Half of French pet owners have had to give up veterinary visits

A new survey by market research firm French Institute of Public Opinion (Ifop) concluded that most pet parents in the country (92%) have a positive image of veterinarians. 96% of the 1,200 respondents who had visited a vet in the past year noted that they walked away with a good perception of their veterinarian.

In the past 5 years, most respondents visited vets for preventive care (42%)—including vaccinations—due to their animals displaying symptoms of being ill (25%) and routine visits (18%).

However, satisfaction with the level of information available about consultation costs was slightly lower (81%). Across the English Channel, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently investigating the local vet market in the UK amid concerns regarding high pricing and information access.

Over three-quarters of French respondents (78%) agree that accessing veterinary care for domestic animals is easy.

Poor access

While 61% of all pet owners visited a vet in the past year, over a quarter (28%) had not taken their pet for a veterinary consultation in 1–5 years.

Over half of all pet owners (51%) reported having to give up veterinary visits. The costs of consultation, care and treatment impacted most owners (48%).

One-fifth of respondents to the Ifop survey admitted experiencing difficulty getting an appointment quickly (20%), while a similar-sized pool (18%) reported geographical distance as an obstacle.

Low insurance rates

It is believed that 87% of pet parents in France do not have health insurance for their furry friends.

Most pet owners (70%) attributed this to the costs involved. An additional 21% reported not purchasing insurance due to the conditions of the coverage, while 18% were dissatisfied with the low adaptability of the packages available for their needs.

Independent vs. chain vet clinics

As many as 9 out of 10 pet parents earning a monthly income between €1,300 ($1,414) and €1,900 ($2,067) and over €2,500 ($2,719) preferred independent veterinary practices.

Veterinary chains were most preferred by those with monthly incomes of €900 ($979) or less.

Over half of respondents (52%) valued the geographical origin of the veterinary medicines they received, favoring products manufactured in France or Europe.

Additionally, 48% valued the environmental footprint of their purchases, and 44% valued the footprint of clinics and the ability of vets to conduct online evaluations of their pets.