CHARITY WARNS: UK pet health crisis looming, as ‘petflation’ pressure mounts

22 April 2026

• Cost of living now forcing people to choose ‘heating, eating, or treating’ their pet’s health condition¹
• 2 in 3 UK pet owners unable to cover an unexpected vet surgery
• Just over 1 in 10 owners (11%) have delayed getting vet attention for their pet because of the cost of pet ownership

1 in 10 UK pet owners say they have had to cut back on their own food, heating and essential travel to afford pet ownership, whilst over 1 in 7 have cut back on non-essentials such as socialising in the last two years, to ensure their pet was cared for. Almost 1 in 20 have skipped heating their homes to afford the cost of pet care.

Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, today (22nd April 2026) warns a pet health inequality crisis is looming in the UK, as the cost of living crisis and rising cost of pet ownership– ‘petflation’²- combine. Over 1 in 5 (22%) UK pet owners say pet ownership is more expensive than they thought. This is creating conditions where our nation of pet lovers is being forced to “make difficult and sometimes devastating decisions”.

The charity’s first-ever Pet Health Inequality Report (released today 22nd April) spotlights the growing pressures and unthinkable choices facing many pet owners. At the heart of the findings is the rise of ‘petflation’, which is placing increasing pressure on pet-owning households. 61% of UK adults reported an increase in their cost of living bill last year, which is now having a financial and emotional toll on the cost of pet ownership too, with over 1.5 million pet owners suffering sleepless nights as a result.

2 in 3 UK pet owners say they’d be unable to cover an unexpected surgery for their pet and for some, this may force unthinkable choices, such as having to give up their pets. Almost 1 in 10 (9%) UK pet owners have gone into debt to care for their pets, and even more (11%) have delayed a trip to the vet – meaning around 3 million⁴ pets may not have had timely vet care.

In response, the charity is determined to scale its efforts, to meet demand where it’s most-needed. PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, says:

"Whilst this is very sad to hear, it’s not surprising. PDSA has been helping people and pets for more than 100 years, and we know our work is needed as much today as it ever was.

The reality for many pet owners is life looks very different compared to five years ago. Anyone’s circumstances can change because of illness, redundancy, or just the increased cost of living.

We will continue to be there for the people and pets who need us most and the report we’ve released today is a rally cry to the public to help us do so. No pet should suffer because their owner is experiencing financial hardship."

PDSA client, Tracey Lancashire, 62, from Stockport has a shih-tzu called Rosie who has just turned seven years old. Tracey says:

"Getting Rosie was literally life-changing for me. She has helped me manage my severe anxiety and improved my physical health, mental health and happiness. It can be so stressful worrying about getting her the care she needs and what it might cost. A friend told me I would be able to be a PDSA client and it's such a relief to know Rosie can get the care she needs in a way that's affordable for me. This crisis in pet health is so worrying for pets and people. If you're able to support this charity, please do. If you're an animal lover, you will know just how much their work means."

Consumer Psychologist, Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, explains that pet health inequality is not only about the impact on pets but about the human-animal bond and the heartache it causes loving owners:

"It’s no overstatement to say pets are a lifeline for millions of Britons: offering comfort, connection and unconditional love. This is why it is upsetting to hear about the stark choices people are facing as the cost of living crisis and ‘petflation’ mounts. It has an impact on the owners' own wellbeing, as well as that of their pets. People don't want to cut back on food or healthcare for their pets, because they want to do the best for them. That means they suffer financially and emotionally, as they have to make difficult choices in order to cope."

PDSA’s new research confirms this, with 50% of pet owners saying their pet has been a lifeline when times are tough, 60% saying pet ownership improves their mental health and 1 in 4 saying having a pet means that they have spoken to someone when they otherwise wouldn’t have.

Owners also report feelings of shame, embarrassment and judgement if they can’t keep their pet as safe, happy and healthy as they’d like to, with some fearing their beloved pet could be taken away from them. Around 1 in 7 (15%) of UK pet owners say they feel like a bad pet owner when they have to choose cheaper options for their pet’s care, whilst 1 in 10 (8%) say they fear people would judge them if they see them struggling to pay for their pet’s needs.

PDSA’s mission is to keep people and pets together by providing support for owners who cannot afford the cost of treatment. In the last year, the charity treated over 422,000 pets and supported more than 339,000 clients across its network of over 40 Pet Hospitals.

For more information and to find out how PDSA helps, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petflation

NOTES TO EDITORS:

PDSA’s full Pet Health Inequality Report can be downloaded here.

PDSA spokespeople are available for interview.

Photography to support the story can be found here, where well-known UK statues of beloved pets are seen with a vet cone, as a reminder PDSA’s goal is to ensure more much-loved pets (and owners) in need can access vet care. Also enclosed is photography of PDSA’s work.

PDSA client storytellers are available for interview on request, to share their lived experience of ‘petflation’ and pet health inequality.

About PDSA:

As the UK’s largest veterinary charity, PDSA is dedicated to supporting people and their pets during difficult times. We believe no pet should be denied the veterinary care they need because of the owner's financial hardship.

By providing free and low-cost vet care at over 40 PDSA Pet Hospitals across the UK we prevent suffering, help to relieve poverty and keep people together with their much-loved pets.

We receive no government funding, relying entirely on generous public support to fund our vital services.

¹Survey methodology:

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 4,440 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th February and 2nd March 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

When mentioning UK pet owners, this refers to all UK adults who have a pet, including a cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil, domestic fowl or mouse.

³Percentage of all UK adults who have a pet cat, dog, guinea pig, gerbil, domestic fowl or mouse =47%, which equates to 25,860,459 UK pet owners. 6% of UK pet owners therefore = 1,551,628.

⁴11% of UK pet owners = 2,844,650.

Calculations for footnote 3 and 4 have been conducted by Shook using YouGov data and checked by YouGov.

²Other sources:

From mid-2021, the cost of pet care began to skyrocket, far outpacing historical averages. After a massive peak in 2023, the rate of increase has been slowing down but prices are still rising, just not as quickly as before. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/timeseries/czdi/mm23

Cost of living statistic: High cost of living: Impact on households