by Scott Pape - March 18th 2011
On Saturday I took my best mate, Buffett, for a walk along our local creek.
Buffett isn’t the smartest Labrador in the world. Then again he doesn’t have to be – he’s a true penthouse pet who lives with me in the Melbourne CBD and works part time as the security guard at our office, sniffing down visitors for concealed weapons (and meat treats).
As per usual, he was running about 100 metres in front of me, darting in and out of the bushes. Just as I was about to whistle for him, my breath left me – about 50 metres ahead (halfway between me and Buffett) was a 1.5-metre tiger snake. Buffett took one look at me, raced to the snake, bit it, then chased it into the bushes.
I’m a country boy. I know how this ends.
Five and a half minutes later, Buffett was at my local vet. They poked and prodded him for a while before they announced he needed to go to the animal emergency hospital.
When I arrived I was ushered into a small waiting room – a sterile box consisting of two seats, a table and a desktop computer. A young woman with a stethoscope around her neck and Hollywood nails came in, double-clicked on a PowerPoint presentation, and left without speaking.
“So your dog has been bitten by a snake”, started the presentation.
“Jesus, they’ve done this before”, I muttered to myself. The next 20 or so slides explained why snakebites were bad (uh-huh), offered tips to avoid your pet being bitten (good advice … but a bit late), and detailed the extensive lifesaving procedures that were needed (kerrching!).
Clearly I was being softened up. So I hit escape on the PowerPoint preso and googled “cost of anti-venom”. And then, right on cue, the vet walked in.
The only technical tool she brandished was a Casio calculator. She began punching in numbers. “This is very serious. If your dog is to survive he will need two vials of anti-venom, and ongoing hospitalisation. We estimate the cost at between $3,000 and $5,000.”
I didn’t flinch. “He’s my best mate. Money isn’t a problem, just make him better.” Nice words, but in order to start the procedure the vet needed something more than a heartfelt declaration. She needed cold, hard cash.
Over the next few days of sitting in the emergency department I saw this same situation over and over: a family darts from their station wagon, races into the hospital, and is ushered into the little room. In walks the calculator-carrying vet. Out walks a little girl, crying. What would you do?
“Just recently spent $17,000 to try and save our sausage dog. It was all the money we saved for an investment property. He died during the operation…. but I have no regrets. He was like a son to us.” - Shane (Melbourne) – from our Facebook Wall
The Price of Pets
Well, when I spoke to people this week about it, their responses were split down the middle. Half said “but you can buy another dog for $500!” (or words to that effect). They viewed their pets as replaceable. And if it’s a choice between putting food on the table for your kids or saving the family cat, that’s completely understandable.
The other half was adamant their pets were irreplaceable, and would pay whatever it cost. My old editor, a hardheaded bloke, told me this week that over the years of his dog’s life he’d spent about $50,000 – “and I don’t regret one cent of it, I still miss him, even today”.
There’s got to be a middle ground. After all, Australians have 38 million pets and, according to researchers IBISWorld, we spent around $7.9 billion on them in 2010.
This weekend has given me countless real-world examples of why you don’t want the first time you think about Fido or Fifi getting ill to coincide with standing in front of a calculator-wielding vet.
No-one plans for their pet to get sick – in much the same way that we don’t expect to be in a car accident. Yet we all have car insurance, so what about for pets? Turns out you have two options.
The first is to self-insure, whereby you set up a high-interest online savings account and deposit $300 or so a year. If Fifi or Fido manages to stay away from snakes and cars throughout their life, you may end up in front.
There are some problems with self-insuring: you have to have the discipline to do it, and even if you do, the medical solutions for pets are now nearly as advanced as they are for humans – and they cost about the same. If your pet gets ill or is injured, the costs could add up to well beyond what you’ve saved.
The second option is pet insurance, which until I was caught down the creek I was happy to say was a load of rubbish (as do most pet owners: according to consumer group Choice, only 2 per cent of people insure their pets).
Yet after a bit of digging I soon discovered that, so long as you buy the right policy, pet insurance is a smart investment. The yearly cost to cover your pet for treatment of illness or injury ranges from $250 to $350.
Find out the best pet insurance deals on the market here.
The three golden rules when buying any insurance
First, read the policy properly – as we’ve found out recently, some insurance contracts may as well be written in Greek, so it pays to work out exactly what is included and excluded in your cover. Some insurers won’t pay out for pre-existing conditions, older pets, or even certain breeds.
Second, choose the highest excess you can confidently afford to pay in the event of a claim (like $500); this will lower your yearly premium.
