What Can Be Done About The Rising Costs Of Veterinary Care?

Veterinary care is one of the most effective means of addressing animal pain, illness, and suffering. Access to such care is therefore an essential part of animal welfare.

However, veterinary care for companion animals has become much more expensive in recent years. In a number of countries, prices have climbed faster than overall inflation. Veterinarians report that some guardians, especially those in socioeconomically vulnerable groups, are delaying necessary care for their animals because they can’t afford it.

Under Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, animals are recognized as sentient beings. The E.U. and its member states must give full consideration to animals’ welfare when making policy. Most national animal welfare laws in E.U. countries require guardians to provide veterinary care without delay when animals are sick or injured. Yet these laws generally say little about whether that care is affordable.

This article reviews the ethics surrounding access to veterinary care for companion animals and their guardians. The author then examines how Germany, Greece, the U.K., and the U.S. are responding to rising costs, as well as the drawbacks of each approach.

Addressing Veterinary Care Costs In Germany

Germany is the only European country with clear laws regulating veterinary care prices. Its government-mandated fee schedule for veterinarians was originally issued in 1940 and revised in 1999 to its current form. It’s meant to keep fees consistent and transparent while balancing fairness for veterinarians and guardians.

In May 2022, the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture proposed edits to the fee schedule. It argued the schedule was outdated and didn’t properly reflect current veterinary practice or economic conditions. The changes, which were later enacted, raised basic fees and added mandatory travel fees for home visits, among other things.

The Federal Office for Technical and Scientific Affairs and the Association of Independent Small Animal Clinics welcomed the changes, citing severe staffing and compensation issues in the veterinary industry. However, the German Animal Welfare Association argued that fee increases could negatively impact animal shelters and welfare organizations, as well as economically vulnerable guardians.

A 2024 report from the German Bundestag’s Scientific Services noted concerns that guardians’ interests may have been underrepresented during the amendment process, especially given the sharp fee increases. It also noted questions about whether the changes had made pricing fair for guardians.

Addressing Veterinary Care Costs In Greece

A few E.U. countries, including Greece, have introduced programs that provide free veterinary care. These primarily target socioeconomically vulnerable guardians and aim to address stray animal populations.

Greece’s Animal Welfare Act, which came into effect in September 2021, created a funding program called Argos. The program is set to receive €40 million to build and equip shelters and veterinary clinics. Under Article 10 of the Act, municipalities must now run veterinary clinics and animal shelters, shifting some responsibility away from guardians and veterinarians.

Article 4(13) of the Act focuses on guardians in vulnerable or socially disadvantaged groups. It requires municipalities to provide free services, such as sterilization and vaccinations, for these guardians’ animals. Eligible groups include people with disabilities, families with multiple children, single-parent households, and unemployed people receiving the minimum guaranteed income.

Animal welfare organizations and the public have widely praised Argos. However, some stakeholders call it overly ambitious, and critics point to a lack of resources, training, and expertise among local authorities. A review of the law is expected in 2026, which should provide more information on the Act’s effectiveness.

Addressing Veterinary Care Costs In The U.K.

Outside the E.U., the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the U.K. launched an in-depth investigation into veterinary services for companion animals in May 2024. Pressing issues included consolidation of the veterinary market, often by private equity-backed corporations, and the lack of transparent pricing.

Nearly 60% of first-opinion veterinary practices are now owned by the six largest corporate veterinary groups. In 2013, just 10% of practices were corporately owned. Many of these businesses use “roll-up” strategies, buying independent clinics but keeping their original branding. This can hide corporate ownership and maintain consumer trust, but can also mislead the public about how much market diversity actually exists.

The CMA can impose legally binding remedies if it finds that competition is being limited. Its potential solutions include:

• Requiring businesses to disclose specific information to consumers;
• Setting fee caps for veterinary services; and
• Ordering companies to sell off businesses or assets.

The CMA’s final report was expected in November 2025. Its findings could lead to significant reforms aimed at improving competition and transparency in the veterinary industry.

Addressing Veterinary Care Costs In The U.S.

In the U.S., the cost of urban veterinary services has increased by nearly 60% over the past decade. Between February 2023 and February 2024 alone, it rose by almost 8%. This increase has led many guardians to delay or forgo necessary veterinary care for their animals.

In response, a bipartisan bill, The People and Animals Well-being Act of 2024 (PAW Act), has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill seeks to improve the affordability of veterinary care. It would let guardians put up to $1,000 a year from health savings and flexible spending accounts toward veterinary care or companion animal health insurance. This would effectively exempt those expenses from income tax. People who rely on service animals would have no annual limit.

The bill received public endorsement from important stakeholders, including the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. As of May 2025, the PAW Act remained in the early stages of the legislative process and was still awaiting a formal cost estimate.

Supporting Affordable Veterinary Care

The author argues that current laws tend to place the financial burden on a single group: veterinary businesses, the government, or guardians. Instead, they recommend sharing responsibility among all three. Policies could include transparent pricing, balanced fee regulation, targeted public services, and safeguards against a few corporations dominating the market. Public pressure could let decision-makers know that these sorts of initiatives are important to their voters.

Notably, the author observes that political debates about veterinary costs often treat animal welfare as secondary. Advocates can help change this by urging decision-makers to put animals’ needs at the center of competition, tax, and pricing debates. Ultimately, legal recognition of animals as sentient beings means little if the veterinary care they need is out of reach.