Profit vs. Patients: When veterinary care becomes a luxury product (#347)

Veterinary medicine is quietly shifting into the realm of luxury.

For many pet owners, especially those in low-to-middle income brackets, basic care is now financially out of reach.

What was once a relationship-driven profession rooted in animal welfare is being reshaped by aggressive pricing strategies designed to maximize corporate profit.

These business models treat veterinary services like high-end commodities, bundling diagnostics, upselling procedures, and prioritizing revenue over relationships.

But animals are not luxury items, and neither is their care.

When pricing excludes entire segments of the population, we don’t just risk losing clients - we risk eroding trust in the profession itself.

If this trajectory continues, veterinary care may become a privilege rather than a responsibility.

That’s not just a market shift - it’s an ethical crisis.

Rick’s Commentary

Eric Fish, DVM, has written a compelling evidence-based assessment of the current state of veterinary medicine.

Anyone involved in veterinary medicine must read this article.

Veterinary Medicine is Becoming a Luxury Product

Eric Fish, DVM

All Science Great & Small

June 9th, 2025

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