Will Veterinary Services Continue to be Recession Proof?

🤓 Let’s geek on👇

Is anyone else hearing the word #tariffs in their sleep these days? 😅

As talk of economic downturns ramps up, I keep coming back to one question: Will veterinary medicine and the animal health industry be recession-resilient… again?

Historically, we’ve weathered the storms — from the 2009 housing crash to the pandemic-driven dip in 2020 — and for many practices, very profitable. But this time feels different.

Here’s why: It’s not just about housing or fuel. The rising cost of goods is touching every household — from the grocery aisle to back-to-school shopping to that fridge that suddenly stopped working. These aren’t optional expenses — and they’re tightening everyone’s belts.

For veterinary practices, extreme tariffs won’t just raise the cost of drugs and supplies. They’ll influence client behavior in ways that go far beyond the clinic:

🔸 Grooming, boarding, and training could be seen as luxuries. 

🔸 Annual wellness visits may get delayed until that Rabies vaccine is necessary. 

🔸 Preventive care could take a backseat — leading to more urgent visits later.

So, I’m curious:

 💭 Are you feeling cautious too, or are you more optimistic?

 💡 What can veterinary practices start doing now to cushion the potential impact?

• Setting aside monthly profits into a high-yield savings account

• Create a bad case scenario budget forecast to see what that could look like

• Critically assess contract renewals

• Eliminate redundant expenses or overlapping vendor services

• Map out back up or alternative products and goods in your inventory list