7 Action Steps for Taking Financial Responsibility
for the Care of Your Pet
Taking our 7 action steps will increase your chances of enjoying your animal companion for a long time to come. With rapidly increasing fees for veterinary services, these preventive tips will help you avoid the need for high-priced, serious medical-surgical procedures down the road.
We hope that our advice will help you save money while meeting the commitment. Our goal is to keep people and pets together longer! In an effort to achieve this goal, we’ve assembled expert recommendations on the following topics:
The Future is Now
During the last few years, HEALS has assisted and befriended many faithful pet owners facing horrible life situations. Their beloved dogs and cats provide them with valuable social, emotional, and physical benefits. But, sadly, they can’t afford life-saving veterinary care when their pet becomes sick or injured.
One out of four pet-owning families (28%) can’t even pay for an exam or the required deposit. They’re turned away by the hospital—putting the poor animal at risk of suffering and dying. Don’t become part of this tragic statistic. You may find yourself in this tenuous financial position at some point in your life.
What does an owner who can't afford veterinary care look like?
- A family living on limited funds due to illness
- Someone who is out of work
- A senior citizen on a fixed income
- A disabled worker
- A veteran
Many well meaning animal lovers bring pets home with excitement and good intentions. But many don’t realize the huge financial responsibility that owning a pet can entail–for as long as 20 years.
HEALS strives to motivate you to prepare for the future by taking action now. Please work on setting aside enough money to purchase a pet health insurance plan or start a dedicated savings account to ensure the best possible lifelong care for your cherished furry family member.
Paying pet health insurance premiums: Is it worth it?
We say yes--if you can afford it.
Are you interested in researching pet insurance? Every pet parent should look into the feasibility of buying a policy. There are many plans and programs to choose from. Not all of them have high premiums. The optimal time to purchase insurance is when your companion animal is young and healthy. Buy it before you need it!
Consider the following questions when comparing plans to determine which one is right for you:
- Do you want routine coverage? These policies help pay for annual wellness exams and vaccinations, for example.
- Do you want an accident-only policy? Such plans only cover unexpected injuries caused by accidents.
- Do you want a comprehensive plan covering both illnesses and accidents?
- Is there an annual limit on the amount the company will pay out?
- Is there a lifetime payment limit?
- Can you choose your veterinarian?
- Will the carrier pay the veterinarian directly?
- Will the carrier pay you directly?
- How long does it take to get a claim approved?
- How long does it take to get reimbursed?
- Are prices dependent on where you live?
- Does it matter what breed you have? For example, some companies won’t insure certain dog breeds.
- What’s your pet’s age? Premiums rise as pets get older.
- Can the premium rise each year? Sometimes the charges increase because of the costs of veterinary services in your area and/or national inflation.
You can look at websites to compare plans. Some only present the top 10 that they consider to be the pick of the litter.
But you should:
- Research all policies, not just those recommended
- Speak to other owners with insurance to see if they’re satisfied with their plans
- Ask your primary care veterinarian for a recommendation
Most important, don’t wait. The financial responsibility is considerable for providing excellent care for your pet. Depending on where you live in the U.S., an annual wellness visit can cost upwards of $300-$500. A simple spay-neuter procedure can be $800-$1,000. A complex surgery performed by a specialist can run $10,000 or more.
