Healthy pets can cut cost of vet visits

Q: I currently have two dogs and a cat. I recently put my 15-year-old dog down. They were all rescues and I would love to add another shelter dog to the mix.

I feel it is my responsibility to do what I can for abandoned animals, including years as a shelter volunteer and working with others to unchain tethered dogs.

However, the amount that vets charge is increasing. If the veterinary community supports rescue of unwanted animals, I wish they would do something to address the increasing costs of care of these animals.

A: Usually when we visit our personal doctor, we have no idea what the actual bill is. We pay our co-pay and our insurance takes care of the rest. Sure we hear in the news and on political ads that human health care costs are rising, but we rarely see by how much.

With veterinary medicine, most people do not have insurance so they see and pay the total bill. Unfortunately, just like in human medicine, veterinary medical costs have been increasing.

The same factors that affect human medical costs affect veterinary medical costs. Veterinarians use a lot of the same medications and equipment that regular doctors do, and the cost is the same for us as it is for them.

Also, veterinary college tuition, like all education, is increasing yearly. Many students will have loans in excess of $100,000 after they finish school. The total may take decades to pay off.

I (Dr. Perry Jameson) think we speak for most veterinarians in wishing we could make a living without having to charge for what we do. Unfortunately, that is not realistic, but there are ways to reduce the costs of veterinary health care.

Here are our tips for decreasing your veterinary medical costs. Some of them might sound a bit familiar.

1. Maintain a healthy weight. If your pet weighs more than it was designed to, this can cause health problems. A Labrador who should weigh 60 pounds but instead weighs 80 pounds is more likely to have orthopedic problems. A ruptured knee ligament requires surgery, while arthritis for overburdened joints will require a lifetime of pain relievers.

Medications are based on weight, so again those 20 pounds increase medical expenses. As we often stress, keep them active and feed the appropriate amount and type of food to maintain a healthy weight.

2. Preventive care. If a disease never occurs, you never have to pay to have it treated. Maintaining up-to-date vaccinations will definitely help to prevent disease.

Those monthly heart worm pills are much less expensive (and safer) than the medications and even hospitalization or surgery that is required to treat a heartworm infection.

Fleas and ticks can transmit infections and are just miserable to have on you. Prevention again is cheaper than treating an infectious disease or paying the exterminator.

3. Veterinary relationship. Having a relationship with a veterinarian can save hundreds of dollars over the life of your pet. If your vet knows your pet well, she may pick up on changes during a yearly exam before they are serious.

Without this relationship, your vet cannot legally give even simple advice over the phone. They may be able to talk you through a solution or just call in a medication without a visit.

Surprisingly, one of the more common poisonings of pets is the owner giving them human medications thinking they are helping. Your vet can make sure that what you are giving is safe and thus avoid a major medical bill. Discussions with your vet also may help him realize your pet does not need certain vaccinations based on lifestyle, again saving you money.

4. Insurance or savings account. Just like for people, there is insurance available for pets. Also just like for people, the coverage is extremely variable so check them out closely.

Another option that several of our clients have adopted is to set up a checking account for their pet's health care. They transfer a certain amount (such as the amount that the insurance company would charge) every month, creating an account that is similar to a health savings account. Over time, the amount gradually increases so that funds are there when needed.

5. Avoid toxins. There is evidence that the same substances that cause problems in people also will result in problems in pets.

One example is secondhand smoke. Strong evidence exists that exposure to cigarette smoke increases the chances of developing a cancer called lymphoma in cats.

Recently, chicken jerky treats made in China have caused kidney disease in dogs; fortunately, in most patients, it has been reversible. Be watchful and careful as to what your pet is exposed too.

Dr. Henri Bianucci and Dr. Perry Jameson are with Veterinary Specialty Care LLC. Send questions to petdocs@postandcourier.com.

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