One Health

This article covers concerning insights about access to veterinary care in the United States. Researchers surveyed over 1,000 U.S. residents to understand their perceptions and experiences seeking veterinary care.

Key findings include:

• While most respondents defined "access to care" in terms of service availability, ease of communication, and affordability, more than half of those who actively seek veterinary care reported distrusting their veterinarian.
• Over one-third were dissatisfied with veterinarian interactions despite being satisfied with their pet's medical care
• Many respondents indicated willingness to seek care from veterinary technicians or mid-level professionals rather than forego care entirely

The study highlights how demographic factors-particularly age, education, and income-influence care-seeking decisions and perceptions of alternative providers. Younger participants and those with lower incomes showed greater openness to culturally competent alternative care options.

These findings underscore the importance of addressing both availability and quality of the veterinarian-client relationship to improve animal welfare outcomes. The research calls attention to a critical One Health consideration: when access to quality veterinary care is constrained, both animal and human well-being suffer.

📖 Read the full article: doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1655537