When Loving Your Dog Means Going Broke

Americans spend an average of $1,700 annually on their dogs. $580 of that goes to veterinary bills. Yet 42% of pet owners have declined veterinary care because they simply couldn't afford it.

This striking contradiction, revealed in a 2024-2025 Gallup survey for PetSmart Charities, captures a uniquely American dilemma: we've embraced dogs as family members, but the financial reality of that love can be crushing.

The Family Member Who Can't Tell You How They Feel

Between 60-68 million U.S. households include at least one dog—meaning up to half of all American homes have a four-legged family member. A 2018 survey found 73% of dog owners strongly agreed that they consider their pets "part of the family," while a 2023 Pew Research study showed 51% view their animals as equal to human relatives.

But family members get expensive medical care, and that's where the math gets brutal. A simple vet visit averages $214. Treating common ailments can cost thousands: $3,000 for gastroenteritis, $7,000 for intestinal surgery, $10,000+ for cancer treatment.

David Weimer, a public policy researcher and co-author of "Dog Economics," learned this firsthand when his family's poodle Ming needed treatment for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. The initial phase alone cost over $10,000. "Ming is doing well but needs continuing medical care," he notes—a reality many pet owners face as their dogs age.

Insurance That Doesn't Insure Much

Pet insurance exists, but it covers only 8% of American dogs—about 4.9 million animals. Most policies come with deductibles, $5,000 caps, and exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Unlike human healthcare under the Affordable Care Act, insurers can simply refuse to cover dogs with prior illnesses.

Monthly premiums average $62, but comprehensive coverage costs significantly more. The cruel irony? Those who can afford pet insurance are typically the same people who could pay vet bills out of pocket anyway.

Meanwhile, only 41% of Americans could cover an unexpected $1,000 expense from savings. When your dog needs emergency surgery costing several times that amount, the choice becomes stark: go into debt or watch your "family member" suffer.

The Debt Trap of Dog Love

39% of pet owners have gone into debt to pay veterinary bills, according to MetLife's pet insurance division. Some face overnight hospital stays costing $1,500 per night on top of treatment costs. The financial pressure contributes to difficult decisions: euthanasia, rehoming, or shelter surrender.

While there's no reliable data on how often financial constraints drive these choices, 6% of pet surrenders happen for financial reasons. These surrenders feed into the 330,000+ dogs that U.S. shelters euthanize annually.

The Global Perspective

This phenomenon isn't uniquely American. As pet humanization spreads globally, other developed nations face similar challenges. However, some European countries have more robust veterinary insurance systems, while others maintain different cultural attitudes toward pet medical spending.

The question isn't whether Americans love their dogs too much—it's whether our economic system has failed to adapt to this cultural shift. We've created a society where loving your pet can mean choosing between your family's financial stability and your dog's life.