Veterinary Anti-infectives Market By Product Type (Antibiotics, Antivirals, Antifungals, Antiparasitics, Others), By Animal Type (Companion Animals, Livestock Animals, Aquatic Animals), By Route of Administration (Oral, Injectable, Topical), By Distribution Channel (Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies, Others), and By End Users (Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Home Care Settings, Research & Academic Institutes, Farms & Animal Husbandry Units, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

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What trends will shape the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market in the coming years?

The Veterinary Anti-infectives Market accounted for USD 8.83 Billion in 2024 and USD 9.43 Billion in 2025 is expected to reach USD 18.23 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 6.81% between 2025 and 2035. The veterinary anti-infectives market can be defined as the part of the animal healthcare industry that involves the treatment and prevention of animal infections brought on by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These anti-infective products are key to the health of companion animals and livestock, disease control, lower mortality, and overall animal welfare. In livestock, it is crucially important to use anti-infectives in order to ward off outbreaks that are likely to cause huge financial losses and interruption of food supplies.

In companion animals, the treatments are used to provide control over common infections, pet health protection, and strengthen the human-animal bond. Its market is divided into antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics that are supplied in such forms as oral tablets, injections, and topical solutions. The expanding number of the pet population, the expanding need for animal protein, and increased awareness of zoonotic diseases can be considered significant drivers of this market. Furthermore, the progressive improvement and availability of new anti-infective formulations and the technological achievements made in veterinary medicine are broadening the panorama of treatment.

What do industry experts say about the Veterinary Anti-infectives market trends?

“The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance in both livestock and companion animals underscores the urgent need for next-generation anti-infectives and integrated diagnostic practices. Only by promoting targeted therapies and responsible stewardship can we preserve drug efficacy and safeguard public health.”

• Dr. Mary-Jane Ireland, Director General, Veterinary Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health, Government of Canada.

Which segments and geographies does the report analyse?

What are the key drivers and challenges shaping the Veterinary Anti-infectives market?

How is the rising prevalence of zoonotic diseases boosting the need for veterinary anti-infectives?

The rising rate of zoonotic diseases, caused by the transmission of animal diseases to humans, is driving the need to speed up the demand for veterinary anti-infectives in the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market. With increased interspecific infections, prophylactic and therapeutic animal interventions play key roles in curbing outbreaks at their origin and preventing animal and human health endangerment. Informed by a One Health approach, this highlights the importance of the use of veterinary drug interventions in the control of zoonotic risks.

Evidence records by trusted international organizations underline the magnitude: Zoonotic diseases are said to affect about 61 percent of all human infectious diseases, whereas 75 percent of emerging infections are animal-borne (NCBI). This abundance can spur governments, veterinary professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry to focus anti-infective development and deployment prioritization efforts on veterinary anti-infectives as essential to defeating zoonotic threats.

In what ways is the expansion of aquaculture driving demand for fish-specific anti-infectives?

This blistering development of international aquaculture, to surpass wild-capture fisheries, represents a major promotion of fish anti-infectives, impelling the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market. As aquaculture increasingly takes over as the major source of fish that are consumed by humans, disease control reigns king to shield crowded farms of aquatic species. FAO has estimated the input of aquaculture in 2022 to be 130.9 million tonnes, which comprises 51% of the total production of aquatic animals globally.

This impressive increase dictates the urgent necessity of functioning veterinary medicines that are specifically designed to fit the challenge of the character of aquatic environments, where pathogens can spread with, at times, astonishing speed within the water-based systems. Therefore, fish-specific anti-infectives are becoming paramount to avert fish outbreaks, which jeopardize productivity and food stability, thus empowering the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market.

How does antimicrobial resistance reduce the effectiveness of existing veterinary drugs?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major binding factor in the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market, which limits the efficacy of the existing veterinary medications used in treating infections in animals. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in the livestock, poultry, and aquaculture sectors have had the effect of exacerbating the breeding of resistant bacterial strains, thus rendering conventional therapies ineffective or even extinct. Not only is that significantly contributing to longer sickness or even death of the animals, but it also necessitates farmers and veterinarians to use more costly or more difficult resources.

