Overview
Singapore’s veterinary sector struggles with expansion; professional body gradually improves sector growth and development
With increasing economic development in Singapore and GDP rising at a rate of 12-15%, the veterinary sector in Singapore has also progressed gradually. The demand for veterinary care in Singapore has increased due to a rise in the number of pet owners within the city-state. In 2002, Singapore had 20 veterinarian practices, and 40,000 dogs with licences and the feline patient count was at approximately 30-35% of most practices.
The country’s lack of veterinary training opportunities has proved to be a slight drawback as it has resulted in students seeking colleges abroad in order to obtain qualifications within the field. Veterinary practices in Singapore are limited in number but offer a wide range of treatments, with focus given towards preventive medicine and geriatric medicine. With the veterinary industry in Singapore still being relatively small, a professional society representing the interests of the veterinary community and veterinary surgeons, referred to as the Singapore Veterinary Association (SVA), was initiated.
The association conducts meetings for both scientific and social purposes, addressing issues within the veterinary profession and promoting the advancement of the veterinary field. It enables all fully qualified veterinarians in Singapore to register, and this includes veterinary technicians and nurses as well as students.
Key Trends
Singapore’s circuit breaker due to the pandemic hinders pet healthcare; SVA introduces precautionary safety measurements for pet owners
An important priority within the veterinary profession is to safeguard and protect animal healthcare as well as public healthcare. As the pandemic spread in Singapore, SVA introduced a list of regulations and safety protocols that both pet owners and veterinary professionals were required to strictly abide by. SVA developed a large list of safety recommendations and guidelines to be adopted by all vet clinics in the city. Some of these guidelines include:
House-call services are to be provided only in the case of individuals being under a Leave of Absence or if it is deemed unfeasible for the pet to be brought to a clinic.
A strict no visitor policy was implemented for individuals dropping off their pets at clinics for treatment as a means to reduce human contact and interaction.
Individuals suffering from COVID-19 who are pet owners are advised to continue to care for their pets in line with advice given by veterinarians and strict safety measures are to be implemented. If pets are unwell and their owners are also unwell, the owner is required to find their own transport to the veterinary clinic.
The World Organisation for Animal Health has declared that no evidence is seen of companion animals resulting in their owners suffering from COVID-19. Yet, SVA advises veterinarians to maintain strict precautionary measures along with the appropriate safety measures such as washing hands, wearing PPE kits and the sanitization of premises.
Visitation of companion animals within vet clinics is to be discouraged. In the instance where visitation is urgently required, then all staff at the premises are required to carry out social distancing and all safety protocols. Clinics are advised to also enable pet care treatment digitally, providing advice and assistance via video calls. This could also be used as a method for pet owners to check up on their companion animals without physically being at the premises.
Lack of career progression proves detrimental to sector growth; professionals face severe burnout with increased service demands
In 2021, Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) and SVA carried out a survey in order to better understand key trends and challenges faced by professionals within the veterinary industry. A large number of responses emphasised the following negative aspects of the sector:
Increased demand for services - whereas the number of pet licences has increased in SIngapore, the staff count at veterinary clinics has failed to show a corresponding increase of any sort.
Higher standards with regard to client expectations.
Difficulties faced when it comes to work-life balance.
Negative impacts on the physical and mental well-being of professionals.
With a higher negative impact noted in the sector, a vast majority of individuals pursuing a career in veterinary science abroad refrain from returning to Singapore to pursue a career as part of the industry. This lack of skilled workers has led to a labour crunch within the sector, further increasing the demand for professionals in the field.
Professionals pursuing a career in veterinary science face a lack of career progression in the sector due to the industry offering very limited opportunities within the city. Vet clinics provide only two to three levels of hierarchy after which professionals experience no further progress, elevation in status or opportunities.
Many professionals in the sector face scrutiny from the public due to the increasing demand. This has caused professionals within the sector to seek a means to boost perceptions amongst the community and assist with improving standards in the industry.
President of SVA, Dr. Chow Haoting, has reportedly stated that the sector hopes to increase licensing of vet nurses, and improve regulatory guidelines for professionals and clinics within the industry. These initiatives aim to provide more incentives for nurses and build more openness among industry professionals in order to meet the challenges being faced by them.
