Dr. Hoffman joins the conversation at the 1:22:10 mark.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Dr. Doug Hoffman, Co-CEO of AcutePet Urgent Care, joined Scott Sloan on 700 WLW to talk about the rise in veterinary costs — and a new report showing families are increasingly skipping vet visits they can’t afford. They discussed what’s driving the increase and what it could mean for pets, pet owners, and the shelters already stretched thin.
EPISODE NOTES
In this episode, Scott Sloan and Dr. Doug Hoffman discuss:
- How veterinary costs have climbed roughly 60% over the last 10 years
- How industry consolidation and private equity ownership are reshaping veterinary medicine — Dr. Hoffman notes only an estimated 7–10% of specialty hospitals remain independently owned
- Why the rapid advancement of veterinary medicine, from advanced imaging to cancer treatment and knee and joint replacement surgery, can increase overhead at larger hospitals
- A new report showing families are skipping routine wellness visits as costs rise, and why that’s different from the sick-pet visits AcutePet’s urgent care sees most
- The hardest consequence of rising costs: pet owners choosing euthanasia over treatable conditions, and the added strain on already-overfilled shelters
- Why pet insurance hasn’t caught on for pets the way it has for people — only an estimated 3–5% of pet owners are covered — and how rising premiums and exclusions limit how much it actually helps
- AcutePet’s mission, shared by Co-CEOs Dr. Doug Hoffman and Dr. David Sachs, to do veterinary medicine differently — keeping it fun for veterinarians, technicians, and support staff, without having to charge a fortune for care
- AcutePet’s newest location in White Oak opened on Friday, August 28
Listen to the full segment on 700 WLW / iHe