The transmission of resistant pathogens among animal species also poses greater risks of zoonotic exposure to humans, posing health concerns leading to more regulations with respect to the use of antibiotics on food-producing animals. While stricter regulations by governments and regulatory agencies are introduced in attempts to control AMR, some of the commonly used drugs become limited in their access and use. This limits the services to the veterinarians and acts as a growth barrier to the market. AMR has ultimately weakened the efficacy of available veterinary anti-infectives, forced the industry to spend on new drugs, and hampered the feasibility of sustainable animal health management, thus functioning as a market deterrent.

Why is there a growing demand for herbal and natural alternatives in veterinary medicine?

The formulation of natural and herbal alternatives in the veterinary sector poses a big opportunity for the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market. Consumers of pets and livestock producers are becoming very wary of the side effects of conventional drugs and risks of antimicrobial resistance, hence the rise in popularity of plant-based products. Herbal medicines are seen as being more low side effects with better tolerance, and they have long-term health benefits for animals. Further, the current trend towards consumption of organic and natural food materials is also impacting the livestock industry as farmers strive to limit the applications of the chemical-induced veterinary medication.

There is intense research going on in scientific institutes to investigate the antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal activities of plant-derived compounds that may prove to be an effective alternative to conventional medicine. Increasing consumer awareness of sustainable and eco-friendly veterinary practice is also contributing to such trend. This trend toward herbal products not only complies with the trends in clean labeling but also suits the preventive philosophy of animal health. Originally, the herbal anti-infectives were just a source of revenue. With an increase in R&D and regulatory approval of natural products in the veterinary business, this segment has the potential to become a major growth area in the years to come.

How does precision livestock farming support optimized use of anti-infectives?

Precision livestock farming (PLF) is emerging as a key opportunity for the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market, as it integrates digital technologies, sensors, and data analytics to monitor animal health in real time. By enabling early disease detection and continuous monitoring of parameters such as feed intake, body temperature, and activity levels, PLF helps farmers identify infections at an early stage, allowing for targeted and optimized use of anti-infectives. This reduces the unnecessary or blanket use of antibiotics, lowering the risk of antimicrobial resistance while improving treatment outcomes.

The adoption of PLF also aligns with global initiatives promoting responsible antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine. For instance, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights that precision technologies can improve animal health management while minimizing excessive antimicrobial usage. As more livestock producers shift toward data-driven farming practices, the opportunity for integrating anti-infectives with precision-based solutions is expected to strengthen, creating a more sustainable and efficient veterinary healthcare ecosystem.

What are the key market segments in the Veterinary Anti-infectives industry?

Based on the product type, the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market is classified into Antibiotics, Antivirals, Antifungals, Antiparasitics, and Others. The Solutions segment is the most dominant in the Veterinary Anti-infectives market. In the veterinary anti-infectives market, the most dominant product type is antibiotics. Their use in treating bacterial diseases of animals (both companion and livestock) has been widespread to the point that they are crucial to veterinary health care. In livestock, antibiotics are important in the prevention of outbreaks, control of infectious diseases, perpetuation of healthy herds and flocks, and food safety since they can control diseases in animals that ingest their own waste products.

In companion animals, they are usually prescribed by veterinarians to treat skin infections, respiratory conditions, urinary tract infections, and after-care of surgery. They also enjoy dominance owing to the wide range of activities and the presence of a variety of formulations available, including oral, injectable, and topical solutions. The major reason why antibiotics are still the first line of defense in the context of veterinary practice is the fact that they have been clinically proven to work effectively. In addition, efforts are still underway to perfect the existing antibiotics in terms of targeted delivery and minimized adverse effects.  

Based on the Animal Type, the Veterinary Anti-infectives Market is classified into Companion Animals, Livestock Animals, and Aquatic Animals. Livestock animals represent the market segment with the largest portion in the veterinary anti-infectives market. The key behind such domination is that livestock has an imperative component in food production at a global level, and preserving herd and flock health is important to guarantee that consumers have access to safe and sustainable sources of meat, milk, and eggs. The economy can be devastated by infectious diseases in cattle, poultry, and swine, and the use of anti-infectives is therefore essential to prevent and treat the diseases.

Livestock disease sequencing has also been emphasized by governments and other regulatory bodies to check on the outbreaks, especially due to the possibility of zoonotic spread. This segment is also stronger due to the size in terms of population of production animals relative to companion animals. Moreover, the growth of intensive production in new markets causes more dependence on anti-infectives to address health issues under the conditions of congestion. Ongoing production of new and enhanced anti-infective products specialized in livestock also strengthens this segment in terms of market share.  

