| A topic that has been the subject of great | | | | extent of injuries or illness can compound those |
| debate in recent years has been that of proper | | | | costs readily. |
| medical care and medical insurance for the human | | | | What can you do? You can ask if there is a |
| populace. While good medical coverage for people | | | | payment plan that would be more suitable if the |
| still leaves a lot to be desired, animals stand even | | | | costs are rather steep although this is unlikely |
| less of a chance. Although there are many good | | | | since most facilities do not offer affordable |
| veterinarians out there the amount of emergency | | | | payment plans. It may be worthwhile to check |
| care that is available for pets is sadly lacking. | | | | into a pet insurance plan. While these plans can be |
| When my cat was poisoned I searched the phone | | | | fairly costly as well especially if you have more |
| book and could not find anyone to care for him | | | | than one pet, it can still help to offset emergency |
| because it was after regular office hours. After | | | | costs when the unexpected happens. Setting up |
| repeatedly receiving automated messages I finally | | | | an insurance plan offers a bit more stability and |
| reached one office that generously offered to | | | | helps to alleviate the pressure of being financially |
| schedule an appointment the following week for | | | | unprepared. Most plans also cover regular yearly |
| my desperately ill pet. The only emergency pet | | | | exams, shots and a deduction on the cost of |
| hospital we could find was in a nearby city over | | | | medications. |
| an hour away traveling at top speed. | | | | If you live in an area that is sorely lacking in |
| I was thoroughly appalled at the total inadequacy | | | | emergency care facilities the best you can do is |
| of available facilities. For pets in need of immediate | | | | to create a back up plan by preparing yourself for |
| medical attention, the time it takes to travel to | | | | emergency pet care. Of course prevention is the |
| another town or area where available twenty-four | | | | best medicine but you may want to become |
| hour emergency care can be found, this can | | | | familiar with emergency first aid procedures for |
| literally be a matter of life or death. | | | | pets. There are many available resources in books |
| In emergency situations people are usually quite | | | | at the local library and on the internet. You may |
| unprepared because the only thing on their minds | | | | also be able to pick up useful literature from a |
| at the time is the injured or ill loved one, even if | | | | local veterinarian. You can check and see if any |
| that loved one is a pet. They normally aren't | | | | local animal facilities offer any type of educational |
| thinking about costs or any other factors that are | | | | first aid classes. If not you can still put together a |
| going to add to the amount of stress they are | | | | first aid emergency kit to keep on hand for your |
| already feeling. So they might be quite | | | | pet. |
| disappointed to find that some establishments | | | | You may also want to investigate alternative |
| won't even treat your pet unless you can pay the | | | | healing methods as well such as herbal medicine, |
| full estimated cost of treatment up front. It is | | | | and homeopathy and seek out practioners in your |
| unlikely that many people are prepared to pay | | | | area. Good nutrition and vitamin supplements can |
| these costs on the spot unless you are lucky | | | | help boost pet health by strengthening the |
| enough to be carrying around a credit card with a | | | | immune system and making them less susceptible |
| fair amount of credit. Do keep in mind that | | | | to illness. |
| veterinary costs can be quite costly and the | | | | |