FAQs

Yes. Health insurance for pets works a lot like health insurance for humans—there are premiums, deductibles, and various levels of coverage. It’s up to you to decide what level of coverage you think works best for you and your pet. Obviously, different coverage levels cover different services and procedures. Generally, more basic coverage will take care of routine office visits, checkups, and diagnostics while more advanced coverage might include prescriptions, procedures, surgeries, and treatments for diseases. Be aware that pet insurance plans will most likely contain certain restrictions and limits, just like regular insurance. Your vet can tell you more about health insurance for your pet, as well as offer recommendations and considerations if you decide to make the purchase.

Only a rabies vaccination is required to get a rabies certificate. Be aware, though, that your pet will probably need a full physical exam before the vaccine can be administered. Your veterinarian can tell you what shots and vaccines are absolutely necessary for your dog and cat. They may discuss “core” vaccines that every pet should have, as well as additional preventatives that your particular pet might require. Costs for these additional vaccines should be minimal. Remember that the initial cost of preventative medicine is much less than the cost of treating diseases or infections later.

Before you call your veterinarian, make sure you’re aware of the timeframe for treatment and recovery. Did your vet tell you that your pet might take a day or two to start showing positive signs of getting better? Did they advise you that your pet’s treatment won’t yield instant results? If the timeframe isn’t an issue, and you think your pet still isn’t getting better, call your veterinarian immediately. They may need a follow-up examination to check your pet’s progress and condition. From there, they can obtain more information and make a diagnosis. If your pet isn’t improving with the treatment your vet gave him, let them know and they will do everything in their power to help your pet.

Dealing with the loss of a pet can be as difficult and upsetting as the loss of any family member or loved one. Pet owners treat their companion quite literally as a member of the family, confiding in them, celebrating with them, and building emotional bonds that are as real as those in any human relationship. Many veterinary hospitals, as well as professional organizations and therapists, offer counseling for those grieving over the loss of a pet. Call your veterinary hospital to find out if they offer these services—even if they don’t, they can refer you to someone who can help you through this challenging period. There are also pet-loss hotlines and Internet pet-loss support groups. Ask your veterinarian about these services as well. Remember: it’s okay to grieve for your pet, and you don’t have to face this difficult time alone.

Think about this: have you ever seen a mosquito or other insect inside your house? Of course you have! Your cat may not go outside and come in contact with these parasites, but they certainly can come inside and come in contact with your cat. Mosquitoes carry heartworm disease, and can get inside your home and infect your cat. Fleas and ticks can enter your house by attaching to your shoes or clothing, so every time you come home you could potentially be putting your cat at risk. There’s really no way to stop these insects from coming in contact with your cat, but you can have your pet on heartworm, flea, and tick preventative to protect them from the diseases these parasites carry.

While that may seem like the easiest solution, it is certainly not the correct one. Your pet’s symptoms may be the same, but their disease may be quite different. Multiple diseases have the same symptoms, or at least similar ones. You may be fooled into thinking your pet’s issue is the same as what he or she was just treated for, when in fact the problem is something entirely new. Your veterinarian needs to examine your pet to make sure they are given the correct diagnosis. Giving your pet medication or treatment for the wrong thing is not only ineffective and potentially dangerous but a waste of your money as well. Be sure to bring your pet into the veterinarian’s office if he or she exhibits symptoms of any kind.

If you have pets, a relationship with a good veterinarian is key. Looking for certain things that are important to you, like convenience (what are their open hours?), and reputation (are there others you know who have used their services or can you find any reviews about them online?) will go a long way to helping you choosing the right partner in your pet’s health. Another component that is very useful in determining the value you might get out of your relationship with a local veterinary clinic is to look at outward signs that it is a quality practice filled with staff that will also cherish your beloved pet. For example, a practice’s website is always a good indicator of how much they are investing back into you; if it looks to be high quality, the team very likely is too!

Consider this: most veterinarians and their staff are in their chosen field for one reason only—they love animals and have a real passion for taking them out of discomfort and keeping them strong and healthy. It is true, however, that veterinary bills can sometimes come as a bit of a surprise to the pet owner, especially when you may only be seeking a small procedure or a routine check-up. But once you realize a few things about the level and type of service you are getting, the reason why this is the case becomes so much clearer. For example, most veterinary practices are much more than that—they are actually self-contained hospitals, complete with surgical suites, exam rooms, labs, recovery areas, and so on. Covering costs to maintain such a facility means that across-the-board prices have to be at a certain level, otherwise it would not be possible to bring these extremely vital services to you and others in your community.

Veterinarians must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, or DVM, to practice as a veterinarian. This is equivalent to a PhD or MD degree and requires at least four years of graduate school after four initial years of undergraduate coursework. Some veterinary degrees require six years at the university level, as well as more time in pre-veterinary education and clinical studies. After completing their schooling, veterinarians must obtain a license to practice, which requires passing of certain tests and certifications. In addition, they must stay up-to-date on the latest veterinary information throughout their careers by reading the latest veterinary journals and attending seminars and conferences. Feel free to ask your veterinarian about his or her education… they’ll be happy to tell you all about it!

A veterinarian is defined as someone qualified and authorized to practice veterinary medicine. They are medical doctors for animals and have been trained to diagnose and treat disease and injuries in animals. They administer medication, devise treatments, vaccinate, perform surgery, advise on dieting, and provide general health care. Veterinarians care for companion animals (dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, etc.), horses, production animals (pigs, cattle, sheep, etc.), aquatic animals, and even zoo animals. Different veterinarians may specialize in one area or another. For instance, one veterinarian may be an expert on bird health, while another may specialize in canines. Don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian if they have a specific expertise.

Unfortunately, unless a veterinary doctor has actually laid eyes (and hands) on your pet it is always impossible to say for sure what is going on. Even if it appears to be a relatively minor symptom (like scratching) or occurrence (your cat ate a strange plant from your garden), without looking at other signs and manifestations your vet can never say with any real degree of confidence that things are okay. Because they have a commitment to making things right with your pet, not worse, they would never want to make a recommendation or offer advice based on just a partial picture. This is why they’ve gone to school for eight years and specialized in animal medicine—they are trained to see things and make connections that the average person cannot, and to make sure even small mishaps don’t turn into major losses. Take note: besides being unethical, it is also illegal for a veterinarian to prescribe for any animal sight unseen!

Each individual pet has different nutritional needs, so there is not one all-encompassing answer for which pet food to give to your dog or cat. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a pet food that is good for your dog or cat. Keep in mind that a pet’s nutritional requirements change as they grow and age. Depending on their stage of life and health situation, you may need to change the food you are giving your pet. Again, your veterinarian can tell you what to feed your dog or cat, as well as advise you on proportions, ingredient lists, and specific nutritional requirements.

Your pet is a member of your family, and in the same way you would never trust medical advice you get on the internet or from your best friend’s sister, you also want to put something as important as this in the hands of true professionals—people who love and have dedicated their lives to helping animals! Getting one wrong piece of “advice” from what you read on the internet or hear in passing can have terrible consequences, so developing a real and lasting relationship with your local veterinarian is one of the most important things you can do for your pet… and ultimately for you!

Giving heartworm preventative to dogs or cats that are already infected with adult heartworms can be harmful and even fatal to the animal. A blood test before starting any medication will tell your veterinarian if your pet is already infected. Heartworm preventatives kill off heartworm larvae—the medicine does not kill adult heartworms. An owner might think his cat or dog is fine if the pet is on a heartworm preventative, but if the pet was already heartworm-positive, the disease is only worsening and the heartworm preventative is not helping.

Just as you would schedule regular doctor visits for yourself or pediatrician visits for your child, it is a good idea to have your pet see a veterinarian regularly. Even if your pet seems to be in perfectly good health, the fact is that you can never tell for sure if something might be wrong until your pet is evaluated by a professional. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your pet is healthy is well worth it! Also, consider this: the cost of treatment is almost always higher than the cost of prevention. Preventative health care procedures like vaccinations and check-ups are far cheaper than treatments for diseases or injuries. For example, say your pet contracts a dangerous virus. A complicated treatment plan will be far more expensive than an initial vaccination for the virus would have been.

There are long-term health benefits to your pet when it is spayed or neutered—it can lower the risk of several cancers and diseases. Ask your veterinarian to explain these benefits. Obviously, the primary benefit is controlling the pet population by regulating the number of unwanted pets. Spaying and neutering require surgery, and surgery requires anesthesia. The cost of spaying and neutering procedures includes the anesthesia, the veterinary team’s time and knowledge, surgical equipment and other medicine, hospitalization, etc. Keep this in mind: a litter of unwanted puppies or kittens will cost far more in the long run than having your pet spayed or neutered early on.

Implanting a microchip under your pet’s skin will not hurt him any more than a standard vaccine would. Your pet may feel a slight pinch, but any pain or discomfort should be over extremely quickly. After the chip has been implanted, your pet will not even know it’s there.