Pet Medications in the US, 9th Edition

Description

A focus on pet health and wellness has driven growth in the pet medications market in the US even as economic challenges have dampened consumer spending in the market. The US market for pet medications for dogs and cats reached $12.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a moderate pace through 2029. Growth is dependent upon a return to financial stability, a recovery in the dog population, and a continued interest in the part of pet owners in maintaining their pets' health and wellness.

This report covers pet medications for dogs and cats by animal type, product type, and sales channel.

Sales by product are presented for:

Parasticides

Vaccines

Anti-infectives

Pain medication

All other

Parasiticide sales are broken out for:

Prescription products vs. over-the-counter products

Flea/tick

Heartworm

Combination flea/tick/heartworm

Sales by channel are presented for:

Veterinary channel

E-commerce

Pet specialty

Mass market

All other

Scope of the report:

This report examines the $12.6 billion market for pet medications for dogs and cats, with a focus on products purchased directly by consumers. These include both prescription and over-the-counter (also called OTC or retail) medications. The primary focus of this report is on the core types of antiparasitics/parasiticides - heartworm preventatives, flea/tick preventatives, and heartworm/flea combo products, and other dewormers (some of which also target other external parasites such as mosquitoes, flies, ear mites, lice, and sarcoptic mange, and/or other types of internal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms). Also covered are market-shaping developments in other areas, including anxiety, pain management, cancer, cognitive dysfunction, and obesity/diabetes. The report takes a deep dive into key trends in marketing and new products, retail channel trends, and consumer trends. Consumer data comes from Packaged Facts' proprietary Surveys of Pet Owners and includes purchase rates by product type and by channel, demographic data, and psychographics exploring purchase attitudes and motivations. Historical data are provided for 2019 through 2024, with projections for 2025 through 2029.

Product Code: LA19645131

Table of Content

CHAPTER 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

Illustration 1-1. US Census Regional Divisions and Sub-Divisions

MARKET SIZE & COMPOSITION
MARKET OUTLOOK

Figure 1-1. Agreement with Pet Medication Cost-Related Statements, 2024 (percent of pet owners)

COMPETITIVE OVERVIEW
RETAIL TRENDS
OPPORTUNITIES

Illustration 1-2 Virbac Focus on Affordability
Figure 1-2. Products Considered Most Important for Pet Health, 2025 (percent of dog/cat owners)

CHAPTER 2: MARKET TRENDS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
MARKET SIZE & COMPOSITION
Pet Medications Growth Moderates

Table 2-1. US Retail Sales of Pet Medications, 2019-2024 (dollars in millions)

Share of Sales by Animal Type

Figure 2-1. Share of US Retail Sales of Pet Medications by Animal Type: Dog vs. Cat, 2024 (percent and dollars in millions)

Share of Sales by Distribution Channel

Table 2-2. Share of US Retail Sales of Pet Medications by Distribution Channel, 2024 (percent and dollars in millions)

Pet Medications Sales by Pet-Owning Household

Table 2-3. Dollar Sales of Pet Medications by Sector Per Pet-Owning Household, 2020-2024 (dollars in millions and dollars)
Table 2-4. Dollar Sales of Pet Medications Per Dog-Owning Household and Dog by Sector, 2024 (dollars in millions and dollars)
Table 2-5. Dollar Sales of Pet Medications Per Cat-Owning Household and Cat by Sector, 2024 (dollars in millions and dollars)

Share of Sales by Product Type

Table 2-6. Share of US Retail Sales of Pet Medications by Product Type, 2024 (percent and dollars in millions)

February ii 2025 (C) Packaged Facts
Parasiticide Sales by Type

Table 2-7. Share of US Retail Sales of Parasiticides by Product Type: Prescription vs. OTC, 2024 (percent and dollars in millions)
Table 2-8. Share of US Retail Sales of Parasiticides by Product Type: Dogs vs. Cats, 2024 (percent and dollars in millions)
Figure 2-2. Share of US Retail Sales of Parasiticides by Product Type, 2024 (percent and dollars in millions)

MARKET OUTLOOK
Long-Term Elevated Prices Challenging Pet Ownership
Pet Owners Feeling the Economic Pressure

Figure 2-3. Level of Concern About Rising Prices in Consumer Categories, 2024 (percent of pet owners)

Impact on Pet Spending

Figure 2-4. Reduction in Spending on "Extras", 2024 (percent of pet owners)
Figure 2-5. Effects of Current Economic Environment, 2025 (percent of pet owners)

Pet Owners Struggle with Pet Medications Costs

Figure 2-6. Agreement with Pet Medication Cost-Related Statements, 2024 (percent of pet owners)
Figure 2-7. Significant Health and Wellness Challenges Faced in Past 12 Months, 2025 (percent of dog and cat owners)

Current and Anticipated Pet Medications Spending Changes

Table 2-9. Pet Owner Spending Changes, 2024 vs 2023 2024-2025 (percent of pet owners)
Table 2-10. Pet Owner Spending Changes on Pet Medications, 2024 vs 2023 2024 (percent of pet-owning households earning <$60,000)
Figure 2-8. Pet Owner Anticipated Spending Changes on Pet Medications, 2025 vs. 2024, 2025 (percent of dog and cat owners)
Table 2-11. Anticipated Changes in Levels of Pet Spending, 2025 vs. 2024, 2024 (percent of pet owners)
Table 2-12. Anticipated Changes in Levels of Pet Spending, 2025 vs. 2024, 2024 (percent of pet-owning households earning <$60,000)

Pet Health Remains Top Priority

Figure 2-9. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "I am willing to cut back on my personal expenses to make sure my pet is healthy", 2024 (percent of pet owners)
Figure 2-10. Pet Owner Behaviors in the Wake of COVID-19, 2025 (percent of dog and cat owners)
Figure 2-11. Health and Wellness-Related Sentiments, 2025 (percent of pet owners)

Pet Owners Monitor Pet Health and Wellness

Figure 2-12. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "I actively monitor my pet's health and wellness", 2024 (percent of dog and cat owners by generation)

Pets' Impact on Human Health

Figure 2-13. Level of Agreement with Statement, "My pets are important to my mental/physical health", 2025 (percent of pet owners)
Figure 2-14. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "My pet's health is more important than my own health", 2024 (percent of pet owners)

Exercise, Nutrition Among Top Pet Health Concerns
February 2025 (C) Packaged Facts iii

Figure 2-15. Top Pet Health and Wellness Concerns, 2024 (percent of dog- and cat-only owners)
Table 2-13. Top Pet Health and Wellness Concerns, Gen Z vs. Boomers, 2024 (percent of dog and cat owners)

Dermatitis, Gastroenteritis Top Health Claims
Pet Anxiety and Stress Are Part of Health and Wellness Concerns

Figure 2-16. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "I am concerned about my pet's anxiety and stress level", 2024 (percent of dog and cat owners)
Figure 2-17. Share of Pets with Stress/Anxiety and Behavioral Problems, 2025 (percent of dog and cat owners)

Pet Medications Among Top Pet Health Products

Figure 2-18. Most Important Pet Health and Wellness Products, 2025 (percent of dog and cat owners)

Pet Obesity and Aging Pets Contribute to Health Concerns

Figure 2-19. Share of Dog/Cat-Owning Households With Special Needs Pets, 2024 (percent)
Figure 2-20. Share of Dog/Cat-Owning Households With Senior Pets Age 7+, 2015 - 2024 (percent)
Table 2-14. Dogs and Cats by Age, All and Acquired Last 12 Months, 2025 (percent of dog- and cat-owning households)

"Pets as Family"

Figure 2-21. Pet Owner Attitudes About Pets and Family/Homelife, 2025 (percent of pet owners)

Cautious Optimism About Dog Population Recovery

Table 2-15. Dog-Owning Household Population by Generational Cohort, 2018-2024 (number in millions)

