Just how expensive is it to keep a pet?
If your pet stays healthy and free from injuries and disease throughout its life, it does not cost much to own a pet. Pets need food, grooming and routine veterinary care, such as annual check-ups, vaccinations, de-worming and perhaps a once-off cost for neutering.
The truth is that veterinary costs are quite expensive, even routine ones. And should your pet become involved in something more serious, those vet bills can sky rocket up into the thousands.
Sadly, families with smaller household incomes may have difficulty paying for pet care. Some skip annual vet visits and even delay taking their pet to the vet when there are visible signs of illness. The reality is, however, that just as any other member of our family, our pets do fall ill or can be involved in an accident or contract a disease, which can become quite costly. Ignoring signs of illness in your pet can also lead to a more costly vet bill, as your pet may require more expensive treatment, such as hospitalisation.
Recently, Koljander contracted a gastro-intestinal virus. I could immediately see that he was not his usual self, and an even bigger sign of illness in pets; a complete lack of appetite. My initial confusion was whether to leave him overnight and see how he was doing the next day, but after a telephonic conversation with my vet I decided that he needed to get to the vet as soon as possible. Had I not acted swiftly, Koljander would have needed to be hospitalised the next day. While the vet bill was quite a lot, the hospitalisation expenses would have been something I would have struggled to cover.
Should you consider medical aid for your pet?
The question you should ask yourself is this: What if I am faced with an urgent situation where my beloved pet needs veterinary care, but I am unable to afford it? What are my options to ensure that I am financially ready should such an event occur?
Having medical aid in place for your pet provides peace of mind, but there are many things to consider, especially when you have more than one pet. Pet medical aids can be quite expensive and for many, simply impossible to afford. However, there are quite a few ones to choose from out there, with a variety of plans that is worth investigating.
Generally, pet medical aids cover the following:
• Unforeseen illnesses e.g. gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, dermatitis, autoimmune diseases, thyroid problems
• Accidental injury e.g. hit by a car or dog fight
• Routine and dental care e.g. vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick control
• Emergency kennelling
• Behaviour
Generally, they do not cover the following:
• Pre-existing conditions (exclusion period determined by the vet history and applied on a case-by-case basis)
• Congenital and hereditary diseases (18-month exclusion and then it can be re-assessed) e.g. brachycephalic syndrome in bulldogs, intervertebral disc disease in dachshund
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Entropion and ectropion
• Pregnancy and breeding
• Dental disease
• Preventable diseases e.g. worms and parvo-virus
Some medical aids have a six-month waiting period from inception of the policy for all treatments, diagnostics and surgeries for:
• Lameness and/or limping resulting from hips, knees, elbows, shoulders and/or spinal conditions
• Ectropian, entropian and cherry eye
• Elongated soft palate and stenotic nares
• Urinary bladder stones and urinary bladder conditions
Keep in mind that most pet medical aids also have an age cut-off, where they may not insure pets that are older than the age of eight. Some will still insure should you be able to provide a full medical history from your vet.
The easiest ways to find out what your options are is to simply Google or go onto Hippo.co.za for pet medical aid comparison fees and plan options. From there let them get in touch with you and be sure to ask the right questions, such as how long it takes for claims to be processed and whether you will need to request authorisation from the medical aid before procedures. Also find out what the excess is on each claim and what payment may still be expected of you to make at the vet.
Most medical aids also offer emergency boarding cover, should anything happen to you and you are unable to take care of your pet for some time.
What are my options should I be unable to afford pet medical aid?
Pet medical aid may be too expensive for some and one option would be to put money aside once a month and build up a pet savings account in case of an emergency. Always ask your vet for a quote before they perform a major medical procedure.
Your local SPCA should also have residing veterinarians who offer services to local communities. These services are not free of charge, but only a minimal fee is charged.
Prevention is better than cure
• When choosing a pet be sure they are physically healthy.
• Have your pet examined and vaccinated annually.
• When your pet shows signs of illness, do not delay the trip to the vet, as the condition could deteriorate rapidly and end up costing you a lot more.
• Look after your pet and keep it on a healthy diet.
• Prevent your pet from roaming or other animals from entering your yard.
Always ask yourself if you are truly able to afford a pet and all the responsibilities that go along with looking after a pet, before acquiring one. Our pets live a long time and it is a long-term commitment you need to be sure of, and not make it lightly.
The joy, fulfilment and happiness our pets provide us are truly special and hard to compare with other things in life. They become our companions and family members and it’s up to us to keep them in optimal condition and good health.
That’s it for this week, from me, Vinkel and Koljander. Paw five! Woof!