Veterinary staff depleted as career progression drops; industry professionals seek to improve veterinary scope
A survey conducted by SVA in April 2022 found that only 20% of the veterinary nursing staff remained in the sector. This was a result of many nurses within the field facing numerous difficulties with their career path along with low pay. Further surveys conducted by SVA found that many hoped for better career development opportunities and recognition in the sector, including the promotion of lifelong learning for the veterinary industry.
Senior Minister of State for National Development, Tan Kiat How, addressing the issues prevalent in the sector, is reported to have stated that focus group discussions were held. Following such discussions, key measures such as improving professional standards, advanced educational opportunities and the formation of a veterinary professional body would be implemented. Dr. Chow has also stated that SVA is partnering with stakeholders towards upgrading skills in order to increase wages.
Key Statistics
- In 2021, it was noted that the average annual salary for corporate secretarials was over SGD 45,000, whereas the annual income for a highly experienced company secretary is SGD 83,000.
- In 2019, the administrative sector that includes corporate secretarial services saw a 5.7% return on assets and an 8.4% return on equity.
- In 2022, a forecast done by research analysts at Advance Market Analytics (AMA) stated that Singapore manufacturers will contribute to the growth of the global corporate secretarial services market at a rate of 5.13%, during the period 2022-2027.
Top Singapore MNCs in Veterinary
IDEXX LABORATORIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
IDEXX Laboratories Singapore was incorporated in 2014. Headquartered in the United States, it operates in many regions across the world and has customers in 175 countries. IDEXX has over 80 reference labs and supports more that 50,000 veterinary practices worldwide. It provides diagnostic and software products to veterinary practices specializing in services for small animals and livestock. The company’s products and services include a range of testing services, in-house analyzers, snap tests, livestock tests and others. In addition, it offers milk and water safety testing services to help maintain the health and well-being of live-stock, poultry and horses across the world.
ANIMAL RECOVERY VETERINARY CENTRE PTE. LTD.
Animal Recovery Veterinary Centre is a flagship hospital based in Singapore. Incorporated in 2005, it is a member of the Pet Space group, which is headquartered in Hong Kong, and operates 12 clinics and hospitals across Hong Kong and Singapore. These clinics offer a range of services, including general consultations, surgery and diagnostics, senior care, dental care, pet vaccination, pet microchipping, health check, spray and neuter services, hospitalization, ECG screening and allergy tests. In addition, Pet Space clinics offer house calls for its clients. The clinics use a unique approach – called ‘medutainment’ – to help support both pets and pet owners through medical care, education and entertainment.
Top Singapore Large Local Enterprises in Veterinary
ASIA VETS HOLDINGS LTD.
Asia Vets Holdings, which was established in 2010, is a fully-owned subsidiary of AVH Animal Ark. Headquartered in Singapore, the group operates two clinics. These clinics offer a variety of general veterinary services which include medical, dental and surgical care for small animals such as dogs, cats and rabbits, as well as pocket animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs and chinchillas. Asia Vets Holdings’ veterinary services include vaccination, health check, dentistry, natural killer cell and stem cell therapy, in-house blood tests, interventional radiology and interventional endoscopy, prescription pet diet and diagnostic imaging. In addition, the clinic provides complementary remedies and treatments such as traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
MOUNT PLEASANT VETERINARY CENTRE (2008) PTE. LTD.
Mount Pleasant Veterinary Centre is part of Mars Veterinary Health, and was incorporated in Singapore in 2008. Mount Pleasant Veterinary Centre operates eight clinics and a24-hour tertiary care centre, providing treatment for intensive and critical care patients. It offers its services in areas such as small animal internal medicine and surgery, veterinary acupuncture, advanced imaging and dermatology. In an effort to save more lives, the Mount Pleasant Blood Donor Programs were launched in 2016. Mount Pleasant offers referral services for internal medicine and surgery, and publishes articles to help raise awareness among the community on the health and behaviour of various kinds of pets.
AVH ANIMAL ARK PTE. LTD.
