Veterinary CT Imaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Solutions (Equipment, Consumables, Software & Services), By Animal Type, By Application, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global veterinary CT imaging market size was estimated at USD 373.03 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a lucrative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.03% from 2023 to 2030. The market growth is propelled by factors such as the advancing imaging modalities in veterinary medicine and its potential to transform the knowledge of complicated veterinary disorders. Some of the current veterinary research in both laboratory and clinical settings have been greatly influenced by the applications of CT imaging. Owing to technological advancements, CT imaging has been increasingly accessed by general veterinary practitioners in developed countries. In many veterinary cases, CT has become commonly explored as they provide valuable information that is not obtained using other imaging modalities such as radiography and ultrasound. Moreover, other factors such as the growing adoption of pets, rising veterinary expenditure, an increasing number of veterinary clinics with improved infrastructure, and emerging CT imaging centers are further driving the market growth.

CT imaging provides 3-dimensional reconstructions, which is a growing application of general veterinary medicine. Several diseases related to bones and growth in different species of animals have been largely investigated using CT. The main benefit of considering CT over other imaging modalities is that it enables veterinarians to visualize micro-fractures, trabecular bone distortion, bone curvature, bone thickness, and other general morphology. The recent applications of CT examination have even replaced some of the imaging technologies such as myelography. Moreover, in current veterinary medicine, CT has become the first choice of imaging technology to investigate intervertebral disc disease in animals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the veterinary CT imaging market, similar to several other industries during the year 2020. Owing to the supply delays associated with COVID-19, preventive measures across several countries and widely implemented nationwide lockdowns have certainly reduced veterinary imaging appointments in hospitals & clinics. The situation has also exacerbated the cost of vet services due to the reduced number of technically trained staff, concerning social distance norms. However, using remote support platforms such as telemedicine has helped veterinarians use CT equipment to its full potential. Software such as PACS (picture archiving and communication system) enabled technicians to acquire, store, and share pictures quickly thereby reducing the need for staff in certain workflows.

The generation of images in CT is rapid comparing other veterinary diagnostic modalities. In addition, considering the cost and availability, CT has significantly prohibited the use of MRI in many cases. The easy availability of computed tomography has enabled veterinarians to adopt the modality to diagnose with unprecedented accuracy and speed. Hence, the future of veterinary CT imaging is anticipated to be highly dynamic. For instance, according to a study published in June 2022, by the National Library of Medicine, the veterinary imaging market is likely to grow with more trained radiologists in near future. The most common anatomies imaged using CT include bones/joints, spine, nasal cavity, chest/lungs, and dental region. However, the process of scanning animals depends on their size, bone structure, and tissues.

Solutions Insights

The equipment segment dominated the global veterinary CT imaging market and generated the largest revenue share of over 45% in the year 2022. Several veterinary practices are now installing multi-slice CT scanners starting from eight slices to 64 slices, to diagnose animals of all sizes and shapes. Modern multi-slice CTs can acquire nearly 620 images at once, greatly reducing the image reconstruction duration compared to the CTs used 25 years ago. Owing to its rapid scanning process, a CT scan is recommended over other imaging modalities for cases where anesthesia must be prevented.

Moreover, CT scan is widely used in equine veterinary applications to diagnose sinus and dental problems. Recently, cone beam scanners are gaining more traction owing to their advantages in dental applications. On the other hand, the CT imaging software and services segment is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period with a CAGR of 7.2%. The growing number of technically trained radiologists and veterinary students is unveiling opportunities in the market of developing countries. Moreover, rising awareness of imaging software solutions among veterinary professionals has increased their demand in the vet CT industry. Therefore, these factors are expected to be some of the major drivers of market expansion.

Animal Type Insights

The small animal segment dominated the market by animal type in 2022 and generated the largest revenue share of over 55%. Growing pet adoption and ownership rates in developed countries have simultaneously increased the willingness of people to spend more on their pet’s healthcare. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the number of U.S. households owning dogs reached 69 million (54%) in 2021, which increased from 50% in 2018. Similarly, in Europe, nearly 90 million households (46%) own at least one pet, according to FEDIAF European Pet Food Industry in 2021. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged most people in the world to adopt pets for psychological comfort. These factors have largely contributed to the rising number of CT appointments in veterinary centers for several disorders.

The other animal segment, which includes exotic pets, is anticipated to exhibit the fastest CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period. Veterinary medicine has progressed towards advanced offerings in imaging modalities including CT scans for exotic animals. For instance, orthopedic diseases among exotic companion animals are commonly diagnosed using CT imaging. Moreover, in animals such as reptiles, computed tomography can be certainly used in identifying gastrointestinal blockages. Such advanced imaging platforms in recent days have greatly benefitted exotic and avian patients. Comparing radiography and ultrasound, CT techniques are underutilized in cases of exotic patients; however, owing to rising awareness, the segment is expected to grow at a significant pace.

