How to Talk Money with Your Vet

This is the first in a series of articles on access to veterinary care. If you want to read more about this subject and have suggestions or requests, please reach out via email to info@alltradesDVM.com

If you've ever felt anxiety at the thought of taking your pet to the veterinary office, or while staring down an estimate or bill, you're not alone! This is such a prominent problem, a group called the Access to Veterinary Care Coalition was formed in 2016 to research and shed light on the scope of and factors underlying poor access to veterinary care, as well as promote initiatives to help solve the problem. Their first report was released in 2018, and found: 

• 22.7% of pet owners were unable to obtain preventative care for one of their pets in recent years

• 84.8% of veterinarians are comfortable offering various care options to owners when finances are a concern

• 42% of veterinarians worry about liability when treatment options may not meet the "standard of care"

• 62% of veterinarians have provided services at lower or no cost