We know your love for your pet has nothing to do with how much is in your wallet. But for so many pet parents, sticker shock at the veterinary office is real. You want to do your best to take care of your pet’s health — after all, they are family. But the costs have gotten out of reach for many.
Tragically, PetSmart Charities estimates that 50 million pets in the U.S. lack access to the care they need to thrive — they deserve better. The consequences of going without can be dire to pets, their people and communities.
To assess the scope of the crisis, we commissioned Gallup to conduct research to learn how pet parents are experiencing veterinary care and any related barriers. This data will help us make meaningful investments through our grant funding, and will influence the evolution of veterinary care to include more affordable, flexible and accessible options. Since no single organization can resolve this crisis alone, we are sharing the data with key stakeholders so we can make meaningful change, together.
More than Half of U.S. Pet Owners Forgo Recommended Veterinary Care
The results are in from our 2025 PetSmart Charities-Gallup State of Pet Care Study: Pet Parents’ Assessment of American Veterinary Care, and they reveal a pressing issue to which so many can relate. The study discovered more than half of U.S. pet owners, 52%, report having declined care or skipped needed veterinary care.
Among those who have declined services or skipped veterinary visits, 71% cite financial considerations as the key factor—whether they couldn’t afford it or didn’t think it was worth the cost. Across age, race and income levels, at least two-thirds of pet parents report that financial limitations prevented them from getting needed veterinary care.
That includes Wendy, whose pets provide comfort and companionship, not only for her but also for her two young sons, while her military husband is away. And while they both work, the cost of living forces them to make tough choices to meet all of their financial obligations. That means sometimes they skip veterinary visits, which breaks her heart. She’s not alone, and neither are you.
How We’re Doing Our Part
The magnitude of this issue can’t be overstated. We estimate it would cost more than $20 billion annually to provide adequate care for all pets currently receiving none. No single organization can tackle or resolve that sizeable gap alone. But we can all do our part.
As a leader in animal welfare, PetSmart Charities made a significant commitment—$100 million—to address barriers preventing people from getting veterinary care for their pets. We know it is critical that our dollars support initiatives that reach beyond the initial investment. Our focus prioritizes support for programs and research to deliver lasting change across the industry, including:
Expanding affordable veterinary care
Low-cost veterinary care clinics can help people access care they can afford. PetSmart Charities grant funding helps existing low-cost clinics expand to serve more pets and their people. These efforts focus on efficiency and cost reductions that benefit pet parents while maintaining sustainable business operations. To date, 34 non-profit organizations have received these grants to help expand their clinics.
Supporting research to help expand payment options
Payment plans that would benefit pet parents, like pay-over-time plans are not commonly available, likely due to the lack of data to support innovative solutions. For this reason, PetSmart Charities funded a grant to explore the impact of financially-friendly payment options. The research will help determine if the availability of payment plans would help pets get more of the care they need and evaluate the cost of offering such plans.
Grant funding to examine single service models
Narrowing the scope of what a clinic offers allows for teams to create consistent operations, become experts within their focus area, and increase knowledge and skills that drive both quality and efficiency. With that in mind, PetSmart Charities has funded dental- and surgical-specific practices to bring more affordable care to pet parents in need.
Increasing available data and research
The first of-its-kind PetSmart Charities-Gallup State of Pet Care Study findings have shed light on pet parents’ account of their current challenges with the cost of veterinary care. Their important perspective will help drive our strategy and programs, and potentially the direction of other partners looking to join us in building solutions. Future plans for a survey of veterinarians will follow to deliver insight from their perspective, too.
Tips for Pet Parents
While we’re continuing to work toward solutions, there are steps pet parents and communities can take to make affordable veterinary care more accessible:
- Be open about finances: If you have concerns about your ability to afford care or need to stay within a specific budget, share that with your veterinary provider at the beginning of your visit. Your veterinarian can work with you to come up with a plan for your pet’s care with this information in mind.
- Ask for options: If the care recommendations for your pet are outside of your budget, see if there are any lower cost options available. Ask if all recommended medications and diagnostic tests need to be completed right away, or if they can be spread out over time.
- Inquire about payment plans: If you and your veterinarian have discussed options and care still seems out of reach for the budget you have available, ask about payment options. Some clinics have access to grant or angel funds that can benefit you directly, or offer low interest pay-over-time plans. Ensure you read and understand the terms of any payment or credit offers carefully – some can require a hard credit check or have a high interest rate.
- Find a low-cost clinic: Many communities have affordable vaccination clinics or nonprofit veterinary clinics. Websites for nonprofit or low-cost veterinary clinics will usually make it clear that they offer lower cost options. Your local animal shelter or humane society can often point you to low-cost veterinary resources in your area.
- When possible, plan for pet care costs early: Consider pet health insurance or wellness plans before your pet needs help. Some insurance plans offer high-deductible options that have affordable monthly premiums to help prevent significant financial burdens in the event of an emergency or major illness. Wellness plans can help spread the cost of preventative or wellness care over time. Insurance and wellness plan options vary, so ensure you understand what is covered and what may be excluded.
Join us and support the cause
Closing the veterinary care gap requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. Individuals, animal welfare groups, the veterinary industry, funders, social services agencies, local government and community leaders can all bring resources, ideas and donations that will make a difference in this complex and pressing issue.
To support PetSmart Charities’ initiatives in making veterinary care more accessible and affordable for the estimated 50 million pets going without, donate here. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube for stories and inspiration about the impact on pets and their families.
Together, we can ensure the pets who add so much to our well-being receive the veterinary care they need to thrive.