Which regions are leading the Veterinary Anti-infectives market, and why?

The North American veterinary anti-infectives market enjoys a dominant status in the world market because the region has a well-established veterinary healthcare system and developed treatment processes. The popularization of the pet keeping culture in the region, the importance being placed on pet health, the broad popularity of proper pet keeping, and the highly structured livestock industry in terms of prevention and commodity management of diseases all work to the benefit of the region. There is great attention on companion animals with pet parents seeking ever-more effective treatments to ensure their pets have protection against infections, and even livestock production is dependent upon anti-infectives to support herd health and the safe production of food.

The role of regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Canada is also critical to the market as it provides guidelines that are strict and ensure that the antimicrobials are safe, effective, and responsibly administered, and hence adopted regarding antimicrobial resistance concerns. The availability of major players in veterinary pharmaceutical goods, product advancements, and the increasing use of digital veterinary services like telemedicine enhance the market positioning.

The Asia-Pacific veterinary anti-infectives market is performing well due to the growing livestock production, rising pet ownership, and the gradual uplift in veterinary healthcare infrastructure. The region is characterized by global pharmaceutical firms and local pharmaceutical firms, where the local firms usually design low-cost solutions to problems in the region concerning diseases. Innovation is also increasingly becoming a prominent area, especially in areas of diagnostics, digital animal management, and innovative formulations in the area of infection control.

Changing rules about antibiotics and other anti-infective use can be found in a number of countries across the region, where the more developed markets, such as Japan and Australia, have comparatively higher frameworks, while those in the region are steadily increasing their standards. Traditional preferences in some countries, like India and China, are among the factors leading to increased interest in the pharmacotherapy of alternative herbal remedies in substitution for conventional anti-infectives. The aquaculture industry is becoming one of the most promising areas of development, not least in Southeast Asia, where the outputs of fish and seafood heavily depend on the prevention and treatment of infections.

What does the competitive landscape of the Veterinary Anti-infectives market look like?

The veterinary anti-infectives market is a highly competitive market where the majority of large multinational pharmaceuticals compete with several local players. The major positions of leading companies Zoetis, Merck Animal Health, Elanco, Boehringer Ingelheim, Virbac and Ceva Sant Animale, Vetoquinol, and Dechra Pharmaceuticals are characterized by a large product range and constant investment in research. These companies put a special emphasis on the development of new solutions, i.e., the new types of medication, approaches to combinations of drugs, and long-term dosages, to deal with the increase in antimicrobial resistance rates.

Strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions are typical practices undertaken to expand territories and deepen product pipelines. Smaller regional companies are also deemed important, especially as providers of cost-effective solutions to challenges specific to an area or region's disease burden. Firms are also investigating other options like biologics and herbal preparations, as well as enhanced delivery to give their products more variations. Competitiveness within the sector is further facilitated by the integration of digital instruments and diagnostics used to monitor the animals.

Veterinary Anti-infectives Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Which recent mergers, acquisitions, or product launches are shaping the Veterinary Anti-infectives industry?

• In January 2025, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe introduced the AVANT project to reduce antimicrobial use in livestock by advancing non-antibiotic solutions that enhance animal health, welfare, and sustainable farming.
• In May 2024, Virbac completed the acquisition of Sasaeah, aiming to expand its veterinary antibiotics portfolio in the cattle segment while utilizing manufacturing and R&D facilities in Japan and Vietnam.

Report Coverage:

By Product Type

• Antibiotics
• Antivirals
• Antifungals
• Antiparasitics
• Others

By Animal Type

• Companion Animals
• Livestock Animals
• Aquatic Animals

By Route of Administration

• Oral
• Injectable
• Topical

By Distribution Channel

• Retail Pharmacies
• Online Pharmacies
• Others

By End Users

• Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics
• Home Care Settings
• Research & Academic Institutes
• Farms & Animal Husbandry Units
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Zoetis Inc.
• Merck Animal Health
• Elanco Animal Health
• Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
• Ceva Santé Animale
• Virbac
• Vetoquinol
• Dechra Pharmaceuticals
• Bimeda
• Phibro Animal Health Corporation
• Norbrook Laboratories
• Zydus Animal Health
• Kyoritsu Seiyaku Corporation
• HIPRA
• AniMedica GmbH

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)