The Real Cost of Vet Care for Dogs and Cats

For many pet owners taking out insurance offers peace of mind should their dogs, cats or other animals ever fall sick or injure themselves. Having insurance in place means there would not be a problem paying for the veterinary care and treatment a pet would need to get better so they make a full recovery.

However, taking out pet insurance is not always possible for many pet owners because they are on a tight budget and therefore could not afford the monthly premiums. There are pet charities out there that help owners with veterinary bills as long as they quality for the aid that is. With this said, it's always a good idea to have an idea of the cost of veterinary treatment for the more common health issues and injuries seen in cats, dogs and other animals so that you are prepared to meet the financial commitment that comes with sharing a home with a pet, whether it's a cat or a dog.

If you have just got a cat or a dog, the chances are they are nice and healthy which means the last thing on your mind is the thought of them falling ill or injuring themselves. However, it's best to be prepared because you never know what is around the corner. Your pet might get hurt and need veterinary attention which could eat into your budget more than you realised, putting you in a very difficult financial situation!

Veterinary Costs Do Vary

Although the cost of treating dogs and cats does vary from region to region as well as from one practice to another, below are a few guidelines on how much you might have to pay for specific injuries and illnesses seen in both cats and dogs, bearing in mind that these are only guidelines of what a vet might charge for the most commonly treated injuries and health issues.

The Average Cost of Treating Cats for Common Injuries and Illnesses

Cats are thought to have nine lives and they certainly do seem to be extra lucky at times when it comes to recovering from an injury or illness. However, when a cat does get sick or injure themselves, they need to see a vet at the earliest opportunity because the sooner a problem is diagnosed and treated the better the outcome tends to be. Below is a list of the average cost of the more commonly seen health disorders and injuries seen in cats:

• If you find your cat has an open wound that needs veterinary attention this could set you back as much as £350
• If you find that your cat has developed some sort of growth or tumour, you would need to have them checked out as soon as possible and if the vet decides the growth needs to be removed, you could be billed as much as £600
• Cats are notorious for getting abscesses especially if they have had a fight with another cat. An abscess is very painful and would need to be treated as early as possible so your cat is made more comfortable and to ensure the abscess doesn't turn into something even nastier. The cost of veterinary treatment for cat bite abscesses could be in the region of £250+
• Another condition that sadly is all too often seen in our feline friends, is a disorder known as hyperthyroidism. Again, the sooner a cat is diagnosed with the condition, the quicker a treatment can begin. The average cost of veterinary treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism is in the region of £350
• Cats often suffer from a condition known as cystitis and again, it is a painful condition that needs to be treated sooner rather than later. The average cost of treating a cat with cystitis could set you back as much as £300
• Our feline friends are also prone to suffer from certain respiratory issues which need to be treated by a vet. The average cost of treating a cat suffering from some form or respiratory disorder could be as much as £480
• Removing cysts and warts is always a worry because you never know if a lump is benign or malignant. Again, the sooner a biopsy is carried out and the offending lump or wart removed, the better and the cost of having this done could set you back around £500

The Veterinary Cost of Treating a Cat After an Accident

• Cats are more at risk of being hit by a car than a dog, but dogs too can be seriously injured in all sorts of situations which means they require emergency veterinary attention for them to survive. The average cost of treating a cat that's been injured in an accident can be in the region of £450 or more. If they were involved in a road traffic accident, this could double to around £900.

The Average Cost of Treating Dogs for Common Injuries and Illnesses

Dogs bring a lot of pleasure into a person's life as well as giving them a great excuse to get fitter by spending more time walking with their canine companions. When a dog is injured or falls ill, it's up to their owners to ensure they are seen by a vet at the earliest opportunity so they can be treated and made to feel better sooner rather than later.

Vet bills can soon add up and if you are not insured, it means finding the money to pay for your dog's treatment. Below is list of the average cost of treatments for both the most commonly seen health conditions and injuries that vet typically have to treat in dogs:

• When a dog develops some sort of growth on their body, it's really important to get it seen by a vet and if it turns out to be a tumour, the average cost of having the lump removed after the biopsy results are in can be anything up to £650+
• If you share your home with a dog that suffers from arthritis or a degenerative joint disease, the cost of their treatment could be as much as £370
• If you have a larger dog that's prone to suffer from bloat or gastroenteritis, the bill for their treatment can set you back in the region of £480
• Some breeds like Cocker Spaniels as well as dogs that love being in water, are more predisposed to suffering from a painful ear condition called Otitis Externa. It's a condition that needs veterinary attention and the bill could be as much as £300
• A lot of small breed dogs like the Bichon Frise suffer from skin disorders which need treating on an ongoing basis, but the initial cost of finding out what triggers their condition could be as much as £400
• Dogs are very good at injuring themselves especially the more energetic characters which could result in them tearing a knee ligament and if this happens, the vet's bill could be a whopping £1,200
• To treat some sort of injury or wound, the bill could be as much as £400