One Health

 View Only

  • 1.  New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-09-2025 03:01 PM

    Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers and Insights from Pet Families
    Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers and Insights from Pet Families report cover

    "Access to veterinary care remains a pressing concern for families and veterinary professionals alike," said Dr @Michael Blackwell, PPHE Director. "This report not only identifies barriers, but it also highlights opportunities for improved support through targeted community resources and integrated care approaches."

     

    Key Findings:

    • Fewer Pets per Household:
      • The average dropped from 2.2 to 2.0; nearly half now have only one pet.
    • Spay/Neuter Disparities Persist:
      • Dogs less likely to be altered; gifted pets least likely to be spayed/neutered.
      • While cost remains a barrier, data suggests some families with dogs are making selective breeding choices, pointing to a need for targeted education
    • Barriers Are Widespread:
      • Logistical and financial obstacles are reported across all income groups.
    • Emotional Impact on Families:
      • Barriers linked to pet surrender, euthanasia, and increased household stress.

    This study identifies notable shifts in families with pets and access to veterinary care compared to the 2018 study. The average number of pets per household declined from 2.2 to 2.0, with nearly half of households now caring for only one pet—most often a dog. This change may reflect evolving lifestyle patterns, including urbanization and financial constraints. Differences between cats and dogs were also evident: cats are more frequently taken in as strays, highlighting ongoing challenges with unowned populations, while dogs are less likely to be spayed or neutered. Although cost remains a barrier to sterilization, many dog families reported intentional breeding decisions, underscoring the need for continued education about the health and societal benefits of spay/neuter practices.

    Acquisition methods were also linked to sterilization rates, with pets adopted from shelters more likely to be spayed or neutered, and gifted pets least likely—suggesting gaps in preparedness and awareness among recipients. Compared to 2018, barriers to accessing veterinary care have increased across all income groups, geographic locations, and age ranges, with rising reports of logistical challenges such as appointment availability and clinic hours. These obstacles extend beyond financial capacity, with higher-income households also reporting limited access.

    Households encountering veterinary barriers were more likely to report surrendering or euthanizing pets and described pets as a source of stress, underscoring the wider emotional and practical consequences of limited access. Respondents expressed strong interest in local pet resources, including training, behavior support, and temporary care options for aging populations. Findings emphasize the need for expanded veterinary access, targeted outreach, and supportive community systems.


    #AccesstoCare
    #AccesstoVeterinaryCare
    #CommunitySupport
    #Economics
    #Education
    #Environment
    #Housing
    #OneHealth
    #PublicHealth
    #Research
    #Transportation
    #VeterinarySocialWork

    This study was made possible through a generous grant from Maddie's Fund®.
    To access the full report and explore strategies for improving veterinary care access, visit: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_socipubs/39/



    ------------------------------
    T' Fisher, Director of Operations
    Program for Pet Health Equity
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-15-2025 05:16 AM

    Veterinary care has become so expensive from routine vaccines to surgeries and specialists.  At Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue we opened a prolific animal hospital under our charity to offer very affordable veterinary care and surgeries.  Our veterinary hospital is open to the public as well as our animals in the rescue.  Through this initiative we have seen a decrease in owner surrenders at our facility and more routine veterinary care being done by the pets owner.  You will always have owner surrenders and people who cannot pay for their animals care however making veterinary care more affordable by hospitals would greatly impact retention of pet ownership.  



    ------------------------------
    Brooke Crozier
    Executive Director
    Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue
    FL
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-15-2025 05:23 AM

    Thank you for sharing the great work that Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue does to support pet families in your community, @Brooke Crozier. 💙 This is such an important reminder that helping pets and their families stay together and healthy is not only the more compassionate approach-it's also more cost-effective than caring for them in shelters that are already at capacity.



    ------------------------------
    T' Fisher, Director of Operations
    Program for Pet Health Equity
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-15-2025 05:17 AM

    Interesting article! It is sad to consider that the addition of a pet increases household stress.  We all know about the myriad of benefits of the human/pet bond but the current landscape of veterinary medicine might be moving the needle in the wrong direction.



    ------------------------------
    Henry Wietsma
    president
    RI Community Pet Project
    RI
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-15-2025 05:30 AM
    Dog visiting the veterinarian

    Thank you for engaging with this discussion @Henry Wietsma. The human–animal bond offers countless benefits, and it's important to acknowledge that veterinarians play a vital role in supporting both pets and families. While the "current landscape of veterinary medicine" can be challenging, veterinarians themselves are navigating financial and emotional pressures to keep their practices sustainable. Too often, they are undervalued-or even criticized-for covering necessary costs of care. Recognizing and supporting veterinary teams is essential if we want to strengthen the health and well-being of people, animals, and communities alike. This is exactly why the One Health approach matters-because true well-being depends on caring for people, animals, and the environments we share.



    ------------------------------
    T' Fisher, Director of Operations
    Program for Pet Health Equity
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-16-2025 10:19 AM

    I can also see how this negatively impacts veterinarians too. Having to see people not be able to afford care for their pets and sometimes choose surrender or euthaniasia wears on the mental health of the vets. It is a vicious circle.



    ------------------------------
    Roxane Fritz
    Veterinary Program Coordinator
    San Mateo County
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-18-2025 11:55 AM
    Vet visit

    I completely agree @Roxane Fritz - the emotional toll of seeing families unable to afford care, and sometimes having to choose surrender or euthanasia, is profound for veterinarians. This isn't just a clinical challenge; it's a mental health challenge too.

    Research shows the scope of the problem:

    • A Galaxy Vets survey (2023) found that veterinarians and staff who frequently face economic euthanasia report significantly higher burnout rates.

    • The NORVET study (2023) showed that vets performing euthanasia five or more times per week had a markedly higher risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts.

    • An open-access paper in Animals highlights how euthanasia driven by finances often leads to guilt, frustration, and long-term compassion fatigue.

    This really is a vicious circle: financial barriers lead to economic euthanasia → moral distress and burnout in veterinary teams → reduced resilience for handling the next difficult case.

    From a One Health perspective, this matters deeply. When veterinary professionals' mental health suffers, it impacts the care animals receive, the wellbeing of families who rely on them, and the sustainability of our animal health workforce. Supporting solutions such as hardship funds, sliding-scale models, expanding access to pet insurance, and mental health supports for providers helps break this cycle - improving outcomes for people, animals, and the profession.

    Thank you for raising this point - these conversations help us build the cross-disciplinary support needed to address the human, animal, and societal dimensions of economic euthanasia.



    ------------------------------
    T' Fisher, Director of Operations
    Program for Pet Health Equity
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: New Report Reveals Growing Barriers to Veterinary Care for Pet Families

    Posted 09-19-2025 06:34 AM

    Thank you for sharing these studies.  I'm curious if anyone knows if there have been any studies done like this for animal control officers who are often times Certified Euthanasia Technicians as well.  I am an ACO Supervisor and a CET for a municipal shelter and though we have drastically changed our policies to prevent euthanasia at the shelter for space, there can be times where we have to perform multiple euthanasia's in a day sometimes multiple days a week.  I know first hand the profound effects that toll can take on a person and  I am acutely aware of how it affects my team.  I'm always looking for information to help with the mental load we take on, if anyone knows of any resources that might be helpful, I'm all ears.  

    Thank you!



    ------------------------------
    Lola Jamison
    Animal Control Supervisor I
    Jackson County Animal Shelter
    NC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content