The costs of dog health care are rising rapidly. According to the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the costs of veterinary
medicine rose a whopping 79 percent between the 2000 and 2010.
Furthermore, according to the National Pet Owner’s Survey, the costs of
veterinary care rose 9.78 percent in only two years between 2009 and
2011. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly expensive to have a dog
and take good care of him or her.
As a member of the family, dogs have become almost like children to those who love them. When your “fur baby” is sick, you’re willing to pay almost anything to for medical care as long as they’ll feel better. However, the sobering reality of the veterinary bill that comes later can be shocking. While many dog owners have taken out pet insurance policies to help cover their veterinary bills, especially emergency procedures and catastrophic illnesses like cancerous tumors, these policies will usually only cover about 90 percent of the total veterinary costs at best. This can leave one owning thousands, or even tens of thousands, in veterinary bills!
Preventative care has become the best answer to lowering veterinary costs for many responsible dog owners. Of course, preventative care also keeps your dog healthier and happier and increases their lifespan. Here are some preventative care tips that will help you lower your veterinary bill and keep your beloved dog with you longer:
Keep Your Dog’s Teeth Clean
Infection in the mouth can quickly spread to the rest of your dog’s body and cause a variety of problems, from kidney infections to severe gastritis. Dog treats marketed as “tartar control” do not get remove all the plaque. To remove this, it is best to buy a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste (human toothpaste is poisonous to dogs) and brush your dog’s teeth at least every other day.
Regular Daily Exercise
Exercise is just as important to dog health care as to human health care! To keep your dog’s cardiovascular system in good shape, and keep their joints limbered up, be sure to exercise your dog every day. Even on rainy days, or days you just don’t feel like going to the park, try to at least take a short walk or run in your neighborhood.
Groom Your Dog Regularly
Trimming your dog’s toenails and brushing regularly will help prevent infections and injury. It also gives you the frequent opportunity to immediately notice any trouble, such as an ear infection or a skin rash, before it advances. This way, you can seek immediate medical attention before the problem gets out of hand.
Do Not Feed Your Dog Corn and Soy
Many dog illnesses can be traced to poor diet. Unfortunately, many dog foods on the market, including some expensive brands, contain corn and soy. Not only will these ingredients cause your dog’s health to deteriorate quickly, in most cases, these ingredients are genetically modified versions which are even worse for your dog’s health. Older dogs often start to have health problems like skin allergies, hip dysplasia, arthritis, and kidney issues. Switching to a higher quality food that does not contain corn or soy, or “meat byproducts,” will often improve your dog’s health immensely.
Conclusion
Preventative care is a good solution to combating escalating dog health care costs. It will also help keep your dog living longer and having a higher quality of life in their middle and senior years.
As a member of the family, dogs have become almost like children to those who love them. When your “fur baby” is sick, you’re willing to pay almost anything to for medical care as long as they’ll feel better. However, the sobering reality of the veterinary bill that comes later can be shocking. While many dog owners have taken out pet insurance policies to help cover their veterinary bills, especially emergency procedures and catastrophic illnesses like cancerous tumors, these policies will usually only cover about 90 percent of the total veterinary costs at best. This can leave one owning thousands, or even tens of thousands, in veterinary bills!
Preventative care has become the best answer to lowering veterinary costs for many responsible dog owners. Of course, preventative care also keeps your dog healthier and happier and increases their lifespan. Here are some preventative care tips that will help you lower your veterinary bill and keep your beloved dog with you longer:
Keep Your Dog’s Teeth Clean
Infection in the mouth can quickly spread to the rest of your dog’s body and cause a variety of problems, from kidney infections to severe gastritis. Dog treats marketed as “tartar control” do not get remove all the plaque. To remove this, it is best to buy a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste (human toothpaste is poisonous to dogs) and brush your dog’s teeth at least every other day.
Regular Daily Exercise
Exercise is just as important to dog health care as to human health care! To keep your dog’s cardiovascular system in good shape, and keep their joints limbered up, be sure to exercise your dog every day. Even on rainy days, or days you just don’t feel like going to the park, try to at least take a short walk or run in your neighborhood.
Groom Your Dog Regularly
Trimming your dog’s toenails and brushing regularly will help prevent infections and injury. It also gives you the frequent opportunity to immediately notice any trouble, such as an ear infection or a skin rash, before it advances. This way, you can seek immediate medical attention before the problem gets out of hand.
Do Not Feed Your Dog Corn and Soy
Many dog illnesses can be traced to poor diet. Unfortunately, many dog foods on the market, including some expensive brands, contain corn and soy. Not only will these ingredients cause your dog’s health to deteriorate quickly, in most cases, these ingredients are genetically modified versions which are even worse for your dog’s health. Older dogs often start to have health problems like skin allergies, hip dysplasia, arthritis, and kidney issues. Switching to a higher quality food that does not contain corn or soy, or “meat byproducts,” will often improve your dog’s health immensely.
Conclusion
Preventative care is a good solution to combating escalating dog health care costs. It will also help keep your dog living longer and having a higher quality of life in their middle and senior years.
sourece from: Rising Veterinary Costs: What You Can Do About It
No comments:
Post a Comment