Canadian Vets Say Financial Barriers Limit Pet Care

Financial barriers continue to shape veterinary care decisions across Canada, according to the second part of the PetSmart Charities of Canada and Gallup State of Pet Care Study, which examined veterinarian perspectives on access to care, communication challenges, and emotional strain within the profession.

The study found that 96 percent of Canadian veterinarians report clients sometimes or often decline recommended care because of cost. These findings mirror earlier survey results from pet owners, who also identified financial concerns as the primary reason for delaying or declining veterinary services. The data reflects a growing access-to-care challenge affecting both urban and rural communities across Canada.

One major concern identified in the study is communication around treatment options. Although veterinarians frequently encounter clients who cannot afford gold-standard care, many clinicians report feeling underprepared to have financial discussions with pet owners. Seventy-five percent of veterinarians said their education provided little to no training in discussing financial limitations with clients. This gap can make conversations about treatment planning more difficult in real-world practice.

Veterinarians also described ethical and emotional tension when presenting alternative treatment options. More than one-third said they hesitate to present lower-cost options because they want to achieve the best possible medical outcome for the patient, while 28 percent said they were following educational or practice standards that emphasize ideal treatment approaches. At the same time, only about half of veterinarians felt that minimum standards of care were fully acceptable, and many reported distress when unable to provide gold-standard treatment. Despite these concerns, 92 percent agreed that providing some level of treatment is better than providing none.

Another key finding involved the gap between veterinary recommendations and client perceptions. While 87 percent of veterinarians reported they frequently offer alternative treatment plans when clients decline care, only 28 percent of pet owners recalled being offered lower-cost options. This suggests a potential communication disconnect that may contribute to client frustration and treatment noncompliance.

PetSmart Charities leaders emphasized that addressing access-to-care challenges requires stronger communication strategies between veterinarians and clients, as well as greater awareness of economic realities affecting pet families. They also highlighted the emotional toll financial barriers place on veterinary professionals, who often feel caught between medical best practices and client affordability limitations.

Overall, the study reinforces that modern veterinary medicine must balance medical excellence with practical accessibility. Experts suggest that improving training in financial conversations, expanding care options, and promoting compassionate client communication may help reduce barriers while improving patient outcomes and keeping more pets with their families.