Saving Money on Pet Care
Protect your pets and your wallet, too. Thomas F. Dock, Veterinary Journalist and Practice Manager, Noah’s Animal Hospitals, shares more on how to balance both:
1. With the uncertainty of healthcare premiums, rising food prices and inflation, many people are looking to save money wherever possible
2. Despite a concern about expensive diets, medications, and dental care, veterinary medicine is still a great value when compared to human health care.
3. Pet owners can take steps to help avoid costly veterinary bills.
4. Preventative wellness care, such as vaccinations, can help prevent costly diseases, such as canine parvovirus or feline distemper.
5. Vaccinations provide a low-cost method of preventing costly hospitalization due to infectious disease.
6. Not all vaccinations are needed by all pets. Talking with your veterinarian may find a vaccine or two not needed by your pet based on risk factors.
7. Heartworm prevention is another inexpensive method of keeping your pet safe and healthy. Heartworm treatments can often exceed $500-800 and can be dangerous to the pet. Monthly preventative medications are rarely more than $10 per month.
8. Routine dental care can help stop some heart disease, liver problems, and kidney issues. Additionally, you get the benefit of a pet with clean, fresh breath! Preventative dental care is easy, inexpensive, and should be part of every pet owners’ wellness plan.
9. Proper exercise and the right diet can do wonders for us and it can do wonders for our pets as well. Feeding high quality diets and providing physical stimulation to pets can help prevent serious problems later in life.
10. Keeping your pet confined in a yard, or on a leash when walking is a good common sense way of avoiding traumatic emergency situations.
11. As always, routine visits to your veterinarian can help spot problems before they get out of control. Twice yearly visits give your veterinarian a second chance to help keep your pet as healthy as possible.
12. Consider options to help you plan in advance for potential veterinary costs. These might include a savings account for your pet or even considering pet insurance.
13. Some veterinary offices have wellness plans to help clients budget for the pet’s needed preventive care.
14. In emergency situations, personal financing options, like CareCredit can help.
15. Above all, remember that your veterinarian is more than likely a small business owner. Asking him or her to extend credit to you can end up doing more harm than good.
16. Veterinarians are more likely to consider an “in house” payment plan if you have been a good client who follows preventive recommendations.
To learn more, visit www.noahshospitals.com.