Today’s economy is stretching everybody’s money. People struggle to figure out how to pay for food, housing, health care……for themselves as well as their pets. Many people are living on a tight budget, cutting corners where they can to save a little money. While this is fine in some areas, in others it may end up costing more in the long run.
Veterinary care is one area that needs careful thought. Dogs and cats require annual exams, vaccines, laboratory tests, as well as monthly heartworm/flea/tick prevention. Then there are the unexpected costs: a dental cleaning where teeth need extracted, an ear infection needing ear drops, an injury requiring radiographs and medications, or an illness requiring emergency surgery. Add to that the cost of an after-hours emergency clinic should these happen overnight or on a weekend.
Many places do not offer billing, wanting full payment at the time of services. Some situations may even require a deposit of several hundred dollars. So how do pet owners manage?
Consider the following scenarios:
- Yearly Dog Exam, Vaccines, Heartworm test and 12 months prevention = $350
- Treatment for Parvovirus = $600+ (no guarantee of survival)
- either pet received no vaccines or owner did vaccines at home that were not stored or administered properly
- Treatment for Heartworm Disease = $800 (no guarantee of survival)
- Dog or Cat Spay = $350-400 (pre-anesthetic blood work, anesthesia, surgery, pain meds)
- Pyometra (infected uterus in unsprayed animals) = $1000 (no guarantee of survival as surgery is being performed while pet is very ill).
- Routine Dental Cleaning, no extractions = $400 (pre-anesthetic blood work, anesthesia, dental exam & cleaning)
- Dental Cleaning with Extractions = $700-900 (includes above plus dental x-rays, multiple extractions, oral surgery, pain medications & antibiotics)
The above are just examples of veterinary services that are recommended on a daily basis. The lower cost is when the services are done on a healthy pet when recommended by the veterinarian. The higher costs are when the pet is ill and needs extensive treatment due to not receiving the recommended veterinary care.
Consider the following unexpected veterinary visits:
- Ear Infection = $130-200 (may require a follow-up exam)
- Limping = $200 + medications (may require a follow-up exam)
- Urinary Tract Infection = $150-200 (may require a follow-up exam)
**Please Note that all costs are ESTIMATES and do not reflect actual prices of Suburban Animal Clinic as treatments and prices may change. Please contact your veterinarian for estimates for these services.
Recommended veterinary services are important, and putting them off can be more costly in the end. And no one plans on getting an ear infection or pulling a muscle, although those also require a visit to the doctor. Here are a few ideas to help pet owners be able to afford expected and unexpected costs.
- Pet Insurance: Many pet owners now carry pet health insurance for their pets. There are different companies with different plans, so you should look at each plan and decide which would be best for you. Pet insurance requires the pet owner to pay the full bill to the veterinary office then submit a claim to the insurance company, which will reimburse the pet owner for expenses covered according to the policy. Below are two of the more well-known companies offering pet health insurance. Many more are out there, so be sure to do your research and ask questions when you call for quotes!
- ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: www.aspcapetinsurance.com
- VPI: www.petinsurance.com
- Pet Credit Card/Account: Some pet owners have a credit card or special savings account used only for pet expenses. This can help for planned and unplanned expenses. Most veterinary clinics would not mind if pet owners wanted to put a deposit on their account for future expenses.
- Care Credit: Some clinics offer special third party financing options. Suburban Animal Clinic offers Care Credit, a medical credit card accepted by some veterinarians and even some human offices. Care Credit works as a credit card and offers 6 months no interest as long as payments are made on time each month and the balance is paid in full before the end of the 6 months. Visit www.carecredit.com for more information.
Hopefully this helps pet owners try to plan for their pets healthcare. Veterinarians realize that not every owner can do every test or treatment that’s recommended. Don’t hesitate to let your veterinarian know that finances are tight and ask how you can work within your budget. Ask for an estimate before authorizing procedures or treatment so you’re not surprised when you pay your bill. With careful consideration and planning you and your veterinarian can ensure your pet receives the best care possible.