The chapter explores the impact of consolidation in the pet industry as Mars, previously known for candy bars, invests heavily in the sector by acquiring veterinary chains and pet stores. This trend has raised concerns about corporations owning a significant number of vet clinics, leading to financial pressures on veterinarians which could potentially increase the cost of pet care for owners.
Over the past decade, the cost of veterinary care in the U.S. has skyrocketed, as health care for pets has come to look more like health care for people.
Katie Thomas, an investigative health care reporter for The Times, discusses how pet care became a multi-billion-dollar industry, and the fraught emotional and financial landscape that has created for pet owners.
Guest: Katie Thomas, an investigative health care reporter for The New York Times.
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