Pet owners face higher vet bills amid private-equity clinic buyouts

Private-equity firms have acquired numerous U. S. veterinary clinics, pushing pet owners to pay higher veterinary bills. PBS reported that the wave of buyouts has coincided with a noticeable rise in the cost of routine and emergency pet care.

The report said owners are confronting price increases that many attribute to the new ownership structures. Industry observers expressed worries that concentrated ownership could reduce competition among providers. They also warned that the focus on profit might affect the quality of care delivered to animals.