Vet care out of reach for many North American pet owners, study suggests

Recent research from PetSmart Charities and Gallup reveals that fewer than half of pet parents in the US and Canada – 41% in each country – have taken their pets to a veterinarian in the past year.

According to the State of Pet Care study conducted in both countries, 52% of US pet parents and 50% of Canadian pet parents have either declined recommended veterinary care or skipped visits entirely, even when their pets needed medical attention.

The highest rates of declined care were among pet parents aged 18 to 29 (59%) in both countries. In the US, the trend was also pronounced among households earning less than $60,000 (€51,761) annually (55%), as well as among Black (58%) and Hispanic (57%) pet owners.

The research surveyed 2,498 dog and cat owners in the United States and 2,033 in Canada.

Common reasons for declining care

In the US, over 71% of pet parents who did not seek veterinary care say they can not afford it or do not believe the cost was justified. In Canada, 67% of respondents cite similar financial concerns.

For instance, the American personal finance website Forbes Advisor reported that, last year, veterinary visits cost an average of $57.65 (€49.50) to $71.95 (€61.80) in bigger states. 

Data from the Canadian Competition Bureau estimated that veterinary check-ups could cost between CA$85 ($57.60/€49.50) and CA$130 ($93.70/€80.40) in 2024. 

Income breakdown 

Even among high-income households in the US, cost remains a factor. While those earning less than $60,000 (€51,761) were more likely to skip care due to affordability, higher earners were about twice as likely to say they declined care because they didn’t feel it was worth the expense.

In Canada, distance also plays a role, particularly for annual visits. Pet owners living more than 10 kilometers from a veterinarian were more likely to forgo care.

Other reasons cited include practicality – 29% of US pet parents and 21% of Canadian respondents say care was not practical for them or their pets. Some also declined treatment due to concerns about pain – 11% in the US and 16% in Canada.

Lack of trust in veterinarians was a relatively minor factor: only 7% of US pet parents and 9 individuals in Canada cited this as a reason for declining care.

Among those who took their pets to a veterinarian, 83% of American and 80% of Canadian pet parents reported that the care was generally worth the cost.

Consequences of skipping care

The most commonly declined services included diagnostic procedures (e.g., blood tests) and preventive care (e.g., vaccinations and annual check-ups). Pet parents also reported turning down elective surgeries, recommended medications and even life-saving interventions.

In the US, 53% of those who declined care reported that their pet’s condition remained unchanged after 3 months, while 4% said it worsened, and 10% reported that the pet died. In Canada, 42% saw no change, and 12% stated that their pet’s condition deteriorated or the pet passed away.

Nearly 1 in 3 pet parents in the US (30%) and Canada (29%) say they know a friend or family member whose pet passed away because they couldn’t afford treatment.

Interest in alternatives

In the US, around 4 in 10 pet parents expressed interest in non-traditional care models, including community clinics (38%), home visits (38%) and telemedicine (37%).

In Canada, where geographic access is a barrier, many pet parents turn to non-veterinary sources for advice, such as the internet, friends and family or pet professionals like trainers and groomers. 

Nearly 1 in 5 say they rely exclusively on these alternatives when their pet is sick.

Affordability and access

Among the pet parents who declined care due to cost, 73% in the US and nearly 80% in Canada reported that they were not offered a more affordable option or a payment plan.

While veterinarians can refer clients to lower-cost providers if payment plans aren’t available, most pet owners don’t receive such guidance – 76% in the US and 80% in Canada report that they were never referred to another veterinarian.

While 81% of US pet parents and 79% in Canada seek veterinary guidance – either in person or remotely – when their pets are sick or injured, the report notes that limited affordable options may exist, both in the care being recommended and in the providers available to deliver it.