{"id":2876,"date":"2018-10-02T08:00:20","date_gmt":"2018-10-02T12:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=2876"},"modified":"2018-10-02T12:58:53","modified_gmt":"2018-10-02T16:58:53","slug":"veterinary-emergency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/veterinary-emergency\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Unexpected Strikes: The True Cost of a Veterinary Emergency"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"veterinaryConsider this, you are at the park with your dog and, after throwing the Frisbee another time, he comes back to you limping. <\/span><\/p>\n

Or your cat has been vomiting since the early part of the day, and now it is close to midnight and she continues to vomit. What if your puppy comes down with diarrhea and a bloated tummy, and you wonder if it is just digestive upset or something more serious, constituting a veterinary emergency?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What do you do? <\/b><\/h2>\n

Veterinary emergencies<\/span><\/a> happen. Every pet is prone to the occasional injury, accident, or illness, so it is no surprise that the cost of a veterinary emergency can add up for pet owners. Let\u2019s take a peek into the world of veterinary emergencies, how common they are, and what you can do to avoid both the harm to your pet and the financial cost to your family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Pet Emergencies<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a true statement that accidents do happen. But it may be shocking to know that more than 92% of cats and dogs will experience some form of an emergency in their lifetime. What are some of the more commonly reported veterinary emergencies?<\/span><\/p>\n

Toxicity <\/b>\u2013 Emergencies due to a pet ingesting a <\/span>toxic substance<\/span><\/a> account for hundreds of thousands of ER visits each year. A serious problem, antifreeze toxicity, is linked to more than 10,000 deaths among cats and dogs annually. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, an estimated 46,000 calls were received in 2016 related to human medications, another 29,000 for the ingestion of insecticides, and 17,500 for human foods that are toxic to pets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vomiting and Diarrhea <\/b>\u2013 This is a cause of many veterinary visits. The reasons behind these symptoms, indicative of a potential emergency, vary widely. Pets can have digestive upset from something as simple as a change in diet, while some more serious causes can be related to a contagious illness, ingestion of toxic substance, injury, <\/span>bloat (GDV<\/span><\/a>), or disease. The cost and prognosis to treat are also varied, from an estimated $200 per visit to well over $8,000. <\/span><\/p>\n

Trauma <\/b>\u2013 Trauma accounts for thousands of untold emergencies and death among pets, particularly those that are outdoors. Accidents involving vehicles are an unfortunate risk that many outdoor or off-leash pets face. Emergencies involving trauma can include cat or dog bite wounds, high rise fall, heat stroke or hypothermia, and car accidents. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other common emergencies we see include problems while giving birth and acute illness and disease, such as pancreatitis or parvovirus. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Cost of Veterinary Emergencies<\/b><\/h2>\n

Although the vast majority of pet owners (approximately 83%) don\u2019t carry insurance for their pets, most are not prepared to pay out of pocket for the cost of an emergency. Finances frequently limit a pet owner\u2019s care options when an emergency happens. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to Pet Plan, the average cost of a basic pet emergency is somewhere between $800-1500. Less than 40% of Americans have enough savings to cover the cost of a pet emergency. Costs of a serious emergency at an advanced facility can quickly escalate beyond that. Veterinary medicine and options have advanced to more closely mirror human medicine, but so have the costs. <\/span><\/p>\n

How do emergency costs add up? Since our patients can\u2019t speak, most vet emergencies cannot be understood without advanced diagnostic testing. A CT-scan, ultrasound, x-rays, blood work, IV fluids, or exploratory surgery may be needed to get to the right diagnosis. This doesn\u2019t include the actual cost of treatment and follow up. Pets may also need to spend several days in ICU for round-the-clock care or need to return for follow-up care.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, Where Does That Leave Pet Owners?<\/b><\/h2>\n

One of the best ways you can prevent an emergency with your pet is to practice prevention, especially in some of the most common areas that generate emergencies:<\/span><\/p>\n