Help with High Vet Bills During A Recession

As the economy worsens and the recession has many people facing harder times our pets are becoming a financial burden as vet bills have not adjusted to the fact that pet owners will not meet high priced vet visits.

The hardship is so unbearable that many are euthanizing their pets. As one pet owner realized in Bloomsdale, Mo., her 2 year old beagle ran into an oncoming car. The vet bill was $ 3,200.00, the vet would not reduce his bill and with her husband losing his job -they put Daisy Mae down. The horror stories of pet owners not being able to afford vet bills is becoming epidemic.

If veterinarians had the health and well being of your pet in mind instead of high prices, he will be able to work out either a payment plan or if he is too greedy you can ask your  local Care Credit Company that provides credit services for vet bills on a payment plan.

You can also contact your Local Human Society or Animal Shelter that may offer you some assistance although they are probably very busy with many requests.

It is up to the Veterinarian Associations to send letters to Vets asking them to offer payment plans or partial payments and the best way is to reduce their charges.  If a vet had the long term in mind I would rather have a long term customer -than to have one that had to put their dog down because they could not afford the costs.  With a broke leg at $ 3,000.00 not many could afford such an high charge when they cannot afford food on the table for what amounts to saving a dog’s life.

Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy in a Recession:

Keep your dog healthier by using the recipes found on this page which is less pricy and healthier than commercial dog food.

Avoiding commercial pet foods and opt for home made dog food will assure your pet will live longer without expensive vet bills. Get to know a local butcher and find cheaper cuts of meat and/or meaty bones for your dog.

Give your dog a daily multiple vitamin with omega oils or fish oils which will strengthen you dogs immune system against diseases.

Get plenty of exercise for you and your dog at least twice a day take your dog for a walk either in a park nearby or by going around your neighborhood.  Exercise will prevent diabetes and unhealthy diseases.

There are more resources for you here by contacting:
The Pet Fund
IMOM.org
American Animal Hospital Association

photo credit: fPat

This entry was posted on Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 12:11 am and is filed under Dog Health, Dog News, Help with Vet Bills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.