We’ve all been there.
Our fluffy four-legged companion suddenly becomes ill, and we find
ourselves in a panicked state. What
should I do? Where should I go? How am I going to pay for this? This is a difficult, yet very important topic
of discussion when being a pet owner.
First and for most – to answer the questions of what should
I do and where should I go, it is imperative to have an established
relationship with a trusted veterinarian.
This will ensure that you can be seen in a timely fashion and your pet
receives the necessary care that he/she deserves. Nonetheless, we are all too aware that these
things happen during the most inconvenient times (i.e. holidays, evenings,
weekends, etc.) when your trusted veterinarian is unable to see your pet. Don’t fret, there are emergency facilities
that are open during these times that can help you!
That brings us to the touchy question of how am I going to
pay for this? Thankfully, there are many
solutions/programs that are available to offset the financial burden that many
of us face during these stressful times.
We cannot stress enough about the importance of having a pet insurance
plan. There are many to choose from, and
doing your homework to select the right plan for you and your pet is imperative! Some insurance plans are geared more towards
preventative/annual maintenance, while others are more focused on emergency
situations. Other factors come into play
such as breed, age of pet and monthly plan costs; when selecting the right plan
for you. A few that we recommend are Trupanion,
V.P.I. and Pets Best, but we strongly encourage you to exhaust all options
prior to making this important decision.
Another option for pet owners that has helped is the option
of Care Credit. Care Credit is a medical
usage credit card that many veterinary hospitals accept. This gives owners the option to move forward
with treatment when current finances may have limited them previously. As with any credit card, one can expect
interest charges, but there are some promotions that may lessen the amount of
interest the owner will be obligated to pay.
In some cases, the owner may not pay any interest at all! To learn more, go to carecredit.com to see
what programs they offer.
Bottom line – the best offense is a great defense when it
comes to the medical care your pet needs.
We hope that you consider looking into the aforementioned options to
help protect you and your pet if you are ever faced with an unexpected
emergency.
