MONEY SAVING TIP – KEEPING VET BILLS DOWN

One area of life that can quickly put a hole in your budget is your pets. 

6 months ago my family adopted a beautiful old Labrador called Bella. She is 14 and has significant arthritis issues.

Anyone who has ever owned a lab will agree that they will eat anything. I try to monitor what she eats but my dear old mum often takes pity on her and feeds her treats during the day whilst I’m at work.

Last week while we were at the dog park, Bella seemed to be having trouble moving. It was cold and had been raining but she was clearly struggling so we went straight to the vet.

The problem was clear, Bella is overweight and by losing some kilo’s, she will be able to move more freely and be out of pain. Here’s the cost:

• $230 for a bag of special dry diet food
• $38 x 4 for weekly injections to ease the pain
• $40 for daily pain tablets.
• $28 for a teeth cleaning kit because her breath stinks!

Then we come to the horse. Monty came to our family on the same day as Bella. My teenage daughter has been riding for 8 years and begging me to buy her a horse for 7 years and 28 days.

After resisting all these years, Monty came onto our radar. My daughter had heard about him and when he went up for sale, he ticked all the boxes…well nearly all the boxes. He is gentle, well trained and just the perfect height for her. He is also a wind-sucker.

For non-horsey people, that’s a habitual behaviour involving repeated arching of the neck and sucking in and swallowing air. It gives him a high….so it’s very difficult to get them to stop. We’ve tried collars and foul-tasting stuff on the fence but he still does it all day long.

How does this cost me money I hear you ask? Wind-sucking leads to teeth being ground down. Monty has virtually no top teeth left and 3 of his bottom teeth are worn down to the nerve and he needs to have those teeth out… now.

I’ve booked the equine dentist and by the time, dear member, you are reading this, Monty will be in the chair having them out. I’ll also be mortgaging the house to pay for it. Estimates are around $300 per tooth plus antibiotics and vet fee so I’m expecting around $1500.

Moving forward Monty will need special food as he will no longer be able to bite grass in the paddock.

Which brings me to the cats… Spooky and Toffee. Both are rescue cats. Spooky we think is around 15 and in reasonably good health apart from a bit of feline dementia…she often walks into a corner and doesn’t know how to get out.

Toffee is a ginger cat and anyone who has ever owned a “ranga” will know they are very temperamental and accident prone. Toffee has fallen out of trees and been in more fights than I can remember. He also had what the vet called a “misadventure” requiring his tail to be removed, involving a cost of $1500 about a year ago.

So how can you save money at the vet? Here’s what I’ve learnt…

Check out local rescue groups and shelters
They often offer low-cost vaccinations and procedures including desexing.

Shop around
Vet prices vary widely. It often depends on their location.

Look for cheaper prescriptions
Look at some of the online stores. Sometimes the prices will be higher if you buy directly from your vet.

Charitable Organizations
If you are still having trouble, there are several agencies that help with life-saving care including the RSPCA and the Animal Welfare League.

Pet Insurance*

Pet insurance is still a relatively new product in comparison to other insurance, it’s still in its infancy and there’s a lot of new players coming into the market. Dogs and cats can usually be insured once they are eight weeks old.

Pooch policy costs are based on the species, breed and age of the pet whereas cats are classed as all the same. The location of the pet’s home is also important and then it comes down to the type of cover and amount of excess the owner selects.

Talk To Your Vet

Let the vet know you're on a tight budget, and she/he may offer to help you with free samples, discounted services or a payment plan. But bottom line: your vet can't help you if you don't make them aware of your need. So, don't hesitate to talk about the financial side of the visit. Talking money doesn't mean you love your pet any less. It just means you're financially responsible. 

Take Advantage of Specials

People doctors may not run specials, but many vets do. If you're shopping around for a new vet, ask if they offer a new patient discount and/or a multi-pet discount. If you already have a vet that you're happy with, find out if they ever run a deal on dental cleanings or other preventative care services. My vet recently had a special on dental for a whole month!

Saving Money With Horses

Don’t bother – they are born to kill and injure themselves – just don’t buy one!

*FiftyUp Club Pty Ltd (ACN 166 905 175) is a Corporate Authorised Representative (AR number 465649) of One Big Switch Pty Ltd (ACN 150 963 474) who holds its own Australian Financial Services License (AFSL 455982) and can provide you with factual information and general advice only, that does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs.