What Happens When You Don’t Have Pet Insurance? A Vet’s Honest Take

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Being a pet parent comes with its fair share of highs and lows: unconditional love, fun-filled memories, as well as illnesses and frantic rushes to the veterinary emergency hospital.

Another low that no pet parent wants to face is the inability to afford their pet’s care. Unfortunately, many pet parents experience this, for reasons that we’ll discuss in this article.

Financial strain means having to make tough decisions about caring for your pet. As a veterinarian, I understand the deep love that pet parents have for their pets and the stress that comes with high vet bills, especially when pet insurance isn’t an option.

I’m going to share with you my perspective on these financial concerns and offer some tips and strategies for alleviating the financial burden of caring for your pet.

Why does it cost so much?

The high cost of veterinary care causes plenty of gripes among pet parents. Yet, it’s important to remember that clinical veterinary medicine is a business. Veterinary practices must be profitable to stay open and provide quality care.

But why does it cost so much?

According to an article on dvm360, wages for veterinarians and other veterinary staff have been increasing, something that has been long overdue. Additionally, the prices of essential medical supplies and pharmaceuticals have increased. Also, advances in veterinary diagnostics and treatment have increased the cost of diagnosing and treating pets.

Veterinarians are often regarded as the most compassionate among healthcare providers. Unfortunately, compassion alone isn’t financially sustainable for veterinary practices. Veterinarians must charge enough for their services to keep their doors open.

Financial fallout for pet parents

Pet parents are feeling the financial pinch, not just for veterinary visits, but also for all other expenses related to pet ownership, including food, toys, grooming supplies, bedding, and treats. You name it, the cost has likely gone up.

The financial strain can mean that pet parents are also faced with making difficult decisions about their pet’s care, such as those listed below:

Delaying or forgoing care: What if you had to choose between paying for your pet’s heartworm preventive and buying groceries? Your dog needs year-round protection from heartworm disease, but that may seem like a lower priority (at least temporarily) compared to ensuring you have enough food in the refrigerator for your family.
Reducing your pet’s expenses: Does your pet really need that new toy? Is that expensive pet food a must-have, or would a less expensive brand work just fine? Financial strain can mean having to decide which of your pet’s expenses to reduce or eliminate to save money.
Giving up your pet: What if you simply can’t afford to keep your pet, no matter how much you try to trim your budget? The bond with your pet is deep; they love you as much as you love them. Considering whether to give them up because caring for them is no longer affordable is an agonizing decision no pet parent wants to make.
Euthanasia: What happens when you rush your pet to the emergency room after a serious injury, and the cost of treatment is beyond what you can afford? What do you do? Many pet parents are faced with deciding whether to euthanize their pet because they cannot afford the treatment, one of the most heart-wrenching decisions a pet parent has to make.

In addition to these decisions, pet parents may have to consider making sacrifices for themselves. One such sacrifice would be to take on debt to pay for your pet’s care, or, perhaps, forgoing your own care (e.g., skipping your annual wellness exam) to pay for your pet’s care.

Without pet insurance, which significantly eases the financial burden of pet care, difficult decisions, such as those listed above, become more likely. For example, without accident & illness pet insurance, the out-of-pocket cost for an emergency surgery to repair a dog’s knee injury can cost several thousand dollars – a price that may be out of reach for a pet parent.

The emotional toll

Veterinarians empathize with pet parents’ financial struggles. We know that the sticker shock of high vet bills, without the benefit of reimbursement from a pet insurance policy, can be very distressing. The empathy we feel for pet parents in difficult financial situations often takes its emotional toll, leading to worsening mental health and professional burnout in veterinary private practice.

Talk to your vet

As difficult as it may seem, being transparent about your financial situation with your veterinarian is necessary. This will enable you and your veterinarian to discuss the best and most affordable diagnostic and treatment plan for your pet.

You can also ask your vet about payment options at the practice. For example, rather than paying the full cost at once, you may be able to make monthly payments instead.

If your pet needs only preventative care, such as vaccines or heartworm prevention, your veterinarian can recommend low- or no-cost clinics that offer basic preventive care services.

Seek financial alternatives

If you don’t have pet insurance and paying out of pocket for your pet’s care is squeezing your budget too much, several non-profit organizations are available to provide financial assistance to pet parents. Here’s a list:

Paying for pet care without pet insurance can lead to out-of-pocket costs that are becoming increasingly unaffordable for pet parents. Finding ways to care for your pet without straining your budget can help lessen the need to make difficult financial decisions about your pet’s care.