Finally, only insure for events that can financially devastate you. Insurers are only too happy to sell you a high-priced all-inclusive type of cover that allows you to claim vet visits and a host of other extras – but you’ll pay through the paws for it. A lower-cost option is to get fully covered in the event of accident and illness, and pay for any other vet treatment like immunisations out of your own pocket.
Get the facts on the best Aussie pet insurance policies here.
I’m happy to report that Buffett is back snoozing on my couch (helped along by a daily diet of 16 valiums). He’s missing hair, has a bucket on his head, and generally wanders around the house in a shell-shocked state, but at least he looks like he’s had $5,000 worth of work done.
He is of course totally oblivious to both the cost and my annoyance at having to apply lotion to his backside every hour. I don’t care. Having my best mate sitting on the couch with me is worth more than money. A card at the animal emergency centre said it best: he’s the heartbeat at my feet.
Tread Your Own Path!
“Nope I wouldn’t pay. I have 2 kids and a baby on the way. I barely even spend that on a car let alone on a pet that might not make it through surgery.” - Ace (Sydney) – from our Facebook Wall
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41 comments
Yes I would pay as much as I had. I have pet insurance for this reason. My dog isn’t only my best mate but a pet I made a commitment to look after to the best of my ability. So I would do the best I could to make sure he has the best life possible. I would be crushed if I ever had to put him to sleep.
I have a Blue make Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) puppy and have never worried about Pet Insurance until last year when he had OCD (and not that type!). OCD is a form of Arthritis ( http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&aid=464) which he had at an early age (less than 12 months old!). How was I to know that an x-ray alone would cost over $900? needless to say that I found out the hard way. I have now since obtained pet insurance for less than a carton of beer a month and has been THE best thing i have done for my little fella who is now almost 2 years old. I had to take him again to the vet for a chipped/torn toe nail – I paid the premium and everything else was covered!
I am totally with you Scott. Jasper, my Bengal cat is my fur kid and I would spend my last cent on him if necessary. AC (my previous fur child) cost me a fortune in vet bills as when he adopted me there was no pet insurance, and by the time it came along he was too old to be insured. Jasper is insured, so I can rest easy.
Interesting. You could argue if you weren’t prepared to stump up then you possibly shouldn’t be a pet owner.
However it does depend on the situation. A risky treatment on an older pet? Probably better for the pet to opt for palliative care instead.
An emergency where they have to operate to have any chance of saving your pet’s life? Yes I’d do it – would rather know that I tried even if the pet didn’t make it.
Having said that next time I get a pet I would definitely get pet insurance! It would help in those difficult decisions for sure
We spent $13000 on our lab before his illness became too much for him to bear and we had him put down. We still haven’t insured our Golden Retriever, but I think we will. BTW Buffet is a good looking dog.
God bless Buffet! He’s so sweet.
And your language is so attractive, Scott, not like you (j/k).
Good on you Scott – sniff. It would be a bit like putting your son down wouldn’t it. Kids cost way more than any dog and you are unlikely to get any adoration out of them! Put the lotion on the backside and enjoy the fact that he is alive to let you do it!
Pet insurance is up there with desexing and microchipping – all elements of being a responsible pet owner. If you can’t afford it then you can’t afford a pet. Our lab Buddy has been insured since the day we brought him home (8 weeks old) and as labs do, has gotten into all sorts of mischief a.k.a eating foreign objects. His first year alone cost us over $1500 in vet bills for various things including joint problems that labs are prone too but with pet insurance we were reimbursed and his health was always priority number one. For $300 per year anyone can afford it, it’s cheaper than car insurance.
yeah, people seem to grossly underestimate the cost of pets…
even without serious issues like these… their ongoing conditions can be as crippling as a kid! (if not more so!)
the best thing you can do is think long and hard before you get one. for many, once your attached to it… you’re trapped!
and pet insurance ftw!
I would pay it in a heartbeat! Whilst my 2 dogs have never really cost me that much, my rats are steadily racking up vet bills. (And no they’re not vermin, they’re just like really little dogs… I promise.) One had an operation to remove a tumour last week at a cost of about $200. I’ve now opened up an emergency account to cover the unexpected, maybe I’ll look at insurance in the future.
Hannah,
I have rats too and they’ve cost few probably close to $1000 since I’ve had them. Unfortunately at this stage I can only find pet insurance for cats and dogs.
