AVA shares infographics to educate public on the true cost of veterinary care

In response to ongoing discussion around the cost of veterinary care in Australia, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has developed 2 infographics, to help pet owners and the community better understand the factors influencing veterinary fees. They are also designed to support veterinarians in clearly communicating this important message to their clients and the wider public. 

Media commentary has highlighted concerns about the affordability of veterinary services. The AVA has responded with 2 media releases, 'Veterinary Services: High Standards Without Public Funding', and 'Contextualised Veterinary Care: Solutions that Support Pets and People', aiming to provide clarity and context, and developed the following 2 infographics.

Infographic 1: Pet spending in Australia - downloadable version
This poster breaks down how Australians spend money on their pets. Key insights include: 
Pet food accounts for the largest share at 51%. 
Products and accessories make up 18%. 
Vet care 14% (less than 1/5 of total pet spending) 
Other smaller categories include: 
Grooming (4%) 
Training (3%) 
Insurance (3%) 
Boarding (2%) 
Other (5%) 
 
 
Infographic 2: Funding of pet vs human health care in Australia - downloadable version
This poster contrasts how pet and human health care are funded in Australia:

Pet Health Care: 
0% government-funded 
100% funded by animal owners, including through pet insurance.

Human Health Care: 
70.8% government-funded 
13.8% funded by non-government private sources 
15.4% personally funded 
Key message: Unlike human health care, pet health care receives no government support and is entirely paid for by owners. 
 
Both infographics are created by the AVA to highlight the financial responsibilities of pet owners and advocate for better understanding of veterinary costs. 

Veterinary fees reflect the true cost of delivering complex, high-quality medical care, that today’s animal owners rightly expect to be on par with human healthcare standards.  

The AVA continues to raise awareness about how veterinary care is delivered and is advocating for a sustainable, well-supported veterinary profession, so that Australians can continue to access the care their animals need.