How does client income affect veterinary visits?

What’s the relationship between client income and veterinary visits? AVMA’s economists explore that question with the editors of JAVMA in an article in the February 1, 2020, journal.

Focusing on dog-owning households, this chart compares the frequency of veterinary visits across different income brackets. It also examines how many dog owners in each income bracket point to price or affordability as their reason for not getting their dogs in to see a veterinarian.

What does it mean?

AVMA's economists outline several practical takeaways for veterinarians in the article, Dog ownership and veterinary visits by income bracket. These include:

• A potential approach for expanding access to care 
• Business models and tools that might help motivate owners to get to the veterinarian more frequently even if finances are tight

Although the chart is specific to dog-owning households, the takeaways from it can be applied in other companion animal practices as well. The article is a quick read, with insights that make it well worth your time.

The chart is based on research from the AVMA Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook. AVMA members can download the report’s executive summary free of charge.