Pet parents driving better healthcare

NOVEMBER 2022

We’ve all heard the phrase “pandemic pet,” a term coined during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the 23 million American households that adopted a pet, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). This equates to one in five households nationwide having added a four-legged friend to their family.

The pandemic also spurred a new era in the humanization of pets, or fur-babies, in large part because of millennials, those born roughly between 1980 and 2000. Why? Well, they made up a majority of new pet parents in 2021 at 43%, and according to research, millennials are more likely to delay having children – or forgo it all together – and typically demand flexible working conditions and hybrid office hours because 50% of the millennial population lives alone.

Humanizing pets has been occurring since the 19th century, long before the pandemic pet boom, when the first ever dog biscuit was created by an Ohio electrician. Since the early 2000s, this trend has continued at a staggering rate thanks to social media and the accessibility provided by e-commerce. Pet parents are sharing all aspects of their fur-baby’s life including human-grade pet food & supplements, the daycare facilities they’re enrolled in (and interviewed to get into), pet fashion (including Halloween costumes), pet sitters/walkers, preventative medications, and top-tier veterinary services.

According to Morgan Stanley, pet parents across the United States have steadily increased their spending by 15.7% from 2020 to 2021 and the pet industry will continue to see an 8% annual growth through 2030. So, it’s safe to say that in treating pets like the children that many millennials are choosing not to have, this pet humanization fad is here to stay.

In an article by The Washington Post, fur-babies are also adding pressure to veterinary practices throughout the country. It’s reported that many veterinarians are being ambushed with appointment requests for new and existing pets, and vet emergency rooms are warning owners that wait times are getting increasingly longer. As attention to the level of care of our four-legged friends rises, the veterinary equipment market will similarly see growth as facilities look to obtain high-quality equipment.

At True Care for Pets (TrueCare) – a California veterinary practice and emergency hospital offering specialty and acute care – top-tier, advanced treatment for animals and peace of mind for their pet parents has always been a priority. As a facility built on state-of-the-art technology and equipment, TrueCare planned to expand their oncology capabilities and specialized radiation therapy with a new Varian, a Siemens Heathineers Company, Halcyon System.

The Halcyon system offers 3D radiation therapy technology with precision and speed to target the most complex tumors while delivering powerful radiation with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. In addition to its treatment capabilities, the system will also help TrueCare streamline their workflow and expedite treatment times – a necessity with the influx of patients.

Varian worked closely with Siemens Financial Services (SFS) to provide TrueCare a creative, time sensitive financing package to ensure a low monthly payment and an expedited delivery timeline.

“I’m sure we all know someone that added a pet to their family within the last three years,” said Sarah Seidel, Head of Healthcare Sales at SFS Commercial Finance Americas. “These animals deserve the highest level of care available – whether that’s diagnostics or treatment – because they’ve truly become part of our family that we depend on, just as they depend on us.”

At Ellie Diagnostics – an independent veterinary wellness and diagnostics laboratory located in Texas – the team prides themselves on transforming animal health by making testing more accessible. Their full-service lab offers innovative and customized services that save time and drastically improve the diagnostics experience for veterinarians and their patients.

When the opportunity came to open a flagship veterinary diagnostics laboratory in Kentucky, they jumped at the opportunity to acquire best-in-class equipment including several Siemens Advia 2120i & Immulite Analyzers. This system provides a unique optical-based technology to deliver consistent results and clearly distinguish between normal and abnormal samples, leading to better outcomes.

To ensure the flagship laboratory would open their doors within their tight timeline, housing the brand-new equipment they desired, Ellie Diagnostics worked with the SFS Commercial Finance Americas team to structure a financing solution that fit within the context of their budget.

“When seeking out veterinary care for pets, owners are demanding access to the best diagnostics and specialized treatments available to increase life expectancy,” said Markus Edstrom, Head of SFS Commercial Finance Americas. “At SFS, it is important that we support the digital transformation of veterinary healthcare and help enable access to therapies and cures by working closely with technology and equipment providers like Varian Medical Systems and Siemens Healthineers, as well as facilities like TrueCare and Ellie Diagnostics. Our pets deserve the same level of care as we expect for ourselves.”

So, if you’ve added a pet to your family since the COVID-19 pandemic (that you may have nicknamed your little buddy, baby, prince or princess), don’t worry you’re not the only one. And if you’ve felt a little twinge of anxiety leaving your pet in the care of your puppy pediatrician or feline physician, you don’t need to worry because chances are, they, too, understand that Hank and Frankie are not just animals, they’re your family.

For more information, visit:

Siemens Financial Services
True Care for Pets
Ellie Diagnostics
Varian, A Siemens Healthineers Company
Siemens Healthineers