How can embracing pet family-centered care forge a path to more accessible and sustainable veterinary medicine?

Abstract

Making veterinary care more accessible and affordable necessitates a paradigm shift toward pet family-centered care, prioritizing the understanding of individual pet family needs and fostering nonjudgmental communication alongside medical priorities. This viewpoint examines the transition from a provider-centered, often medically driven, approach to one that integrates pet family goals, values, and resources into healthcare decisions. Three interconnected pillars for the future of veterinary care are proposed: leveraging evidence-based medicine with comprehensive outcome measurement, employing relationship-centered communication grounded in clinical empathy, and developing stratified service delivery models that enhance accessibility and ensure veterinary practice remains both relevant and sustainable.