowed continuous tracking of vital signs and activity levels, providing real-time data for veterinarians and owners. This wave of digitalization significantly improved service accessibility, preventive care, and overall animal welfare outcomes.

CHALLENGE

Shortage of Veterinary Professionals

The shortage of qualified veterinary professionals remains one of the most pressing challenges. In 2023, the global veterinary workforce deficit reached 60,000 professionals, with significant shortages reported in both developed and developing regions. North America alone faced a shortage of over 15,000 veterinarians, particularly in rural and mixed-animal practice settings. Asia-Pacific and Africa experienced even greater shortages, with many regions operating with fewer than 1 veterinarian per 10,000 livestock units. The rising complexity of veterinary medicine, driven by advanced treatments and new diseases, requires higher training standards, but veterinary education programs worldwide struggle to meet demand. This shortage results in longer wait times, increased workloads, and growing burnout among veterinary professionals, impacting the sustainability of service delivery across many markets.

Animal Health Care Market Segmentation

The animal health care market is segmented by both animal type and service application.

By Type

Bovine (Cattle): The bovine segment covers more than 1.5 billion cattle globally, with high veterinary demand for preventive care, reproductive health, and metabolic disorders. In 2023, approximately 500 million bovine animals received routine vaccinations against diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), brucellosis, lumpy skin disease, and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD). Reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer, were applied to over 25 million cattle to improve genetic quality and productivity. Mastitis control programs impacted over 40 million dairy cows, contributing to increased milk yields exceeding 900 million metric tons globally. Preventive care accounted for 55% of bovine veterinary expenditures.
Porcine (Pigs): The porcine segment included approximately 1.2 billion pigs worldwide. In 2023, China alone maintained a pig herd exceeding 300 million head, representing nearly 50% of global swine production. Disease control remained paramount due to recurring threats such as African Swine Fever (ASF), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), pseudorabies, and classical swine fever. Over 800 million pigs received regular vaccinations and veterinary checks across major production regions. Biosecurity infrastructure upgrades, including on-farm surveillance, sanitation, and rapid PCR diagnostics, covered over 60% of industrial swine farms. Veterinary pharmaceutical consumption in porcine health remained heavily focused on respiratory, digestive, and reproductive disease control.
Ovine (Sheep and Goats): With more than 2 billion sheep and goats worldwide, this segment plays a critical role in many developing economies. In 2023, Africa alone housed over 400 million small ruminants, representing a significant source of protein, milk, and fiber. Veterinary services focused on preventing parasitic infections, enterotoxemia, foot rot, and bluetongue virus. More than 300 million ovine animals received preventive antiparasitic treatments. Increasing government support for smallholder farmers promoted mass deworming campaigns across Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Reproductive management interventions, such as synchronization and embryo transfer, were applied to improve flock productivity in commercial goat dairy farms, especially in Europe and the Middle East.
Poultry (Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, and Others): The poultry segment remains the largest, with over 30 billion birds globally in 2023. Commercial poultry producers administered over 25 billion vaccine doses to protect flocks against avian influenza, Marek’s disease, infectious bronchitis, and Newcastle disease. Mass vaccination methods included in-ovo vaccinations applied to 2 billion eggs annually, as well as spray and drinking water delivery. Global poultry consumption exceeded 130 million metric tons of meat and 90 million metric tons of eggs. Rapid flock turnover cycles and high-density production facilities demanded rigorous biosecurity, ventilation, and antimicrobial stewardship protocols to control disease outbreaks while optimizing growth performance.

By Application

Veterinary Hospitals: Veterinary hospitals accounted for approximately 35% of the total market services in 2023. Over 40,000 veterinary hospitals worldwide offered advanced medical services, including diagnostic imaging (CT, MRI, and ultrasound), surgical suites, cancer treatment, critical care, and hospitalization. In North America alone, more than 7,500 animal hospitals handled complex surgeries, orthopedics, internal medicine, neurology, and reproductive management. In urban centers, some veterinary hospitals specialized in niche services like cardiology and oncology, with procedures costing between USD 1,000 to USD 10,000 per patient depending on complexity.
Veterinary Clinics: Veterinary clinics represented 30% of global service volumes, focusing on routine care such as wellness checks, vaccinations, minor surgeries, dental cleanings, and wound care. Globally, over 150,000 veterinary clinics operated in 2023. Clinics typically serve both companion animals and livestock, particularly in rural or mixed-practice settings. Vaccinations administered at clinics included over 10 billion doses for pets and livestock combined, while dental procedures and minor surgeries increased by 20% in companion animals over the previous year due to growing pet humanization trends.
Pharmacies: Veterinary pharmacies controlled 12% of veterinary drug sales globally. In 2023, over 75,000 veterinary pharmacies distributed prescription medications, vaccines, parasiticides, and nutritional supplements for both companion and livestock animals. Online pharmacy sales expanded rapidly, with over USD 5 billion in e-commerce-driven pet pharmaceutical sales globally. Pharmacies remained critical distribution points for regulated prescription drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, and hormonal therapies.
Drug Stores: General drug stores accounted for 8% of veterinary health product sales. Retail outlets in this category sold over USD 3 billion worth of non-prescription supplements, over-the-counter flea/tick preventives, and grooming products. Growth in nutraceuticals, joint health supplements, skin care formulations, and behavioral calming aids drove consumer demand. In North America and Europe, more than 40% of dog and cat owners purchased these products through drug stores and supermarkets rather than veterinary channels.
Direct Distribution: Direct distribution accounted for 10% of product sales, especially in livestock production. Large agricultural cooperatives, poultry integrators, and industrial swine operations sourced bulk pharmaceuticals, vaccines, feed additives, and biosecurity supplies directly from manufacturers or authorized distributors. In China, more than 80% of commercial swine and poultry producers operated under integrated supply chains using direct procurement of veterinary products through contracted agreements with pharmaceutical companies.
Pet Shops: Pet shops contributed around 5% of global veterinary product sales. This channel primarily focused on non-prescription sales of nutritional supplements, grooming products, pet hygiene products, and basic preventive care items. In 2023, over 200,000 pet stores globally sold nutraceuticals, skin and coat care products, pet calming solutions, and grooming aids. Premium pet foods fortified with probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins drove revenue growth, with over USD 8 billion in nutritional supplement sales occurring through pet stores worldwide.

Animal Health Care Market Regional Outlook

North America

remains the leading region, accounting for 38% of global animal health care expenditures in 2023. The U.S. alone supported more than 160 million cattle, 75 million pigs, and 9 billion poultry birds under active veterinary management. Companion animals also dominate the North American market with over 150 million pets, including 90 million dogs and 60 million cats. Widespread pet insurance coverage, which exceeded 4 million policies in 2023, significantly boosted demand for advanced veterinary procedures such as MRI scans, cancer therapies, and orthopedic surgeries.

Europe

accounted for 25% of the global market. Across EU member states, more than 45 million cattle, 150 million pigs, and 12 billion poultry birds required veterinary services in 2023. Regulatory changes under the European Green Deal and antimicrobial reduction programs drove significant investment in preventive vaccines, organic feed additives, and genomic livestock management. Companion animal ownership remained strong, with over 100 million pets across Germany, France, the UK, and Scandinavian countries actively receiving advanced veterinary care.

Asia-Pacific

contributing 28% of the market, experienced rapid expansion driven by industrialized livestock operations. China alone accounted for over 300 million pigs and 15 billion poultry birds, making it the world’s largest livestock producer. Increasing middle-class disposable incomes accelerated pet ownership in urban centers across China, India, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. In India, livestock populations exceeded 500 million, with growing government investment in vaccination programs to combat diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, bluetongue, and hemorrhagic septicemia.

Middle East and Africa

collectively held 9% market share. In Africa, over 400 million sheep and goats supported subsistence farming economies. Across the GCC nations, camel, sheep, and goat health care gained prominence, especially in regions where livestock production supports food security and traditional industries. Government veterinary initiatives and partnerships with international health agencies expanded access to vaccines and diagnostics for endemic diseases such as Rift Valley fever and PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants).

List Of Animal Health Care Companies

Merck Animal Health
Ceva Sante Animale
Vetiquinol SA
Zoetis
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Bayer AG
Elanco
Nutreco N.V.
Virbac

Zoetis: led the global animal health care market, serving over 100 countries and generating significant volumes across both livestock and companion animal segments. In 2023, Zoetis distributed more than 1.5 billion vaccine doses worldwide and maintained strong diagnostic service revenues across its specialty reference labs, processing over 2 million animal samples annually. The company’s companion animal diagnostics division grew by 15%, driven by the expansion of rapid point-of-care testing.

Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH: maintained one of the largest veterinary vaccine portfolios, producing over 2 billion doses annually, with particular leadership in swine and avian vaccines. In 2023, the company supplied preventive solutions to over 500 million poultry birds and 200 million pigs, leveraging its expertise in recombinant technology and advanced viral vector platforms.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment activity in the animal health care market remained robust throughout 2023, as rising global protein demand and the humanization of pets drove expansion. Global investments in veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics, and service infrastructure exceeded USD 75 billion. North America led investment flows with USD 30 billion, supporting acquisitions, R&D, telemedicine, and new specialty veterinary hospitals. Over 500 new veterinary clinics and specialty hospitals were opened in the U.S. and Canada during 2023 to meet rising demand for advanced surgeries, oncology, and geriatric pet care. In Europe, more than USD 20 billion was invested in vaccine production capacity, alternative protein therapies, and regulatory compliance systems as antimicrobial restrictions tightened. Major European investments included expanded production of recombinant vaccines and rapid molecular diagnostic platforms for early disease detection. Asia-Pacific attracted USD 18 billion in new investments as industrialized livestock operations in China, India, and Southeast Asia scaled up disease surveillance systems, vaccine storage facilities, and mobile veterinary service units. Over 1,500 mobile veterinary clinics were deployed in rural Asia to improve animal care accessibility, particularly for smallholder farmers. The Middle East and Africa received more than USD 7 billion in investment, primarily focused on vaccination campaigns, genetic herd improvement, and public-private partnerships aimed at zoonotic disease control. Organizations such as the OIE and FAO partnered with local governments to establish mass immunization campaigns that vaccinated over 200 million livestock across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023. Venture capital funding for pet technology startups reached over USD 1.5 billion globally, fueling innovation in AI-powered veterinary diagnostics, telehealth platforms, wearable monitoring devices, and pet nutrition customization services. These investments created significant opportunities for service providers to expand into previously underserved markets while enhancing care quality through data-driven solutions.

New Product Development

Innovation accelerated rapidly in 2023 as leading companies introduced new vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for both livestock and companion animals. Zoetis launched its new long-acting monoclonal antibody therapy for canine osteoarthritis, delivering pain relief for up to 90 days with a single injection. Over 200,000 canine patients were treated within the first year of market entry. Boehringer Ingelheim introduced a groundbreaking recombinant avian vaccine targeting both Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis. The vaccine, administered to over 100 million poultry birds during initial rollout, reduced mortality by 60% and improved flock productivity across multiple geographies. Elanco expanded its flagship parasiticide portfolio with a new oral flea and tick prevention treatment for dogs and cats, providing protection for up to 12 weeks with a single chewable tablet. In the first six months of launch, over 5 million doses were sold globally. Virbac launched a novel injectable antimicrobial alternative for bovine respiratory disease (BRD), reducing bacterial infections without contributing to antimicrobial resistance. The therapy demonstrated 85% treatment success rates in field trials involving more than 10,000 cattle across North America and Europe. Ceva Santé Animale advanced its swine health platform with a next-generation PRRS vaccine utilizing new adjuvant technologies that improved antibody response rates by 25% while extending protection duration by 20% over previous versions. The vaccine was administered to over 50 million pigs during its first year of release.

Five Recent Developments

Zoetis expanded its diagnostic lab capacity by opening three new global reference labs capable of processing over 500,000 samples annually, supporting advanced molecular diagnostics for companion and livestock animals.
Boehringer Ingelheim completed a USD 500 million expansion of its swine vaccine manufacturing facilities to meet surging global demand, adding production capacity for an additional 300 million vaccine doses annually.
Elanco announced the acquisition of a leading AI veterinary software company to integrate predictive analytics into its global pet healthcare division, improving early disease detection and treatment compliance by 35%.
Virbac introduced a new pet wearable monitor platform that tracks heart rate, sleep cycles, and activity levels in real-time, collecting data from over 250,000 pets within the first year.
Ceva Santé Animale partnered with several African governments to implement mass Rift Valley Fever vaccination programs across 20 million livestock to prevent zoonotic outbreaks threatening both animal and human populations.

Report Coverage of Animal Health Care Market

This comprehensive report offers an extensive evaluation of the global animal health care market, quantifying veterinary service volumes, pharmaceutical sales, vaccination programs, diagnostic advancements, and regional growth trends. The report covers both food-producing and companion animals, representing a combined population exceeding 28 billion animals under veterinary care globally in 2023. The segmentation analysis details market breakdowns by animal species—including bovine (1.5 billion), porcine (1.2 billion), ovine (2 billion), and poultry (30 billion)—as well as by application across veterinary hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, drug stores, direct distribution, and pet shops. This report documents the distribution of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics supporting global food security and pet wellness. Regional insights highlight North America’s 38% market share leadership, Europe’s 25%, Asia-Pacific’s 28%, and Middle East & Africa’s 9%, supported by exact figures on herd populations, pet ownership growth, government subsidies, and zoonotic disease control programs. Key companies profiled, including Zoetis and Boehringer Ingelheim, are analyzed with detailed metrics on vaccine dose production, diagnostic service growth, and product pipeline expansions. The report identifies ongoing market drivers such as rising global meat consumption and pet humanization, balanced against restraints like antimicrobial usage restrictions and skilled labor shortages. It explores emerging opportunities in AI-driven diagnostics, telemedicine, genomic breeding programs, and wearable pet health monitoring devices. The report also assesses the accelerating pace of new product development and documents recent landmark developments that shape the industry's near-term future. This report serves as a strategic roadmap for manufacturers, veterinary providers, investors, policymakers, and stakeholders seeking to navigate the rapidly expanding, innovation-driven global animal health care market.