VETERINARY RENAL DISEASE MARKET OVERVIEW AND DEFINITION

Global Veterinary Renal Disease Market was valued at USD 16.90 Bn. in 2024, is expected to reach USD 28.5 Bn. by 2032, reflecting a CAGR of 6.75 % over the forecast period (2025-2032)

The veterinary renal disease sector is evolving significantly as the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) increases in both companion and agricultural animals. The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) estimates that approximately 1 in 3 cats older than 10 years are affected by chronic kidney disease and almost 10% of older senior dogs. With this emerging burden on the veterinary profession, both veterinarians and pet owners are searching for better early diagnosis and regular monitoring and preventive, prompt intervention in CKD and AKI in companion animals. Urbanization, increasing adoption of pets, and greater appreciation of veterinary care are all contributing factors of increasing renal diagnostics and treatment, with the APPA reporting in 2023 that over 66% of US households are pets owners. This represents a significant consumer base for veterinary health and veterinary products. Senior pets are likely to die from renal issues since renal disorders make up the top 5 reasons for the cause of death for older pets; the overwhelming number of deaths or causes of death discussed above require veterinary intervention.

Advancements in veterinary diagnostic imaging, blood and urine testing, and point-of-care testing are allowing for early and more reliable diagnosis of kidney dysfunction. More veterinary clinics are utilizing biochemistry panels and SDMA (Symmetric Dimethylarginine), which is an early renal function biomarker detected by industry leaders even earlier than traditional creatinine levels increase. IDEXX Laboratories reports that tests for SDMA is offered in more than 30 countries and has set a standard in renal diagnostics globally.

In the area of treatment, the range of renal diets, phosphate binders, ACE inhibitors, and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents is beginning to grow. Promising research in regenerative therapies and stem cell use in veterinary nephrology suggests that innovation is on the horizon. The constant increases in pet lifespan, veterinary spend, and awareness of signs of renal disease means that the market has remained stable, while it continues to evolve especially as it relates to aging pets in key markets like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market Drivers

Rising Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease in Aging Companion Animals

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in aging companion animals is likely one of the most influential drivers within the veterinary renal disease market. The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) advises that CKD impacts up to 30–50% of cats over 15 years of age and more than 10% of dogs over 12 years of age. Since the pet population is aging globally due to better veterinary care and increased life-spans of pets, it is reasonable to anticipate that the occurrence of CKD will keep pace with those trends. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) indicates that over 44% of U.S. households who own dogs have pets that are over 7 years of age, which in veterinary terminology is considered "senior." This transition towards senior pet care is propelling demand for early diagnostics, such as serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) testing and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) assessments, which are both vital for evaluating renal health.

In addition, veterinary clinics are now adopting preventive screening protocols during annual wellness examinations; for example, IDEXX Laboratories has seen a 35% increase in SDMA test uptake per year since 2019. Development is encouraged by greater awareness by pet owners spending more on diagnostics and the management of chronic disease. In conclusion, the growth in CKD cases, with an aging population of pets and adoption of routine screening, creates a durable and expanding demand for renal therapeutics, dietary support, and diagnostics in veterinarian space.

Expansion of Veterinary Diagnostic Capabilities and Technology Adoption

Advances in technology for veterinary diagnostics are further ensuring growth in the veterinary renal disease market. There has been a progressive move from traditional testing to real-time veterinary diagnostics over the last ten years. New point-of-care analyzers, next-gen urinalysis systems, and new early biomarkers like SDMA are changing the paradigm on how renal disease is diagnosed. According to Vetnosis, the global veterinary diagnostics market grew by over 9% CAGR from 2018-2023, largely from the increase in adoption of set-up "in-clinic" testing systems. The instruments such as IDEXX’s Catalyst One and Zoetis’ Vetscan series give veterinarians the capability to obtain biochemistry results—including renal parameters such as creatinine, BUN, and SDMA within 15 minutes.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) recently issued new clinical guidelines that encourage early renal diagnostics and risk staging in senior animals. These guidelines are pushing practices worldwide to adopt higher standards and consider standardizing renal panels as a part of the routine testing, especially in patients with clinical signs of weight loss, excessive drinking, or lethargy. Telehealth platforms and cloud-based health record systems are very effectively synthesizing renal data trends over time and giving practitioners more robust treatment information. In fact, practices that utilize digital platforms like PetDesk or VitusVet report 20% higher client compliance in follow-up testing and dietary recommendations that are essential for slowing progression of renal disease.  Along with standardization in clinical standards, this technological revolution is dramatically increasing the access and demand for renal diagnostics and treatments in veterinary practices around the globe.

