PETS AT RISK

The hidden hazards of veterinary care

More Americans are becoming pet owners — and spending more for veterinary health care and pet insurance, to the tune of almost $40 billion a year.

But health care for pets in the U.S. leaves too much room for fraud, bad medicine, inadequately trained staff — and potentially deadly mistakes. That’s the conclusion of a five-month investigation by the NYCity News Service, whose reporters examined the growing veterinary care industry — pulling court documents, analyzing state and federal enforcement actions, combing government databases and reviewing regulatory filings.

WHAT WE FOUND

• Your rights as a pet owner depend on the state you live in. If a veterinarian makes a medical mistake and your animal dies, the compensation you may get may be greatly limited — to as little as pennies or even nothing — simply because of where you live.

• The quality of veterinary care also may hinge on the state you live in. Telemedicine, for instance, became more common during the pandemic, but is not allowed in every state. In addition, states vary widely on training and oversight of veterinary clinic staff.

• A private equity giant that owns Krispy Kreme and Panera Bread restaurants is buying up veterinary clinics and specialized surgical centers at a rapid pace. The Federal Trade Commission took unprecedented steps to intervene, saying consolidation could mean worse care for pets — and higher prices for their owners.

• More Americans are buying pet insurance to cover veterinary costs. But an examination of state insurance commission records across the country found repeated violations — including unlicensed brokers selling policies and shoddy claims processing.

• After dozens of horses died due to medications from pharmacies that custom blend drugs, the Food and Drug Administration bolstered industry guidelines. But experts worry they’re not strong enough.