10/1/2020
How Much Does Veterinary Care Cost?
It depends.
If you have a puppy or kitten, they'll need a series of vaccinations, just like children do. That is, they many need a vaccine and then booster shots so that their bodies can generate the antibodies to prevent serious diseases. Talk to your veterinarian about what your puppy or kitten needs and how much that would cost.
If you have a healthy adult pet, and your pet needs annual veterinary care services, it could cost around $250 one pet. This includes the veterinary exam, core vaccines, and common disease testing. This does not include monthly parasite control medications, which will cost more.
If you have a sick pet, then costs can go up to $5,000 or more. It all depends on what kind of health problem your pet may have. It's common for a veterinary clinic to give a quote ahead of time so that you can make an informed financial decision. Usually, the quote they give is a range from low to high. For example, they might tell you it could cost $1,000 to $5,000. The reason is because it depends on the kinds of diagnostic procedures they need to identify the problem. This is part of their detective work. Make sure you know how much it could cost you to treat a health problem, too.
Payment Options at Most Veterinary Clinics
1. Payment is usually expected the day your pet receives care in the veterinary clinic. In order to focus on patients’ needs, customer service, and minimizing costs, most veterinary clinics do not bill.
2. Most veterinary clinics accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), money order, cashier’s checks, and cash. Don't be surprised if they require that your credit card must be signed on the back of the card, and that you will be charged an extra fee for using a credit card (3% would not be unreasonable). If you're not sure if they'll accept the kind of payment you plan to make, ask the veterinary clinic ahead of time.
3. When unexpected illness strikes a pet, unexpected expense strikes as well. Most veterinary clinics can make some special arrangements through the CareCredit program. It takes just 5 minutes to complete an application and will allow you to break down your payment into 6 monthly installments. You can either apply at their hospital, where the office staff will call in your application over the phone for immediate approval, or apply yourself online at: www.CareCredit.com
4. Some veterinary clinics accept payments from our One Health Family Members. Here are the veterinary partners that have agreed to accept Vouchers from our members.
Insurance For Your Pets
Another popular option for your family and pet is insurance coverage. There are several pet insurance companies that offer insurance for pet owners. Cleveland-based Embrace Pet Insurance is one of these. While they have been a supporter of the One Health Organization for several years, please investigate your options as some have insurance plans that may suit you and your One Health Family better than another.
To get a free quote, click here: 
Visit this site to help you decide what’s best for you and your pets:
https://naphia.org/buy-pet-insurance
Be aware that some veterinary clinics may be reluctant to fill out the paperwork required by a pet health insurance company, so before purchasing a plan ask your favorite veterinary clinic whether they can help you with the necessary paperwork.
