Canadian pet owners are avoiding veterinary visits, report finds

Dr. Elizabeth Snead checks on a dog, Bruce, at the Western College of Veterinarian Medicine in Saskatoon on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (Ashley Field/CTV Saskatoon)

Amid the rising costs of veterinary care, nearly half of Canadian pet owners are avoiding taking their pets to a veterinarian, according to a recent report.

The report is based on a study published by PetSmart Charities of Canada, in partnership with Gallup, which explored the veterinary habits of pet owners combined with the potential barriers they faced when it came to caring for their pets.

Marie Holowaychuk, author and veterinary critical care specialist, told CTV Your Morning last Monday there was a myriad of costs associated with adopting a pet and caring for them.

“There’s going to be costs associated with getting them spayed and neutered, vaccinated, microchipped,” Holowaychuk said. “And then, of course, everything else, like food, bedding, leashes, litter boxes. Depending on if you have a dog or a cat, it can be astronomical and into thousands of dollars.

According to a survey report on the costs of dog parenthood in 2025, the annual costs for caring for pet can range from as low as $1,418 to as high as $4,480. For a lifetime of care, it may cost anywhere between $17,343 to $53,935, the report suggested.

Holowaychuk added that there was an uptick in pet ownership and adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an increase in demand for veterinary services.

“Over the years too, our pets have become much more a part of our family,” she explained. “Families are wanting to do more and more to extend their lives and to give them the best care that they can.”

Holowaychuk said that all these factors in combination have resulted in a hike in the costs for veterinary services for a pet. She also suggested that Canada is seeing shortages of veterinarians, which has been challenging on the industry.

Holowaychuk emphasized that issues like inflation and the ongoing tariff situation between Canada and the U.S. has played a role in the hike in all pet-related costs.

“There are some pet families that have had to not go forward with veterinary care that they wish that they could, just because they can’t afford it,” she said.

Additionally, she pointed out the importance of preparing for your pet by investing in pet insurance.

“The good news is that a lot of veterinary practices are recognizing that pet owners need to budget,” Holowaychuk said. “And there are also wellness plans.”

However, if a pet owner needs coverage for vaccinations and occasional illnesses, there are packages available that can be paid for monthly or annually, she explained.