Companion Animals Put To Sleep Due To Veterinary Treatment Costs

Due to the high costs of owning a companion animal, Sainsbury research finds that over the past five years, 56% of veterinarians claim they have had to put down dogs and cats because their owners could not afford the cost of medical treatment. Moreover, 88% of vets say they have encountered situations where owners rejected recommended course of treatment due to costs.

This research also found that 63% of veterinarians believe that the cost of treating a skin tumor on a companion animal has increased over the last year. Vets also reported increases for treatment of dental trauma (53%), gastroenteritis (65%), lameness (61%), and diabetes (57%). Other common health concerns include obesity among cats (9%) and dogs (12%), and being slightly overweight (29% for cats, 33% for dogs).