#1 A healthy weight is critical to keeping your pet around longer.
You are killing your pet by overfeeding them, and we know it is hard to ignore those adorable begging eyes. No shame or judgment; be honest with us about how much you feed and how many treats our patient gets a day. Exercise can also be an essential part of an animal’s livelihood, for movement, yes – but also for mental stimulation. That is, daily routines and activities keep their minds sharp and active! Some toys are advertised as ‘enrichment toys,’ which are helpful for bored and otherwise inactive pets. A tired pet is a well-behaved pet!
#2 Dental Hygiene is more important than you think it is.
If you are not calling about a tooth issue until you can’t stand the smell or there is pain – you are part of the problem. You are not being proactive about one of the most critical health areas. If there is odor or pain, that tooth will most likely have to be removed, which means more money out of your pocket. Yearly checkups and routine dental cleanings also keep chronic fatal diseases like congestive heart failure at bay. Recent research shows that dental hygiene in animals is just as crucial as in humans! We are people, too. We know that daily brushing is just not realistic – but please, for the love of bad breath, get in for the yearly checkups. (also, yearly bloodwork is icing on the cake for vets, even if nothing is wrong! It helps when there is something concerning to look back and compare to)
#3 Please don’t stop the medication earlier than prescribed.
Yes, we know your beloved fluffy did start to act/feel better before the stop date. That means the medicine is working. However, it was prescribed for the time it was to work and do the entire job. In addition, there are more and more publications about antibiotic-resistant bacteria becoming a real issue. Part of this is that the infection doesn’t fully get kicked out because owners stop giving the medication. Even if it is a ten-day treatment and you stop it at seven days – it then has time to grow back (and grow back stronger than before).
#4 How long has the issue been going on?
Vets know the tumor didn’t develop overnight. Please, again, staff and vets, do not judge that it took you a while to make the appointment or financially prepare for the visit. Knowing an accurate timeline will help with a diagnosis instead of guessing and possibly doing extra tests and labs to get to the bottom of the issues.
#5 Vets don’t do it for the money.
Before assuming you are being overcharged, keep in mind that:
- Vet school is ridiculously hard to get into and is a rigorous 8-year program. Once they graduate, they make a fraction of what human doctors make. Not to mention student debt that they are paying off. Vet techs and animal caretakers are paid less and have less prestige than human nurses. It is a complicated field, which is why there is a higher turnover rate than in other jobs.
- Veterinary hospitals need to make a profit to grow and continue to be able to research the latest technology to strive and keep your pet alive longer.
- Vets and staff wish they could save every animal, but that is not the case. Each day vets may have to have 3-5 end-of-life appointments, which takes a toll. All the while, wishing they could give away everything for free is torture. It is an even heavier burden if the vet is the practice’s owner, knowing that the ‘freebies’ and discounts they give away will hurt the business. Most vets are willing to work with your financial situation and sympathize.
- Bottom line: You are paying a professional just like a physician or attorney, and most likely, you are paying a lot less than it is worth.
- The best thing that your vet wishes they could tell you is to plan for unexpected vet bills. Open a separate savings account to prepare for emergencies and research pet insurance options that are becoming more affordable and accessible! And, of course, please appreciate the hard dedication and sacrifice they make daily.
