Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital 2009 / The Health of your Pet vs. the Health of your Wall

The Health of your Pet vs. the Health of your Wallet—

It’s a Contest that Both Can Win!

by Shannon Pecora, M.A.

Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

Gas prices. Grocery bills. Salary cuts. Lay offs. Our economy has been in a slump for months, and now the winter holiday season has arrived. You have parties to pay for and gifts to buy…and you just received a reminder email or postcard that your pet is due for an exam and vaccines. You certainly care for the health of your pet, but money is a bit tight. So, what do you do?

As we may find with our dogs and cats, their vaccines and other yearly services are all due at the same time—we’re used to the routine annual exam. It is convenient to have only one guaranteed vet visit a year, but when every service is performed at once, the bill adds up pretty quickly. Perhaps the cost makes this big visit not so convenient after all.

Wouldn’t it be easier if we could spread the cost of annual veterinary services throughout the year? Actually, this is a practical solution for both you and your pet. Because dogs and cats age faster than we do, a semi-annual vet visit can be considered comparable to our own recommended yearly doctor visits. These exams are important as general health screens or check-ups. Seeing your pet twice a year, outside of appointments for illnesses or injuries, can help your veterinarian catch any developing problems early and hopefully prevent some problems from occurring at all.

The semi-annual office call can be even more valuable given the current state of our economy. Think about paying for a full annual doctor exam; annual blood, urine, and/or fecal testing; and two to five vaccines on one day in December. This can be overwhelming! Now consider paying for a doctor exam and two vaccines on one day in December, then for a brief doctor or technician exam, one or two vaccines, and lab work on another day in June. This spreads the costs out in a more manageable way. Your pet gets the benefits of all the necessary diagnostics and preventatives, plus at least two check-ups a year, and you get to feel a little relief in your wallet!

If your pet’s annual vaccine and testing due dates are not currently scheduled in six-month intervals, ask your vet what you can do to safely shift their timing. It’s an important step you can take for your pet’s healthcare, and it can reduce some of the pressure on you this holiday season!