pet health
Derek Wood asked:


If you are like most Americans you are living paycheck to paycheck each week. You know how this affects you, but what about how it affects your pets? All too regularly I see people cutting back or bypassing needed veterinary care for their pets simply because they cannot afford to pay the bills. Any pet owner knows the bills I am talking about. Making the decisions to bypass needed pet health care such as rabies vaccinations, parvo vaccines, booster shots, checkups, specialty dog foods, and a host of other expenses for our pets, could cost us our pets in the long run.

Why is it that we think we can skip needed medical treatments for our pets and hope everything will turn out ok? Perhaps it is because as a society we tend to do this to ourselves. I know I **** going to the doctors on a regular basics. It costs money, never makes me feel any better, and never seems to do anything for me. I am stubborn too, so I am sure that does not help.

But I am not a dog or a cat, and they have things a little differently then we do. First off, we do not sniff each others ***** all the time. While pets do this as a manner of socialization, we must understand that there is potential for bacteria transfer. Same goes with the area where pets relieve themselves outside. Sure we can scoop the poop, but unless you are washing the grass, there are still bacteria present. Your pets are walking through this area daily, and they are barefoot. If they get a cut on their foot this could lead to a high chance of infection.

What about running through the woods all day? Your pets are prone to parasites like fleas and ticks simply by running through some bushes. Sure these same ticks could land on you, but they do seem to like animals better. And any potential pest carries along a number of problems. Fleas can carry worms which pets can get by ingesting (eating) the flea when they chew on them. Sounds disgusting, but that’s how they get them.

These are just two of the common problems you might not even think about when you own a pet. Worst of all, there are a lot of other hazards out there for your pets to encounter, such as broken glass, rabid animals, stagnant water sources, rusty nails and who knows what else.

Do your pet a favor. Spend less money on tennis balls and chew toys and get them all of the required shots, medications and vaccinations they need. These are more important to your pets overall health and could end up saving your pets life. They will be much happier to spend more time with you with only one chew toy then the alternative.



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Jul
12
pet health
Jay Schindler asked:


When pet owners purchase a pet they shop around at the various pet shops, breeders, pet rescues, and animal shelters until they find the dog, cat, or exotic pet that suits them, what very few pet owners do is consider the cost of veterinarian cost for their new pet. The oversight can prove financially devastating and emotionally heartbreaking.

The cost of veterinary cost is on the rise. Technology, liability insurance, medications, and medical research have forced veterinary clinics to raise their cost. Veterinary clinics in rural areas of the country (especially ones that combine their small animal practice with a large animal practice) find it difficult to attract young vets who are graduating from vet school to their clinics; they are forced to offer higher salaries in order to compete with clinics located closer to major cities. The increase in the payroll is then transferred to pet owners.

It was recently estimated that the average dog owner will spend about two hundred dollars a year at the vet’s office. Cats were a little cheaper; their owners only spent about a hundred and sixty dollars in veterinary bills. When you consider what the average life expectancy is for a pet, especially on kept inside, that’s a lot of money. And what if the pet isn’t your run of the mill dog or cat? What if the pet is something more exotic like a pot bellied pig, a ferret, a rabbit, a snake, or even a skunk? The more exotic the pet the more the pet owner is likely to spend on the veterinarian bills, especially if they have a pet such as a skunk which will probably require a vet with special skills. What happens to the pet if it suddenly gets sick or is injured in a freak accident? How much will it set the pet owner back if they have to take their family pet to a university’s veterinary school, will they be able to afford it or will they be forced to euthanize their pet for economic reasons?

Many pet owners try to keep the unexpected veterinary bills at bay by providing excellent care for their pets. They make sure that the pet is kept well groomed to prevent insects and skin disorders. They only feed their pets foods that are very carefully balanced with a proper blend of nutrients. They make sure the pet maintains a healthy weight, not to thin and not to fat. Some pet owners won’t let their pets out of the house, fearing a freak accident. While pet owners should take the best possible care of their pets and do everything in their power to keep their family pet safe, even the most careful, health conscious pet owner can not prevent everything.

Pet health insurance is one way to prevent veterinarian bills from becoming overwhelming. Pet health insurance is insurance pet owners purchase to help cover veterinarian bills similar to human medical insurance. The chances of a pet owner being able to purchase a pet health care at the same health insurance company where they purchase their human health insurance is slim. Most pet owners will find that they have to go to a separate insurance company that specializes in pet health insurance.



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