Can you handle an emergency or illness?

[jungleflockmom]

An important part of keeping animals is preparedness. We never know when an emergency vet visit will be necessary and having the funds to pay for it is critical.

Many carers have a vet fund and put aside a little money each month into this fund so that they can pay the vet when a visit is important - not life and death, just a means for helping our animals regain their health.

A secondary option is to work out a monthly payment plan with your vet before you need it, so that you can feel free to take your animals in because you already have agreed that you will pay something each month until your bill is paid.

If you don't have a vet fund, begin one this week. And get to know your vet - talk to him or her about paying for a big bill before you actually have one.

Most of us don't find cures for our animals' illnesses on the internet because, in most instances of real illness, medications and diagnoses from a vet mean the difference between recovery and chronic illness or between a speedy recovery and death. We can ask others what they think symptoms indicate, but if our intuition tells us that the animal is ill, we need to seek a solution and that solution can generally only come from a vet - preferably one w/glider experience. But in an emergency, any vet will be able to provide emergency hydration, etc.

Then comes the dreaded part - the bill. If you have begun a vet fund and/or worked out payment ahead of time w/your vet, everything will be lots less stressful for you and you can make the best decisions regarding your animal's care.

Limiting ourselves to the number of animals that we can truly care for - and that also means the number for which we can provide veterinary care when indicated - is a very important part of keeping animals.

Sometimes it's the difference between a carer and a hoarder. And that's something none of us wants to be. . . .

[Angi]

An excellent post, Dee.

[roxyandboys]

A fantastic post, a subject that is seldom talked about but is an issue for all of us. 

Personally i have money put to one side  each month and also have an account with the vets.  At the start of each year i also "guess" the number of routine procedures that will need to be done such as getting pompoms snipped etc and this is also factored into my monthly figure.

Vet bills for emergencies and very sick animals easily runs into the hundreds before you know it, as i am sure a couple of members can verify so it's really important that we are prepared.

Sure, so far i have been extremely fortunate with my family of furries as needed treatments have been kept to a min over the years, but i have to be prepared for the worst to happen, say all 11 of my cats fell seriously ill and needed to be tested, treated, hospitalised?  That is a lot of money!

Also, keep in mind the various welfare charities that are around, for those of us who are perhaps on a low income or benefits there is help towards cost of vet treatements, for example the cats protection league will pay £20 towards the cost of getting your cat snipped, which when purse strings are tight really does help.

i recently did some work on animal costs at my house for 2008, i would be happy to share this if people were interested, it also might help others budget and plan for the animals they own and remind us all what things need to be taken into consideration when looking after these wee ones.

[Fixx]

Excellent post JFM.  We have first hand experience of high vets bills, probably over a £1000 in the last year, but luckily we have excellent vets who we have a 'farm' account with, without it we would have been stuffed good and proper.  I'm hoping that this years bill is going to be a lot less. 

[LipstickLizard]

How strange, I was just setting up a direct debit with the dentist the other day and was thinking how handy it would be if I could do it with the vet too...I never knew you could! I'll so be doing that.

[Heavenlyhogs]

So glad i had some rainy day money set aside for such an event as yesterday.
I have decided to insure all my animals pronto.

[Amalthea]

Personally, I think it is better to just put money away each month.  The cost of insuring the amount of small critters I have would be astronomical and if they never do need vet treatment, the money I put away is still mine.

[Rhianna]

we were going to insure the first 2 gliders we had, but the insurance company wouldnt ensure as it was a number under 5 and they were 2 years old, so once they turned 5 they would have to pull out of the insurance. wouldnt have it that they lived for roughly 13 years!

so i dont insure any of mine. if worst comes to worst, my bank account gets completly emptied for them.

[tuppence]

who did you try?

[Rhianna]

i cant remember now, this was about 3 years ago when Dweezil was alive.

[tuppence]

I  am sorry i did`nt realize

[Rhianna]

dont worry bout it. Dweezil was a very ill glider from the beginning.