07/30/2026
Here is an interesting article to read: The costs of supplies is staggering and looks to get worse if this happens.
I remember using MWI thirty years ago when three veterinarians got together and made a pharmacy. They were very friendly and easy to work with. Now it seems that all of veterinary medicine is coming corporate and squeezing out the little guy. I will fight for all that I am worth to keep this from happening, but I’m just one minnow in he swamp.
The Trump Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating veterinary consolidation amid petflation costs.
The Trump FTC has issued Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs)—legally binding requests requiring companies to produce documents and information—to all parties involved in the proposed Covetrus-MWI Animal Health merger as part of an investigation into potential antitrust concerns.
BAD NEWS for DOG MOMS: the affordability crisis has come for your pets!
Caring for a dog over its lifetime now runs about $35,000… YIKES 😬😬😬
We need more competition in the market to bring pet care costs down!
My latest op-ed at the : pic.twitter.com/tUEJD4TszU
— Jon Schweppe 🇺🇸 () July 9, 2026
If approved, the merger would reduce the number of major national veterinary distributors from three to two, with the combined Covetrus-MWI company controlling up to 75 percent of the market. (RELATED: Young People Own Even Fewer Homes Than We Thought)
Local antitrust attorney Joel Thayer told the Daily Caller the merger would dramatically reshape the veterinary distribution market, arguing it would leave one company with overwhelming control over prices and terms.
“It’s looking more like it’s going from, instead of a 3 to 2, it’s looking like it’s going to a 2 to 1, where one company is going to basically dictate all the terms and prices for that type of veterinary service.”
Thayer argued the projected market share far exceeds the threshold that has historically raised antitrust concerns.
“The standard for a really high, high concentration is for one corporation to own 30 percent of all the households, and this is 75 percent, so this is where we’re essentially dealing with a straight monopolist after this,” he told the Caller.
His comments reference the Supreme Court’s 1963 decision in United States v. Philadelphia National Bank, which established that mergers creating a company with roughly 30 percent or more of a market are presumed likely to harm competition absent evidence to the contrary. Although courts now also consider broader competitive effects, the ruling remains a cornerstone of merger law.
Thayer said the FTC’s investigative process also underscores the seriousness of the agency’s concerns.
After companies file under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act, he explained, the FTC conducts an initial review and may escalate its investigation by issuing Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) if competitive concerns remain unresolved.
Pet ownership is becoming less obtainable because the cost of caring for your animal
This man took his dog to the vet for an ear issue. Just got a basic ear issue it was $725 and then an additional $425 just to clean tarter from his teeth
This is because of private equity… pic.twitter.com/bC4qtVe8Es
— Wall Street Apes () June 30, 2026
“They go through the CID route, and that means it’s raising a lot of concerns, and it makes sense that it would, Thayer said, adding that the proposed transaction is “basically a massive merger.”
If the FTC ultimately determines the merger violates federal antitrust law, it can sue in federal court to block the deal under Section 5 of the FTC Act.
The merger comes as rising veterinary costs are causing pet owners to delay or forgo necessary care, surrender their animals, and place additional strain on shelters.
A national study by PetSmart Charities and Gallup found that 52 percent of pet owners skipped or declined veterinary care in the past year, primarily due to cost, according to a USA Today report.
One of the largest no-kill shelters in the country, Paws Chicago, reported a 28 percent increase in pet surrenders in 2026 and cited rising medical expenses as a contributing factor. (RELATED: Family Pets Are Overlooked Victims Of Affordability Crisis)
When asked what it would mean if the Trump administration intervened to block the merger, former FTC senior policy adviser and current senior adviser at the American Principles Project (APP), Jon Schweppe, told the Caller that doing so would align with the administration’s broader affordability agenda.
“Preventing a near-monopolist from driving up prices on pet families would be a big win for the Trump Administration as it works to make everyday expenses more affordable. If the FTC uncovers evidence suggesting an antitrust violation, which seems very possible, the agency can and should sue to block the merger. That would be an enormous affordability win for the 80 percent of American families who own pets.”
Taking your pet to the vet costs more than taking yourself to the doctor, and your pet doesn't even have student loans or a credit score to ruin. A routine checkup for a cat shouldn't cost the same as a down payment on a used Honda.
— S★ () July 28, 2026
Schweppe’s comments come as veterinary care has become increasingly expensive. Veterinary costs have risen roughly 60 percent since 2016, outpacing overall inflation. (RELATED: Bill To Make Healthcare Costs Transparent Advances, But Hospitals Don’t Seem Too Happy)
Research from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has also found that some pet owners have surrendered their animals because they could no longer afford or access necessary veterinary care.
Recent numbers also show that 22 percent of pet owners now carry more than $2,000 in pet-related debt, as the lifetime cost of owning a dog has climbed to roughly $35,000, with the cost of owning a cat not far behind, according to a Gallup poll.
