Rising Pet Care Costs: Why So Many Canadian Pet Owners Are Skipping the Vet — And Why It’s a Wake-up Call We All Need to Hear

It’s a troubling reality that highlights just how much financial pressures are shaping decisions we make for those we love — and that includes our furry companions.

A new survey by PetSmart Charities of Canada and Gallup reveals a dramatic trend: nearly half of Canadian pet owners (50%) are skipping or declining necessary veterinary care for their pets. It’s a statistic we shouldn’t ignore. The main hurdle, according to the survey, is cost — 67% say they avoided the vet simply because they couldn’t afford it or didn’t feel the service was worth the price.

Some might find this hard to believe, particularly when we consider that nearly 60% of younger pet owners are putting off care, and it’s not just a low-income problem. Among those making more than $90,000 a year, 27% say financial pressure forced them to cut back on vet visits. Clearly, this isn’t an isolated issue; it’s a growing challenge across all income brackets.

It’s not hard to see why. The cost of living has skyrocketed in Canada — from food and rent to health care — and many pet parents are feeling the squeeze. Inflation was identified in a recent Ipsos poll as the country’s top issue, with 71% of Canadians naming it their greatest concern. It’s a perfect storm when financial stress combines with the responsibility to care for an innocent, vulnerable family member.

Some pet owners are choosing to cut back on care not because they want to, but because they have no viable alternatives. The survey highlights a few key struggles: distance from veterinary care plays a role, with 54% of people who live more than 10 kilometres from a clinic avoiding care. There’s also a growing reliance on non-veterinarian sources — nearly 18% admit turning to the internet, friends, or pet service providers instead of a trained professional.

This points toward a clear need for policy makers and veterinary organizations to innovate and make care more accessible and affordable. Some pet owners say flexible payments or telemedicine could be a game-changer. 21% were offered a payment plan, and 66% say an interest-free plan could enable them to pursue life-saving care their pets need. Furthermore, nearly 40% say they’d be open to services like telemedicine or home visits — a clear indicator that there’s a market for more flexible, community-oriented care.

Instead of ignoring these signals, we should view them as a call to action. We need policy makers, insurers, veterinary associations, and communities to come together to find solutions — whether it’s developing telemedicine services, offering flexible payments, or extending low-cost care in underserved areas — to make sure we aren’t forcing people into heartbreaking choices about their pets’ health.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about pets; it’s about fairness, compassion, and the well-being of all members of our society — furry ones included. Rising costs shouldn’t dictate whether a pet gets life-saving care. We owe it to ourselves, and to them, to do better.