Older adults value pets more, even as cost strain rises

Older adults are reporting stronger emotional benefits from living with pets, even as affordability concerns climb. A new University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 57% of U.S. adults ages 50 to 80 have at least one pet, essentially unchanged from 55% in 2018, but 83% now say their pet gives them a sense of purpose, up from 73% seven years ago. At the same time, 31% say their pet strains their budget, up from 18% in 2018, and among adults without pets, the share citing cost as a reason rose from 21% to 33%. The September 2025 poll surveyed U.S. adults ages 50 to 95, with 2025-to-2018 comparisons limited to respondents ages 50 to 80. (ihpi.umich.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the findings underscore a familiar tension: pets can support purpose, connection, stress relief, and routine for older clients, but rising costs may increasingly shape whether care is delayed, declined, or never initiated. That matters clinically and relationally, especially because the poll found higher budget strain among women, people with fair or poor physical or mental health, adults with disabilities that limit daily activity, and households earning under $60,000. Broader industry research suggests these financial conversations are already affecting care access, with many veterinarians reporting emotional strain when clients struggle to pay and only about half saying they often or always apply a spectrum-of-care framework. (ihpi.umich.edu)

What to watch: Expect more focus on payment options, spectrum-of-care protocols, and client communication strategies aimed at helping older pet parents keep pets in the home while maintaining access to essential veterinary care. (petsmartcharities.org)