Why can't veterinarians advise, diagnose, and/or prescribe over the phone and save me a whole lot of time and money?

Not only is it unethical and illegal to prescribe for an animal that hasn't been physically examined by a veterinarian, it is also impossible to come up with an accurate diagnosis and rational plan of treatment. Your pet deserves more consideration.

A veterinarian cannot make a diagnosis based only on symptoms observed and described by an owner. Your pet cannot verbalize its symptoms, and the outward signs may be an indication of any number of causes with a wide variety of clinical treatments. A complete physical examination is required to determine the cause of the symptoms and the best course of treatment.


Why is veterinary care for my pet(s) so expensive these days? Sometimes I believe I'm spending more on my pet's health care than my own

Relatively speaking, veterinary care is a great deal. When compared to the rising cost of human health care, pet care is not at all unreasonable.

Bear in mind that your veterinarian provides your pet not only with general medical care, but also surgery, radiology, dentistry, dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, psychiatry, ears/nose/throat care, and pharmacy.

Your veterinary bill is a reflection of the costs of maintaining suitable facilities, equipment, and support personnel to provide the level of care that is expected in animal medicine today. Remember too that the original cost of the animal has no bearing on the cost of services rendered.

Although it may feel as if you are paying more for your pet's health care than your own, chances are that you probably have adequate health care insurance for your own needs. Consequently, you may never see the total bottom-line figure for your own doctor bills. When human health care costs are added up - including insurance, deductibles, and pharmaceutical costs - there is no comparison the much lower veterinary costs.


Isn't the cost of veterinary care ridiculously high? It's just animal health care, not human health care. I thought my doctor really cared and would go the extra mile for me and help me out with this.

You would never expect your own physician to provide a diagnosis, care, and medication free of charge. You cannot ask your veterinarian to do this for your pet. The extent of care given to any animal is ultimately determined by its owner. As a responsible pet owner, you place a high value on your animal and will want to consider what's best for your pet.

It is important to understand that most veterinarians can and will go the extra mile for their clients, but they simply cannot jeopardize the quality of their business by waiving fees. Veterinarians must cover their employees' salaries, costly equipment, the expense of years of professional training, and the expense of continuing education for staying up-to-date on the latest research. When veterinarians subsidize clients' bills, they are endangering their practices.


My injured (sick) pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian for prompt attention, but:

* I lost my job.
* I don't get my next paycheck for another two weeks.
* I barely have enough money to put food on the table.
* I simply do not have the money at this time

If there were no satisfactory financial arrangements made for payment, veterinary practices would end up operating at a loss, eventually to the point of having to close down. Some hospitals may offer financial options. Most veterinary hospitals accept major credit cards. If you don't have any major credit cards, perhaps you could ask a relative or friend for a loan.

Generally, payment for all elective services is expected at the time of the visit. In the case of emergency veterinary care, payment plans can often be arranged. Remember, however, the lowest-priced veterinarian is not necessarily the best for your pet's requirements.