Going to the vet can break the bank. Most pet owners have noticed that veterinary care has become unbelievably expensive in the past twenty years; the technologies once only available to humans are now routine for animals. Now that these procedures are routine, your vet is likely to make them seem mandatory. Yearly vaccinations, veterinary cardiologists, tooth cleaning... the services are always on offer, and when you decline, the vet takes a long hard look at you. "What a cold heartless bastard," their eyes say, and the respond quietly, "of course it is your decision, but it really is very important for the health of your pet."
It's hard to say no to these offers. Hepatic function tests. Electrocardiograms. Cancer screenings. Asking "how much?" is discouraged; pet owners are just supposed to nod and hand over the credit card at the end of the visit for whatever the vet has decided to charge. At some point you have to say no just to preserve your own financial health; nobody is required to purchase heroic or luxury medical procedures for pets.
When our previous dog Rocco was struck by a car, the vet at the emergency clinic was upfront about his chances for survival, his chances for recovery, and our options. He didn't volunteer the price for the treatment he was proposing: cranial reconstruction and a week of intensive care. We didn't really entertain the thought. It wasn't easy to let go, but it was the right thing for the dog, and for us. Thankfully, he didn't add to our grief by pressuring us into the wrong decision. For ninety minutes at the emergency clinic we paid $500; if we had tried to save him, he probably would have been semi-paralyzed for life (if he survived), and we would have spent over ten thousand dollars.
Two recent articles cover this trend, and a retired vet has written "How to Afford Veterinary Care without Mortgaging the Kids"; some excepts are on his website. Many times the vet is not necessarily on your side. It is easy to argue that many painful veterinary procedures are doing no favours to the pets, either.
1 comment:
Although I love my pets... I really do...
...but I would not be willing to part with that level of money for a pet. (Perhaps my cheapness comes from my Scottish ancestry!)
Becky and I agreed that we'll give Frank one more chance if he eats chocolate, and then he's on his own!
$280 for feeding him activated carbon is ridiculous!
We view it like this: We paid $300 for the dog. He's got $20 left!
(I'm semi-joking, of course.)
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