In Sickness and in health
Cost of Medical Care
W
disease management. In addition to advances in technolhen I began working in emergency veterinary
ogy, access to veterinary specialists is much more readimedicine 35 years ago, we did a lot of good for
ly available. Cardiologists, neurologists, dermatologists,
pets
in
need,
no
doubt
about
it.
But
they
were
Jerry Klein,
oncologists and many other specialist vets can be found
different
times.
Much
of
the
technology
and
tools
available
DVM
in many urban settings as well as in communities where
to us today didn’t exist then. And the cost of providing emerthe local university has a veterinary
gency care was very different.
school. The emergency and specialty
In the early ‘80s, there were no ultrahospital where I work in Chicago has
sounds, no MRI or CT scans for pets.
At some point in
27 doctors working in 13 specialty
Specialty consultations were generally
each dog’s life, it
departments. The past 35 years has
not readily available — even in large,
is likely to face a
really seen the rise of specialty cenurban areas like Chicago. Veterinarians
ters and 24-hour emergency facilities.
relied upon the patient’s history, physical
health issue that
But this high-quality care comes at a
exam, bloodwork and X-rays to diagnose
requires expensive
high price. And whether you have one
and treat health issues. Sometimes, “exveterinary care.
beloved dog or a kennel full of them, at
ploratory” surgery was performed in the
some point in each dog’s life, it is likehopes that what we would find might rely to face a health issue that requires
solve the problem, by providing biopsies
expensive veterinary care, either from your primary care
for analysis or at least ruling out certain issues. In other words,
veterinarian, from an emergency room or from a veterinary
we would use surgery to explore for answers. Sometimes the
specialist — or a combination of all three. These costs can
best solution was to humanely euthanize the animal.
run into thousands of dollars.
Today, the care provided in veterinary hospitals is far
different than it was when I started. In f act, the evolution
of veterinary medicine has really paralleled the advances
Dealing With High Vet Bills
made in human medicine, from diagnosis to treatment to
You can ignore the fact that a high vet bill is almost a sure thing
in your future, or you can begin thinking and
planning now for how you are going to pay
for it. Coming up with a plan now will let
you focus on your dog when it is sick, rather
than worrying about both your dog and your
The Patient: Dolly, a 7-year-old spayed Biwas serious, it was something she would
bank account when the time comes.
chon, arrived at our clinic at 9:30 on a Frilikely recover from. But she needed IV
CREDIT CARDS. Most clinics accept
day night. She had not been eating and had
fluids to rehydrate her over the next 24
credit
cards or a credit card specifically
been vomiting for two days. Dolly had been
hours. She also needed insulin to lower
for
veterinary
bills, such as CareCredit,
diagnosed as diabetic about eight months
her high blood glucose, have her electrofor
payment.
This
helps spread the cost
prior, and her condition had been well con- lytes and blood sugar levels checked evout
over
time
but
does
not save you montrolled with twice-daily insulin injections. ery two to four hours and be monitored
ey.
With
costs
associated
with credit cards,
Because Dolly had not been eating the
until she could eat on her own. During her
you
will
end
up
paying
more
than the origpast two days, her owner hadn’t given her stay, Dolly was also given an abdominal
inal
vet
bill.
insulin injections, just as her vet instructed.
ultrasound by our board-certified radioloHEALTH INSURANCE. Today, there
Initial Exam: A quick physical exam
gist that determined she had pancreatitis,
are
many different pet health insurance
revealed a lethargic, overweight, recently and her owners received a consultation
plans
available at many different prices.
groomed dog. Her temperature was slightfrom our internal medicine specialist who
These
plans can be comprehensive, coverly elevated and her heart rate markedly helped devise a care plan for her diabeing
everything
from wellness care to serielevated. A quick blood test and urinalysis
tes going forward. Her hospital stay lasted
ous
illness
such
as cancer, or they can be
were ordered, and Dolly was found to be
three days.
more
limited,
covering
only catastrophic
ketoacidotic, a complication of her diaDiagnosis: Pancreatitis and diabetic
situations,
such
as
serious
illness or injubetic condition.
ketoacidosis
ry.
Plan
prices
vary
accordingly
and are
Treatment: Although Dolly’s condition
Cost: $4,865
available from a wide range of resources,
including the American Kennel Club.
Dolly the Bichon
24
DogsinReview.com
24x25_Health.indd 24
8/15/16 1:04 PM