My family dog just died in December and all I know is that the heartbreak was like losing a family member. I want another dog and will definitely get pet insurance if I get one. There’s no way I could let them die just because of money I may not have.
hey Scott, very sorry to know about your best friend bad experience, hope he’ll be alright and full of life after recovery. Scott one of my princesses ate some pills and end up at the emergency vet clinic for couple of days and after almost 3k I learn a hard lesson, 1) Never leave medication around your pets, 2) Vets charge more for the pet then we would pay at a hospital emergency! The girls now are both fully insured as a precaution, but I hope I never have to be at the same spot when Chikie end up at the emergency, it’s very disturbing to see it once that we love them so much.. About price? They are priceless and every cent is well spent.
Cheers
Poor Buffett looks so sad with his bucket on. Good on for paying for his treatment. I took out pet insurance for my golden retreiver when she was a puppy as I never want to have to decide between money or her life. It’s expensive and I hope I never have to use it, but I wouldn’t be without it.
That dog is way too cute to not save!
I reckon the first operation they teach vet students is how to extract the most money they can from pet owners’ pockets.
Although everyone loves their pets there has to be a financial point where common sense & logic kicks in.
Let the pet go, buy another one and use the money that you saved to help the less fortunate in the world, make a real difference by using ‘Kiva’.
Thanks for raising this issue, Scott – though I’m sorry the vet appeared “calculator-weilding” and the nurse had Hollywood nails (really?).
I work as a veterinarian at a 24 hour clinic. You would not believe the awfulness of having to talk about money when trying to save the life of a much loved family pet, especially when children are involved. Please – if you have a mortgage and kids and a tight budget – get your pets insured… I often wonder what children learn when their best friend gets euthanased because of money and I wonder if they ever forget.
Also, please check your policy – there are very cheap policies advertised on TV added onto house insurance that will only cover you for $500 which won’t get you very far in an emergency. I have seen people burnt by this that thought they were doing the right thing.
Most clinics will also have interest free payment plans through GE Money or Take Home Layby, but not every one will make the credit check and getting into debt is not ideal.
And for those somewhat insensitive souls who think we don’t care… trust me, we have all done work for free to help someone out “just til I get paid next Thursday”. It is a bit disillusioning when they beg and promise and then do a runner… this happens a LOT. And please don’t abuse veterinary staff who are trying to help *your* pet within *your* financial constraints.
I whole-heartedly agree with anna M’s comments
Buffet is so much better as a live, loving canine companion than being dead and stuffed to be used as a ‘buffett’ to serve tea and bikkies to your clients.
Zero resell value.
I pay extra money into my mortgage and have a re-draw facility so I can take money out if I ever need it. I did that last year when the mother of all hail storms hit Perth and made my car a write-off. I couldn’t go without my car because I’m a shift worker. I’d rather do this than pay pet insurance because at least if I don’t need it, the money’s going towards the house. I’d pay anything for my 4 furries if it came to it and I remember coming home late one night to a screaming puppy that had dislocated her knee. Drove her straight to the emergency vet hospital and it cost $350 for the x-ray, consult and pain killers. Perhaps if I owned a breed that was prone to diseases/disorders (like a bulldog) I’d go with pet insurance?
I’m a low income earner, but I just spent $2000 on my beloved cat (I have a lot of animals, and have pet insurance for the ones that are older or more frail, but unfortunately this fellow was not insured). However, it was money I was very willing to spend. I adore my animals and they bring me tremendous love and joy!
But that’s not the point! My responsibility to care for them relies on far more than the way they make me “feel”! Getting a pet is a solemn covenant, a commitment – like getting married or having a kid, if you don’t want the hard work and effort that goes with it, don’t do it!
You wouldn’t have a kid and not be prepared to buy it a wheelchair or something. If you’re not prepared to follow through in the same way with the little defenceless animals that love you – don’t get a pet!
I’d sell or borrow anything to give my animals the best possible care.
For all they give me, it’s the least I can do.
I work at a 24 hour Pet Emergency Centre and see on a regular basis the torment people have to go through when they cannot afford to treat their pet. The reality is that Veterinary Medicine has come along way over the past few years and some amazing things can be done for animals but without any “Medicare” to automatically cover the treatment the cost can be very high, and some heart breaking decisions sometimes have to be made – so please insure them.
We have a Labrador and a kelpie/collie. They cost us $40 per month in total to insure for up to $12k each. We took the excess of $250 which makes it a bit cheaper. A good deal for peace of mind. We insure the house, the car, the kids, our health. Why not one more payment!
Get well soon Buffett!
Do you really think that vets train full time for the same amount of time that doctors do to earn a crap wage because they do not care? I would love to be able to save all the animals I see but vets are generally in private practice and you are WRONG to label us calculator-wielding. If I saved them all I would not have a job! Yeah pet insurance is great but do NOT bag the vet that is trying to save your mate. They care, or else they would be doctors and earn heaps. I am very dissappointed in this page.
