By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

In a context of rising costs and financial pressure on Canadian households, a new report reveals that more than half of pet owners in the country would be unable to afford an unexpected veterinary bill of $1,000 or more. With fewer than four per cent of Canadian pets insured, this financial vulnerability is sparking renewed concern among pet owners and professionals alike—including here in Sherbrooke.

“I’ve been observing since the year 2000, and costs have been increasing pretty much steadily,” said Debra Tacium, a Sherbrooke-based veterinarian who has worked at the same small animal clinic since 2009 and owned it until 2019. “People usually don’t notice until their animal is sick, and the last time that happened might’ve been five or six years ago, so they’re surprised by the change.”

Tacium explained that the rise in veterinary bills reflects a combination of inflation, cost of care delivery, and medical advancements. “Just like in human medicine, technology has become more complex and more available. Before, we would often guess. Now we have more options to test—but testing adds to the cost,” she said.

According to a new study released by HelloSafe, fewer than 3.8 per cent of dogs and cats in Canada are insured, compared to over 91 per cent in Sweden and nearly 25 per cent in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, emergency vet visits in Canada range from $800 to $2,500. The Canadian pet insurance market grew to $447 million in 2024, a 15 per cent increase, yet remains far from saturation.

For Tacium, the relatively low uptake of insurance tells its own story. “If it were such a good thing, we would have seen a lot more people adopting pet insurance,” she said. “I think it’s generally a good idea, but it just hasn’t caught on.”

She noted that Sherbrooke residents may benefit from relatively moderate prices compared to bigger urban centres, though rural residents face a different set of challenges. “In rural areas, you might be lucky and have a clinic nearby—or you might not have one at all,” she said. “Urban clinics with more diagnostic equipment and higher overhead are naturally more expensive.”

Dental procedures for animals are one example where high costs can surprise owners. “Something like a teeth cleaning requires anaesthesia, IV fluids, dental X-rays, and staff time—it’s not something just anyone can do,” Tacium said. “That’s why it can run into the thousands.”

Despite the challenges, Tacium said she hasn’t seen a recent rise in pet euthanasia due to financial hardship. “From my perspective, working with a shelter, that’s been an ongoing issue for a long time,” she said. “The only time I saw a big drop in people surrendering animals because they couldn’t afford care was during the pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, we had far fewer animals in the shelter—people seemed more willing or able to care for them then.”

Tacium also stressed the importance of rabies vaccinations, especially given the recent rise in raccoon-related incidents in the region. “Rabies is a very dangerous virus, not just for animals but for humans too,” she said. “It’s a very low-cost way to protect against something very serious.”

Asked what people should do if their pet is attacked by a raccoon, Tacium was direct: “The first thing we’ll ask is if the dog or cat has been vaccinated. If not, go to your vet immediately.”

Beyond individual care, Tacium noted that the veterinary landscape in Sherbrooke is changing. “Some corporate clinics have closed recently,” she said, though she was cautious about speculating why. “There are still a lot of good independent clinics in Sherbrooke. When you get a new animal and want to find a vet, do your research—check out websites, ask who owns the clinic, and see how long it’s been around.”

At a time when pets are increasingly seen as members of the family, Tacium offered a simple reminder: “There will always be a need for animal care, and veterinarians are working hard to provide the best they can—despite all these economic headwinds.”