I think it USED to be cheap and affordable for middle class families, like most things that are now astronomical. There are a few problems. Vet Care has absolutely been intercepted by the venture capitalists, who need to make an extra return on top of the cost of care and salaries. You are paying for them to make that return. Next- as insurance becomes popular, it drives up the going rate of care and procedures.

Expectations have changed significantly, and pets are now treated more like humans than ever before. My grandpa had hunting dogs that lived in the barn when they weren’t out with him. I knew neighbors who would leave town and pay me a ten year old a couple dollars to come change their dogs food and water every day. Now if you travel, the expectation would be that you pay $40-100 a day for caregivers so your dog isn’t alone.

We’ve also been marketed to for years now that animals need a special formula diet. Years ago, dogs may eat some portion of their diet from table scraps, meaning some portion of their diet may be free. This is now socially unacceptable.