When the shit hits the fan, you had better have cleaning supplies ready. When your dog decides that you have too much petty cash, you’d better have resources ready to deal with whatever stupid thing it’s done or that you’ve done.
Figure This Out Now
Before you get your puppy, before you even think of a dog, know how much you are able and willing to spend on vet care. What level of emergency can you handle? What risks are you willing to take? At what point will you pull the plug and euthanize. It’s hard to think about this, but it’s better to think about it before your dog has a crushed pelvis.
What Strategy Are You Going To Use?
| Savings | Pet Insurance | Credit Card | Rich Relative | Hoping For The Best |
| PROS | PROS | PROS | PROS | PROS |
| Flexible No wasted money Grows with time | Coverage can start in puppyhood Coverage often more than one can amass in savings Multiple coverage options | Accepted nearly everywhere Can pay off in monthly installments Quickly available | No need to save money of one’s own No need to plan ahead No need to budget | No need to save money of one’s own No need to plan ahead No need to budget |
| CONS | CONS | CONS | CONS | CONS |
| May not be enough to cover emergency May be needed for other emergencies Slow to grow | Can be expensive May not cover a condition / illness / accident May not be comprehensive enough | Fees are high If owner has low credit score, may be unavailable May not have enough credit to cover procedures | Have to suck up to rich relative Relative may disown one May not be available during their vacation to the Bahamas | Pretty much everything |
The Vet Is Not Your Enemy
Okay, let me qualify this: there are bad vets out there. Hopefully, you’ve figured out whether you can live with yours. You may have to go to an emergency vet and you will have no choice in vets. Vets in the emergency field are often brusque and have little ‘bedside manner’. Be prepared to meet tired and harried staff who are triaging even as they speak to you.
Veterinary care costs money. It will vary, depending on your area. The one thing that is usually consistent is that most vets cannot afford to extend charity, loans, extensions, payment plans, etc. Some will, especially if you’re a long-time customer, but it’s not guaranteed.
Every vet has charity stories, some good and some bad. The bad ones have left them hanging to the tune of thousands of dollars. A private practice cannot afford to extend that much credit – the vet needs to be paid, the staff needs to be paid, the medical supplies must be bought, the lease must be paid, the lights need to stay on, etc.
This is why I get irate when I see people dragging vets for their prices, especially when it’s to the tune of $10K that the vet won’t shell out for their dog. Is it painful to see the dog die of something that could have been prevented, but for money? Yes, which is why most vets will tell you to get insurance or at least have a savings account. Accidents do happen.
