Monday, October 18, 2010

5 Ways to Save Money at the Veterinarian


One of the largest costs of pet ownership is veterinary visits. As a vet tech and now, a veterinary student, I have five ways to save you money at your veterinarian's office and still give your pet the quality care they deserve.

                      1. An ounce of prevention...

Veterinarians often times don’t see pets until a problem has progressed so far that it needs lots of intervention to diagnose and cure. Preventative care, even though it may seem like a high cost to pay yearly, pays dividends in the end. Make sure your pet takes an annual trip to the vet for a wellness exam, heartworm test (dogs), and vaccinations. These visits are an opportunity to address any changes or issues you may have noticed and to give your veterinarian an opportunity to note any small problems that have the potential to become a much larger (read: more expensive) situation down the line.

2. Buy all of your heart worm and flea/tick preventative at one time...

      What? Can’t I get that stuff online for less money? Possibly, but there are two factors that make buying the next years worth of supplies at the vet a wise financial choice. The first is that the drug companies that make these products guarantee their efficacy ONLY if they are purchased from a veterinarian. That means if your pooch is diagnosed with heartworms or those fleas just keep coming back, you can petition the drug companies to reimburse you and often cover the cost of care for the resultant problem. Bought your drugs from the pet store or online? No dice. The second benefit to buying all of these products at one time is that there is often a rebate offered when 6-12 months of prevention is purchased. Make sure to ask about which products have rebates.

     3. Save yourself an exam fee...
          
      Remember what we said about addressing any and all health concerns at that yearly visit. Be prepared to run basic diagnostic tests at the same time and you will often save yourself an additional exam fee (usually around $40.00) that would have been charged for an additional visit to have the same problem addressed at a later date. Remember, you are already paying for the annual exam…try to include as many things as you want examined at one time.

     4. Work the pharmacy...

       All pharmacies (veterinary or otherwise) charge a dispensing fee. If your pet is going to be on a long term medication, make sure to purchase as much of it as is allowed at one time. Save yourself both the time and money of stopping in every month and the $4-$7 dispensing fee. Also, make sure to ask about generic options and don’t be afraid to tell your vet that while you want to give your pet the best possible care, you also want to be cost conservative. Sometimes, being willing to administer a drug twice a day as opposed to just once or opt for non-chewable drugs can save you quite a few dollars on that prescription.

      5. Keep those teeth clean...
   
      Brushing Lassie's teeth may not be in the cards for all of us. It can be a messy, stressful, wrestling match that leaves no one happy. However, dental cleanings and care are another place in which a little up front investment pays off down the road. Dental disease can lead to expensive to treat abscesses, broken teeth and jaw bones, even heart disease. Ask your vet for the types of treats, chews, and water treatments that they recommend. Some clinics also focus one month of the year on dental health and offer a discount on procedures during that time. It never hurts to ask.

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