Older adults rely on pets, but costs are becoming a barrier

A new University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging finds that pets remain deeply important to older adults, even as affordability concerns rise. In a nationally representative September 2025 survey of adults age 50 and older, 55% said they have a pet, and 83% of pet parents said their animals give them a sense of purpose, up from 73% in the poll’s 2018 comparison group. But 31% now say having a pet strains their budget, nearly double the 18% reported in 2018, and 33% of older adults without pets cited cost as a reason not to have one. The poll was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and the findings were published in February 2026. (ihpi.umich.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the findings reinforce a familiar tension: older clients may see pets as central to daily structure, emotional health, and social connection, while also feeling increasing pressure from the cost of care. That matters for care planning, preventive recommendations, and client communication, especially because financial strain was more common among respondents with lower incomes, poorer physical or mental health, and disability. The broader affordability picture is showing up in practice, too: a recent PetSmart Charities-Gallup study found 94% of veterinarians say clients’ financial considerations at least sometimes limit their ability to provide recommended care. (ihpi.umich.edu)

What to watch: Expect more focus on how practices discuss costs, prioritize care options, and support older pet parents before financial stress turns into delayed treatment or foregone care. (petsmartcharities.org)