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 of Canada estimates that millions of pets across Canada lack access to the care they need to thrive. And 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 the experts at Gallup to conduct a study asking Canadian pet parents how they’re experiencing veterinary care and any related barriers. The insights revealed veterinary care is slipping out of reach for pet parents across a range of income levels. The data uncovered will help us make strategic investments through grant funding to build 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.
Half of Canadian Pet Parents Forgo Recommended Veterinary Care
The results are in from our 2025 PetSmart Charities of Canada-Gallup State of Pet Care Study: Pet Parents’ Assessment of Canadian Veterinary Care, and they reveal a pressing issue to which so many can relate. The study collected input from pet parents across the 10 provinces and discovered that half of Canadian pet parents (50%) report having declined needed veterinary care or skipped visiting the vet.
Among those who have declined services, 67% cite financial considerations as the key factor—whether they couldn’t afford it or didn’t think it was worth the cost. Sadly, nearly three in 10 pet parents (29%) say they know a friend or family member whose pet died because they could not afford the necessary treatment. The consequences can be dire; pets suffer, small problems only increase and become more costly and losing or surrendering a pet because of finances is heartbreaking.
For all the “Princes”
Support for low-cost veterinary care is critical for loving pet parents like Trisha. As a child and youth welfare worker, her days are stressful. But her beloved cat, Prince knows exactly how to comfort her. When Prince experienced a life-threatening urethral obstruction, Trisha worried about how her family could afford the treatment. With grant support from PetSmart Charities of Canada, the Toronto Humane Society delivered the surgical and related care he needed. Trisha was incredibly relieved and grateful, but there are so many other stories like hers. Without funding and innovation to create solutions, many pet parents face difficult decisions.
Canadians Who Travel Farther for Veterinary Services are More Likely to Skip Care
Distance creates further challenges for pet parents. Pet parents who travel more than 10km to seek veterinary services are more likely to forgo care than those who have a veterinarian nearby. Nearly 6 in 10 pet parents who typically travel 25km+ to visit a veterinary practice have skipped or declined care. Pet parents are more likely to consult non-veterinary sources the farther they have to travel—those who travel 50km+ to the vet are over twice as likely as those travelling less than 10km to seek pet health advice from non-veterinary sources.
This insight proves the critical need for flexible, accessible care models—such as telehealth— which may increase the likelihood pet parents will consistently obtain veterinary care. Seeking veterinary care and advice via a video call could be a more effective option than consulting sources that may not be as credible or as helpful as skilled veterinary practitioners.
How We’re Doing Our Part
The magnitude of this issue can’t be overstated. No single organization can tackle or resolve the issues pet parents are facing alone. But we can all do our part. As a leader in animal welfare, PetSmart Charities of Canada made a significant commitment—$18 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 of Canada 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, several organizations have received these grants to help expand their services.
Grant funding to create community-led approaches for Indigenous communities
The distance pet parents typically travel affects their ability to access veterinary care for their pets. While this notion is especially true for historically excluded remote Northern communities, where veterinary care could be hours or even days away, distance is a factor for pet parents in provinces, too. Recognizing this goes alongside cultural and financial barriers, PetSmart Charities of Canada funds organizations that are working to close the gap by partnering with Indigenous communities to find sustainable models that will help more pets receive the care they need.
Exploring non-traditional veterinary care models
Expanding the availability of non-traditional veterinary resources, such as telemedicine, may help pet parents find veterinary care options that work for them, especially when distance is a barrier. To better understand the use and impact of veterinary care through telemedicine, PetSmart Charities of Canada has funded a grant to explore this care method in remote Northern communities.
Increasing available data and research
The first of-its-kind PetSmart Charities of Canada-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. If getting to your veterinarian is an issue, ask if options like telemedicine are suitable for your pet’s condition and available in your area – which may help reduce costs related to travel to and from the vet.
- 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: Some 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 may be able to 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 of Canada’s initiatives in making veterinary care more accessible and affordable for the millions of pets going without, donate here.
Together, we can ensure the pets who add so much to our well-being receive the veterinary care they need to thrive.
