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Bills are a huge issue within veterinary medicine as well as Destiny’s Child. They can’t find a man to pay their bills, and pet owners are struggling to pay their own bills due to high veterinary costs.
Pets are already a huge investment, so expensive and/or unexpected vet bills can be overwhelming for many owners. Government data reports a ten percent increase in vet costs within the last year (Deen). This rise can be attributed to a few things: inflation, the increase in corporately owned clinics and hospitals, and the increase in equipment and medication.
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While a lot of people would do anything – and pay anything – to ensure their animal’s well-being, some cannot afford to treat their animal’s issues. Some health problems can be fixed with one visit, but many diagnoses lead to continual treatment, other procedures, etc. The expenses pile up quickly, and owners are left with the unfortunate decision to give up their animal in hopes that someone else can take care of them (or euthanize them depending on age/prognosis). A common example of this is cancer. It is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years, and a once-and-done tumor removal doesn’t always do the trick (Petco). Various treatments can last months without resolve and cost up to $10,000.
Pet insurance is a way that approximately 1 in 5 pet owners mitigate vet costs. The monthly cost is around $30 for both dogs and cats. Insurance can help to lessen vet bills, but many people don’t expect to deal with excessive costs; therefore, they don’t think it is necessary. Pet insurance truly depends on the individual. It isn’t necessary for everyone and every animal.
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The big question: Is there a solution to avoiding these bills? No, not necessarily. Animals are unpredictable; however, prevention is the best way to decrease an animal’s chances of going to the vet for expensive problems with expensive solutions. Preventative care looks a little different for each animal, and it’s important that owners understand the specific needs of their pet. It’s also important to know what specific health issues your animal is prone to developing. Important preventative steps include:
- spay/neuter
- vaccinations
- wellness exams
- nutritional diet
- parasite medications
- exercise
- properly stored food and toxic products
- microchips/collars/leashes
- grooming
The list goes on, and prevention isn’t a sure-fire way to avoid diseases or danger; nevertheless, it can lessen an animal’s chances for extra vet visits, give owners more peace of mind, and allow veterinarians to get ahead of the issue.
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In a perfect world, our beloved furry friends would stay healthy forever, and vet care wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like veterinary costs are going to settle anytime soon, so it is important that owners prioritize their animals’ health before it is too late. It’s much better to plan for the worst when it comes to pets; after all, they are constantly keeping us on our toes.