AVH Animal Ark, incorporated in 2016, is a fully-owned subsidiary of Asia Vet Holdings, which is listed on the SGX Catalist Board. AVH Animal Ark operates two clinics in the country, which are located in Tampines and in Binjai. Theveterinary practice offers a range of treatments for animals suffering from various conditions. The clinic offers an array of services, including laboratory services and general medicine, diagnostic imaging, allergy testing and treatment, acupuncture, dental services, day hospitalization, vaccinations and export health certification, soft tissue surgery and routine sterilization, and pocket pet services. The clinics operate on an open-concept basis and use state-of-the-art technologies to treat its patients.
VES HOSPITAL PTE. LTD.
VES Hospital is headquartered in Singapore. Incorporated in 2016, it became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of businesses in 2020. VES Hospital operates two clinics, one of which offers a 24/7 emergency and critical care service. A full-service veterinary hospital, it is the largest speciality referral and emergency hospital in Singapore, and an expert in treating complex medical and surgical problems. VES Hospital offers a range of services which include neurology, oncology, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, orthopaedic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and soft tissue and vascular surgery. The hospital’s website offers guidelines to help pet owners become more aware of the condition of their pets.
Top Singapore SMEs in Veterinary
LEE GUAN CHUAN PTE LTD
Lee Guan Chuan is headquartered in Singapore. The company, which was incorporated in 1996, is an animal-health and pet-product wholesaler. It offers products and services to clients in the veterinary sector and allied pet industries. Lee Guan Chuan owns numerous warehouses in the country and distributes products for more than 60 manufacturers and suppliers. It distributes an extensive range of products which includes antibiotics, vaccines, surgical instruments, and disposable items such as flea control, supplements and more. Antirobe, Frontline Spray, Pet Rapid Test Kits, Vibravet Paste and Purevax Vaccine are amongst the products distributed by the company.
JAMES TAN VETERINARY CENTRE PTE. LTD.
James Tan Veterinary Centre was established in Singapore in 1986. The centre offers a range of professional veterinary services to both home-owned and community pets. These include general practices, diagnostic facilities and surgery services, vaccinations, dental examinations, 24-hour hospitalization and emergency services, scaling and extractions, prescription diets, digital radiology, urine analysis, ear smear, desexing and cesarean section. In addition, it also offers consultation services such as microchip implantation. Skilled veterinarians at James Tan Veterinary Centre work closely with SOSD, NAC and Cat Welfare Society.
ALLPETS & AQUALIFE VETS PTE. LTD.
Allpets & Aqualife Vets, which was incorporated in 2002, is a veterinary practice headquartered in Singapore. The clinic provides personalized care and medical treatment to pets and families. It offers a range of professional services such as consultations for X-ray imaging, ultrasounds, blood tests and exportation checks. In addition, it provides vaccinations for dogs and cats, as well as pet care services such as ear cleaning, nail clipping, teeth trimming and micro bubble bath. The clinic offers surgeries for procedures such as castration, spays, dental scaling, lumpectomies and more. In addition, the clinic provides essential animal diet supplements.
THE ANIMAL CLINIC PTE LTD
The Animal Clinic was incorporated in Singapore in 1979. It operates two clinics in the island, located in Katong and Clementi. The clinics offer a range of services for cats, dogs, rabbits and a variety of pocket pets. These services include consultation, vaccinations for Feline Leukemia, Bronchishield and Rabies, sterilizations for dogs, and spaying and castrations for cats, rabbits and pocket pets. The Animal Clinic’s website provides articles on pet health to help raise awareness of different conditions that may affect animals. The clinic conducts case discussions and in-clinic seminars to ensure its veterinarians are up to date with veterinary medicine and surgery.
COMPANION ANIMAL SURGERY PTE LTD
Companion Animal Surgery was incorporated in Singapore in 1989. It is a full-service practice that offers a 24-hour facility which utilizes state-of-the-art technologies to provide medical care for animals. Companion Animal Surgery’s portfolio of services includes diagnostic services, consultations, emergency and critical care, microchipping, pet dental, pet export health checks, sterilization, surgery, and vaccinations for both cats and dogs. The clinic offers referral services for emergencies which can also be accessed online through phone or email. Companion Animal Surgery’s website publishes articles that focus on pet care advice pertaining to many animals.
