Pet owners desire clear, accessible information from their veterinarians, emphasizing the importance of understanding the client's knowledge base and tailoring communication accordingly. They expect to be active participants in the decision-making process, wanting to understand their options and have the final say while also valuing the veterinarian's recommendations. Veterinarians acknowledge the importance of client communication but face challenges related to time constraints, involving multiple clients, and language barriers.

The project was funded by the OVC Pet Trust. This publication is part of NJ's PhD dissertation, the stipend for which was provided by the Ontario Veterinary College Scholarship.

This qualitative study provides valuable insights into pet owners' expectations regarding information exchange and decision-making in veterinary practice. The use of multiple focus groups allowed for in-depth exploration of these themes. The study's limitations mainly relate to generalizability.