10 tips for struggling pet owners

[bigdog]

here are 10 tips for owners struggling with vet bills.....

a great article

I like number 1:
Talk to your veterinarian. Especially if you're about to be hit with a really big bill that you can't afford right now, be open and honest about your situation. It's okay to ask for help. Your vet might be able to: help you set up a payment plan, suggest a less costly alternative treatment, point out care that can wait awhile, connect you with resources that could assist you, or offer a discount for this particular visit because you're going through a hard time. (Don't ask for special breaks every time, though; that's not fair to the vet.)

What do you guys think of the list? any more tips.

[Administrator]

Thats a good list above,
here is another one

"Ten of the best ... ways to cut the cost of pet ownership"
from the
Guardian Newspaper in the UK

They have Ten tips, here is Tip 2 from them, as an example

Tip 2: Choose a Mongrel-
If you haven't yet got a pet but want one, don't choose one that costs a fortune to buy and care for. A pedigree animal will not only cost more up front than one of less certain heritage, it could be more expensive to care for if it is breed that is prone to ill health too. Research done by Sainsbury's Bank a couple of years ago suggested it could cost up to a third more a year to care for a pedigree pet than a moggy or mongrel. More recently, the bank has also compared the cost of treatment of various breeds of cats and dogs. It found rottweiler owners spend 60% more than owners of west highland whites on treatment, paying an average of £441 a time compared with £271. If you want a pure breed pet, you might want to find one that is cheap to treat.

[Administrator]

Here are 10 more of my Tips on keeping a trip to the vet economical.

In my opinion as a vet, you should have pet insurance. The great majority of vets are fair good people and they do feel guilty if the medical costs are high, and so if you have pet insurance, the vet can concentrate on trying to help your pet rather than also the complexities of trying to do it on a shoestring also.

But it's a recession, and so if you don't have pet insurance, here are 10 extra tips from me!

1. Pick the right time.
Try and avoid going to the vet on a Sunday or at the night time, its likely to cost more with some kind of "surcharge"- obviously do go then if its an emergency, but if you can see you pet is starting to get ill on Thursday, go to the vet on Thursday, not late on Saturday night.

2. Avoid 3-4 injections!
If your pet is sick and needs a course of treatment, eg a couple of injections and some tablets, explain the fact you have financial concerns and ask the vet if they can skip the injections and just give the tablets? In some situations this maybe ok (but only some, its up to how sick your pet is, or what the meds are).

3. Be open, and ask first.
Call and ask the clinic how much the charges will be, before you get there. Or in the consulting room, ask how much the medicines are. Just be frank with the vet and tell them you are concerned about costs and can they work with you to keep the treatment affordable. Vets can't know your personal circumstances without you telling them, and so if you explain that you "only have $150 until Friday when I get my paycheck" or whatever, they may be able to structure the treatment a little bit around your wallet also.

4. Prevent it!
Practice preventable medicine, eg the cost of neutering your pet is cheaper than if they get pregnant and have loads of babies/ or if they get a womb infection.
The cost of vaccines and of Heartworm prevention for example, is cheaper than the costs of treating these diseases.

5.Will it influence the Treatment?
Before you do a test eg an extra blood test, ask the vet "what will the difference be in treatment if we get x or y result". If the test is essentially academic and doesn't influence the treatment, save money on the test if you don't have the extra money.

6. Get a small dog.
costs are inevietably much less for smaller dogs than bigger dogs if they become poorly, due to the weight difference, as the amount of medicines varies with weight.

7. Repeat problems.
Repeat conditions: At the end of your consult for a 1st time condition, eg your dog has been to the vet for vomiting, ask "what should I do at home, if this recurrs in a few months?". It maybe that you vet says "come back here immediately"- BUT it may also be that they have a few tips for things to initially try at home, before you need to come in. For example, if you dog was sick, perhaps they may say "next time try no food for 12 hrs see what happens, if still vomiting, then come in" - and follow your vet's suggestions!?

8. common things happen commonly
common things happen commonly- many diseases that vets see can be prevented by owners. Learn what "heat stroke" is so you can avoid it, keep pets on leads (avoiding car injuries) when near busy roads or near groups of strange dogs (avoiding dog bites) dont feed bones or play too many games of fetch with sticks or stones (to avoid damaging the teeth or a dog eating something its not meant to which then could damage the intestines).

9. Don't get a purebred.
30%+ of dogs do have skin allergies, especially pure breeds. Having a pet IS going to cost some money, no animal is 100% healthy for 100% of its life! But at least try to get one which has a better chance of staying healthy!