Pet Medication Sales Dependent on Challenged Veterinary Sector

Table 2-16. Veterinary Service Usage Rates: Overall and by Dog/Cat Ownership, 2019 - 2024 (percent of dog/cat owning households)
Table 2-17. Client Base for Veterinary Services vs. Overall Dog/Cat Household Population, 2013, 2018, 2023, and 2024 (in millions of households)
Figure 2-22. Growth for Veterinary Services Client Base vs. Overall Dog/Cat Households and Overall Households, 2013 vs. 2018, 2018 vs. 2023, and 2023 vs. 2024 (percent change)
Figure 2-23. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "I've felt like a veterinarian recommended more expensive treatments or options for my pet in part to increase the bill", 2025 (percent of dog and cat owners)
Figure 2-24. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "If heartworm and flea/tick medications weren't prescription-only, I'd be less likely to take my pet to the vet for annual check-ups", 2025 (percent of dog and cat owners)

Changes in Veterinary Spending

Figure 2-25. Household Spending Level Changes on Veterinary Services, 2025 (pet owners using veterinary services in 2023 and 2024)

Why Some Pet Owners Don't Use Pet Medications

Figure 2-26. Top Reasons Pet Owners Don't Use Pet Medications, 2024 (percent of pet owners who have not purchased pet meds in past 12 months)
Table 2-18. Top Reasons Pet Owners Don't Use Pet Medications by Income Level, 2024 (percent of pet owners who have not purchased pet meds in past 12 months)

Pet Owner Education May Encourage Parasiticide Usage
February iv 2025 (C) Packaged Facts

Figure 2-27. Pet Owner Knowledge About Parasiticide Products, 2024 (percent of pet owners who have not purchased pet meds in past 12 months)

Heartworm A Growing Problem in US
AHS Updates Feline Heartworm Guidance
Vaccine Hesitancy on the Rise
Impact of Generics

Illustration 2-2. 1800petmeds.com Generic Equivalent

Competition from Supplements and Pet Food/Treats

Figure 2-28. Conditions for Which Supplements Are Currently Used, 2024 (percent of current pet supplement users)
Figure 2-29. Level of Agreement with Selected Statements Related to Pet Food and Pet Health, 2024 (percent of dog and cat owners)
Figure 2-30. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "I'm willing to spend more on pet foods with extra health and wellness benefits", 2023 vs. 2024 (percent of dog and cat owners)
Illustration 2-1. Mars Royal Canin Gastrointestinal New Products
Illustration 2-2. Hill's Kitten and Puppy Sensitive Stomach & Skin Recipes

Product Regulation
LOOKING AHEAD

Pet Medication Sales to Top $14 Billion by
Table 2-19. Projected US Retail Sales of Pet Medications, 2024-2029 (dollars in millions)

Illustration 3-1. PetCareRx Generic Alternative List
Illustration 3-2. Chewy.com Generic Option
Illustration 3-3. Virbac Generic Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Product
Illustration 3-4. Amazon Basics FRONTLINE Plus Generic Equivalent
Table 3-1. Select Generic Equivalents of Parasiticide Brands, 2025

Human Pharma Company Enters Pet Compounding Business

Illustration 3-5. Revelation Animal Health Website

RETAIL TRENDS
Pet Medication Sales Trending Online

Figure 3-1. Retail Shares of Pet Medication Sales by Non-Veterinary Channel, 2024 (in percent and millions of dollars)

February 2025 (C) Packaged Facts v
Prescription and OTC Pet Meds Purchases by Channel

Figure 3-2. Share of Customers Purchasing Prescription Pet Medications by Channel, 2024 (percent of Rx pet medication purchasers)
Figure 3-3. Share of Customers Purchasing Over-the-Counter Pet Medications by Channel, 2024 (percent of OTC pet medication purchasers)
Figure 3-4. Draw Among Prescription Pet Medication Customers in Last 12 Months: Selected Online Pet Pharmacies, 2024 (percent of Rx pet medication purchasers)

Internet Exerts Influence Beyond Purchasing

Figure 3-5. Use of the Internet in Past 12 Months Related to Pet Medications, 2024 (percent of pet medication purchasers)

Retailers All-In on Online Pet Medications
Marketers Competing Online for Pet Meds Sales

Illustration 3-6. PetArmor Direct-To-Consumer Products

Walmart Quietly Reintroduces Online Pet Pharmacy

Illustration 3-7. Walmart Online Pet Pharmacy

Tractor Supply Extends Online Pet Medications Market Reach
Better Choice Expands Into Online Pet Medications
Veterinary Influence Not as Strong in Younger Generations

