Why most pet owners plan a pet health reset in 2025

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

A NEW STUDY REVEALS THAT A MAJORITY (77%) OF PET OWNERS ARE INTERESTED IN A HEALTH RESET IN 2025 — AND NEARLY AS MANY (69%) ARE CONSIDERING ONE FOR THEIR PET, TOO.  

CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH ON BEHALF OF MET-LIFE, THE SURVEY OF 2,000 DOG AND CAT OWNERS COMPARED PET PRIORITIES AND SPENDING THIS YEAR TO LAST. 

WHY THE FOCUS ON HEALTH?

THE ANNUAL SURVEY FOUND THAT PET PARENTS ARE TAKING A PROACTIVE STANCE. 

JUST HALF OF THOSE WHOSE PET EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED HEALTH EVENT IN 2024 WERE FINANCIALLY PREPARED FOR THE COST (52%), DOWN FROM 82 PERCENT WHO SAID THE SAME IN 2023. 

THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE PET PARENT SPENT $2,085.60 ON THEIR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS IN 2024.    

WHILE 45 PERCENT ANTICIPATE SPENDING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THEIR PET IN 2025, WITH RISING INFLATION AND PET AGING, 36 PERCENT THINK THEY’LL END UP SPENDING EVEN MORE.

LESSONS PET OWNERS HAVE SHARED

• “Plan in advance. Living in a state where hurricanes hit makes you buy extra things for your pets in advance.”
• “Always have regular routine vet visits.”
• “That we never know when something will happen, so treasure each moment of every day.”
• “If you give them something from your soul, they will give it right back to you from their own soul.”
• “It’s actually very easy to teach an old dog new tricks.”
• “Their behavior will change over time. For example with dogs, they will be more tame and less hyper as they age.”
• “Pets give so much to their owners and ask for hardly anything in return. They freely give unconditional love.”
• “That pets are really family and if they aren't happy, neither are you.”
• “The importance of being patient and attentive to my pet's needs. Whether it's noticing small changes in their behavior or giving them extra love during stressful times, being present makes a big difference.”
• “That my pet's quality of life depends on me.”
• “To trust my dog's instincts when he's trying to tell me something.”
• “Every animal has their own needs and quirks. If you pay enough attention to their routines and habits and reactions, you can learn how to help them and give them an even better life.”
• “We humans could learn from their loyalty.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 dog and cat owners; the survey was commissioned by MetLife and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Nov. 25 and Nov. 28, 2024.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

• Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
• Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

• Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
• Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
• Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
• Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.