Leashing In Those Huge Vet Bills
Going to the vet these days can cost a fortune. In the last four months alone we have spent over $2000, something I consider to be a substantial amount of money. Why do we do it? Because we love our pets and will do anything to keep them safe and healthy. So when I came across this article on tips to take the bite out of pet health costs I knew it was worth taking a look at.
Americans spent more than $10 billion on veterinary care last year, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
If you’re anything like our family, you probably feel like you’re contributing a good amount towards that $10 billion. Hopefully, the following tips will help bring down your out of pocket costs.
Following are just three of the twelve tips suggested by non-profit animal groups, industry watchdogs and veterinarians.
Look for vet specials. In-office clinics can offer price breaks on vaccinations, teeth cleanings and other procedures. Also, there are senior citizen discounts and package plans for puppy or kitten care.
Go online. If a medication is not needed immediately, you can sometimes save money by ordering it online rather than buying at a veterinarian office. Suppliers include Petmed Express (www.1800 petmeds.com), PetCareRx ( www.petcarerx.com) and Foster and Smith (www .drsfostersmith.com).
Consider insurance. Because of substantial deductibles and exclusions in pet policies, according to the Consumer Reports study, pet owners might be better off putting what they pay in monthly premiums into a savings account. But coverage could play a major role in covering bills for very expensive conditions.
While every suggestion may not be suitable for you, I think there’s a little something in the article for everyone.
Forget pet insurance! I have VPI insurance for the first year I had Lola and while it cost me just over $20 a month, which I didn’t think was too bad, when it came time to getting refunds for vet visits, it wasn’t worth it! I got very little refund for what I spent in the vet’s office!
I am thinking that vet insurance is more for the big expenses! Our puppy was just in the 24 hour hospital for 3 days and our bill was $5,000!! Even with the deductable, we would have saved a lot if we had it.
Thanks so much for mentioning pet insurance. I know it can be confusing because companies operate so differently, but I agree that it’s worth taking the time to do your homework and see if it would be a wise investment in the long run. It’s like other kinds of insurance, if you don’t need it, it’s not worth it, but when a major expense happens, it’s invaluable to have the financial help.
Companies vary on their deductibles and exclusions, which is why it’s important to be sure to read the policy to understand what to expect, but I pay $32 a month for my dog (a bit more than Wendy pays) but I’m covered up to $7000 for each different accident or illness and am reimbursed 80% after my $75 deductible for anything that’s not pre-existing (which would be like trying to insure a house that’s already burned down) or a birth defect (or regarding his teeth because it’s not doggy dental).
Thanks again for helping spread the word.
We are so badly struggling, and pet insurance, would NOT help. It is fur BIG things, not routine vet care. I think it is hard fur almost everybody to meet ends meet right now.
Love,
Bella Duke`s mommy
Some policies help with routine care, and vaccinations. Some even have cancer riders. It depends what your company offers. I always thought the pet insurance wasn’t a good idea until we had two big expenses back to back. Honestly, I don’t feel the companies offer much when they send you free information when you request it. You are better off asking peoples opinions on what plans they have. Once you are signed up you get much better information to look.
Thank you for the good advise. We have to manage our own health as well as the health of our pets. Pet insurance is a great idea as well as trying to help prevent problems. My lab/shepherd breed is always getting ear infections (yeast) and I have spent so much on vet bills in the past. I started a routine with a good ear wash on a regular basis and watching for the first sign of him scratching and I have been able to prevent it from getting to the point that I need a vet. I use biogroom from bestvaluepetsupplies.com for keeping his ears clean. It has helped keeping the cost down on vet bills.
As a breeder who owns more than a couple of dogs I keep my vet bills to a minimum (and not by cutting down on any care or vaccinations my dogs should have, cause I’ve had those big K’s worth bills believe me). Prevention I have found is better than care.
Every Sunday I clean all my dogs ears, cut their nails, groom them, thoroughly checking them all over for any signs of trouble - especially their mouths and spray them with a mild tea tree oil solution (keeps their skin in good condition).
I clean all my dogs teeth regularly - they all have their own toothbrushes.
I feed them raw brisket bones and a home made diet which includes raw garlic, cider vinegar, olive oil, raw vegetables and products/meat that I know are relatively spray and chemical free.
They are all exercised regularly and I really watch their weight like a hawk - no obese doggies in this household.
My vet tells me on a regular basis that my dogs are the healthiest he has on the books at his clinic - long may it last.
I think the right pet insurance would be the way to go, I just had to spend $7500. for my little guy on tests & an operation. I have since tried to get insurance but because of his age 12 years he is not eligible.
Mom’s looked into pet insurance and it’s a racket! They wanted thousands for my yearly insurance when she only paid $400 at most in my first year INCLUDING spaying.
Listen, find a vet who will work with your high budget, not who’s closest to home. Then stick with him/her. Vet’s take care of the long term client better than the new guy in town.
Mom should know. She’s a vet tech with over 50 animals and uses the same vet now for 11 years. It’s a 40 minute drive from where we live now, but they’ll come into the office for an emergency or we can go to the local emergency clinic 20 minutes away.
Oh and as far as those buying medications online - forget about it! They’re usually expiring and after shipping and handling you’d be better off getting it from the vet. Our’s doesn’t price it much more than he get it for cause he makes enough of a profit with exams and surgeries.
Hi, I recently had pet insurance for about 7-8 months…the amount of money I was paying monthly + the initial cost versus the amount I was getting reimbursed just wasn’t feasible. Needless to say the thought of adding our second dog wasn’t even an option– I couldn’t afford it anymore and had to drop it…couldn’t justify the cost.
However, in the future, when they get older it might be something to look into again…but for now–we pray nothing harmful comes their way!
Just a quick thought from someone old enough to remember the “good old days”—insurance will do to animal medicine what it did to human medicine—make it so costly that only those with insurance can possibly hope to afford it. As with ourselves, probably one of the best ways to save $$$’s is prevention. Wishing everyone the best of health and happiness !
[...] few days back I posted an article, Leashing In Those Huge Vet Bills, which had tips on ways to save money on the medical costs associated with keeping our pets [...]
[...] few days back I posted an article, Leashing In Those Huge Vet Bills, which had tips on ways to save money on the medical costs associated with keeping our pets [...]
I’ve noticed, after looking at the cost of insurance for Desmond, it would be a better investment to just take the amount of money I would pay for the insurance a month and put it in a special savings account for emergencies. I spent $1500 on Des the first 4 months after moving to Cali, I stil would have paid MORE for a year of doggie insurance for him.
I’d rather keep the money myself than pay for hugely expensive insurance I may or may not use.
[...] July I posted an article, Leashing In Those Huge Vet Bills, which offered some money saving tips. One of the tips was about pet insurance, it was the one [...]
[...] July I posted an article, Leashing In Those Huge Vet Bills, which offered some money saving tips. One of the tips was about pet insurance, it was the one [...]