Animal welfare groups, such as PAWS in our community, provide adoptable animals who are vet-checked, spayed or neutered, and have vaccinations up to date, and an adoption fee is charged to cover some of those costs. Once your new friend is in your home, their health becomes your responsibility.
Prevention is always the best policy, to avoid expensive medical treatments in the future. Feed good quality food, keep vaccinations current, exercise the animals regularly and protect them against hazards like poisons and attack from other animals.
As animals age, (a dog or cat is considered senior after age 8) they are prone to health issues, much like humans, and their medical costs will increase. What is the best way to deal with this? The choices are “out of pocket” or insurance.
A sudden accident, or necessary surgery, can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars, for an animal. A recent Global TV program stated that, in North America, the average cost for pet accident and illness medical expenses is $537 per year. One solution is to set up a separate savings account and deposit $50 to $80 per month, to cover anticipated medical expenses. The alternative is to purchase accident and illness insurance for your pets, at a cost depending on the coverage and the type of animal. Good insurance doesn’t come cheap.
An online guide gives the top 10 pet insurance companies in Canada. Also provided are some suggestions to keep the cost of insurance down: insure your pet while they are young and healthy and keep their shots etc. up to date, adopt mixed breeds as pedigree pets are often more susceptible to congenital and hereditary health issues, spay or neuter your animals significantly reducing the risk of certain conditions and diseases, and choose a higher deductible on your premium.
Shop around. Check details such as: are pre-existing conditions covered, is there coverage for medications, how many claims are allowed each year, check age limits, can you use your favorite vet, do they contribute to animal charities, and know which congenital or hereditary conditions are not covered.
At the top of the list for preventing medical problems with your pets is to have them spayed or neutered. Not only does this prevent unwanted litters, but it prevents many possible health issues in the parent pets. This service is provided for adoptable pets from organizations like PAWS, but if you acquire your animals from another source, it is vital to have them operated on as soon as possible. If the costs are more than you can afford, there may be some help available from Creston’s Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), 250-428-2811, an independent group who are not part of the PAWS society.
To contact PAWS, call 250-428-7297 or email paws@kootenay.com.
