Story Highlights
- 94% of veterinarians say clients’ finances often or sometimes limit care.
- 98% say a pet’s condition worsening is a concern when care is declined.
- 73% agree it is difficult to see clients struggle to pay for care.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cost is the most prevalent barrier to veterinary care in the United States. Nearly all veterinarians (94%) say clients’ financial considerations often (38%) or sometimes (56%) prevent them from providing recommended treatment. This mirrors findings from the PetSmart Charities-Gallup study of U.S. pet owners, which found seven in 10 owners who skipped veterinary care in the past year cited cost as a reason.
The Impact of Declined Veterinary Care
The latest research from the PetSmart Charities-Gallup State of Pet Care study captured the views of 933 practicing U.S. veterinarians who treat companion animals and was conducted between Sept. 9 and Oct. 5, 2025.
When clients decline recommended care, veterinarians’ primary concern is the pet’s health. Nearly all (98%) say the patient’s condition worsening or becoming chronic is at least somewhat of a concern, with 60% saying it is a major concern. Veterinarians also recognize the emotional impact a decision to decline care can have on pets’ families, with 88% saying it is a major (33%) or somewhat of a concern (55%).
Veterinarians additionally consider the emotional toll declined care can have on themselves and their staff. Seventy-three percent strongly or somewhat agree that it is difficult to see clients struggle to pay for care, and 76% strongly or somewhat agree that it negatively affects their team when pets do not receive recommended treatment.
Addressing Declined Veterinary Care and Affordability Concerns
Eighty-one percent of veterinarians indicate that when a client declines recommended treatment because of cost, they always (37%) or often (44%) recommend an alternative treatment plan. Veterinarians are less likely to say they always (19%) or often (22%) provide payment plan options in the same scenario.
In the companion pet parent study, 73% of pet owners who declined care due to cost said they were not offered a lower-priced option. This represents a notable gap between pet owners’ perceptions and what veterinarians report offering. Pet owners’ reports of being offered payment plans show a closer match, with 23% indicating their veterinarian has ever offered them a payment plan to pay for the cost of veterinary services.
Standard Approaches to Veterinary Care and Affordability
With the goal of improving access to veterinary care, a spectrum-of-care approach to practice involves veterinarians making recommendations for individual pets based on the needs and resources of the client, the attributes of the pets, and the capabilities and experiences of the veterinary team.
Conversations about clients’ goals for care and affordability usually happen after care plans are proposed. After completing a physical assessment, most veterinarians (64%) say they start by suggesting multiple options and allow clients to select what works best for them. Smaller shares begin with the most advanced option and adjust if the client expresses concerns (18%) or start by trying to understand the client’s goals before recommending next steps (18%).
Similarly, 17% of veterinarians say they try to understand clients’ financial concerns before making treatment recommendations. More commonly, 49% say they do so after presenting their recommended plan, while 34% of veterinarians say they try to understand clients’ financial concerns only if the client asks about cost or declines care.
Implications
Cost continues to shape access to veterinary care across the United States. Declined care due to financial constraints is common, and veterinarians see both the clinical and emotional consequences of these decisions for pets, families and care teams. While many veterinarians report offering alternative plans when cost limits treatment, clients’ experiences vary, reflecting the complexity of these conversations. The findings point to a profession navigating pressures linked to financial realities experienced by pet owners, veterinary teams and the broader veterinary industry. Addressing affordability challenges and supporting consistent, accessible care will require collaboration across veterinary providers, industry partners and organizations focused on expanding access to care.
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