THE JOYOUS VET PTE. LTD.
The Joyous Vet was established in Singapore in 2005. It operates four veterinary clinics in Singapore, two of which are dedicated to emergency care. An extensive range of services is provided by The Joyous Vet, including consultations, specialist referrals, vaccinations and vaccine titre checks, neutering, medical treatment, internal lab tests, external lab tests, dental care and treatment, surgeries, hospitalization and ultrasound scans. Its clinics offer a ‘pet-pal care plan’, which is a personalized 12-month healthcare plan that is offered to pets at any stage of their lives to cater to their specific needs. The clinics also offer the TJV Blood Donor Program, which helps to save the lives of other animals.
GENTLE OAK VETERINARY CLINIC PTE. LTD.
Gentle Oak Veterinary Clinic was incorporated in 2015. Headquartered in Singapore, it uses allopathic medicine in combination with complementary veterinary care to offer quality care for animals. In addition to the physical condition of pets, Gentle Oak Veterinary Clinic also recognizes the importance of addressing the emotional, mental and energetic aspects. It offers a range of services which includes surgeries, testings, X-rays, clinical nutrition, ultrasonography, vaccinations and integrative therapies such as Bowen therapy, therapeutic grade essential oils, and traditional Chinese medicine. Gentle Oak Veterinary Clinic has been featured on Best In Singapore.
VET PRACTICE PRIVATE LIMITED
Vet Practice, which was established in 2004, is headquartered in Singapore. It operates two branches which are located in Lorong Kilat and Holland Close. Vet Practice provides customizable healthcare and treatment for a variety of pets such as cats, dogs, turtles, reptiles, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, tortoises and birds. Its clinics are fully equipped and provide a range of services which includes surgeries, testings, hospitalization, microchipping, referral services, prescription food, house call services, TCM, artificial insemination, diagnostic imaging and dentistry. In addition, it also offers preventative healthcare treatments such as vaccinations, sterilization, parasite control and others.
AMBER VETERINARY PRACTICE PTE. LTD.
Amber Veterinary Practice was incorporated in 2010. Headquartered in Singapore, it offers an extensive range of veterinary services for a variety of animals. It provides surgery, consultation, diagnostics, and other services such as hospitalization and intensive care. These service categories cover vaccination, acupuncture, pre-export check, tele-consultations, emergency care, laparoscopy and endoscopy, orthopaedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, dental services, endodontics, sterilization, health screening, VacciCheck, X-ray, laboratory services and referral services. Amber Veterinary Practice provides 24-hour emergency veterinary services. In addition, its exclusive cat clinic – which has achieved ISFM Gold Standard – offers consultations and referrals.
ANIMAL WORLD VETERINARY CLINIC PTE. LTD.
Animal World Veterinary Clinic, which was established in 2014, is headquartered in Singapore. It offers an extensive range of professional services for a variety of animals. The clinic provides rehabilitation techniques that can also be customized to cater to the specific needs of individual animals. These include passive exercises on the treadmill, movement therapies, extracorporeal shockwave therapies and TCM acupuncture. Animal World Veterinary Clinic also offers weight loss and fitness programmes, and provides home visits for animals in very poor health. The veterinary clinic utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and has treatment facilities to accommodate procedures and ailments. It has been featured on Best In Singapore and Product Nations Choice.
Top Singapore Fastest-Growing Companies in Veterinary
VET ON WHEELS PTE. LTD.
Vet On Wheels was established in Singapore in 2018. It is a mobile veterinary clinic that operates through a van built for consultations and minor procedures. The clinic offers integrative veterinary medicine, which is a combination of modern conventional medicine and alternative therapies. The clinic’s main operation is through home visits and it possesses the necessary facilities to offer consultations, minor procedures and tests at home. Its services include palliative hospice care, Chinese herbal therapy, medical care, acupuncture, transport with oxygen, home euthanasia and food therapy. In addition, Vet On Wheels provides the option of Skype consultations and personalized wellness plans.
FURRYTAILS VETERINARY CLINIC PTE. LTD.
