At the end of 2022, China underwent a profound transformation, most notably the abrupt shift in its COVID-19 control policies, which caught many by surprise. On the surface, large-scale, routine pandemic management appears to have come to an end; yet in reality, people’s minds remain shrouded in the lingering shadow of the virus. Much like the domestic economy, recovery will still take some time.

Looking back on the past three years of fighting the pandemic, although the outcome was abrupt and did not allow for a perfect conclusion, the historical record of these three years remains unchanged. The broader economic environment has shown clear signs of downturn, and the pet industry’s market economy has also experienced significant volatility. So, as the second-largest sub-sector within the pet industry, what changes have occurred on the consumer end in the pet healthcare segment? Today, we will present an analysis of the “China Pet Industry White Paper—2022 China Pet Healthcare Consumption Report,” offering a comprehensive review of pet healthcare consumption trends in China. Together, we will use data to interpret the shifts and emerging trends on the consumer side in 2022, thereby charting a course for future development in 2023.

The survey data for the “China Pet Industry White Paper—2022 China Pet Healthcare Consumption Report” were collected from 31 provinces and 114 cities (with first-tier cities accounting for 28.8%, new first-tier cities 37%, second-tier cities 22.6%, third-tier cities 8.3%, fourth-tier cities 2.6%, and fifth-tier cities 0.7%), covering more than 1,800 veterinary hospitals and encompassing over 6.2 million case records.

The content is organized into nine major sections: an overview of the industry; a survey of pet diagnostic and treatment facilities; a survey of veterinary pharmaceuticals and health supplements and the companies that produce them; a survey of pet medical equipment and instruments and the companies that manufacture them; pet healthcare service providers; a pet health report; a survey of pet owners’ spending on pet healthcare; policies and laws and regulations governing the pet healthcare industry; and a forward-looking outlook for the industry. The aim is to provide industry professionals in China’s pet healthcare sector with valuable, reference-worthy information, enabling a deeper understanding of the current state of development and insight into the sector’s growth potential.

Insights into Basic Pet Information at the Clinic

The proportion of cats presenting for veterinary care is higher than that of dogs, with adult dogs and cats accounting for the largest share.

Based on the analysis of case data, cats accounted for 60.6% of all animals presenting to veterinary hospitals, with an estimated total of over 1.74 million. This represents a 1.5 percentage-point increase in the proportion of cat presentations compared with 2021, indicating that cats now constitute a larger share of hospital visits than dogs, whose numbers are approximately over 1.11 million. Among the age groups of both dogs and cats presenting to hospitals, adults make up the largest proportion, exceeding 60%; compared with 2021, the proportion of adult dogs has decreased by 1.9 percentage points, while that of adult cats has increased by 2.2 percentage points.

Insights into Pet Health Care

1. Annual Trend in the Number of Vaccinations for Infectious Diseases in Dogs and Cats

The annual trend in canine and feline infectious disease vaccination rates in 2022 did not exhibit any particularly pronounced fluctuations; however, it is evident that the peak vaccination period for feline infectious diseases occurs between July and September.

2. Cat infectious disease vaccinations are the highest in number.

Among the hospitals surveyed, feline infectious disease vaccines accounted for the largest share of vaccinations, at approximately 48.4%, while canine vaccines represented only 23.3%. This trend reflects the growing emphasis on routine immunization in cats and the increasing number of cat owners. However, for rabies vaccines, which made up 28.2% of all vaccinations, dogs slightly outpaced cats: dogs accounted for 15.8% of doses, compared with 12.4% for cats.

3. Among various dosage forms of anthelmintic medications, topical spot-on treatments are the first choice for cat owners.

Dogs: The most commonly used anthelmintic formulations are topical spot-on treatments and oral medications; among these, oral medications increased by 2.2% year on year, while topical sprays and collars saw modest growth.

Cats: The most commonly used form of flea and tick prevention is topical spot-on treatments, accounting for approximately 79.6%; followed by oral formulations, which account for about 19.2% and have increased by 5.2% year over year.

Therapeutic Case Analysis in Veterinary Medicine

1. Comparison of the Top 10 Diseases—Dogs

In 2022, allergic skin disease was the most common reason for veterinary visits in dogs, accounting for approximately 16.1% of all cases; it ranked first among common diseases in puppies, adult dogs, and middle-aged to senior dogs. Gastroenteritis, respiratory diseases, and pancreatitis ranked second, third, and fifth, respectively. The relatively high rate of follow-up visits for these conditions is primarily due to their multiple etiologies and tendency to recur, rather than reflecting their true incidence.

