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Why You Need to Plan for Pet Emergencies

So, here are you, a responsible pet owner who loves his or her pet beyond anything else.

And you’ve focused on everything that might ensure the well-being of your animal.

Still, with all the caution and care in the world, there is no way to predict when (or if) an unexpected accident or health problem might happen.

This is the main reason why you should do financial planning as soon as you decide to take home a pet.

Why You Need to Plan for Pet Emergencies

Having a plan for pet emergencies will ensure you can take care of your pet should the need arise.

Several pet owners are oblivious about the expenses that arise from emergency veterinary care.

And if you are still not sure about this, look at all the facts below:

  • Cat bite ulcer (cat): $1,250
  • Hit-by-car (dog): $5,600
  • Urethral blockage (cat): $2,700
  • Toxin ingestion (ate mushrooms, dog): $6,500
  • Heatstroke (dog): $4,200
  • Gastrointestinal foreign body operation (ate a diaper, dog): $3,275
  • Vomiting and diarrhea (pancreatitis, dog): $3,000
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis (cat): $4,600
  • Back surgery for ruptured disc (dog): $5,600

And these are only some of the most frequent vet emergencies you might stumble upon out of the blue. So, it is essential to plan such expenses and think about how will you cover for your pet’s treatments.

The Danger of Not Planning for Vet Emergencies

Not planning for unexpected events leaves you with no choice in stressful situations, which might make it necessary for you to opt for euthanasia or less efficient treatments (Today).

Or, you might go into financial debt so that you have the means to treat and nurse your back to health your pet.

The reality is that outstanding vet care is not affordable, especially if it is the case of an emergency.

Since such unexpected events can happen to anyone at any given time, you might find yourself in the middle of the night at an ER, wondering how to pay for the treatment.

And we know that when you see your little ball of fur struggling with pain, you will want to do anything humanly possible to get the best treatment.

This means you will permit your vet to choose the best approach for nursing your pet back without focusing on the price.

Still, with a bit of research and planning, you can have a lot of peace of mind in case of pet emergencies.

pets with first aid kit

How to Plan for Pet Emergencies

We’re Prepared for It

The first part of the plan for pet emergencies is to be prepared.

Each pet owner might want to have at hand all the revenue possible to deal with pet emergencies without stressing about the expenses.

If you are one of those people, then you’re lucky.

And, if you want to do good for others, you can always donate to a charitable pet organization to aid others with the expenses for their pets.

Requesting help from your loved ones

Of course, when you need assistance, friends or family might help you in dealing with financial distress.

Indeed, this can be the right solution, but at the same time, it can cause unnecessary friction in your relationships.

Thus, this should be your last solution for pet emergency events to prevent this from happening.

cat getting love from vet

 

Always Have Your Credit Card

Studies show that pet owners use credit cards as the primary solution for paying vet bills.

They can offer a short-term solution for lessening the financial burden.

Yet at the same time, they do come with a high-interest rate as soon as your trial period is finished.

Thus, many people have difficulty committing to a monthly repayment, which leads to declined credit cards.

Going for a Line of Credit

Another solution might be opting for a healthcare line of credit.

This can indeed aid you in managing better the expensive veterinary bills, but it is a tricky solution.

Credit lines are designed with an interest-free repayment timeframe.

And if you miss one due payment, you automatically experience an increase in your rate, which can end up being costlier than your basic credit card.

dog and cat paper cut out in woman's hand

There is always the savings account

Creating a savings account for unexpected emergencies is one of the best solutions for financial planning.

Still, you will have to focus on adding funds and managing the account to achieve a balance that can help you in case of emergencies continually.

Even though you might save between $50 to $100 per month, you will have to do so for several years in order to achieve a useful savings account.

These accounts can help cover primary pet care but require time to transform into an emergency fund.

And there is the pet insurance solution

During the past years the European norm of the necessity of having pet insurance rather than considering it an exception gained a place in the U.S. market, too.

Still, you should remember that pet plans are not about offering financial help ahead of a situation.

It is instead a tool for being assured you will have a way to cover for your pet’s needs.

And it is all about you paying upfront and requesting a later on reimbursement.

Pet plans are the best way for pet financial planning, as they offer several features depending on the provider, such as unexpected accidents, health issues, toxicity, or similar other pet problems.

Of course, you will have to read your policy’s insights with a lot of attention and even opt for comparing several policies from distinct providers.

The best resolution is to choose a policy that covers both the unexpected and emergencies.

And if you aim to give your pet access to wellness care, you can add that additional feature into your policy.

Anyway, you should make a search and find the most suitable pet insurance company for your individual case.

 

dog with ice pack on head

Consider charity

Charity funds help pet owners in need.

Still, such funds come with a lot of limitations.

And you might even have to comply with a set of internal regulations before you actually receive financial support.

We advise not to rely on such funds, as they most likely won’t cover a significant amount of your expenses.

Conclusion: 

The bottom line is that no matter what type of financial pet planning you aim for, there is always a way to deal with something unexpected.

Of course, let’s hope your pet’s health won’t decline drastically in time and that you never go through a tedious emergency.

No matter what, pet insurance can offer you a lot of assurances and a way to cover for a significant amount of the vet bill. 

If you have a plan for pet emergencies, it gives you options in stressful situations, allowing you the option to make choices that are best for your pet.

About Julee: Julee Morrison is an experienced author with 35 years of expertise in parenting and recipes. She is the author of four cookbooks: The Instant Pot College Cookbook, The How-To Cookbook for Teens, The Complete Cookbook for Teens, and The Complete College Cookbook. Julee is passionate about baking, crystals, reading, and family. Her writing has appeared in The LA Times (Bon Jovi Obsession Goes Global), Disney's Family Fun Magazine (August 2010, July 2009, September 2008), and My Family Gave Up Television (page 92, Disney Family Fun August 2010). Her great ideas have been featured in Disney's Family Fun (Page 80, September 2008) and the Write for Charity book From the Heart (May 2010). Julee's work has also been published in Weight Watchers Magazine, All You Magazine (Jan. 2011, February 2011, June 2013), Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine (Oct. 2011), Red River Family Magazine (Jan. 2011), BonAppetit.com, and more. Notably, her article "My Toddler Stood on Elvis' Grave and Scaled Over Boulders to Get to a Dinosaur" made AP News, and "The Sly Way I Cured My Child's Lying Habit" was featured on PopSugar. When she's not writing, Julee enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new baking recipes.
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