Older adults value pets deeply, but costs are rising

Older Americans are reporting stronger emotional bonds with their pets, but more of them also say the cost of care is becoming a real burden. A new University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 83% of pet parents ages 50 to 80 say their animals give them a sense of purpose, up from 73% in 2018. At the same time, 31% now say having a pet strains their budget, compared with 18% seven years earlier. The nationally representative poll, conducted in September 2025 among 2,698 adults ages 50 to 95, also found that cost is increasingly keeping older adults from pet companionship at all: 33% of non-pet parents cited cost as a reason they don’t have a pet, up from 21% in 2018. (ihpi.umich.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the findings add to a broader picture of affordability pressures shaping care decisions. In a 2025 PetSmart Charities-Gallup study, 52% of U.S. pet parents said they had skipped or declined needed veterinary care, and seven in 10 of those cited affordability or doubts about value. A follow-up survey of veterinarians released in January 2026 found that 94% said clients’ financial considerations sometimes or often limit recommended care, while only 17% said they proactively explore a client’s financial concerns before making recommendations. That gap matters in an older-client population that may rely on fixed incomes, face disability-related barriers, and still derive major emotional benefit from keeping pets healthy and at home. (gallup.com)

What to watch: Expect more attention on spectrum-of-care protocols, payment discussions, and preventive-care messaging tailored to older pet parents as practices respond to rising cost sensitivity. (gallup.com)