Financial Planning and Your Pet

Having a pet in your home and family is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. With advances in veterinary medicine, you can enjoy your pet longer and healthier than ever before.

Many dogs in the United States now live to be 12 years or older, almost double the lifespan on most dogs in the 1950s. Indoor often provide companionship for 14 years or longer. And birds, reptiles, and exotic pets (even fish) are living longer lives when given good care.

If you want your pet to live its longest, healthiest life possible, it does have a price. From quality food, routine preventative care and visits to the veterinarian to keep your pet healthy plus planning for accidents, unexpected illnesses, and other emergencies, your pet is an investment. Every dollar you put into your pet is given back to you in unconditional love and companionship.

When the cost of quality medical care exceeds the family budget, families are forced to make tough decisions either bearing the debt or even euthanasia. We do not want any family to have to make this decision and we don’t want any pet to have to face this choice. We believe that planning for your pet’s care is the best way to prevent the painful decision between finances and your pet’s well being.

Preventative Care

Pets age much faster than humans, so periodic wellness checks (at least 1 – 2 times per year) are one of the best ways you can help your pets live long and happy lives. Pets are excellent at hiding diseases and illness from us until the disease is advanced enough that they no longer are able to. Preventative wellness visits allow veterinarians to identify problems before they become severe. When diseases or conditions are discovered early, treatment is usually less expensive and veterinarians have a greater chance of saving pets’ lives.

Annual preventative veterinary care will vary slightly depending on your pet’s age but you should plan financially for the following:

Depending on your pet’s breed and as your pet ages, additional testing such as blood work, urine tests, and x-rays may be recommended to check for any breed predispositions or common aging issues.

What is the Magic Number?

Unfortunately, we can’t give you a magic number to put into a pet savings account and the cost of owning a pet will vary. We can give you some options and considerations for when the veterinary bill comes. The important advice is to think about how you will manage both routine and unexpected expenses before the need arises. Choosing multiple options can also help you feel more confident in your financial abilities.