India’s pet care market is expanding, but Deepali and Himani Dahiya believe growth alone is not the real story. What matters more is how responsibly platforms respond to healthcare needs.
When iThinkPets launched, it focused exclusively on everyday pet products. This allowed the founders to understand customer behaviour and build trust without entering regulated territory.
As the platform matured, a recurring concern surfaced—difficulty accessing genuine veterinary medicines. Rather than treating this as a commercial opportunity, the founders treated it as a healthcare responsibility.
The decision to add a pharmacy section was preceded by hiring veterinary doctors, appointing a licensed pharmacist, and securing the required drug licence. Only after this framework was in place did the company expand into pet healthcare.
“Trust in pet healthcare is built through preparation, not urgency. Before offering medicines, we ensured the right medical expertise and compliance systems were in place,” the founders explain.
From a business perspective, this approach prioritised long-term credibility over short-term scale. Compliance, documentation, and oversight were embedded early, reducing regulatory and reputational risk.
As the pet care sector becomes more organised, such demand-led, licensed expansion is emerging as a sustainable growth model.