Table 3-2. Most Important Sources of Pet Care Information, by Generation 2025 (percent of pet owners)
Figure 3-6. Agreement with the Statement, "I have one veterinarian/veterinary clinic that I take my pets to on a regular basis", by Generation, 2024 (share of pet owners)

Veterinary Loyalty More Common Among Older Pet Owners

Figure 3-7. Level of Agreement with the Statement, "I'm loyal to the veterinary practice I go to", 2025 (share of pet owners)
Figure 3-8. Any Agreement with the Statement, "I'm loyal to the veterinary practice I go to", by Generation, 2025 (share of pet owners)

Covetrus Launches Online Prescription Management Platform

Illustration 3-8. Covetrus Prescription Management

Vetsource Offers Prescription Management and Online Pharmacy

Illustration 3-9. Vetsource's Vet-Targeted Web Page

Wag! Expands Into Prescription Management Space

Illustration 3-10. Furscription Website

Pet Specialty Brick & Mortar Stores Focus on OTC Medications

CHAPTER 4: PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS MARKET SHARE
Prescription Products Account for Over 80% of Pet Medications Market

Table 4-1. Retail Sales of Prescription Pet Medications by Product Type, 2024 (dollars in millions and percent share)

MARKETER PROFILES
Dozens of Marketers Participate in Prescription Pet Medications Market
February vi 2025 (C) Packaged Facts
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Illustration 4-1. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Website

Elanco

Illustration 4-2. Elanco's Consumer Website

Merck Animal Health

Illustration 4-3. Merck Animal Health Website

Virbac
Zoetis
MARKETING AND NEW PRODUCT TRENDS
Parasiticides
Pet Owners Choose Between Flea/Tick, Heartworm, or Combination Products

Table 4-2. Prescription Parasiticide Brands, 2025

Flea and Tick Products
Boehringer Ingelheim - NexGard

Illustration 4-4. NexGard Website Comparison Chart

Elanco - Comfortis and Credelio

Illustration 4-5. Credelio Cat Webpage

Merck - Bravecto

Illustration 4-6. Bravecto Website

Zoetis - Simparica

Illustration 4-7. Simparica Webpage

The Heartworm Market

Illustration 4-8. ProHeart 12 Webpage

Combination Products

Illustration 4-9. Credelio Quattro
Illustration 4-10. Parasedge Multi

Broad Spectrum Wormers
Vaccines and Other Drugs
Weight Loss and Longevity Medications in the Works

CHAPTER 5: OTC PRODUCTS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
OTC PRODUCT SALES
OTC Products Account for 19% of Overall Pet Medications Market

Table 5-1. Retail Sales of Over-the-Counter Pet Medications by Product Type, 2024 (dollars in millions and percent share)

MARKETER PROFILES
OTC Marketers Focus on Parasiticides, First Aid Products
Central Garden & Pet
Ceva Animal Health
Hartz Mountain Corp.
PetIQ
February 2025 (C) Packaged Facts vii
Vetoquinol
MARKETING AND NEW PRODUCT TRENDS
Parasiticides

Table 5-2. Examples of Leading Over-the-Counter Flea/Tick Brands, 2025

Flea and Tick Products
Boehringer Ingelheim's Frontline Line Up

Illustration 5-1. FRONTLINE Website

Elanco's OTC Arsenal

Illustration 5-2. Advantage Family Webpage

Seresto Flea/Tick Collar Turmoil Subsides

Illustration 5-3. Seresto Safety Information

Virbac's Effipro and Effitix
Ceva's Catego and Vectra/Vectra 3D

Illustration 5-4. Catego Website

Central Garden & Pet's Adams and Zodiac

Illustration 5-5. Adams Flea and Tick Products

UltraGuard

Illustration 5-6. Hartz UltraGuard Web Page

PetIQ's Advecta, Capstar, NextStar, PetArmor, and Sergeant's

Illustration 5-7. Advecta Brand Cost Comparison

Merck Exits OTC Flea and Tick Market
Broad Spectrum Wormers and Mite Treatments
Natural Products

