Take a bite out of Veterinary Bills

We have all experienced the high price of medical care.  Well now the same seems to also be true for our pets. We all want them to live long, healthy lives.  So, here, courtesy of Consumer Reports, are 20 ways to cut vet costs while still providing the best care possible for your pet.

Veterinary Services

• Pay vet bills of $50 or more by credit card. That gives you federal Fair Credit Billing Act rights to dispute a bill for unsatisfactory service, which you don't otherwise have.
• Choose a vet before you need one.  Ask for price quote for annual exams plus non-routine big-ticket items, such a repair broken limb, surgery rates per hour, and gastronomy.  Many vets will keep office visits low only to bump up major costs for other heroic measures.
• Ask for discounts. More than 60% of vets cut the cost of annual checkups if you bring three or more pets; nearly half offer a 10% discount for senior citizens.
• Talk to our vet about giving booster shots every three years instead of annually¹
• Check prices for shots and spay/neuter services at a humane society or SPCA, which can be less expensive than a vet.  Some also provide free or low-cost services to low-income and senior –citizen pet owners.
• Keep copies of all itemized bills and health records in one folder so you can easily change vets if necessary.
• If you must use a higher priced emergency veterinary hospital after hours, schedule follow-up visits with your regular vet during business hours.
• Get a second opinion before approving pricey treatments. Also, if your pet's illness starts costing more than a couple of hundred dollars and the pet isn't responding to the recommended treatment, get a second opinion. It could save you plenty.
• Research pet disorders and consult a good pet-health-care reference. The detailed Merck Veterinary Manual is free on line at www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

Pharmaceuticals

• Ask for a written prescription from your vet so you can shop for the best price.  Markups on medicines range from 100 % to 250%
• Shop for pet drugs at regular pharmacies, which often beat vet prices. More than 600 drugs (75%) used to treat pets are actually human drugs², and you can find some of the best deals at ordinary drugstores.  But don't dispense drugs from your medicine cabinet without consulting your vet. Ibuprofen can kill a dog; acetaminophen, a cat.
• Ask your vet to prescribe a generic drug when possible.  And buy in bulk drugs that you will be refilling long term.³

Prevention

• Exercise your pet, and don't overfeed it.
• To fight tartar and plaque, but dry cat or dog food or specially formulate treats. Check teeth for fractures and gums for bleeding. Treat dental disorders so bacteria don't spread and cause bigger problems.
• Keep pets fenced or leashed when outdoors to prevent them from getting hit by a car.
• Store drugs and chemical out of your pet's reach.
• Ask your vet about giving your pet heartworm drugs.
• Use a flea and tick product.
• Choose your breed and breeder carefully to reduce the risk of genetic disorders. The hardiest breed?  The common Mutt.
• Pet insurance won't necessarily save you money.  In fact, with it, you can end up paying far more for veterinary care than if you didn't have insurance. You can accomplish the same thing by paying the same monthly premium to your savings account.

Annual Exams

But the number one way to head off high costs is to get an annual exam.  Annual checkups are a must to head off any developing health problems which could lead to big-ticket expenses.

And don't forget about The Spay/Neuter Advantage:  Spayed females are less likely to develop mammary tumors and neutered males are less likely to get into fights where they can be injured.

 

¹The American Veterinary Medical Association concluded in 2001 after a two-year study that the annual shots advice is not based on scientific data, and some vaccines are effective longer than a year, especially in older dogs who have been given vaccines for quite some time.  Rabies vaccines for three years are already on the market, and most university veterinary teaching hospitals have increased the recommended time between other booster shots to every three to five years instead of annually.

²Dr. Dawn Boothe, professor and specialist in internal medicine and clinical pharmacology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University.

³Consumer Reports found that KV Vet Supply (www.kvvet.com), Eckerd.com and Costco generally had the best prices for pet drugs. Also online pet pharmacies which require a prescription are PetCareRX and PetMeds. (Locally: Henco Pet Supply in Sun Valley, California also sells medicines as well as food and supplies.)

 

Reprint courtesy of Consumer Reports, July 2003