[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_column_text]The Costs of Caring[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]When someone says cost, we think Rands and Cents but it can mean other things. The cost of caring for a pet does involve Rands and Cents but it also costs you time, effort, commitment and emotion, which most pet owners give very willingly.

What happens when things change such as your pet becomes very ill or sustains a serious injury? The Rands and Cents cost will go up dramatically. You are going to have to put in much more time and effort for trips to the vet, giving medication, cleaning wounds, going to physio appointments. You are going to have to commit to caring for your pet and paying for the necessary veterinary care. For many of us our we love our pets like close family, so the cost on our emotions at a time like this is huge.

What about the cost to the caregivers, the vets and nurses at the practice? You say there is no cost to them, this is just a job to them. Not true! Many veterinary staff get very involved with their patients (and emotionally involved with the owners). They are fully committed to getting your pet back to normal. They will put in an enormous amount of time and effort to do this, and not to mention emotional support. The practice has invested in the latest technology and upgraded all facilities to ensure that we have everything at hand to treat your pets.

What happens when a cute little puppy or a sweet old cat comes in for treatment the owner just cannot afford? None of the staff feel good in a situation like this. None of the staff want to tell an owner they can’t treat the pet if they can’t afford the cost. None of the staff want to see a pet suffer because the cost of treatment is too high. The emotional cost to the veterinary team is also high. Compassion, fatigue, depression and even suicide are very real issues in the veterinary world.

What about the costs to the pet? If a pet does not receive care timeously or the right care it could be at the cost of their health long term, or even at the cost of their life.

Pet medical insurance can help keep all the other costs of treating a sick or injured pets within manageable bounds. If your seriously injured pet had medical insurance one cost you could almost forget about is Rands and Cents. The emotional cost to you would be less as you would not have worry about affording the right care. You might even be able to hospitalise your pet for treatments so you would not have to spend time and effort giving medication and treatments at home or driving back and forth to the vets for check-ups.

There would be no detrimental costs to the veterinary staff emotional health as they would get to do what they love doing; making pets better and the pets would get the care they need.

Many of the pets coming to us for medical care have pet medical insurance we would love it if all the pets were insured.  Can you afford to not have your pet insured?

There are many pet Insurance companies to choose from, please do your research to see which one will work best for you. Ideally you want one that gives R30,000+ cover per year, does not have set tariff amounts for services or certain medical conditions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”200px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]