423 - How Online Pharmacies Affect Independent Practices

Your independent veterinary practice is losing pharmacy sales to online retailers, telehealth apps, and corporate groups with budgets you can't match, and it is starting to feel like a fight you can't win. In this mailbag episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Maria Pirita, CVPM, and Dr. Andy Roark answer a listener from a high-touch, privately owned clinic asking how to stay profitable as online pharmacies and corporate veterinary practices keep growing. Dr. Roark introduces his Vet Medicine 3.0 framework, Maria shares a Southwest Airlines story that reveals a hidden advantage of small practices, and both hosts dig into the convenience gaps, missed charges, and client retention habits quietly costing clinics revenue. If you are a practice owner, practice manager, or veterinary leader wondering where to focus your energy in a changing industry, this conversation will reframe the question entirely.

Maria Pirita is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, Elite Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional and former hospital administrator. In her work with Uncharted Veterinary Conference and beyond, Maria has presented to veterinarians and teams across the US and Canada on topics including veterinary marketing, feedback, team building, and positive work culture. With over 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine and over 20 years in leadership, she's passionate helping leaders develop their skills. Maria loves any activity that involves creativity or learning something new. This leads to an abundance of hobbies including crafting, traveling, cooking and aviation.