Expensive veterinarian visits can be a true financial hardship for many pet owners. On the average, vet visits cost pet owners about $500 a year. For about a third of those polled who did not take their pet to the vet, they said their reasons were financially based. They expense was more than they could handle at the time. If the dog was very sick or severely injured most owners said they would seek medical care in hopes that credit or a payment arrangement can be discussed.
Dog owners were more likely to take their dog in to see a vet than cat owners but dog owners also spent slightly less than cat owners on the average annual amount. Cat owners spent an average of $558 and dog owners an average of $537. People who’s pets experienced a serious illness during the past year spent an average of $1,092 for medical care.
The good news is that the vast majority questioned in this poll have faith in their veterinarian. They feel that their animals are getting good care and their vet is not recommending unnecessary medical tests or procedures that would jack up their bill even more.
As would be expected, households in the higher income bracket are more likely to take their dog to the vet. A high percentage of households earning less than $50,000 said they didn’t take their animals to the vet because they couldn’t afford the bill.
Others with limited resources have to put a “lid” on what they can spend on their pet. This difficult decision is completely dependent on the financial situation of the owner. Even though most pet owners are loath to put a price limit on their pet’s health, the reality is that some people are just trying to keep a roof over their heads. They sometimes have to face tough decisions.
The High Cost of Veterinary Care
Veterinary care has become much more specialized, more advanced, and definitely more expensive over the past ten years. According to data collected by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the total spent on care for dogs increased 38 percent between 2001 and 2006. The number of veterinary specialists has increased by more than 15 percent in the past 3 years.
Veterinarians say that this trend is due to customer’s expectations about health care for their pets. To meet these expectations for advanced medical care, more veterinarians are going into specialty practices providing more complicated procedures and more sophisticated equipments. But with advanced specialty care for your dog you will also be expected to dish out more cash for their services. Sometimes, advanced care is provided by traveling specialists which might be a more reasonable approach when it comes to the financial burden.
Digital X-rays, blood chemistry machines, and ultrasounds are a few of the medical technologies that are now found in many veterinary offices. Keeping up with the latest equipment and technology is costly to the vets office so these expenses will no doubt be passed onto the customers.
Another reason veterinarian care has risen so much over the years is due to the rising cost of veterinary schooling. The cost is almost equal to a human medical physician which is money that the veterinarian will hope to recoup over the years.
Taking Preventive Steps Can Save Money
The average amount of money an average dog owner spends per year runs about $2,500. This estimate includes food and visits to the vet. When you take ownership of a dog, you have to be able to spend money on their care.
Although economic times have forced people to cut back, if you invest money on the basics for your pet, you will save money in the long run.
- Keep up the annual checkup. Since your pet cannot speak to you and it is sometimes difficult to read signs and symptoms of an ailment or illness, an early diagnosis of a condition can be caught in the visit to the vet.
- Give you dog high quality dog food. If you cut back on food quality, your pet may be missing on necessary nutrients that will keep them healthy.
Keep your pet’s weight in a healthy zone for their bone structure. An overweight pet is an unhealthy pet.- Make sure your dog gets exercise to keep them healthy. Keeping them active can fend off physical ailments such as arthritis, torn ligaments and heart problems.
- Brush their teeth and get them regular cleanings. Bad teeth can lead to more serious health problems such as liver and kidney issues.
- Shop around and look for the best prices and discounts. If you are struggling with bills and can’t afford treatment for your pet, talk to your vet. Maybe work out a payment plan or similar arrangement. If you have been with the same vet for years, they will probably work with you.
Although the cost of keeping a pet is a burden on some households, their pets of part of their family and are worth every penny. If you can find a way to keep up the very basic maintenance for your pet, you will be rewarded many times over with a healthy, loving companion.
No related posts.
