Emergencies Happen

Owning a pet is a wonderful thing and can do so much for our well-being and mental health.  But, on the other hand, life is not perfect and many things can happen, and are more often than not, very unexpected.

If your beloved fur baby is suddenly in need of emergency veterinarian services will you be able to afford the cost to save your pet?

There are a large number of pet owners who carry “Pet Insurance” for their pets.  This is a wonderful idea, provided you get insurance that will cover many emergency situations.  So, before you opt to get insurance for your pet, be sure that you study the policy very carefully to be sure it will cover anything you may encounter and that you can afford the monthly premiums.

If you are reluctant to get pet insurance, or do not feel that you cannot afford the monthly premiums at this time, you would be wise to open a bank account for your pet.  If you put money aside in a separate account, either weekly or monthly depending on your financial situation, you will have the money needed should an emergency arise.

One of the emergency situations that can occur is trauma.  This can be the result of a car accident or be due to an animal attack.  The cost of traumatic injuries varies a great deal and, depending on the type and severity of the injury, could cost anywhere from $1,000.00 up to $5,000.00.

If your pet ingests any type of poisonous substance, this is definitely an emergency situation and may require pet hospitalization.  Depending on the amount and type of toxic substance your pet has ingested, it could cost you anywhere from $500.00 to several thousand dollars.

Our pets can also ingest many types of foreign bodies or objects, any of which could cause a blockage in the digestive tract or other complications. If this is the case, surgery may be required to remove the object and this could potentially cost anywhere from $800.00 to upwards of $3,000.00.

Bloat is also a very common cause for an emergency situation.  Bloat occurs when the stomach fills with air and twists.  This is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency surgery and could cost anywhere from $1,500.00 to $7,500.00, depending on the severity of the condition.

Your beloved pet may also suddenly start having seizures which can be caused by a number of conditions that will have to be determined by your vet.  While this may not be life-threatening at the onset, depending on the cause and severity of the seizures, medications to control seizures can be very costly and regular vet appointments may be necessary to monitor your pet to control the seizures.  In some cases, where seizures occur very frequently, surgery may be required.

There may be other causes for your pet to need emergency veterinarian care but, regardless of the cause, you need to be prepared to pay what it costs to save your beloved pet. All of the costs mentioned are only estimates and can vary depending on the type and severity of the emergency and where you live.

Some emergency situations may be avoided such as car accidents and poisoning.  You can help avoid these scenarios by keeping your pet on a leash when out walking or hiking so that he is not able to run into a roadway or able to find and ingest a toxic substance.  

Bloat is often associated with pets that basically “inhale” their food.  If your fur baby is a very fast eater, you can use a “slow feed” bowl to slow down his eating and possibly avoid this situation.

So enjoy life with your fur baby, but be prepared to be able to help him if the need arises.