2. Comparison of the Top 10 Diseases — Cats

Among the common causes of disease in cats, feline lower urinary tract syndrome, gastroenteritis, and feline upper respiratory tract infection rank among the most frequent conditions in both kittens and adult cats. Feline panleukopenia (feline distemper) has risen from seventh to fifth place; allergic skin diseases have moved up from eighth to seventh; and parasitic skin diseases have dropped from fifth to eighth.

3. Proportion of case volume by pet surgical procedure

Dogs accounted for 54.1% of surgical cases, cats for 43.5%, and exotic pets for 2.4%.

Oral surgery ranks first among pet surgical procedures, accounting for 41.1% of all cases—a 5.8 percentage-point increase from 2021. Next are urogenital and soft-tissue surgeries, representing 18.4% and 14.1% of cases, respectively. Oncologic surgery has moved up from sixth to fifth place.

4. Proportion of systemic disease cases—dogs

Compared with 2021, among the top three systemic disease categories in dogs, the proportion of cases for dermatological diseases, digestive system diseases, and infectious diseases has all increased, while their rankings have remained unchanged. Urinary system diseases have risen from sixth to sixth place, whereas the proportions of other systemic diseases have declined to varying degrees; however, respiratory system diseases, digestive system diseases, and infectious diseases continue to account for a major share of overall cases.

5. Proportion of systemic disease cases—cats

Compared with 2021, among the top three systemic diseases in cats, the proportion of infectious diseases increased by 2.3 percentage points, moving from third to first place; the proportion of digestive system diseases rose by 1.1 percentage points, remaining in second place; and the proportion of dermatological diseases declined by 3.8 percentage points, dropping from first to third place.

6. Top 5 Chronic Diseases in Dogs and Cats

Dogs: Chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and mitral valve disease—among other major systemic conditions—exhibit high rates of follow-up visits; interdigital dermatitis, although prevalent, has a lower follow-up rate, likely because the condition has a relatively high cure rate and management is primarily conducted in the daily home environment.

Cats: Feline lower urinary tract disease has the highest initial diagnosis rate, at approximately 61.6%; chronic kidney disease and diabetes both exhibit high follow-up rates, exceeding 60%, highlighting the challenges in achieving cure for these conditions; the etiology of feline gingivostomatitis remains unclear, with recurrent, refractory cases leading to both high initial and follow-up consultation rates, making it an ongoing clinical challenge for veterinary practitioners to address.

7. Diagnostic methods for chronic kidney disease and diabetes

Chronic kidney disease: The serum level of SDMA serves as an indicator of renal function and can typically detect renal impairment even when renal function has declined by as much as 25%. SDMA measurement, along with biochemical profiling and ultrasonography, constitutes a critical component of the diagnostic workup for chronic kidney disease.

Diabetes: Cats account for a higher proportion of overall diagnostic workups compared with dogs. Among the diagnostic tests used to diagnose diabetes in cats, more than half of cases involve biochemistry and complete blood count.

8. Proportion of Each Specialty Disease

In terms of specialty disease classification, internal medicine accounts for the largest volume of cases, followed by radiology, while dermatology maintains a stable share.

Analysis of Healthcare Consumption Habits

1. Ranking of Functional Categories for Dietary Supplements

The top three categories of dietary supplements are all disease-related, including skin care, ear care, and urinary system care.

2. Top 10 Sales Categories of Prescription Diets

Prescription gastrointestinal diets increased by 8.4%, and the use of prescription diets as an adjunctive treatment for chronic gastrointestinal diseases is associated with a favorable prognosis. Meanwhile, with the high incidence of urinary tract diseases, the share of prescription urinary diets has also been gradually rising (+1.4%).

3. Postoperative Rehabilitation Prescription Diet Penetration Rate in Surgical Cases

The share of postoperative recovery prescription diets has declined significantly, possibly due to reduced consumer willingness; however, pet owners increasingly recognize the importance of postoperative nutritional supplementation.

4. Top 10 Sales by Drug Category

Vaccines, antiparasitic drugs, and antibiotics account for 62.8% of total sales. To mitigate the adverse consequences of antibiotic misuse, veterinary practitioners should place greater emphasis on thorough diagnosis and prudent prescribing.

5. Routes of Drug Administration in Therapeutic Cases

Compared with 2021, the proportion of oral medications increased from 33.7% to 37.6%, primarily due to greater acceptance of oral medications among dog owners; meanwhile, cat owners’ acceptance of discharge medications also rose from 24.2% to 28.0%.

As the 2022 report clearly demonstrates, despite the many uncertainties still facing the industry, one thing is certain: the trend toward veterinary specialization is accelerating, niche and precision medical technologies are advancing rapidly, regulatory frameworks are becoming increasingly robust, and pet owners are placing greater emphasis on their pets’ health. As the cornerstone of the pet healthcare ecosystem, the future prospects for pet hospitals are promising.