Older adults lean on pets as care costs rise

Pets remain a major source of meaning for older adults, but the cost of keeping them healthy is becoming a growing pressure point. A new University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 83% of pet parents ages 50 to 80 say their pets give them a sense of purpose, up from 73% in 2018. But 31% now say pet care strains their budget, nearly doubling from 18% in the earlier poll. The report was published February 23, 2026, based on a nationally representative survey of 2,698 adults ages 50 to 95 fielded in September 2025. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The new poll updates a 2018 look at pets and healthy aging, and the topline message is more complex than a simple feel-good story. Pet ownership among older adults was relatively stable, with 57% reporting they have at least one pet now versus 55% in 2018. Dogs and cats still dominate, with 70% of current pet parents over 50 reporting dogs and 50% reporting cats. But some perceived benefits declined over time: the share saying pets help them cope with physical or mental symptoms fell from 60% to 34%, the share saying pets help them stay physically active dropped from 64% to 44%, and the share saying pets reduce stress fell from 79% to 63%. (ihpi.umich.edu)

The affordability signal stands out most sharply. Among older adults who do not currently have pets, 33% cited cost as a reason, up from 21% in 2018. Among current pet parents, financial strain was more likely to be reported by women, those in fair or poor health, people with activity-limiting disabilities, and those with household incomes under $60,000. In Michigan-specific findings released alongside the national data, 38% of pet parents age 50 and older said pets strain their budget, compared with 31% in the rest of the U.S. (ihpi.umich.edu)

University of Michigan experts framed the issue as both a health and care-planning concern. Preeti Malani, M.D., said the two polls show animals can play an important role in healthy aging, while also creating cost-related challenges for some of the people who may benefit most. Poll director Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., said human healthcare providers should ask about pets because that information can shape conversations about physical activity, hospitalization planning, and grief after pet loss. That framing matters for veterinary teams, too: it positions companion-animal care as part of a broader support system for older adults, not just a household expense. (ihpi.umich.edu)

Industry research suggests veterinary teams are already feeling the pressure. In January 2026, PetSmart Charities and Gallup reported that 94% of veterinarians said client finances sometimes or often limit their ability to provide recommended care. The same study found a disconnect around affordability discussions: 81% of veterinarians said they often or always recommend an alternative treatment plan when care is declined due to cost, but earlier pet parent data cited in the release found 73% of pet parents who declined care said they were not offered a more affordable option. Nearly half of veterinarians also said their education did not prepare them at all for financial conversations. (gallup.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the Michigan poll adds age-specific evidence to a broader access-to-care problem. Older pet parents may be especially vulnerable to delayed preventive care, medication nonadherence, or deferred diagnostics when rising pet costs collide with fixed incomes, disability, transportation barriers, or their own medical expenses. That makes communication strategy operational, not cosmetic. Practices may need to get more explicit about phased workups, lower-cost treatment pathways, payment options, and community referrals. Programs tied to Meals on Wheels and similar senior-support networks are already stepping into that gap in some markets by helping older adults access pet food, discounted veterinary care, and other practical supports that reduce surrender risk. (mealsonwheelsamerica.org)

The poll also has implications for how practices think about client relationships. If pets are increasingly tied to purpose, routine, and social connection in later life, then losing access to care can have ripple effects beyond the animal’s health. For teams working with senior clients, affordability conversations may need to be approached with the same seriousness as end-of-life counseling or chronic disease planning: early, clearly, and without judgment. The data does not suggest older adults value pets less. If anything, it suggests the opposite. The challenge is whether the veterinary system can adapt to that commitment when household budgets are tightening. (ihpi.umich.edu)

What to watch: The next development to watch is whether these findings translate into more formal spectrum-of-care training, stronger referral ties between clinics and aging-service organizations, and more targeted support for lower-income older pet parents before financial strain turns into deferred care or relinquishment. (gallup.com)