Higher costs force tough choices for Colorado pet owners and veterinarians

For Colorado pet owners, rising veterinary bills are forcing hard choices—and sometimes heartbreaking outcomes. The article recounts cases like an older cat’s left-eye ulcer that required months of vet visits, pills, and drops, with a bill exceeding $2,000. It cites American Veterinary Medical Association president Dr. Jennifer Quammen, who says prices climbed after 2019 as practices faced higher costs for equipment, drugs, staffing, and technology. A Denver Post survey of 200+ responses described expenses from hundreds to thousands, appointment delays, high specialist costs, and worries about private equity ownership. Average household pet spending was $1,516 in 2024.