Keeping tabs on attitudes to vet care around the world

A recent survey by PETS International, in collaboration with Yummypets, provides an interesting snapshot of the pet consumer’s experience of veterinary services.

More than 1,200 pet parents responded – in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Mexico and Brazil. In 4 of these countries, similar research was conducted in 2023.

US: frequent visits and increasingly insured

Americans make the most trips to the vet, with just 1 in 10 (11%) doing so less than once a year, a similar proportion to the previous survey. Price does remain a concern – 7 out of 10 owners find vet care expensive.

But more than half of those surveyed (52%) maintained their expenditure levels last year, and 26% plan to increase spending in 2025. 67% of US pet parents spent between $100 (€97) and $500 (€483) in 2024.

Interestingly, pet owners in the US are among the most dependent on online reviews and forums when choosing a vet.

Nearly a quarter (24%) rely on these channels, the highest across all markets. Also, relying on friends’ recommendations grew to 38%, up from 28% in the last survey.

One notable shift from earlier results relates to pet insurance. Whereas last time only 20% of respondents said they had health insurance, this coverage has gone up to 35% in 2025, possibly due to a rising awareness of healthcare costs.

Reflecting the state of digital advancements, Americans have a balanced approach toward virtual vet consultations.

More than a quarter of those surveyed (27%) said that it depends on the nature of the visit.

This represents the most flexible attitude of pet owners in the 6 markets.

Canada: high spending but rising costs

Canadian pet parents are among the biggest spenders on veterinary care.

A striking 22% report spending between $500 (€483) and $1,000 (€965) annually, and 9% over $1,000 (€965).

This pattern is very similar to the findings in 2023, making Canada one of the most financially committed countries when it comes to pet health. Yet 76% do find vet care too expensive.

The number of trips to the vet is also increasing. Almost half (48%) of Canadian pet owners now take their pets to see a vet annually, a sharp rise from just 30% of the respondents in the country 2 years ago.

Fewer pet parents (40%) report visits only every 2-5 years, down from 60% in the previous survey.

UK: changes on the horizon

Over the past year, UK vets have been placed in the hot seat, as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into the pricing and competition landscape, due to concerns about mounting costs (see p.30). 84% of UK pet owners agree with this government action.

Despite this, 7 out of 10 (69%) of the respondents in the UK are satisfied with the level of transparency regarding the cost of veterinary consultations and services provided by vet clinics. But there is little doubt that vet costs are on the rise.

In the previous survey, 66% of UK respondents reported spending up to $200 (€193).

However, this figure has dropped to just 37% in 2025. Almost a quarter (24%) of these pet owners now spend between $300 (€290) and $500 (€483). Encouragingly, 65% plan to maintain their expenditure levels in the coming year.

France: local and low spend

French pet parents seem to prioritize convenience, with 65% of them choosing their vet clinic based on proximity.

This is far above the average of 42% in the survey’s findings and represents an increase to the 54% of French owners reporting this reason last time.

Pet owners in France also pay great attention to price. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) said they spent no more than $200 (€193) on vet care last year, making them the most budget-conscious group, although reflecting a decline on the previously reported 60%.

Despite lower spending, these pet parents maintain a high level of trust in their vets.

An overwhelming 94% believe their veterinarians provide enough time and care during visits.

When it comes to virtual consultations for their pets, the French are the most skeptical. They are the least likely to use online vet consultations, with almost half of them (49%) saying they’ve never used online vet services and have no intention of doing so.

This makes them the least receptive to digital pet healthcare solutions, even if it represents an improvement on previous findings (67%).

Brazil: preferring in-person to digital

Perhaps surprisingly, Brazilian pet owners are among the biggest spenders on veterinary care. A significant 20% reported annual expenditure between $500 (€483) and $1,000 (€965), placing Brazilian owners just behind Canadians.

Even more notably, 14% of the pet parents in Brazil spend over $1,000 (€965) per year – the highest percentage across all the markets surveyed.

Some 21% of the respondents also said that their vet expenditure had significantly increased over the last 12 months – the highest globally, with nearly half (47%) saying it had increased slightly.

This might be related to Brazil having the largest proportion of pet owners who visit their vet 5-10 times a year (12%), far exceeding the average of 6% in the markets surveyed.

Brazilian pet owners also rely heavily on veterinary advice. More than three quarters of them (76%) expect their vet to provide dietary guidance, and 47% consider behavioral training recommendations essential. This is the highest across all 6 markets.

There are mixed responses in Brazil on the subject of virtual consultations. While 28% of the respondents have already tried and liked them, another 19% have tested this kind of service but were dissatisfied.

This suggests that while digital healthcare is gaining ground, in-person interactions and the ‘human touch’ remain highly valued.

Mexico: high level of trust

Mexican pet parents visit the vet less frequently than their counterparts in other countries, with 67% going just once in 2-5 years.

Yet, they are the only country where respondents do not feel that vet care is too expensive (75%).

Almost half (46%) of the Mexican pet owners spend between $100 (€97) and $300 (€290) annually, and 21% spend between $300 (€290) and $500 (€483). But some 3 out of 10 owners intend to increase this expenditure slightly over the next 12 months.

Interestingly, Mexico currently has the lowest levels of pet insurance (17%), but demand is definitely on the rise.

A significant 46% of pet parents are considering taking out insurance for their pet’s healthcare, suggesting there is some potential for insurance providers in this market.

Mexico also stands out for its level of trust in vet professionals – 48% of the respondents give it a 10 out of 10.

Satisfaction also rates highly with regard to vet pricing transparency. A substantial 36% of pet parents are very satisfied with the level of cost detail provided, the highest among all countries surveyed.

Europe vs the Americas

It seems clear that, no matter where they are, pet parents deeply value the healthcare given to their pets. Owners want the best care for their furry friends, but spending habits differ significantly.

Trust levels in vet professionals are high across all markets in the survey, and most pet owners feel they are given enough information before treatment or surgery take place.

Although most owners think that vet costs are expensive, in Europe – especially France – pet parents tend to be more cost-conscious, with the majority spending less than $200 (€193) per year.

By contrast, US, Canadian and Brazilian pet owners are more willing to spend considerably on pet healthcare, with a large percentage paying over $1,000 (€965) annually.

In Brazil, 21% of the pet owners reported a significant increase in vet care expenses, compared to just 9% in Mexico.

Nearly half (47%) of the Brazilian respondents also reported a slight increase in costs, but it is pet parents in the US whose expenditure increased the least (22%).