Furrytails Veterinary Clinic, which was incorporated in 2018, is a veterinary practice headquartered in Singapore. The clinic offers holistic treatment plans through a combination of Eastern and Western medicine, and ensures that its treatment plans meet individual needs. Furrytails Veterinary Clinic offers services and facilities that are developed to assist in preventative care at all stages of a pet’s life. In addition, it offers surgical and medical care for cats, dogs and pocket pets. Its services include acupuncture, blood tests, lipase tests, X-ray services, sterilization, dental scaling and extractions, and bladder stone removal, among others.
BRIGHTON VET CARE (BUKIT TIMAH) PTE. LTD.
Brighton Vet Care, which was incorporated in 2019, is an independent veterinary practice which operates three clinics. Located at Serangoon Gardens, Bukit Timah and Katong, these clinics offer an extensive range of services for a variety of animals. These services include consultations, vaccinations, preventative care, diagnostic imaging, acupuncture and TCM, and anaesthetic monitoring for GA and sedation procedures. Brighton Vet Care offers state-of-the-art equipment and its in-house facilities cover laboratory services for microscopy, and urine and faecal analysis; dental unit; digital X-rays; tonometry; and separate canine, feline and rabbit wards. Theclinic also offers pet health products which can be purchased through its website.
VES HOSPITAL PTE. LTD.
VES Hospital is headquartered in Singapore. Incorporated in 2016, it became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of businesses in 2020. VES Hospital operates two clinics, one of which offers a 24/7 emergency and critical care service. A full-service veterinary hospital, it is the largest speciality referral and emergency hospital in Singapore, and an expert in treating complex medical and surgical problems. VES Hospital offers a range of services which include neurology, oncology, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, orthopaedic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and soft tissue and vascular surgery. The hospital’s website offers guidelines to help pet owners become more aware of the condition of their pets.
BARKWAY PET HEALTH PTE. LTD.
Barkway Pet Health was incorporated in Singapore in 2018. It is a modern full-service veterinary practice which offers a comprehensive range of services for both cats and dogs. The clinic offers in-house X-rays and blood work analyses. Its list of services includes pet consultation; sterilization for cats and dogs; routine vaccinations; dental scaling, polishing and extraction; blood and diagnostic tests; and X-rays. The clinic performs surgeries for tumor removal, biopsies, bladder surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, pyometra and others. Barkway Pet Health provides separate wards for cats and dogs, an operating theatre, and a dental suite fully equipped with tools to perform services efficiently.
AVH ANIMAL ARK PTE. LTD.
AVH Animal Ark, incorporated in 2016, is a fully-owned subsidiary of Asia Vet Holdings, which is listed on the SGX Catalist Board. AVH Animal Ark operates two clinics in the country, which are located in Tampines and in Binjai. Theveterinary practice offers a range of treatments for animals suffering from various conditions. The clinic offers an array of services, including laboratory services and general medicine, diagnostic imaging, allergy testing and treatment, acupuncture, dental services, day hospitalization, vaccinations and export health certification, soft tissue surgery and routine sterilization, and pocket pet services. The clinics operate on an open-concept basis and use state-of-the-art technologies to treat its patients.
IDEXX LABORATORIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
IDEXX Laboratories Singapore was incorporated in 2014. Headquartered in the United States, it operates in many regions across the world and has customers in 175 countries. IDEXX has over 80 reference labs and supports more that 50,000 veterinary practices worldwide. It provides diagnostic and software products to veterinary practices specializing in services for small animals and livestock. The company’s products and services include a range of testing services, in-house analyzers, snap tests, livestock tests and others. In addition, it offers milk and water safety testing services to help maintain the health and well-being of live-stock, poultry and horses across the world.
THE ANIMAL CLINIC PTE LTD
The Animal Clinic was incorporated in Singapore in 1979. It operates two clinics in the island, located in Katong and Clementi. The clinics offer a range of services for cats, dogs, rabbits and a variety of pocket pets. These services include consultation, vaccinations for Feline Leukemia, Bronchishield and Rabies, sterilizations for dogs, and spaying and castrations for cats, rabbits and pocket pets. The Animal Clinic’s website provides articles on pet health to help raise awareness of different conditions that may affect animals. The clinic conducts case discussions and in-clinic seminars to ensure its veterinarians are up to date with veterinary medicine and surgery.
