A new study highlights growing obstacles that Canadian pet owners encounter when trying to provide care for their pets. According to the joint Gallup and PetSmart Charities of Canada research, 50 percent of pet owners have skipped or declined veterinary care at some point, predominantly due to financial pressures and geographic barriers.

The study, which surveyed Canadian pet owners across the country, underscores the financial struggles many face in affording care, regardless of their income. Younger pet owners were particularly affected, with 57 percent choosing not to pursue care when their pets fell ill. Importantly, financial obstacles were not limited to lower-income groups—27 percent of those earning above $90,000 a year also avoided care due to cost.

When care was necessary but expensive, many pet owners said they were not presented with more affordable alternatives or flexible payment options. Twenty-eight percent who chose not to pursue care due to cost were offered a cheaper option, and only 21percent were made aware of a payment plan—although 66 percent of pet owners believed an interest-free plan would help them pay for lifesaving care.

Distance from a veterinary clinic was another key consideration. Among pet owners who lived less than 10 kms from a veterinary practice, 46 percent chose to forgo care, a number that jumped to 54 percent for those who lived farther away. Access is particularly challenging in rural areas, where veterinary services are more scarce and nearly a third of pet owners must travel considerable distances for care.

Some pet owners are turning to non-veterinary sources when their pets are sick. The study found 18 percent rely on the internet, friends, or pet service providers instead of a trained veterinarian—a trend that grows in areas where veterinary care is hard to reach. Furthermore, nearly 40 percent of pet owners say they would be willing to use services such as telemedicine or home visits if these were available in their community.

The findings highlight the need for flexible, accessible care models to help pet owners meet their pets’ health care needs, particularly in underserved and rural areas. The data suggest that financial and geographic barriers are putting a significant portion of Canadian pets at risk and underscore the opportunity to explore alternative delivery models, from telemedicine to community clinics, in order to mitigate these pressures.