On December 31, 2012, Mrs. Thompson brought her 4-year-old cat, Nemo, to a vet clinic. Nemo was in shock. She was lying on her side unable to move. She was dehydrated, breathing fast and had low body temperature. Bloodwork and x-ray were performed. Nemo needed hospitalization to receive IV fluids and intensive care. Mrs. Thompson was torn apart. She opted to euthanize Nemo largely due to her limited finances. Everyone at the clinic was heart-broken to see Mrs. Thompson sobbing over her beloved cat.
Veterinary medicine has markedly improved in the past decades equipped to treat various diseases in pets. However, only a few pet owners are financially prepared to fully utilize the current technology when their pets get sick.
Pets are like toddlers. They are going to eat stuff that they shouldn’t. They don’t know if they are going to get hit if they run in front of a car. They may get broken bones or torn ligaments. They may get cuts and scratches. You will face emergencies some point in their life.
On the flip-side, older pets are like senior citizens who are going to age at a much faster rate than humans do. Many diseases occur in geriatric pets, such as cancer, arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and cushing’s disease. While it is impossible to completely cure them from these geriatric diseases, many options are available to control the disease and keep your pet comfortable.
Some pets require life-long medications if they have allergies, epilepsy, diabetes, thyroid disease, etc. If your pet acquires these medical conditions, many of them can continue to live their happy life with proper medication and monitoring tests.
Yes, you may set aside emergency fund for your pets. However, the goal of pet insurance is more than just saving money when there is an unexpected medical bill. It is to give you peace of mind should any medical conditions occur to your pets.
Click the link below to see a list of companies that provide pet insurance and information you need prior to getting pet insurance.
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/pet-insurance.aspx
Rest in peace Nemo. May your story help to save more lives of our beloved pets in this new year.
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