Vets are sounding the alarm: 96% say money is stopping Canadians from getting their pets the care they need

The vet visit isn't just getting harder to afford. For millions of Canadians, it's becoming out of reach entirely.

Financial factors the biggest obstacle to veterinary care

Why are Canadian pet parents skipping vet visits? For 67% of those who declined care, the answer comes down to money — either the price felt unaffordable, not worth it, or both. Younger pet owners were the most likely to say no to care (59%), but the issue isn't limited to lower incomes. Even among households earning more than $90,000 a year, 27% admitted they've declined vet care because they simply couldn't afford it.

Here's the tough reality: fewer than 1 in 3 pet parents (28%) who said no to care because of cost were given a more affordable option. Even fewer — just 21% — were offered a payment plan. Yet two-thirds of pet owners say an interest-free plan could double what they'd be able to spend on life-saving treatment.

The veterinarian survey tells a different story. While 87% of vets say they often or always recommend an alternative treatment plan when care is declined for financial reasons (2), only 28% of pet parents report ever receiving one. That's a perception gap that has real consequences: among pet owners who declined care, 12% say their pet's condition worsened or their pet died, and 42% report no improvement three months later.

Vet costs have been rising at a rate of 6% to 8% annually in recent years — well above general inflation, according to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) (3). Today, a routine exam runs $55 to $150, annual wellness care for a dog can reach $450, and a single emergency can top $10,000 (4). For the 53% of Canadian pet owners who say they couldn't afford an unexpected $1,000 vet bill, even a minor illness can trigger a financial crisis (5).

Part of what's driving those costs higher is a shift in who owns Canadian veterinary clinics. A CBC Marketplace investigation found that three corporate groups — VetStrategy, VCA Canada and NVA Canada — now own more than 600 Canadian clinics, or roughly 20% of all vet practices (6). Workers at corporate-owned clinics reported as many as five fee increases within a single year, each between 3% and 6%. The Competition Bureau of Canada has flagged this consolidation as a concern for affordability and competition (7).

Thinking about pet insurance?

If you have a pet, you know the costs can add up fast: food, grooming, toys, and especially vet visits.

According to the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, routine veterinary care for a dog can cost between $4,100 and $5,200 per year. And this doesn’t account for expensive emergencies.

That’s why paying for pet insurance often ends up being more affordable than paying out of pocket for surprise vet bills.

Instead of absorbing big, unexpected bills all at once, Petsecure✢ helps cover up to 80% of eligible vet bills, including taxes and exam fees.

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Distance is a barrier, too — especially outside cities

Where you live has a significant impact on whether your pet gets to the vet. Nearly half (46%) of pet parents within 10 kilometres of a clinic say they've skipped or declined care — but that number climbs to 54% for those who have to travel farther. The gap is widest in rural areas: only 32% of pet owners in rural communities live within 10 kilometres of a vet, compared to 61% in cities.

The veterinarian shortage is making this worse. Canada has roughly 15,300 practicing vets and just five veterinary colleges graduating approximately 450 new veterinarians per year. The Canadian Occupational Projection System classifies the shortage as "critical," projecting at least 700 unfilled positions over the decade ahead. As of early 2025, Statistics Canada was already counting 750 job vacancies for veterinarians — a 32% jump from the year before.

Burnout is compounding the problem. An estimated 89% of Canadian vets report burnout symptoms, and 79% of those surveyed in the PetSmart–Gallup study say it is emotionally difficult watching their clients struggle to pay. Forty percent say their training didn't prepare them at all to have those conversations.

Provinces are investing to fill the gap. Ontario added 20 new vet medicine seats at a Guelph-Lakehead partnership starting in 2025, Alberta is doubling its University of Calgary veterinary school capacity from 50 to 100 seats, and a renewed $194-million interprovincial agreement supports the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan. But new graduates won't enter practice for several years — and they may not head to the communities that need them most.

Pet owners open to new models of care

When their pets get sick, most Canadians (79%) still go to the vet. But nearly 1 in 5 (18%) rely only on alternatives — like Google, friends, or even pet professionals such as trainers and groomers. The farther the vet, the higher those odds: 28% of those who travel more than 50 kilometres turn to non-vet sources when something is wrong.

Virtual care is filling some of that gap. Four in 10 pet owners say they would try telemedicine or in-home vet visits if given the chance — and those options are becoming more available. Vetster, Canada's largest veterinary telehealth platform, now connects pet owners with nearly 7,000 licensed veterinary professionals across Canada, with consultations starting at $55 (8). TELUS Health MyPet offers full virtual consultations — including diagnosis and prescription — in British Columbia and Ontario for $95 per session, and vet technician consultations for $40 nationally (9).

Mobile vet services are also expanding in urban centres, with options like Toronto Mobile Veterinary Services and Calgary-based Vet at Home offering in-home exams and care. For pet owners dealing with mobility challenges, long distances, or simply the anxiety of a carrier-averse cat, these services can make the difference between getting care and going without.