Sessions

The aim of this study, conducted as part of my scientific students’ association (TDK) research, was to assess the Hungarian population’s awareness of the costs associated with dog ownership, including both dog owners and individuals who do not currently own a dog. Based on observations from my clinical practice, dog owners appear to have limited awareness of the financial implications of responsible dog ownership, including not only veterinary treatment but also routine care and everyday expenses.

A questionnaire was developed for the study and completed by 214 respondents, including both dog owners and non-dog owners. The collected data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, including Pivot tables and diagrams. Associations between responses provided by dog owners were further examined using the R Commander statistical software.

The results showed that 55.7% of dog owners only seek veterinary care when their dogs develop clinically recognisable signs of illness. This may contribute to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment in some cases. The greatest lack of awareness regarding veterinary care costs concerned antiparasitic treatments and major emergency procedures. Only 3.1% of dog owners were able to accurately estimate the annual cost of a broad-spectrum antiparasitic treatment, while 82.7% reported that financial considerations did not limit their access to veterinary care. This suggests that the underestimation of veterinary costs may primarily reflect insufficient knowledge of actual treatment expenses rather than financial constraints. In particular, a substantial proportion of owners considered veterinary costs excessive when confronted with the actual expense, despite previously indicating that financial considerations would not constitute a barrier to veterinary care.

The estimated cost of a major emergency surgical procedure was substantially underestimated by 57.7% of dog owners and 61.8% of respondents without a dog. In contrast, more than 75% of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of the basic costs associated with dog ownership, including feeding, vaccination and neutering. The greatest knowledge gaps were identified in relation to major interventions, emergency veterinary care and the management of chronic diseases.

In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that communication with pet owners should extend beyond information regarding appropriate animal care and also address the actual and potential financial implications of responsible dog ownership and veterinary treatment.