Читать книгу Pet-Specific Care for the Veterinary Team - Группа авторов - Страница 163

 Pet owners are finding it difficult to pay for the more expensive veterinary services offered by an increasingly sophisticated veterinary profession, leading to what industry analysts have described as an affordability crisis.

 National economic trends toward growing income inequality and the dearth of low‐cost options for veterinary care are at odds with the increasingly widespread cultural conception of pets as family members, further inflaming affordability concerns.

 Veterinarians' drive to increase standards of care, coupled with the higher cost of drugs, supplies and education, among other factors, have led to the higher priced veterinary services pet owners are increasingly unable to afford.

 Current solutions to the affordability problem primarily include pet health insurance, wellness plans, and financial services (credit cards and payment plans) along with a limited number of privately and publicly funded low‐cost veterinary service programs and practices.

 The future of veterinary affordability rests in the hands of the veterinary establishment, where a serious examination of affordability issues is currently under way.