Market Restraint

High Cost of Veterinary Renal Treatment and Limited Reimbursement

Although there is an awareness increasing and improvements in the ability to diagnose renal disease, the cost of managing renal disease remains a major constraint to market growth. In treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in animals, feline and canine patients are usually prescribed a long-term prescription diet, monitored with regular blood and urine work, and treated with medications, which are compounded by a probable need for hospitalization for rehydration and prescription diets. This care can become burdensome on the pet owner, especially in price sensitive regions of the world. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) claims that in 2023, pet owners in the United States spent on average of $458 per year per dog, and $321 per year per cat in surgical and routine vet care. It should be noted that owners with renal disease patients could be spending $1,000 - $3,000 a year on managing renal disease in their pets, and this is without a prescribed diet, managing their pet’s anemia, or giving their pet intravenous fluids. Although Royal Canin and Hill's Prescription Diets are clinically effective, they cost 3 to 2 times more than dog and cat food.

Veterinary medicine does not yet have formalized reimbursement models or insurance coverage like human healthcare systems do in many parts of the world. Pet insurance is becoming more popular—with only 4.85 million pets covered in the U.S. according to NAPHIA’s 2023 data—but most pet insurance plans exclude pre-existing or chronic conditions limiting their use in renal care. In addition, the cost burden discourages regular monitoring, which is necessary for the early stages of renal disease. This results in late diagnoses and aggressive, costly interventions. In emerging markets like Latin America or Southeast Asia, cost constraints lead to the absence of specialized renal diagnostics/therapies altogether.

Market Opportunity

Rising Penetration of Pet Insurance to Enable Broader Access to Renal Care

The increased growth of pet insurance is creating an opportunity for more general access to the diagnosis and treatment of veterinary renal disease. The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) reported that over 5.36 million pets in the U.S. were insured in 2023—an annual growth of 21.7%, representing the sector's largest growth rate in the last decade. Chronic diseases, such as kidney diseases that are claimed under accident and illness plans, tend to be highly prevalent.  The improved access to insurance is significant because a longer-term renal treatment plan can be very expensive, especially if it may include prescription diets, lab tests, medications and possible hospitalizations. However, as many insurance companies provide more coverage related to diagnostics (e.g., SDMA testing) the financial burden on pet owners is decreasing, which allows for earlier diagnosis and long-term compliance.

In Europe and certain Asia-Pacific nations, we are encountering similar phenomena. In the UK, over 25% of pet owners have insurance, with British Veterinary Association campaigning in support of preventative models of care, which increases accessibility to renal care across all income lines. Given the increase in awareness and affordability with the introduction of insurance, the landscape is now primed for a greater acceptance of premium renal therapeutics, nutritional products, and diagnostics - especially in North America and Western Europe.

Market Trends

Integration of AI and Predictive Analytics in Veterinary Renal Diagnostics

An evolving trend in the veterinary renal disease market is the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics into diagnostics procedures. Veterinary technology companies are beginning to implement machine learning algorithms to detect early renal disease through longitudinal health data collection in some cases before clinical signs appear. For instance, IDEXX Laboratories announced its VetConnect PLUS platform that analyzes and integrates SDMA, creatinine, and other biomarker trends while providing alerts regarding renal risk progression. Using AI, VetConnect PLUS detects 17% more early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) than standard diagnostics alone. Similarly, AI-supported urine sediment analysis and digital pathology are being used by startups and tech-savvy clinics to pick up abnormalities at the cellular level, enhance turnaround time, and improve diagnostic accuracy. Data from VetSuccess 2023 showed that clinics that implemented AI-enhanced diagnostics identified 26% more renal disease diagnoses in the first year of using AI diagnostics. To assist veterinary labs that are currently over-utilized, the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) has also recently endorsed AI to help with decision-making.

SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

By Product Type Analysis

Renal diets make up the largest share in the veterinary renal disease market by Product. Renal diets are therapeutic diets designed clinically to minimize workload on the kidneys by reduction of phosphorus, sodium, and protein while maintaining essential nutrients. Nutritional management is a critical component of CKD therapy according to IDEXX's clinical guidelines and is especially important in stages II-IV of CKD. In a new report from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), published in 2023, more than 65% of veterinarians recommended a renal diet as the primary treatment option for CKD cats and dogs. Some of the more notable brands being marketed today such as Hill's Prescription Diet k/d and Royal Canin Renal Support have made headway in the market, especially in North America and Western Europe.

These diets have been shown to have proven effectiveness and have been shown to improve life expectancy and quality of life for pets with CKD. According to clinical studies established by WSAVA, renal diets were shown to improve life expectancy in cats with renal disease by 2.4x compared to traditional diets. Awareness of renal diets among pet parents is increasing each day, and an abundance of veterinarians are now advocating for renal diets. Instead of being regarded just as a supportive care option, renal diets are being viewed as a required treatment type. This makes renal diets the best-selling product category to date.

By End User Analysis

The fastest-paced product segment in the veterinary renal disease sector is diagnostic reagents and test kits. The increase in this segment relates to greater acceptance of early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening, including SDMA (Symmetric Dimethylarginine) testing, which detects renal impairments months before classic signs of renal issues (e.g., creatinine) begin to rise. IDEXX Laboratories revealed in their 2023 Q4 report that the number of SDMA tests performed worldwide increased by 35% year-over-year compared to 2021, and the number of total tests performed in 2023 increased 45% compared to 2021; SDMA is now universally offered as part of routine panels in over 30 countries.Point-of-care test kits are increasingly being introduced into smaller veterinary clinic practices because they increase clinician turnaround on diagnostic information, are often less expensive than laboratory-based tests, and require minimal usage of dedicated infrastructure.

The American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) clarified that there is a need for diagnostic screening rate for diagnostic screening of all companion animal patients aged seven years and older; long-term demand could be presented on the horizon. Pet parents are also likely to be more requesting of the inclusion of renal biomarkers on wellness panels at the annual wellness check-up. Moreover, increasing investment in veterinary diagnostics by companies within the sector, such as Zoetis, Heska, and Antech Diagnostics, have been expanding the accessibility of veterinary diagnostic products and advanced kits for in-clinic and at-home monitoring.

The diagnostic reagent and test kit segment within the veterinary renal disease market is growing quickly in the context of a converging technology ecosystem, increasing portable analyzers, and widespread acceptance of earlier clinical recommendations for veterinary care. This growth will be most significant in urban veterinary clinic practices, and in mobile pet units.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

With pet ownership rates on the rise, solid veterinary healthcare infrastructure, and increased awareness of chronic issues such as CKD, North America is well positioned in the veterinary renal disease market. In 2023, pet ownership in the U.S. will be over 66% of households, and spending on veterinary services is expected to average over $38 billion. Furthermore, older pets are increasing, with aging pets such as dogs or cats over the age of 10 being more prone to renal complications; therefore, the need for renal diagnostics and long-term renal support is expected to rise.

One of the leading diagnostics providers such as IDEXX Laboratories and Zoetis are headquartered in the United States, which allows the region to be first to market with the new renal biomarkers such as SDMA, which are now used in routine checkups. Furthermore, the pet insurance penetration in North America (close to 5.36 Million insured pets, according to NAPHIA 2023) is strong, increasing the accessibility of long-term renal care support. Veterinary associations, such as AVMA and AAVLD, endorse their members to screen for CKD, which will catalyze clinical uptake. In total, North America is projected to represent 41.2% of the global share in 2024, and is likely to remain the most mature and commercially appealing region in the industry.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest developing regional market in the veterinary renal disease space due to multiple factors, including, the continuing growth in ownership of urban pets, growing veterinary infrastructure, and the middle-class population that is increasing their spend on animal wellness, along with the factors indicated above as having raised incidence rates. Countries like China, India, Japan and South Korea are experiencing sharply increased companion animal ownership - China reports over 100 million urban pets.  Veterinary health care spending is increasing rapidly led by awareness of chronic illnesses, like CKD, alongside the increase in aging pets. In Japan, one of the highest populations of elderly pets globally, the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science reports a 20 percent increase in CKD diagnosis cats over 12 in the last five years. 

In addition to increasing recognition and pet ownership, the region offers greater penetration of diagnostic technologies typical of the tier-1 and tier-2 cities, plus, increasing retail availability for prescription renal diets platforms like JD Health and Flipkart. Regulatory bodies in APAC are investing in capacity-building of veterinary professionals and increasing engagement resulting in faster adoption of services.

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

In January 2024, Zoetis enhanced its Vetscan Imagyst multi-application diagnostic platform with the addition of AI-based urine sediment analysis. This application uses deep learning artificial intelligence for highly accurate in-clinic sediment analysis for a fresh sample of urine, allowing treatment to be determined quickly by veterinary practitioners.

In September 2023, the animal health company Elanco Animal Health -which is a subsidiary of Merck - reported the first shipment of Varenzin-CA1, a treatment for nonregenerative anemia part of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats, to the U.S. market. This launch and its timing represent a significant unmet medical need for the important sub-specialty of veterinary renal care.

VETERINARY RENAL DISEASE MARKET REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION

MARKET REGIONAL COVERAGE      

North America (United States, Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, France, Russia, Hungary, Netherland, Ireland, Austria, Rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Rest of Asia Pacific)

Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Israel, UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rest of Middle East and Africa

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America)

VETERINARY RENAL DISEASE MARKET ACTIVE PLAYERS

• Mars, Incorporated
• Nestle Purina PetCare
• Arkray
• General Mills
• Zoetis Inc.
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Elanco
• Bionote U.S.A
• Ceva Santé Animale
• Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
• Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
• Vedco Inc.
• Mission Pharmacal Company
• Neogen Corporation
• IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.