- Paws & Co reveals that 40% of UAE pet parents have delayed veterinary care because of cost, while more than 70% have faced a single treatment or emergency bill of AED 1,000 or more in the last 12 months.
- Paws & Co analysis estimates lifetime veterinary costs of up to AED 140,000, with preventative care potentially saving AED 51,480 and potentially adding three additional years of life.
Dubai, UAE, 22 October 2026: For many pet parents, the biggest veterinary bills do not arrive overnight. They often begin with specific hereditary health concerns that go unnoticed or untreated until they become more serious. According to analysis developed by a UAE pet healthcare company Paws & Co, a preventative approach to pet healthcare could save pet parents more than AED 51,000 and potentially add up to three additional years with their pet.
Based on the average lifespan and healthcare needs of a Golden Labrador, one of the UAE’s most popular dog breeds, the analysis estimates that lifetime veterinary costs could reach AED 140,000 under a reactive approach. By comparison, earlier intervention, preventative care and regular health checks could potentially reduce costs by AED 51,480 while contributing to up to three additional years of life.
While individual costs and health outcomes will vary depending on the specific breed, the analysis highlights the potential long-term financial and health benefits of identifying and managing concerns earlier, rather than waiting until pets become visibly unwell.
The findings come as veterinary expenses are already placing pressure on many pet parents. Research conducted by Paws & Co among UAE pet owners found that more than seven in 10 pet parents have spent AED 1,000 or more on a single treatment or emergency, while nearly one in five have faced a bill of AED 5,000 or more. More than 40% of pet parents also admitted delaying a veterinary visit because of cost, highlighting how financial considerations are already influencing healthcare decisions for some families.
Dr. Farah Murrani, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Paws & Co, said: “A huge vet bill is often the part of pet healthcare people remember, but we want pet parents to think about everything that happens before that bill exists. Preventative care gives us the opportunity to monitor a pet’s health over time and identify certain problems earlier, before they potentially become more serious or complex to treat. The earlier we understand what is happening with a pet’s health, the greater the opportunity to improve outcomes and potentially avoid more significant interventions later on.”
Preventative healthcare can include routine examinations, vaccinations, dental care, parasite prevention, weight management, blood testing and screenings based on a pet’s age, breed and individual risk factors. It also means helping pet parents understand their breed: the conditions it is prone to, the early signs to look out for, and the care it needs at each stage of life. While it cannot eliminate every illness or emergency, regular monitoring and knowing what to watch for can help identify potential concerns earlier and give pet parents greater visibility over their pet’s ongoing health needs.
The emotional and financial commitment to pets is significant across the UAE. Nearly two-thirds of pet parents surveyed said their pet is either their highest financial priority or one of their top financial priorities, while almost half consider their pet a member of the family. Yet more than nine in 10 pet parents say their pet is not insured, leaving many households exposed to unexpected veterinary costs.
Matt Butterworth, Co-Founder and CEO of Paws & Co, said: “Pet parents clearly want to do the best for their animals. We want to shift the conversation from navigating healthcare under pressure when something goes wrong, to helping people understand and plan for their pet’s needs throughout their life, creating better outcomes for pets and more predictable costs for families. The goal is greater transparency, better education and understanding specific to breeds which will lead to more predictable proactive wellbeing and ultimately healthier pets enjoying more years with their families.”
Paws & Co, a newly established UAE pet healthcare company, with plans to develop a network of 30 veterinary clinics across the UAE by 2030 built around the belief that pets should be loved like family members and treated like gold.
The brand will introduce a new model of pet healthcare centred around preventative care and personalised health planning. Its breed-based preventative care subscription memberships will bring together routine checkups, vaccinations, screenings and ongoing monitoring, helping pet parents understand what care their pet needs, when they need it and why.
In line with its focus on preventative health planning, Paws & Co has introduced a waitlist for its Founding Family membership programme. Designed to give early members access to essential preventative care services valued at AED 1,999 for AED 199, alongside a range of exclusive membership benefits, ahead of the opening of the company’s first clinics early next year.
The company’s first clinics will be in Motor City and Hessa Street and will open early next year.
About Paws & Co
Paws & Co is a UAE-based pet healthcare company developing an integrated network of purpose-built veterinary clinics supported by preventative wellness programmes, digital services and a proprietary breed-based subscription model.
Paws & Co plans to establish 30 clinics across the UAE by 2030, with a focus on delivering consistent clinical standards, transparent pricing and personalised long-term care. Its wider initiatives include a dedicated veterinary health and wellbeing programme and the Paws & Co Community Fund, which will support animal rescue organisations and improve access to veterinary care for animals in need.
For more information, visit www.pawsandco.com