Mystery brain illness patients seek clarification on investigation
New Brunswick has completed the data analysis phase of its investigation into an undiagnosed neurological illness and submitted the results to the Public Health Agency of Canada for scientific review, but patients still feel in the dark about the process, says advocate Stacie Quigley Cormier.
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Pet owners skip vet visits as affordability concerns grow, survey finds
Four days before Christina Lai's birthday, her eight-year-old Yorkshire Terrier became lethargic and withdrawn. After she rushed the dog to a clinic in Toronto, the vet confirmed symptoms of acute kidney failure. The dog passed away after three days of care, Ms. Lai said, a period that cost her $8,000. That was in addition to the nearly $30,000 she's spent on medication and surgeries for her second Yorkie. 'I work two jobs so that I can pay for these things,' said Ms. Lai, who juggles work in IT and as a realtor. While Ms. Lai has been able to afford the astronomical costs associated with pet care, she's the exception rather than the rule. Such expenses are becoming increasingly out of reach for Canadians, according to a Gallup and PetSmart Charities of Canada report published Wednesday. The study found that half of pet owners declined recommended veterinary care or skipped a vet visit in 2024, with the likelihood highest among owners aged 18 to 29. (The study surveyed 2,033 dog and cat owners across Canada between Nov. 28 and Dec. 31, 2024, with a margin of error of 2.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.) In this economy, can we even afford dogs and cats any more? Only 41 per cent of pet owners reported taking their pet to the vet last year and following through with recommended care. Among those who reported that they declined pet care, two-thirds said they did so because of financial barriers. Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada, said part of the problem is that pricey advanced treatments have become the first option offered by veterinarians. 'For [a] breed of dog very prone to blowing out their knees … you would give them pain management and you would have them rest, and they would heal,' she said. 'Now, the first option that's offered to most people for that injury is orthopedic surgery.' Only 28 per cent of pet owners who declined care because of cost were offered a more affordable option by their veterinarian, the survey found. Even fewer were offered payment plans. Among owners who declined vet care, 12 per cent reported that their pet's condition worsened or they died. Another issue was accessibility. Owners who travelled more than 10 kilometres to see a veterinarian were more likely to skip care. 'Many people cannot find a vet who is taking on new clients,' said Lia Laskaris, chief executive officer of Animal Alliance of Canada, an animal-rights advocacy group. For example, last year, residents of Regina temporarily lost access to overnight veterinary emergency services because of staffing issues, forcing people to drive 2½ hours to Saskatoon with severely ill or injured pets. The challenges facing today's pet owners have become a 'perfect storm' of rising costs, a surge in post-pandemic ownership and a strained veterinary workforce, said Stacy Murphy, a Registered Veterinary Technician at the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth. 'There was a huge influx of people who acquired new pets while they were at home,' Ms. Murphy said, referring to COVID-19 lockdowns. The boom in pet ownership hasn't corresponded to a rise in the number of professionals available to meet it. The veterinary field is facing a workforce crunch, with entry into vet schools remaining extremely competitive, even as demand soars and an older generation of vets retires, Ms. Murphy said. And while pet care costs have always been a barrier, the affordability gap has widened, she said. Rover's 2025 Cost of Dog Parenthood report, for example, found that veterinary office visits, preventative treatments and vaccinations for dogs have increased by up to 50 per cent in Canada. A dog's lifetime care costs range from $17,343 for a small breed to $53,935 for a large breed, according to the report. In addition to veterinary care, pet food costs have also soared, especially for prescription diets, said Lauralee Dorst, Toronto Humane Society's director of community animal welfare. 'Even many commercial brands are becoming out of reach for average families,' she said. Travis Dickie, 40, said the soaring cost of vet-prescribed specialty food for his family's two aging cats has led them to forego it entirely. 'It's double what we would have been paying a year and a half ago per bag,' said Mr. Dickie of Calgary. A cheaper brand 'seems to be doing the job,' he said, but 'I do feel a bit nervous.' Pet owners can save on some initial costs if they're adopted from a humane society. 'We adopt those animals out already vaccinated … already spayed or neutered, they're already microchipped, dewormed,' Ms. Murphy said. Her organization also runs affordable rabies and microchipping clinics two to three times a month, which are not income-based: 'You just have to be willing to drive to us.' According to Ms. Laskaris, some municipalities and shelters have programs to help residents by reducing or waiving the costs, such as The Farley Foundation, a charity helping low-income Ontario pet owners subsidize veterinary care.
