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Veterinary expenses can be absolutely crippling even during ordinary times, and with Christmas costs looming large, one kind-hearted vet has compiled a comprehensive guide featuring six money-saving strategies that won’t compromise your beloved pet’s wellbeing.
Dr Ben Simpson-Vernon, who is known as Ben the Vet across social media platforms, turned to TikTok to dispense his expert guidance. “Lots of people I meet in practice as a vet are understandably worried about the cost of veterinary treatment,” he began in a video.
“Here are six things you can do as a pet owner to keep your vet bills down.”
Rare breeds
Recognising that certain feline and canine breeds carry substantially higher ownership costs regarding veterinary expenses and insurance premiums, Ben highlighted the crucial need to grasp this reality before purchasing a new four-legged friend.
“Giant breeds need much higher doses of medication than smaller dogs,” he explained. “Lots of vets joke that French Bulldogs pay their salaries and that’s because they – like many other breeds – are predisposed to a lot of health problems, which are expensive to treat.”
Neutering
Ben also stressed the importance of spaying your female dogs and cats to prevent additional expenses and devastating consequences further down the road. “Female dogs have a one-in-four lifetime lifetime risk of pyometra, which is a life-threatening womb infection where the womb fills up with pus,” he explained.
“We also see this in female cats who haven’t been neutered – I’ve seen four female cats with this condition in the last six months and it is often not picked up until the pet is very sick.” Consequently, Ben explained that treatment typically requires hospitalisation and an emergency hysterectomy, which naturally costs significantly more than a routine spay.
Bones and antlers
“Do not give your dog bones or antlers to chew on,” Ben urged in his third point. The reason? “I see so many dogs with broken carnassial and canine teeth due to chewing on things that are too hard,” he said.
Ben also highlighted that when dental fractures expose pulp cavities or nerves within the tooth, this can cause pain and create a substantial risk of tooth decay and abscess formation, meaning extraction becomes necessary. “In general, anything you give your dog to chew on should pass the fingernail test – it should be soft enough that you can indent it with your nail and if you can’t, it’s too hard,” he advised.
Weight
Ben also strongly recommends: “Do not let your pet get overweight as we know that dogs and cats that get too heavy live shorter lives and are at a higher risk of health problems such as diabetes, respiratory disorders and arthritis.”
All of these conditions can prove expensive to treat, so the vet advises pet owners to “take your responsibility seriously” because ultimately, you determine how much your pet consumes and exercises.
Vaccinations
Ben proceeded to urge all pet owners to ensure their furry companions remain current with their vaccinations. “Contrary to what you might read in a local Facebook group or what some lifestyle influencer might post, vaccinations that we give pets are extremely safe and they prevent some life-threatening infections such as parvovirus and leptospirosis in dogs – and leukaemia virus in cats,” he said.
Teeth
Ben’s final recommendation focused on your pet’s dental health. “Get them used to having their teeth brushed from a young age,” he advised. “Periodontal disease is the biggest dental problem we see in practice and it is because of tartar build-up – purely really because most dogs and cats do not brush their teeth twice a day like you or I.”
The vet concluded: “Without tooth brushing, many young dogs and cats that I see end up needing dental procedures at a young age costing hundreds.” While not every pet will tolerate having their teeth cleaned, Ben emphasised it’s “really worth putting in the effort” as it will spare you considerable expense and prevent significant discomfort for your pet.
