The demand for veterinary services in western Canada

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Health Economics

Background:

• Veterinary workforce studies are crucial for understanding practice trends.
• Data on veterinarian time allocation and hiring needs in Western Canada are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify weekly work hours for veterinarians in Western Canada.
• To determine species-specific time allocation in veterinary practice.
• To assess veterinary clinics' intentions for hiring new associates.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 1099 veterinary clinics in Western Canada.
• Response rate was 64% (706 clinics), representing 80% of private practitioners.
• Data collected on time allocation by species and hiring needs.

Main Results:

• Practitioners spent 73% of their time on small animals, 11% on beef, and 9% on horses.
• 64% of clinics and 66% of practitioners focused exclusively on companion animals.
• An estimated 347 full-time equivalent (FTE) veterinarian vacancies exist, with 57% in companion animal practice.

Conclusions:

• Companion animal practice is the predominant focus for veterinarians in Western Canada.
• There is a significant demand for new veterinary associates, particularly in companion animal services.
• The findings highlight potential workforce shortages in specific practice areas.