10. Barter something.
If you have no cash but your pet is really sick, you could try this. Okay most vets will say no; BUT, if its that or nothing, some will accept. What is the harm in asking. If you are a graphic designer or a printer, perhaps you can help them with their next newsletter as an exchange? If you have something which the vet needs, you have a deal!

[Administrator]

here are some more-

11. Buy a toothbrush
If you brush you pet's teeth regularly from a young age, then you should be able to avoid a "dental procedure" under General Anaesthetic at the vet clinic.
(But, of course if your pet is very wriggly, and you can't do it daily due to this or time commitments, then the tartar/plaque will build up, then you get gingivitis and gum disease as well as teeth problems, and your pet will need the dental proceedure.)

12. Keep the weight down
Its pretty obvious that fatter animals are more prone to health risks, so keep the weight down. But also, if your pet is 10.5kg instead of 9.5 kg, then often you need to buy the "next weight size up" of medicines such as flea control drops. Some common (but not many) preventable medicines are for the ranges say under 10kg, 10-20kg, 20-40kg... so if your pet is just over this threshold and your pet is overweight, its another good reason to lose weight.

13. Bulk Purchase
share purchasing with a friend or family member (who also has a pet) of food and de-worming medicines etc or just buy lots in advance- some things are cheaper in bulk.

14. Keep your pet indoors
To be honest, I would prefer if you dog or cat can go outside, but if costs are tight, consider keeping them inside more temporarily as that means less exposure to diseases, poisons, other pets, vehicles etc and so lower risk factors.

15. Become a groomer
Bathe your pet at home; and the next time you are at your vet, ask them to show you how to cut your pets nails safely and carefully... so later you can do this at home too.
Perhaps its better to save money spent on a luxury spa for your dog at your local poodle parlour, and keep the money saved for a rainy day if your pet actually gets sick? Professional pet grooming is not a medical necessity.
(But DO use professionals to cut the hair, don't try that yourself you could accidentally cut the skin).

16. Invest in a decent rubbish bin
Too many pets eat rubbish from the bins and then get sick. Invest money in a pet-safe rubbish bin to ensure it can't get in there in the first place- or dispose of all your rubbish outside your house.

17. Learn what Household things makes pets sick
Chocolate poisoning, Lily flower toxicity for cats, onion toxicity... ask your vet or find a reputable online resource to discover what to avoid feeding your pet, or having in your house, which could make it sick!


18. Ask for options
At the vets, ask for treatment options... there are normally a few options, veterinary medicine is a service industry to serve YOU (and your pet), there are normally a few acceptable treatment options, and prices may vary.

19. Say thank you
If you are kind to your local veterinary clinic staff, and take them some chololates or flowers etc occasionally if you are happy that they did a "great job" then these staff are all human beings, and will bend over backwards to keep costs affordable for you in the future!


20. Use a muzzle
If you dog has a tendency to lick the floor outside and scavenge everywhere and eat stuff it finds on the streets, or is aggressive with other dogs- consider using a muzzle to ensure it can't get pick something up outside and eat it that is harmful..... and stop it getting in fights!



if you can think of any more money saving tips please add them!!

[wobble]

nice list, thanks!

[Oona]

That is an amazing list, you pretty much covered everything I would have. I didn't see this mentioned specifically in your list but it really should be common sense.

VACCINATE YOUR PET REGULARLY (Do research to find out which vaccinations are more likely essential based on your area of the country/world)

Additional: if you Ever have mosquitoes, use Heartworm Preventative Medication!

[Oona]

Bartering is a pretty good tip, actually. A number of our clients are never charged anything, but the bill is tallied and they trade services with the owner of our animal hospital. The Dentist Office next door trades veterinary services with out hospital in exchange for dental care for out hospital's employees. Other clients trade services ranging from car repair work to sports memorabilia for medical care for their pets.

[bigdog]

Bartering is a pretty good tip, actually. A number of our clients are never charged anything, but the bill is tallied and they trade services with the owner of our animal hospital. The Dentist Office next door trades veterinary services with out hospital in exchange for dental care for out hospital's employees. Other clients trade services ranging from car repair work to sports memorabilia for medical care for their pets.

yes, I agree. I know of a veterinary clinic owner who gives the local electrical hardware shop a 20% discount on their vet bills, as long as they do the same when he wants to buy a fridge or washing machine next time!!
Most vet clinics are small businesses, and so they have a business owner who is able to make sensible decisions with regard to bartering, or a regular payment scheme.
Its not always possible but it sometimes is!