{
  "id": 16215995,
  "title": "Why pet owners are struggling to afford veterinary care",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/why-pet-owners-are-struggling-to-afford-veterinary-care",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-23T18:12:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91626970/pet-owners-struggling-to-afford-veterinary-care"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2024, pet owner Justin Laudadio found his diabetic cat, Chicken, experiencing a seizure. The veterinary hospital stabilized Chicken during a three-day stay, but the bill came to $9,500. Laudadio agreed to pay the bill, acknowledging that he would do what was necessary for his pet's well-being. Veterinary care in the United States has become more advanced and expensive, with the costs of sophisticated medicine driving up prices. The industry has also become more consolidated, with many clinics and emergency hospitals now owned by corporate groups and private equity firms. This consolidation has led to higher operating expenses, pharmaceutical prices, and general inflation, all contributing to the rising cost of veterinary care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinary prices have increased about 67% since 2017, much faster than overall consumer prices, which rose about 38% during the same period. Jennifer Quammen, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, noted that pet owners now have access to technologies such as MRI and ultrasound that were previously only found in human hospitals, adding to the costs. The low-cost Pittsburgh clinic has seen increased demand for services as pet owners seek affordable vaccinations and wellness exams. Despite the rising costs, some pet owners are still able to afford human-level care for their animals, while others may struggle to pay, leading them to take on debt, forgo treatment, or even surrender or euthanize their pets. The issue of access to care is particularly concerning for low-income pet owners, who may do everything they can within their means to provide veterinary care for their animals.",
  "summary": "One day in 2024, Justin Laudadio found his cat, Chicken, writhing on the floor of his home in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, apparently in the midst of a seizure. Laudadio put Chicken in a carrier and raced to a veterinary hospital, preemptively grieving the whole way. The veterinarians were able to stabilize Chicken, a brown tabby who was about 12 years old and diabetic, during a three-day hospital…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}