- Contact numbers for Poison Control (ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 1-888-426-4435)
- Local 24-hour emergency animal hospital
- Disposable gloves
- Pet thermometer: A normal temperature is 101.0° to 102.5°F
- Petroleum jelly to insert thermometer
- Hydrogen peroxide for minor scrapes
- Triple antibiotic ointment for minor cuts
- Paw Balm for dry or cracking paws (good for snouts too)
- Plastic oral syringe for administering medicines or flushing wounds
- Saline to flush wounds
- Gauze pads
- Round-tip scissors
- Pet wrap
- Ear Wash
- Eye Wash
- Antiseptic antifungal cleanser
- Oral liquid natural calming product
- Nail trimmer and styptic powder
- Tweezers
- Pet wipes
- Skunk odor eliminator spray
- Grooming supplies, including brush, comb, shampoo
- Clean towel
- Flashlight or pen light
Prepare for Dog Days and Cat-Astrophes
1. Poison Control Center Hotlines
2. Your Nearest 24-Hour Emergency Hospital
- Fractured bones
- Severe bleeding
- Eye injuries
- Obvious signs of pain
- Seizures
- Severe vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fevers
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Not drinking
- Hiding
- Eliminating outside the litter box
- Straining in the litter box
- Not urinating
We recommend calling ahead to alert the hospital staff so that they can prepare for your arrival.
Spaying (females) and neutering (males) are important procedures to seriously consider as an animal grows up. Otherwise, unwanted and unintended pregnancies are likely to result, contributing to a surplus of homeless animals in the shelter system. Sadly, this leads to an increase in euthanasia rates as shelters overcrowd and not enough homes can be found.
Behavioral and physical problems can develop in intact animals as they age.
For females, there’s an increased risk of:
- Breast cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Pyometra, a potentially fatal infection of the uterus
- Urinary and bladder infections
For male pets, there’s an increased risk of:
- Testicular cancer
- Enlarged prostate gland
- Urinary and bladder infections
Animals altered early in life don’t have these same high risk factors. Altering is better for the pet AND owner from a longevity and finance perspective.
Spay and neuter surgeries are considered to be low risk, although it’s a bit more complicated for females. Surgery is done in the veterinarian’s office under general anesthesia with pain medication. The pet should be kept quiet for a short while afterwards to help promote healing.
After surgery, the pet’s sex hormones will have decreased and there will be a reduced desire to
- Roam
- Engage in aggressive behaviors
- Mark territory
It’s common for them to gain some weight, but diet and exercise can help.
For both cats and dogs, the veterinarian’s advice is a good guide for timing the procedure. It’s not considered necessary to wait until the animal goes into heat for the first time. Not following through with these procedures can leave much older animals vulnerable to pregnancies, which can be life threatening and result in the death of the offspring. Serious complications, requiring expensive surgeries for the mother animal, can be fatal.
Some animal hospitals and shelters offer low-cost spay-neuter services. You can find them in your area by Googling “low-cost spay-neuter surgeries” and add your zip code to the search. Facilities and rescue groups might offer mash-style one-day clinics so watch for those as well. Several humane organizations sell low-cost certificates to use at their participating practices. In some counties, mobile vans offer this service for a reduced fee.
You’ve probably heard a few myths and old wives tales that prevent reluctant pet owners from altering their dogs and cats. Don’t listen to any of it! The pet will be healthier and happier–and you will benefit as well.
Potentially serious diseases can develop from infections caused by tick and mosquito bites as well as other parasites. Tick bites represent an increasing threat as various types spread with our warming climate. The most prevalent tick-borne diseases are:
- Lyme
- Anaplasmosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Hepatozoonosis
Tick bites cause varying symptoms. These signs take time to observe since they vary from the point of the bite to the point of infection. In general, the disease that invades the pet isn’t contagious to the owner. It’s critical, however, to inspect the animal’s hair coat, feet and ears immediately upon coming in from a walk.
Time is of the essence: Catching ticks and testing promptly help reduce the animal’s distress and possibly save its life. You’ll also save money by seeking help early before the condition worsens and becomes more critical.
In contradiction to the popular belief that ticks wait in tall grasses, the truth is that any area with decaying leaf matter or grass in any amount can harbor them.
Human tick repellent is toxic to animals and shouldn’t be used. Appropriate animal tick and flea preventative is needed. Products are available in various forms. Collars provide prevention for several months. It’s important to remember that a preventative product doesn’t guarantee that the animal won’t be bitten; it’s just a reduction in the chance that it will happen.
