U.S. residents' self-reported access to veterinary care and implications for care-seeking decisions.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Constrained access to veterinary care may significantly affect the health and welfare of millions of pets nationwide, but little is known about how pet families' experiences with veterinary care or their perceptions of its accessibility and quality may influence their care-seeking decisions. This study examined relationships between pet owners' demographics, perceived access to veterinary care, and related decisions and preferences.

Methods

An online survey targeted 1,177 adults who were representative of the U.S. population in terms of sex, age, region, education, and income level. All participants provided their perceptions on 'access to veterinary care'; only pet owners (n = 1,026) were asked about their perceptions of alternative service providers (e.

SUBMITTER: Pasteur K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631267 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature