|
Home 
Pet
Industry
Consumers Bypassing the Vet for Pet Medications
Consumers Bypassing the Vet for Pet Medications
New study reveals that pet owners are using alternative
channels to obtain pet medications.
by Steve Johnson, staff
July 15, 2004
Veterinarians are no longer the only source for companion
pet medications and wellness products in the U.S., as dog
and cat owners are turning to alternative channels, including
the Internet, according to new research released by Ipsos
PetTrends, a syndicated consumer tracking service provided
by Ipsos-Insight, Inc.
The study showed that 27% of pet medications purchased from
July 2003 to March 2004 took place outside of the veterinarian's
office. Interestingly, 57% of cat medication was more likely
to be purchased outside of the vet's office than dog medication,
which was at 65%.
The research defined "alternative channels" as
being discount stores, pet stores, grocery stores, drug stores,
online retailers, among others.
Other than the vet's office, the second most popular place
to obtain pet medications were discount stores, representing
11% of purchases. Pet stores took third place at 9%.
"The predominance of purchases made at the veterinarian’s
is not really surprising, given the broad range of diagnoses
which may require treatments that are simply not accessible
for purchase online or through other channels," says
Fariba Zamaniyan, Vice President and spokesperson for Ipsos
PetTrends. "However, outlets outside of the veterinarian’s
office are providing convenience and cost efficiencies for
the care of companion pets such as dogs and cats. Discount
stores, pet stores, and even the Internet are enabling the
ever-increasingly empowered consumer to make educated decisions.
The Internet, in particular, provides a cost-effective means
of buying large quantities. This supply encourages adherence
to the management of pet health and well-being, which, ironically,
is not always the case when it comes to human healthcare."
Online Purchases
The study also revealed that the percent of online purchases
varied depending on the type of ailment. The Internet as a
whole accounted for only 2% of all pet medication purchases.
But of those purchases, 35% were for treatment of external
parasites (fleas, ticks, mites), 17% for heartworm, and 16%
for arthritis and pain. These three types of medications account
for 68% of all online pet medication purchases. By contrast,
the same medications account for only 35% of purchases through
a vet's office.
Another interesting statistic from the study show that of
all online medication purchases, 85% were made for dogs. 25%
of all dog-related medication purchases made over the Internet
was for some kind of external parasite treatment. Frontline,
a topical treatment for fleas, ticks, and mites captured 17%
of online purchases. By contrast, Frontline is only purchased
half as often through a vet's office (6%).
Ipsos PetTrends
Ipsos PetTrends is a new syndicated service that offers unique
insights into consumer purchase behavior of Cat and Dog medications,
wellness products and specialty foods. They collect both Rx
and OTC Cat and Dog medication and wellness product purchasing
(including SpecialtyFood) through the American Shoppers’ Panel;
a consumer panel of 16,000 households that is balanced and
projected to the US Household Population.
For more information about Ipsos PetTrends, visit their website
at: http://www.ipsos-insight.com/health/publiCations/petTrends/index.cfm
|