Sit. Stay. Talk. Listen. Take Notes.
Are you hesitant to ask questions? A visit to the animal hospital can be stressful, emotional, difficult, and overwhelming. Some people are reluctant to speak up or ask questions out of fear, confusion, lack of knowledge or perceived respect for veterinary pros.
Veterinarians are busy professionals–now more than ever. Write down your questions before going into the exam room. Bring all of your pet’s medications with you. It’s likely that you’ll be interrupted after just a few minutes of conversation–and you don’t want to lose your train of thought. An able veterinarian will be patient and thorough in answering.
Be doggedly persistent about:
- Delving for more details about patient tests, therapies, prognoses and outcomes
- Asking for repeat instructions if you’re unclear
- Jotting down the answers for the long haul
- Bringing someone with you if you can–four ears are better than two!
- Asking for copies of all exam records and test results–keep ownership of your pet’s medical records!
If the veterinarian’s recommendations seem unusual or too drastic to you:
- Take time to think about it
- Avoid making a fast decision
- Talk it over with trusted family members and friends
- Consider getting a second opinion at a different animal hospital.
- Don’t be afraid to ask if there are less invasive or less pricey therapy alternatives
Extra Schooling for Veterinarians
There may be a time when diagnosing and treating an ill or injured patient requires the specialized skill and expertise your family veterinarian simply can’t provide.
As with specialists in the human medicine arena, specialty veterinarians require years of additional academic and clinical training in their chosen field. In addition to four years of veterinary school, board-certified specialists complete an internship and residency, receiving three to five years of extra preparation before they need to pass rigorous examinations to evaluate their knowledge and abilities.
This higher level of capability allows patients to be treated successfully with new and cutting-edge options when a more in-depth understanding of certain diseases and conditions is required. With specialized veterinary services, many pets have the opportunity to be cured or have their life extended.
Specialists are available in the following disciplines:
- Cardiology
- Internal medicine
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Rehabilitation
- Sports medicine
- Surgery
- Dermatology
- Nutrition
- Dentistry
Many clients are referred to specialists by their family practitioners. If your pet doesn’t improve after two visits to your primary care hospital, ask for a referral to an appropriate specialist. Don’t wait! The sooner your pet is effectively treated the better for its health and your wallet.
What we feed our pets has a direct effect on their health, happiness and longevity:
- Cats need fresh protein whether it’s meat, poultry or fish. They can’t survive on kibble.
- Dogs don’t have the same nutritional needs, which is one reason cats shouldn’t be given dog food and vice versa.
- The FDA doesn’t regulate or oversee pet food. Look for foods that contain chicken or beef and no chicken or beef byproducts.
- Dogs and cats can eat some fruits and vegetables in small quantities.
- Both can benefit from nutritional supplements.
- Pet foods can now be found in breed specific formulations for both cats and dogs.
- In general, the amounts of salt found in human foods, like deli meats, are not healthy for animals.
- Cats are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t be given any dairy products.
The steep prices of veterinary services, proper food, re-stocking home supplies and occasional medications can add up over time to be more than a person can handle. Sadly, this often leads to needless euthanasia or surrender to animal shelters. Our mission is to advise owners to acknowledge these realities and encourage them to provide good pet health stewardship over time–so you can make the most of the many wonderful benefits and rewards of pet ownership.
HEALS recommends visiting the Maddie’s Fund Website for further research and resources:
Maddie’s Fund offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities, learning resources and easy access to network connect and share ideas to keep people and pets together.
HEALS is one of the best animal charities to donate to. Your donation provides financial help for pets in need of life-saving veterinary care–when their owners truly can’t afford it–right here in your own community. If you need help paying for dog or cat veterinary care, contact us at 914-996-0001 or email info@healspets.org.
All Rights Reserved 2021 – Guardian HEALS – P.O. Box 5205 Greenwich, CT 06831 – info@healspets.org – 914-996-0001 EIN: 834178756
