Access to credit is gaining ground as a pet care access tool

An opinion piece in Today’s Veterinary Business argues that access to credit and flexible financing can materially change pet health outcomes by helping pet parents say yes to diagnostics, preventive care, surgery, and treatment they might otherwise delay or decline. The core idea isn’t new, but it lands amid growing evidence that cost remains one of the biggest barriers to veterinary care: Gallup and PetSmart Charities reported that 52% of U.S. pet parents had skipped or declined veterinary care in the previous year, and a separate Gallup release found many who declined care weren’t offered a lower-cost option or payment support. Recent research has also shown that alternative financing can expand access for families who don’t qualify for traditional credit products. (news.gallup.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the takeaway is less about promoting one lender and more about reducing financial friction at the point of care. AAHA has framed finances as a common hurdle that also creates moral distress for teams, and its recent guidance highlights outside financing, spectrum-of-care conversations, and charitable support as practical tools. That makes financing part of a broader access-to-care strategy, especially as practices face cautious clients and rising costs. (aaha.org)

What to watch: Expect more discussion around how practices present financing, insurance, and lower-cost care pathways together, rather than treating credit as a standalone fix. (aaha.org)