Illustration 5-8. Earth Animal New Apothecary Flea and Tick Packaging

First Aid Products

Illustration 5-9. Central Garden & Pet's Sulfodene Product Line

CHAPTER 6: CONSUMER TRENDS

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
PET MEDICATION PURCHASING PATTERNS
Purchasing Rates by Product Type

Figure 6-1. Pet Medications Usage by Type in Last 12 Months, 2024 (percent of dog/cat owners)
Table 6-1. Pet Medications Usage by Type in Last 12 Months, by Household Income, 2024 (percent)

Combination Flea/Tick/Heartworm Products Most Popular Prescription Product

Figure 6-2. Prescription Pet Medications Usage by Type in Last 12 Months, Dog vs. Cat, 2024 (percent of pet owners using prescription pet medications)

Flea/Tick Prevention Most Popular Over-the-Counter Product

Figure 6-3. Over-the-Counter Pet Medications Usage by Type in Last 12 Months, Dog vs. Cat, 2024 (percent of pet owners using over-the-counter pet medications)

Two-Thirds of Dog or Cat Households Use Parasiticide Products

Table 6-2. Percentage and Number of Dog or Cat Owners Who Use Flea/Tick or Other Parasiticides, Fall 2024 (percent and thousands of dog- or cat-owning households)

February viii 2025 (C) Packaged Facts

Table 6-3. Percentage and Number of Dog or Cat Owners Who Use Flea/Tick Prevention or Other Parasiticides, Fall 2020-Fall 2024 (percent and thousands of dog- or cat-owning households)
Table 6-4a. Number of Dog or Cat Owners Who Use Prescription Parasiticides, Spring 2023-Fall 2024 (percent and thousands of dog- or cat-owning households)
Table 6-4b. Number of Dog or Cat Owners Who Use Over-the-Counter Parasiticides, Spring 2024-Fall 2024 (percent and thousands of dog- or cat-owning households)

Nearly Half of Dog Owners Use Oral Parasiticides

Table 6-5. Usage Rates of Parasiticides by Type, Fall 2024 (percent of dog- or cat-owning households)

Parasiticide Usage by Number, Age of Pets

Figure 6-4. Usage Rates for Flea/Tick or Other Parasiticide by Number of Pets, Fall 2024 (percent of dog- or cat-owning households)
Figure 6-5. Usage Rates for Flea/Tick or Other Parasiticide by Age of Pet, Fall 2024 (percent of dog- or cat-owning households)

Frontline Most Frequently Used Flea/Tick Brand

Table 6-6. Share of Flea, Tick, and Parasite Product Usage by Brand, Fall 2024 (percent of parasiticide users)

PET MEDICATIONS PURCHASING PATTERNS BY CHANNEL
Vet Clinics Most Frequently Used Channel for Prescription Medication Purchases

Figure 6-6. Prescription Pet Medications Purchases by Channel, 2024 (percent of pet owners using prescription pet medications)
Table 6-7. Prescription Pet Medications Purchases by Channel, by Generation 2024 (percent of pet owners using prescription pet medications)
Figure 6-7. Online Prescription Pet Medications Purchases by Website, 2024 (percent of pet owners purchasing prescription pet medications online)

Price a Primary Factor in Shopping for Prescription Pet Meds Online

Figure 6-8. Reasons for Shopping for Prescription Pet Medications Online, 2024 (percent of pet owners purchasing prescription pet medications online)

Online-Only Retailers Most Frequently Used Channel for OTC Medication Purchases

Figure 6-9. Over-the-Counter Pet Medications Purchases by Channel, 2024 (percent of pet owners using over-the-counter pet medications)

Most Parasiticide Purchases Made at Veterinary Clinics

Table 6-8. Parasiticide Purchase Patterns by Channel, Past 12 Months, Fall 2024 (percent of dog and cat owners)

Boomers Most Likely to Purchase Pet Medications Online

Figure 6-10. Online Medications Purchases by Generation, 2024 (percent of pet owners using pet medications)

Share of Spending on Prescription Pet Medications by Channel

Table 6-9. Share of Spending on Prescription Pet Medications by Channel, 2024 (percent of prescription pet medication purchasers)

Changes in Parasiticide Purchasing

Table 6-10. Changes in Pet Medication Purchasing in Past 12 months, 2024 (percent of dog and cat owners)