The Hong Kong Veterinary Market in 2026: 186 Clinics, 1,392 Vets and a Structural Shortage

Hong Kong's pet economy is one of the most concentrated and high spending in Asia. Around one million households, roughly 38 percent, own pets, with an estimated 615,000 dogs and cats in the city. More than HKD 2.5 billion in annual veterinary care revenue flows through just 186 registered clinics, served by 1,392 registered veterinary surgeons and 108 registered specialists. That works out to roughly one registered vet for every 440 pets, which is why the pressure on hiring is not a temporary problem. It is the defining challenge of the market.

The post boom correction

The boom years created an oversupply of clinics relative to available revenue. Clinic numbers are up roughly 20 percent in recent years while post COVID consumer spending on discretionary pet care has softened. The result is intense competition for market share, squeezed margins, restructured packages and more selective hiring. The market has moved from hire anyone available to hire the right person at the right cost.

The talent disconnect

Despite 1,392 registered vets, the effective pool of experienced, available candidates is far smaller. A significant share are in non clinical, government or academic roles, and of those in private practice the vast majority are employed and not looking. At any given time only around 5 to 10 percent of experienced vets are actively looking for a new role. The remaining 90 to 95 percent are passive, open to the right opportunity, but only if someone reaches them directly. There is no surplus and there is no bench.

The night shift and ER crisis

For clinics running extended or 24 hour services the challenge is even more acute. Hong Kong's pool of experienced ER and night shift vets has been systematically exhausted, with many long time night vets burned out and unwilling to continue. Clinics have responded by poaching from each other with 50 percent pay rises and four day weeks, which inflates salaries without solving supply. Hong Kong also had no local veterinary school until City University launched its programme in 2017, and cohort sizes remain small, so the city has been structurally dependent on international recruitment for decades.

Where the talent comes from

South African qualifications are accredited by the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong, so graduates can register and practise without additional examinations, and they bring strong clinical foundations and a willingness to work demanding shifts. UK and European trained vets bring internationally recognised qualifications and suit senior GP and leadership roles. Australian and New Zealand vets are culturally familiar with the region and strong in small animal GP and emergency care.

What this means for clinics

In this market the best candidates are not browsing job boards, and timing decides outcomes. A vet who is not open to a move today may be ready in three months, and the clinics that win are the ones already in conversation when that moment arrives. If you are hiring in Hong Kong, or you are a veterinarian weighing a move here, write to bryce@brycedon.com or browse current roles at brycedon.com/for-job-seekers.