Out of Pocket, Out of Patience: Why Vet Costs Hit Differently

There was a time when veterinary medicine was considered affordable. It was routine to spay your pet for a couple hundred dollars. Vaccine appointments cost less than a McDonald’s burger meal. We made it work because we had to. But that time has passed for most of us, and honestly, it needed to.

VetMed was more affordable not because it was cheaper to provide care, but because we absorbed the costs. Historically, wages were low.

Equipment was basic. Monthly subscriptions didn’t exist. We didn’t rely on advanced diagnostics or premium tools. Vertical integration wasn’t even part of the conversation. Most of all, prices stayed low because of our compassion. That’s what carried us for years, the belief that helping animals was worth more than financial return.

I remember the saying, “We didn’t get into this to make money.” Our cup was filled by knowing we were making a difference, not by what was in our bank account.

But the industry has evolved. We’re no longer operating with duct tape and goodwill. We’re running professional, high-performing hospitals filled with educated, skilled teams who deserve to be paid a living wage. The days of discount medicine are fading. Some clinics still hold on, often out of fear of conflict or backlash.

We’ve leveled up. Better diagnostics. Smarter workflows. A higher medical standard across the board. The investment in people, tools, and training is real. And the outcome is a boutique, high-touch service model that genuinely outperforms what most people experience in human healthcare.

Let’s not pretend otherwise. When was the last time you felt truly cared for at your doctor’s office? I’ve stood at a check-in desk waiting for eye contact, only to be ignored for a solid minute before being greeted with a monotone “I’ll be with you in a minute.” If I was lucky, they might peel their eyes from the screen while saying it.

Meanwhile, in our practices, we offer warmth, comfort, and real connection. We remember your pet’s name and their behavior quirks. We call to check in the next

day. And still, our prices get questioned.

In 2023, I was T-boned on my motorcycle. The driver didn’t see me. My leg broke in three places. I now have a rod, three plates, and six screws. I haven’t run since. Coaching soccer replaced playing. Hiking with my family is different now. And I’m on a 6 to 12 month waitlist for another surgery. It’s considered elective.

Now imagine telling a pet owner, “We need to go back in. The first procedure didn’t go as planned. You’ll need to wait up to a year.” The reaction would be swift. Outrage. One-star reviews. Yet that’s normal in human healthcare. Delays, referrals, insurance approvals. It’s all part of a system designed to soften the blow.

That’s the core difference. In human medicine, the cost has always been high. It’s just been hidden. Government funding, insurance, and benefit plans absorb most of it. Clients rarely see the true price.

In VetMed, the costs are visible. Yes, there’s pet insurance, but only about 3 percent of pets are actually insured. So the invoice you see is the real cost to deliver care. That’s why expectations feel different. When people pay out of pocket, they expect perfection. They expect immediate answers and flawless outcomes.

What do you mean we have to go back in Why didn’t you fix it the first time I’m not paying again I can’t afford that

These aren’t bad questions. They’re just rooted in a misunderstanding, because sometimes this is how medicine or surgery works.

We hear the comments all the time Why is this so expensive My GP doesn’t charge that much It’s just a dog

But here’s the truth. In one appointment, we are often acting as the GP, the radiologist, the anesthetist, the pharmacist, the nurse, and the surgeon. In human care, that’s seven departments, seven specialists, and seven bills you never see. In VetMed, it’s all us.

Prices increase naturally. That’s never changed. And the cost of providing care has outpaced inflation by more than ten times. I covered this in another article: The Post-Pandemic Squeeze. Our prices have finally caught up to what things actually cost. We’re paying our people what they’re worth. We’re investing in better tools, better training, and better outcomes.

This article isn’t about justifying our pricing. It’s about pointing out that expectations are shaped by how we pay. Human medicine is subsidized and hidden. Veterinary medicine is transparent and upfront. That doesn’t make us more expensive. It just makes us visible.