
From kibble to clinics: Why pet startups are chasing healthcare
Vetic, to name just three. These clinics epitomize a big shift that is playing out across urban India: the corporatization of veterinary services.Until a few years ago, India’s petcare market was a highly fragmented affair, dominated by neighbourhood pet stores, standalone vets and a handful of product brands.
That began to change during the covid pandemic, with people across India adopting companion animals.As pets became more deeply embedded in urban family life, a few startups such as Supertails and Heads Up For Tails emerged, offering products such as food and toys, through ecommerce and other online and offline platforms. Some of these companies attracted venture capital, making the broader category look more attractive.Many pet owners were also spending huge sums on preventive care, diagnostics and chronic treatment.
With these categories offering recurring, high-margin revenue, a clutch of entrepreneurs, such as Khanna (Supertails, 2021), Rakesh Santhapur (Dr. Paws, 2024), Gaurav Ajmera (Vetic, 2022), and Utsav Bisaria (Dr Doodley, 2023), sensed an opportunity and began establishing petcare chains.“With pet parents seeking medical help even for minor concerns, the demand for reliable and accessible veterinary care grew,” said Santhapur.The scent of that opportunity also attracted a pack of venture investors, who stepped up with the capital needed to pay for the expensive equipment, prime real estate and skilled vets that the business would need.
Read on livemint.com