Cost-of-living pressures found to be reshaping how owners care for their dogs

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College have found that cost-of-living pressures are already changing how a meaningful share of dog owners look after their pets. The study, funded by Battersea and published in the journal Animals, followed 770 owners of dogs acquired during the 2020-21 puppy boom, surveying them as their dogs reached their third birthday. Around one in eight owners said they had already changed their dog's care for financial reasons, and a further one in ten expected to do so in future.

The changes reported ranged from reducing spending on grooming, walking and daycare services to cutting back on insurance and professional training advice. Among owners whose dogs had recent health problems, nearly 15% said they had altered their approach to veterinary care, including delaying or cancelling appointments or trying home remedies first. Notably, most respondents in the study had above-average household incomes, which led the research team to caution that the real impact of financial pressure on dog welfare across the wider UK population is likely to be considerably greater than these figures suggest.

For owners and breeders, the findings are a reminder that financial strain can affect welfare gradually and unevenly, through smaller day-to-day decisions rather than one dramatic event. Battersea said the research would help shape how it and other charities support struggling owners, with better access to preventive advice and affordable veterinary care seen as key to heading off more serious welfare problems before they take hold.