Emergency vet visits – Why do they cost so much
Pets, whether they are a cat or a dog, or any other for that matter, are special to your heart as they are yours and are cherished. When your pet is injured or sick, the last thing on your mind is how much it will cost to take them to the ER to get them better. However, it is inevitable that a trip to the ER with your pet is going to cost a bomb. The emergency services can get expensive real fast and the figures could run into thousands not hundreds of dollars.
It might seem that the cost of a trip to the ER with your pet is much cheaper than ours but in case of an emergency the tab can get out of hand. There are a lot of factors involved. Here is brief lowdown on why the trip is expensive.
A trip to the ER with your pet might involve diagnostic services such as blood work, X-rays, or even IV medications. ER facilities require high tech equipment to handle the biggest and baddest of emergencies and they do so 24×7 for 365 days a year. There may be more expensive supplies needed to treat animals. An emergency service such as anaesthesia, surgery could turn out to shoot through the roof while a C-section or bloat would need you to break the bank.
Animals, especially larger dogs weighing over 80 pounds could be more expensive because they will need more medications and fluids. Certain pets need specialised care which is more expensive.
Negotiation is not possible as in the case of doctors who work with human patients. Just like doctors, ER vets provide care and treatments so they need to have all the necessary qualifications such as licensing and certifications. The more qualified, experienced, and expert the doctor, the higher the charge.
You will be required to go to see the emergency vet only when the emergency arises. One is not a regular visitor to an emergency vet as compared to a normal vet. However, the ER has buildings and facilities to maintain and bills to pay which cannot be helped. Moreover, the staff is often working evenings or overnight as the emergencies have a thing of occurring at odd hours. So, the premium services often require premium pay for the staff.
Holiday season is generally the time for trips to the ER with your pet. During the holidays, pets are fed excessively rich foods and get less of exercise because of the festive season which would lead to infections of the gut, diarrhoea, vomiting, or choking. Regular veterinary hospitals are closed leading to increased traffic of injured pets at the ER.
Pet insurance may cover some costs which will be reimbursed later but insurance policies vary considerably. One needs to check the policy to see what it covers and what applies.
Interested in more articles about Pet Insurance? Explore them here. Keep yourself updated with fresh content by liking us on Facebook or subscribing to our Newsletter.
Do pictures of adorable dogs and cats make your day as much as it does ours? Follow us on Instagram.
