A recent study published by Toronto Humane Society delves into systematic trends in veterinary access over a 13-year period. Titled “Trends in companion animal access to veterinary care in Canada, 2007 to 2020,” it is the first to take such an in-depth and detailed approach to analyzing Canadian veterinary medicine’s trends and challenges.

The study’s conclusion emphasizes the urgency behind promoting, regulating, and supporting accessible care-provision models that can coexist with traditional approaches. In addressing long-term and progressive systematic issues, the study hopes to provide a strong foundation for future discussion and collaborative initiatives to provide companion animals with accessible, quality veterinary care.

Notable insights include:

• Unmet pet healthcare needs: A significant number of pets did not receive veterinary care on an annual basis. The study marked this as a significant area of concern that would benefit from further investigation.
• Decrease in clients per veterinarian: A 30 per cent decrease in the number of clients per veterinarian was noted.
• Surge in veterinary costs: Veterinary costs increased significantly over the 13-year period. This discovery encourages a more thorough investigation into the impact of economic factors on access to veterinary care.
• Relative shortage in veterinarians: The study suggests a relative, not absolute, shortage in veterinarians, potentially as a result of increased time spent per animal and shorter working hours on average.