More than Half of Pet Owners are Skipping Veterinary Care

by Nevena Nacic

Published: June 28th, 2025

FamVeld/Shutterstock

Both cat and dog owners have started to skip necessary veterinary care for their pets. A national survey has found that more than half of pet owners, including those in high-earning households, have skipped necessary veterinary care or declined recommended treatment mainly because of the cost.

According to the survey, conducted by PetSmart Charities and Gallup, seven in 10 owners who skipped or declined care listed cost as the main reason, saying they couldn’t afford the treatment or didn’t think it was worth the cost.

What’s worrisome is that the results were surprisingly similar across all income levels.

“There’s a narrative that says that this only affects folks in the bottom part of the income spectrum,” said PetSmart Charities President Aimee Gilbreath. “But it’s all across the spectrum. That surprised me - and it worries me. If folks in the top half are struggling to afford primary vet care, who can afford vet care now?”

The State of Pet Care report found that vet care costs in the U.S. have risen more than 60% since 2014, forcing many pet parents to decline recommended treatments for their pets.

“At least 60% of households have a pet, and people love them as family members,” said Gilbreath. “We don’t think they should be a luxury item. They are good for people’s mental, physical, and emotional health, and if it becomes unaffordable, that’s really a sad situation.”

The survey of 2,498 adults owning at least one cat or dog discovered that 52% of pet owners have skipped or declined veterinary care at some point in the past.

The most commonly declined veterinary services were diagnostic procedures (22%), vaccinations (18%), and elective surgeries (16%). However, 11% admitted they have declined recommended medication, and 7% said they have refused life-saving surgeries.

Of those who declined care, 71% of owners listed cost as the main reason. Although that response was the highest among owners with a household income between $36,000 and $60,000, nearly two-thirds of those earning $90,000 or more said the same.

Researchers found that for those with higher incomes, declining care wasn’t just a matter of affordability. Only a third of owners earning $90,000 or more said they couldn’t afford the cost, compared to 44% of owners who said the cost wasn’t worth it.

According to Gilbreath, the dramatic increase in veterinary costs over a short time period is to blame. “We’re in a time when families are really stretched, and unexpected expenses like a big vet bill are hard to manage,” she added.

As a result, animal shelters across the country are experiencing an influx of pet owners surrendering their pets due to their inability to afford veterinary care.

While financial troubles are forcing many pet parents to decline veterinary care, 73% of parents said they weren’t presented with more affordable options.

The survey found that providing payment plan options would make a huge difference for many pet owners. More than half of the respondents said they couldn’t afford to spend more than $1,000 if their pet had a life-threatening condition. But if given a one-year, no-interest option, most said that would double what they could pay.

“We would love to see options like 18-month, interest-free financing,” said Gilbreath. “More vets are starting to offer options, but it’s relatively new.”

Owners facing financial constraints should talk with their vets about possible treatment alternatives or payment options that meet their needs. Don’t forget that affordable veterinary care is often available through community non-profit organizations and animal shelters.

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Nevena Nacic

Nevena is a freelance writer and a proud mom of Teo, a 17-year-old poodle, and Bob, a rescued grey tabby cat. Since childhood, she had a habit of picking up strays and bringing them home (luckily, her parents didn't know how to say NO). When she's not writing for her fellow pet parents, Nevena can be found watching Teo sleep. To her defense, that's not as creepy as it sounds!

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