Is the Cost of Veterinary Care a Barrier for Pet Owners?

It’s that time of year when many of us have a bit of a “spending hangover” from the holidays! Credit card bills are piling up, and bank accounts are looking thin. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss whether the cost of veterinary care is a barrier for pet parents seeking our help. Dr. Ward shares some breaking January 2020 pet parent survey results along with the latest reporting from Chewy, Guggenheim, and PetIQ on the current state of the veterinary market. The talk turns to the trend in “retail veterinary services” or the growing number of veterinary “wellness clinics” appearing in Walmart, Tractor Supply, and elsewhere. Dr. Ward and Beckie tackle the “talent attraction” dilemma and how generational shifts are causing significant change in both veterinary practice organization, professional culture, and the type of pet care services offered. This is a wide-ranging conversation that touches on many urgent and important challenges the veterinary profession is facing. Viewfinders, what do you think about these trends? Is the price of our services and products actually part of the problem? Are only 33-40% of pet parents visiting their veterinarian each year, as some of the shared data suggests? Would a large number of pet parents really prefer a "retail vet?" We want to hear from you!