By Erin Jester
Every pet owner knows how much a furry friend can improve their well-being — and how expensive they can be to take care of.
To that end, researchers at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions are examining an unexpected barrier for people living with HIV to accessing the critical healthcare they need to manage the complex disease.
“Pets can be an important source of support and comfort for people with HIV, but for those already navigating the costs and demands of managing a chronic condition, they can also add financial strain,” said Jennifer Applebaum, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Global Health who researches how human-animal relationships intersect with social determinants of health, particularly in vulnerable populations such as people living with HIV.
Applebaum and her colleagues have been studying health care barriers for pet owners with HIV and strategies to help them access appropriate care. In a previous study led by Applebaum, 36% of pet-owning people with HIV reported delaying or not seeking healthcare. Financial and other resource concerns, including not having access to pet sitting or boarding services, are among the leading factors that may contribute to healthcare barriers in that population.
Another study published earlier this year found that pet ownership in people with HIV correlated with better viral suppression than those who do not have pets. However, among pet owners, pet-related barriers to healthcare resulted in poorer viral suppression.
Better support for pet owners with chronic conditions like HIV could help decrease those barriers, Applebaum’s research shows. Access to free and low-cost veterinary clinics, pet food banks and healthcare providers allowing patients to bring pets to appointments would reduce financial strain for people who may already be struggling to pay for their own care.
At the end of 2024, the most recent year for which Florida Department of Health data was publicly available, more than 132,000 Floridians were living with HIV. New infections totaled 4,463 — the third-highest in the country. While the disease can be managed with medication and regular medical visits, interruptions in treatment can worsen health outcomes and increase the risk of HIV transmission.
“Our research suggests that pet-related services could be an unexpected but meaningful part of the solution,” Applebaum said. “By building stronger support systems, we can help both people with HIV and their animals thrive.”