pet care & health
As veterinary medicine advances, so too do the costs of keeping our pets healthy, especially when emergencies strike. Dr Carra Walters of Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to run a modern veterinary practice.
When you adopt a puppy or kitten, it’ s easy to be swept away by their cuteness without realising you’ re committing to up to two decades of responsibility. Think of it this way: when you brought Coco home for your daughter’ s seventh birthday, best-case scenario, that little fur baby will still be part of the family when she heads off to university. By then, Coco won’ t be as sprightly as she once was, and vet visits will be far more frequent, and often expensive.
The rising cost of pet care
Many pet owners don’ t fully appreciate what it costs to run a modern, ethical, fully equipped veterinary practice, especially one that operates 24 / 7.
“ Advanced diagnostics, specialist equipment, lab testing, emergency facilities, qualified nursing staff, veterinarians on call after-hours, compliance, insurance, and ongoing training all come at an enormous and unavoidable cost,” explains
Dr Carra Walters, owner of Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal and host of the Paws and Effect podcast. And in 2026, these aren’ t luxuries – they’ re the standard for responsible, professional veterinary care.
It’ s tempting to blame practices for profiteering, but Dr Carra stresses that veterinary margins are among the tightest in healthcare.“ Few experiences are more devastating than being
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