Heather Massey brought 9-year-old dog Ladybird to the vet Seizures set in. A scan with an MRI machine revealed bad news: brain cancer.
Because the prognosis was grim, Ms. Massey decided not to pursue further treatment at the animal hospital near her home in Athens, Georgia, and Ladybird died four months later. The MRI scan and related care cost about $2,000, which Ms. Massey put on a special credit card she learned about during a previous vet visit.
This was in 2018. She is still repaying the loan with over 30 per cent interest.
“Could I do that? Not really,” said Ms. Massey, 52, who is disabled and doesn't work. “Was it fair to me? Yes.”
Ms. Massey's experience reflects the expensive new realities of pet ownership. For decades, veterinarians typically ran their own clinics, caring for generations of pets from birth to death. They would neuter, vaccinate and remove claws and thorns from noses. When animals became seriously ill, veterinarians often had nothing to offer but condolences and humane death.
But in recent years, as people's attachment to their pets has grown – and more willing to spend money on them – veterinary medicine has turned into a big business that looks just like its human counterpart. Many veterinary offices have been replaced by hospitals equipped with expensive MRI machines, sophisticated laboratory equipment and round-the-clock intensive care units. Dogs and cats often see highly trained specialists in neurology, cardiology and oncology.
This high-tech care has fueled a boom in the market. Veterinary medicine prices have risen more than 60 percent in the past decade, according to federal data. Private equity firms and large companies have bought hundreds of facilities across the country, acquisition spree It's reminiscent of the corporate system of doctors' offices.
Veterinarians across the country told the New York Times that their corporate managers were pushing clinics to become more efficient profit centers. Veterinarians were often paid based on the money they brought in, creating an incentive to see more pets, perform more tests and make more sales. welfare Plans and meals.
The result is that the situation is becoming increasingly untenable for pet owners, most of whom do not have pet insurance.
The Times asked readers to share their stories about expensive vet bills, and hundreds of people responded. Sophia McElroy of Denver said she donated blood plasma and took on extra freelance work to pay for her dog's ongoing expenses.
Nancy Partridge, of Waynesville, North Carolina, said she is still paying off a $1,500 bill several months after her cat was diagnosed with an operable tumor. “Our cat is dead and we're still paying,” she said.
In 2015, Claire Kirsch was earning less than $10 an hour as a veterinary technician in Georgia when her own dog, Roscoe, and her horse, Gambit, each suffered medical emergencies, resulting in bills totalling more than $13,000. Ms Kirsch said her animals would have died if she had not opted for extra care.
“I knew I would never forgive myself if we didn't try,” she said.
Ms. Kirsch spent all the credit card money, withdrew money from her husband's retirement account, and took out a personal loan. Roscoe lived another three years, and Gambit is still alive.
Veterinarians in interviews said that pet owners who complain about the cost of care do not appreciate the difficulties of running a clinic. Make Very little money compared to human beings Doctors And they are often in debt because of years of education. Their prices have risen in part because of the rising cost of drugs, vaccines and other supplies, as well as the costs of paying workers in a tight labor market.
And thanks to more advanced medical services, pets today can survive serious illnesses like cancer that were previously unthinkable. They have access to surgeries and medications that can vastly improve their lives.
“We're living in the most technologically advanced time in human history, and how wonderful is that?” said Dr. Tracy Dewhirst, a veterinarian in Corryton, Tennessee. “But it comes at a price.”
Even routine visits can rack up big bills. Dr. David Roos, an 86-year-old veterinarian in Los Altos, Calif., said he decided to retire one day in 2014 when he examined a dog whose owner was a longtime client of his. The animal had been admitted because of vomiting. Dr. Roos said he normally would have told the owner to take the dog home and give it sips of water. Instead, another vet ordered X-rays, blood tests, intravenous fluids and a hospital stay. Dr. Roos knew the owner couldn't afford the bill.
“At that point, I realized veterinary medicine had changed to such an extent that I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore,” Dr. Roos said.
with The rise in pet ownership And Survey show Americans are increasingly willing to take on debt to care for their animals, so veterinary clinics have become increasingly attractive to investors. Nearly one-quarter of primary care clinics and three-quarters of specialty clinics are now owned by corporations, according to Brekke Consulting, a company that focuses on the animal health industry.
In 2015, a major player, Mars – known for Selling candy and pet food – acquired BluePearl, a specialty veterinary hospital chain, for an undisclosed amount. In 2017, it bought another hospital, VCA, for $9.1 billion. This trend peaked in 2021, when more than 200 private equity deals took place, According to Pitchbook,
Several veterinarians working in corporate practices said they felt pressured to bring in more business. One veterinarian in California said she quit her job because she was told her “cost per client” was too low. Another woman in Virginia said she was told she would have to see 21 animals per day. A third woman in Colorado said she was shocked when she heard a manager say that some of the veterinarians in her office needed coaching to “get a yes from clients.” These veterinarians asked to remain anonymous because they worried that speaking out could jeopardize future job prospects in private equity practices.
Other veterinarians said corporate ownership had no effect on the care they provided. Still, Dr. Andrew Federer, medical director of a clinic in Mentor, Ohio, that is owned by a chain called National Veterinary Associates, said that when someone's pay is tied to how many procedures and tests they perform, the incentives can be hard to ignore, especially for veterinarians who are just starting out.
“The more work they bring to the hospital, over and above their current salary, the higher the production bonus they will get,” he said.
only about 4 percent of pet owners Get insurance, and the options for them are limited too. Pet insurance often doesn't cover pre-existing conditions and costs more for older pets, as they are more likely to get sick.
Companies can also change terms. This spring, the insurer Nationwide notified thousands of pet owners that it was dropping their coverage, leaving them scrambling to enroll in new plans that didn't cover pets' pre-existing conditions. About 100,000 plans are being discontinued, Nationwide spokesman Kevin Kemper said.
Stephanie Boeger of Royal Oak, Michigan, said Nationwide was paying for her cat's chemotherapy, but told her it would not be renewed when her plan expired in August. The treatment, which costs about $1,000 every other month, would not be covered under any available plan.
“Now I feel like I have to choose between paying for my cat’s chemotherapy or letting him die,” said Ms. Boerger, who was able to find new coverage through a competing company.
In a statement, a Nationwide spokesperson cited the rising cost of veterinary care. He added, “We are making these tough decisions now so that we can be here for even more pets in the future.”
Many veterinarians offer special credit cards sold by outside companies, such as the CareCredit card used by Ms. Kirsch and Ms. Massey. Last year, Biden administration warned These medical credit cards—which were also promoted by doctors and dentists—put many consumers into debilitating debt. A Care Credit spokesman said about 80 percent of cardholders paid off their debt before the no-interest introductory period ended.
Some groups, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are researching how veterinarians can improve care for common animals. Procedures more cheaplyAnd many veterinarians say they try to offer a “spectrum of care,” a non-judgmental way to discuss less expensive options.
For many people, the companionship of a pet is invaluable.
After Ladybird's death, Ms. Macy adopted Lunabear, a lab mix that she jokes is “allergic to the same air we breathe.” Lunabear needs prescription food costing $6 a can and takes a $3 allergy pill three times a day. Last year, he had surgery on his foot.
These expenses total about $4,000, most of which has been paid with high-interest credit cards. But Ms. Massey, who suffers from severe depression and lives alone, said her dogs are a top priority. “I pay my bills and then I buy food,” she said.
Ben Castleman Contributed reporting.