Application Insights

The orthopedic & traumatology segment dominated the market by application in 2022 and generated the largest revenue share of over 30%. In cases of acute or chronic trauma, particularly injuries with anatomic areas such as the limb bones, or pelvis region of animals, CT scans have been considered a standard imaging method. Animal injuries might be rapidly healing on the surface; however, a lack of proper cleaning or treatment would result in an abscess. As bacterial growth increases, abscess progresses to several underlying health problems in animals, which can be fatal. Through CT imaging, veterinarians can locate the abscess and provide immediate treatment options. Hyperactive companion animals such as dogs get bone injuries and fractures very frequently, for which CT scanning is widely performed. This factor is widely supporting the estimated market share.

On the other hand, the dental application segment is expected to progress at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. As more than 50% of teeth in animals are not easily visible, specifically the tooth roots under gum lines, imaging modalities such as radiographs and CT are widely preferred among veterinary dentists. Highly sophisticated technology such as computed tomography helps in estimating the degree of oral fractures and endodontic problems and assesses temporomandibular joints. Even small mammals such as rabbits are commonly diagnosed with dental diseases, where CT overcomes multiple limitations in viewing this anatomic structure. For instance, in a study published in 2016 by the National Library of Medicine, the cone beam CT enabled clear visualization of periodontal diseases in rabbits, allowing earlier treatment.

End-use Insights

With a revenue share of over 45% in 2022, the veterinary hospitals & clinics segment dominated the market by end-use, owing to their timely diagnosis, allowing patients to receive treatment as soon as possible. Moreover, veterinary hospitals offer a wide range of diagnostic CT imaging options, which is a high-impact rendering driver of this market. Over the past few years, the opportunity for segment growth has increased because of the rising number of veterinary practices and trained veterinarians. For instance, according to an article published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the number of veterinarians in the U.S. increased from 118,624 in 2020 to 121,461 in 2021. In addition, the number of private clinical practices in the country increased from 73,373 in 2019 to 75,349 in 2020. Such factors are likely to support market growth.

The other end-use segment, which includes academic & research institutes, is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. CT scanning has proven to be a great tool in the academic research of veterinary medicine. Since its clinical introduction, this sophisticated imaging technology has become more common in veterinary research and development programs. This enables researchers to understand the depth of anatomic structure to unveil novel treatment options for several chronic diseases in animals. Although the penetration of CT in general veterinary medicine is rising, the requirement for more advancements, such as using CT with less or no anesthesia, is expected to be studied more in the near future.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the global veterinary CT imaging market and registered the largest revenue share of over 38% in 2022. This highest share can be attributed to the presence of a large pet population with respectively high veterinary healthcare expenditure. In addition, well-established veterinary hospitals & clinics, and imaging centers with varieties of equipment are registering a significant number of CT imaging appointments each year. The increasing pet humanization trends and awareness among pet owners to timely diagnose any underlying health problems in companion animals is increasing the market opportunity.

On the other side, the Asia Pacific region is expected to exhibit the fastest CAGR of over 7.6% during the forecast period. The rising interest among people in adopting companion animals and the growing disposable income expands the region’s veterinary healthcare expenditure. In addition, the rapid advancement in veterinary healthcare technology in countries such as China, India, and Japan is expected to propel market growth. Moreover, the growing presence of veterinary instrument manufacturers and distributors in developing countries is boosting the market opportunity.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is competitive in nature with the presence of a significant number of large and small players. Large companies are publicly traded and have diverse portfolios with robust R&D, distribution, and sales capabilities. Medium to small companies focuses on specific solutions that cater to customer needs in the market. These include partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, R&D, regional expansions, and product launches. For instance, in November 2022, Epica Animal Health launched Pegaso, the world’s first CT scanner designed specifically for equine patients. Similarly, Asto CT, Inc. in December 2021 launched EQUINA, a standing CT scanner with a 92 cm tapered bore. The Equina system was created expressly to address the operational issues with traditional CT scanning of horses' distal limbs, heads, and necks. Some of the prominent players in the veterinary CT imaging market include:

• GE Healthcare

• Canon Medical Systems Corporation

• Epica International (Epica Animal Health)

• Neurologica corporation

• Siemens Healthcare Limited

• Sound

• Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging

• Shenzhen Anke High-Tech Co. Ltd

• Xoran Technologies, LLC.

• PLANMED OY

Veterinary CT Imaging Market Report Scope

Global Veterinary CT Imaging Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global veterinary CT imaging market report based on solutions, animal type, application, end-use, and region:

• Solutions Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Equipment

    • Slice CT

    • Cone Beam

  • Consumables

  • CT Imaging Software & Services

• Animal Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Small Animals

    • Dogs

    • Cats

    • Others

  • Large Animals

  • Other Animals

• Application Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Neurology

  • Orthopedic & Traumatology

  • Oncology

  • Dental

  • Other Applications

• End-Use Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics

  • Diagnostic Laboratories

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Denmark

    • Sweden

    • Norway

    • Rest of Europe

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • Thailand

    • South Korea

    • Rest of APAC

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Rest of LATAM

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait

    • Rest of MEA