There’s no question you are a responsible pet owner. You’ve taken all the steps to create a safe environment and are vigilant about keeping your pet healthy. However, no matter how much you prepare, there is always the possibility that your pet will develop an unexpected illness or become accidentally injured, prompting an unplanned trip to the vet. And it’s important to have a financial plan in place if this happens.
Many pet owners still don’t understand how expensive it can be to treat an unexpected illness or injury. Here are some actual pet emergencies and the costs associated with treatment:
- Cat bite abscess (cat): $1,250
- Hit-by-car (dog): $5,600
- Urethral obstruction (cat): $2,700
- Toxin ingestion (ate mushrooms, dog): $6,500
- Heatstroke (dog): $4,200
- Gastrointestinal foreign body surgery (ate a diaper, dog): $3,275
- Vomiting and diarrhea (pancreatitis, dog): $3,000
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (cat): $4,600
- Back surgery for ruptured disc (dog): $5,600
Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets in the blog comments. As an online informational resource, Preventive Vet is unable to and does not provide specific medical advice or counseling. A thorough physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinary-patient-client relationship is required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.
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