Navigating The Rising Costs of Veterinary Care
Loving a dog is emotional, but it’s also financial—and pretending otherwise is one reason so many dog guardians feel blindsided, panicked, and guilt-ridden when a crisis hits.
When a dog comes into our lives, especially when we’re first-time pet guardians, we tend to think about the basics: vaccines, checkups, food, maybe an occasional upset stomach. We don’t necessarily think about the unexpected. What happens when your dog eats your shoe—or something far more toxic? When they tear their ACL chasing a ball? Or, God forbid, when you’re suddenly facing the cost of caring for a dog with cancer?
According to Dr. Peter Weinstein, the average cost of veterinary care over a dog’s 15-year lifespan in the U.S. is around $20,000. And I can tell you from personal experience that it can be much more than that.
The cost of veterinary care is rising, and like most things, there isn’t one simple reason why. Inflation plays a role, as do the rising costs of supplies, medications, staffing, equipment, and simply running a veterinary hospital. Demand for more advanced veterinary care has also increased, and the growth of private equity ownership in veterinary medicine has added another layer to an already complicated conversation about costs and profitability.
But here’s something I think is important to say:
What isn’t happening—99% of the time, I’m sure there are some bad eggs—is that your veterinarian is sitting there trying to take advantage of you or, as my father would say, nickel and dime you. I know many veterinarians. Most are medical professionals with big hearts who genuinely want to give your dog the best care they can. And many of them will go above and beyond when a client is struggling financially, sometimes absorbing costs themselves or working with their clinic to find another solution.
But we can’t expect our veterinarian to solve the much bigger problem.
Just like human healthcare, veterinary care needs to be accessible and affordable. There needs to be a way for people to get the care their animals need without having to choose between their financial security and the life of a beloved companion.
So what can we, as pet guardians, do?
One of the best things you can do right now until something changes is prepare for the unexpected.
When I adopted Chance in 2009, one of the first things I did was get him insured. This was back when pet insurance was still relatively uncommon. I didn’t know exactly what I would need it for—I just knew that if something happened to Chance, I wanted to be able to make decisions based on what was best for him, rather than what I could afford.
I was right.
Over the years, Chance needed a significant amount of veterinary care, particularly as he got older. Having insurance gave me peace of mind and, more importantly, helped make it possible for me to give him the kind of care I wanted him to have. There is, of course, a monthly cost to pet insurance. And whether it makes financial sense for you depends on your dog, your budget, the policy, and your tolerance for risk. But for me, especially during Chance’s senior years, the peace of mind was priceless. I have a friend who experienced the other side of that decision. She had pet insurance for her Lab, but when he was five, she decided the monthly premium wasn’t worth it and cancelled the policy. When he was seven, he was diagnosed with cancer. She ultimately spent around $21,000 of her savings trying to give him the best care she could.
One thing I learned in my conversations with Dr. Peter Weinstein and Dr. Heather Oxford is that pet insurance is actually a form of property insurance. Like home or auto insurance, it’s designed to help manage the financial impact of something unexpected. I known it sounds weird when we’re talking about our beloved dogs , but legally, pets have always been, and generally still are considered property in most parts of the U.S.
It's important to get pet insurance asap after getting your pet as pre existing conditons can disqualify them from certain benefits. There are so many options out there for pet insurance now, choosing can be a little overwhelming. Here are my top 3 choices and a good starting point
Trupanion - Smooth vet payments
Nationwide ( this is what Chance had)
Lemonade- You can tailor your coverage which makes it flexible
And pet insurance isn’t the only option.
There are veterinary financing programs like Care Credit, payment plans, and non-prpfit organizations that provide financial assistance to people who are struggling to afford care. You just need to advocate for your pets health and don't be afraid to ask. In addition, some veterinary hospitals may have resources or recommendations for local organizations that may be able to help.
Plan for the unexpected before it happens. I know that’s easier said than done, but being prepared can make an already difficult moment a little less scary and ovewhelming.
You can listen to the full episode with Dr. Heather Oxford and Dr. Peter Weinstein on the podcast.
