As Chief Pet Officer, Lipinski Spotlights Dutch’s 2026 Pet Care Gap Report, Which Highlights How Rising Veterinary Costs Are Outpacing Inflation and Creating Barriers to Timely Care

A new report released today from the top veterinary telemedicine provider, Dutch, reveals a growing divide at the intersection of pet ownership, rising costs, and limited access to care. According to the Pet Care Gap Report, an estimated 75 million pet parents have skipped or declined veterinary care due to cost or access barriers, highlighting opportunities for virtual care to improve access and outcomes for pets nationwide.

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Tara Lipinski joins Dutch as Chief Pet Officer

Olympic gold medalist and devoted pet owner Tara Lipinski, a longtime Dutch user and brand partner, is expanding her collaboration by taking on the role of Chief Pet Officer. In this new capacity, she will help bring national attention to the opportunities and challenges highlighted in the Pet Care Gap Report and support initiatives that make veterinary care more accessible and affordable for pet families.

“So many pet parents, like me, deeply love their animals and want to give them the best care possible, and virtual options like Dutch allow for more pets to get the quality care they deserve,” said Tara Lipinski, Olympic Gold Medalist and Chief Pet Officer at Dutch. “I’ve seen firsthand how much peace of mind comes from having trusted, affordable, and accessible care options, and I’m honored to take on this title to help more families get the support they need to keep their pets happy and healthy.”

The report's findings highlight a new reality for American households: while 84% of pet parents consider their pets as much a part of their family as a human family member, many are increasingly navigating financial trade-offs to keep them healthy. Since 2019, rising veterinary care prices have far outpaced overall U.S. inflation, with the average cost of care now reaching up to $3,000 per year per pet, or $30,000 to $60,000+ over a pet’s lifetime for the average two-pet household. As a result, families are delaying care, taking on debt, or seeking unlicensed guidance outside the veterinary system altogether.

Key findings within the report include:

• Families are making real sacrifices to pay for their pets: 33% report cutting back on groceries or meals, while 28% delay paying rent, utilities, or credit card bills to afford veterinary expenses
• Vet bills are the new financial emergency: 67% of pet parents can’t cover a $5,000 emergency vet bill without going into debt, and 1 in 2 are highly concerned about affording an unexpected vet bill in the next year
• Delayed care has serious consequences: 74% of pet parents can’t get a same-day appointment with a local veterinarian, and 46% of pets experienced worsening conditions, required urgent treatment, were surrendered, or died as a result of postponed care
• When care is out of reach, pet parents turn elsewhere: 58% of pet parents consult search engines, AI tools, social media, or online forums instead of a vet, and more than half of all pet parents attempt to self-monitor symptoms at home
• Telemedicine helps close critical gaps: Virtual care can save pet parents up to $24,000 over a pet’s lifetime, and 90% of Dutch users are able to book a consultation the same day they need it

“As costs rise and appointments become harder to secure, families aren’t choosing between a vet visit and a luxury; they’re choosing between their pets’ health and basic necessities like groceries and rent,” said Dr. Kate Elden, DVM, Chief Medical Officer at Dutch. “This report shows what veterinarians see every day: when care is difficult to access or afford, treatable conditions worsen and outcomes deteriorate, often unnecessarily."

Despite strong consumer and industry demand, regulatory barriers still restrict access to veterinary telehealth. When a California law expanding virtual veterinary care took effect in 2024, nearly one-third of Dutch’s new members came from the state, underscoring how policy directly shapes access. In states where telemedicine is permitted, veterinarian participation is approximately 50% higher, and 98% of veterinarians at Dutch were able to expand their reach to patients who wouldn't have veterinary care access otherwise. With 1 clinician to every 1,250 cats and dogs in the U.S., veterinarians are desperate to provide much-needed care while preserving autonomy over their schedules and lives. Yet, 33% of veterinarians who applied to Dutch in 2025 were qualified but could not be onboarded due to outdated legal restrictions.

“The biggest barrier to veterinary telemedicine isn’t demand, it’s regulation,” said Joe Spector, Founder and CEO of Dutch. “Pet parents are asking for more affordability and accessibility, veterinarians are eager to provide it, and the data is clear: when used responsibly alongside in-person care, telemedicine means fewer pets falling through the cracks.”

The full 2026 Pet Care Gap Report is available at www.dutch.com/report

About Dutch:

Launched in July 2021, Dutch is the first and only veterinary telehealth company connecting licensed, independent veterinarians directly with pets and their parents nationwide. At its inception, Dutch primarily addressed common chronic ailments, such as anxiety and allergies. Now with over 700,000 telehealth vet interactions since launching, it has expanded to treat more than 150 conditions. In 2022, Dutch introduced Rx services, which allow the company’s licensed veterinarians to prescribe and ship OTC and prescription medications to patients across the U.S. Dutch memberships, excluding insurance, begin at just $11/month, and include unlimited access to virtual veterinary care through video and chat models. In a country experiencing a critical vet shortage of just one veterinarian for every 1,250 cats and dogs, Dutch is creating a more accessible means of dependable, quality vet care that can address the modern pet parent’s needs in a timely manner and at a fraction of the cost.

Methodology:

Dutch’s 2026 Pet Care Gap Report contains research and data primarily from internal consumer surveys, consumer tracking, and industry data. These inputs are used by analysts to model and calculate market sizes and consumer data. Dutch’s report also leverages data from the following sources: Grandview Research, Health for Animals, Vetsource and VCAP (Veterinary Care Accessibility Project).

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