Saving on vet bills is no easy task. Today I’m going to share some tips to save on vet bills so that all of your furry family members can stay safe and healthy. We currently have 2 ferrets, 1 hamster, and 1 beta fish in the home for pets. Previously we had a beloved pug named Jenny who passed away in April of 2018 due to old age problems. Below you’ll be able to find some tips that we’ve found helped us save money on vet bills in the past and present.
If you have a pet and you’ve had to deal with going to the vet, you probably know all too well how expensive vet bills can be. This is especially true for people with more exotic pets or elder pets such as ferrets or pets that have lived a long life. However, you don’t have to have such a huge expense. There are so many easy ways to reduce your vet bills. Here are some tips for how to save on your vet bills.
Tips to Save on Vet Bills
Stay On It
You may think waiting until something is wrong with your pet to go to the vet is the best way to save money, but it actually can be counter-intuitive. By going to regular checkups and giving your pet preventative care you’re actually able to save money in the long run. Checkups cost less than a big visit such as surgery or tests and medications that your pet may need if you wait until something appears wrong.
Check Around
Most vet offices will tell you the price of their services upfront through their website or calling them. Don’t just go to the first vet you see. Make sure to check multiple options to find the place that will be the best option for your pet and the cheapest too. You might be surprised at how much of a range in pricing you can find between local vets.
Find Clinics
If your pet needs a vaccination such as rabies or to be fixed, it’s fairly likely your local humane society or vet office actually has a clinic for that specific need. Rabies clinics happen once a year through different institutions and cost a lot less than going directly to a vet. Don’t worry, they’re still safe and right for your pet! Just a faster and less expensive way.
Veterinary Colleges
When there’s a veterinary college near you, contact them! Colleges training vets often give much cheaper pricing and better discounts than vet offices because their students need experience. Your pet receives care from a veterinary student, but with the oversight of an experienced vet. It’s still safe and can be a great way to help students too.
Prescriptions
Medications through vet offices can be expensive. Always ask for a written prescription of what your pet needs first because you can use it to find better options and cheaper prices. A lot of pet medications can be found cheaper online, through a pharmacy, or in stores. This is because some medications pets are given are human ones at different doses, and because pet medications are available in a lot of places.
Ask Questions
Veterinary professionals giving you advice or a plan of action may not often give you all of the options or the less expensive one’s upfront. Ask your vet what other ways a situation or illness can be handled, and determine what is best for your pet and your price point. Cheaper solutions aren’t even often less effective than more expensive ones, they just aren’t what you’re given first!
Get Estimates
If your furry friend needs a procedure or is recommended a course of action, ask for a written estimate before going forward. This gives you a full idea of everything that will be included and the prices, so you can make sure all parts are necessary. And when you have an estimate from multiple vet offices you can compare the services and prices to ensure you’re getting the absolute best option and price.
Find The Right One
If you have a small pet, or exotic animal you may need to go a bit further to get the best and least expensive care. General vet offices do not always have the experience or equipment to handle these animals. This means you may not be getting the best care, and you’ll probably pay extra for their inconvenience. Find a vet that specializes in exotics or small animals, or make sure your vet offers services for your animal.
Bringing your pet to the vet can be stressful for the animal, but it also often ends up being stressful for you too! These tips can help a lot with reducing the cost of veterinary visits and making your pet’s health easier to keep up with. I hope that these help you to cut back on vet costs, without compromising your furry friend’s health. Once you get used to using these tips and tricks it’s so easy to continue saving money.