Soaring Vet Prices Are Forcing Pet Owners To Skip Visits

Veterinary visits declined by 2% to 3% in 2025 as rising costs pushed more pet owners to delay or skip care, according to a Bank of America report. Despite fewer visits, industry revenue still grew about 2%, driven entirely by price increases of 5% to 6% passed on to customers. Analysts warn this trend reflects broader financial strain on households grappling with persistent inflation and a sluggish job market, which may limit wage growth and discretionary spending.

Higher Veterinary costs are increasingly forcing owners to forgo both elective and essential treatments, potentially worsening pets’ health over time. Bank of America attributes much of the price escalation to consolidation within the Veterinary industry. Since the 2010s, more clinics have come under corporate ownership, where pricing strategies are used to boost revenue and margins. While consolidation initially supported growth, rising “sticker shock” is now reducing clinic traffic and pricing some pet owners out of care, signaling mounting pressure on consumer budgets.