I thought the article was pretty tasteful. That said I personally would have adopted a new bitsa from the shelter. I dont spend that money on my own health.
I have loved all of my pets but have only ever had pet insurance for my Neopolitan Mastiff. When you have a dog that costs $4,000 to start with and weighs over 30 kilos more than I do, medication and treatment can get expensive.. Our insurance policy also covers us for an annual check ups which can catch things early; before I’d have to sell a kidney to pay for it.
I can’t add up the monetary value he has cost me over the years, but not only has he provided me with value as a family member, he has also bailed up would be thieves and protected me from an assault whilst on a walk..Can’t put a value on that. Every girl should have one!
Applause, Scott, for drawing attention to a commonly overlooked household expense. In defence of your “calculator wielding” vet, better that she gave you an estimate of costs before you committed to treatment that you later realised that you had no way of affording. To those who think that veterinary treatment is more expensive than human treatment, don’t forget that human treatment is subsidised by medicare (that we all contribute to through our taxes). Get well soon Buffett.
Yes, no doubt about it, I would do the same as you did, Scott. If money is an issue for some, and they don’t have pet insurance, they could try asking the vet if they can pay the bill in installments. Surely, it would have to be a very insensitive vet who would say no to that.
My mother worked for a vet for 20 years as his office manger. She routinely had to follow up bad debts. For some reason people seem to think that vets should give their services away for free. Sure they are animal carers but they are also in business and have to make a living. By giving an estimate of cost to the client at the outset the client can make a decision on how to proceed. After all human doctors give you estimates before surgery as well.
PS I have 4 Fur babies but they are not insured. Just paid $785.00 for 5 teeth to be removed on my Bengal Boy.
Just want to make the point: My sister is a vet and although people think they charge the world for treatment, vets actually don’t make all that much money unless they own their own practice of which requires huge amounts of capital just to get one operating.
As a veterinarian I spend my life trying to talk people into insuring their pets. With no government assistance, our fees can be very high and it’s not because we are money-grubbing .
Whilst I know it looks like vets are only interested in money, what people don’t realise is that we all work for well below the salaries of similarly qualified professionals such as dentists, doctors, lawyers.
So I’m approaching 60 and my semi-retirement plan is to be an advocate fore animal welfare. Step one will be “Everyone should insure their pet.”
Gwenda
Scott, I’m with you. I would sell my house to save my darling pussy cat. He is my best friend and is worth more to me than any material possessions or money. It saddens me when people treat their animals as disposable. Good on you for being such a good man. Hugs and kisses to Buffett and hope he has a speedy recovery.
Hard call to make, i think it would depend on how much spare cash i had at the time.
Spend more on my cats’ health than my own and don’t regret a cent of it. Had one cat have surgery to remove cancer. It came back and we eventually lost him but we did our best. You have a pet (they become family) and they are your responsibilty not just a replaceable thing.
I paid a fair bit for my 18 year old cat before she went up to god. I didn’t care what she cost me she was a child to me after rasing her from 4 weeks old . I now have a 1 yr old ragdoll and id pay the world to fix her if anything happened . Ppl pay heaps for human kids … we pay it for our fur kids.. if your dog or cat is your baby .. then money is nothing to having them safe and healthy .
I’d pay absolutely anything if it meant I could even possibly save their life! My dogs are my little kiddies, love them to bits and they’re worth every penny! But thanks for the tip on pet insurance, had never even considered it, let alone know it existed!
Cool post, I’ve just got a border collie puppy to train.
My border collie, as a puppy, had a fetish for chewing leather shoes – now that was expensive!
Pet health insurance is fantastic. For a small monthly fee you know you’ll be able to have your pet treated at any veterinary hospital in Australia (including emergency clinics and specialists). If you really love your pet, I think you should look into it. As a veterinarian I’ve seen animals treated for cataracts (restores sight to blind pets!), snake bite, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, pancreatitis, and all sorts of surgeries including cat bite abscesses, broken limbs, ruptured ligaments…It really takes the financial pressure off doing the very best for your pet.
My little Maltese shitzu roxy was bitten yesterday by a red belly black snake in Sydney in my yard. I am pregnant with my first child but when faced with thought of losing my baby it was no question we put up $1700 to save her last night. She is now home and still quite sick but she is going to be okay. My regular vet was rude with no sympathy and quoted $3000 to administer anti venom or put her down vets should be able to offer payment plan to owners in a life threatening situation, most only care about the money. We went to a different vet and he was very reassuring and he will now be our new vet. Many insurance policies will not cover antivenom which is very costly. I would spend whatever money I could for my dog she is such a tough little girl.