DENVER - Pet owners know their vet bills can often come at very in-opportune times. Often people without pet insurance are faced with no other option than to surrender their animal to their veterinarian or a local shelter.
Surgeries and pet medical care can be steep, on any budget, and that is why Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital in Centennial recommends all people invest in pet insurance before you even get a pet.
"Before you get the pet insurance... before you get the pet, we want you to know that pets are a big responsibility... [especially] financially," veterinarian Kathy Benson said.
Benson says that although it can often seen like just another monthly bill, it can save you money in the long-run.
"Shots can run up to $300 by the time you're done with the series. There are tests that should be done to make sure [the animals] don't have infectious diseases. That usually runs about $75 Also spaying and neutering can cost anywhere from $300-400 so you need to be prepared for those costs upfront," Benson said.
Most importantly, Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital wants people to know there are options out there.
"Do the dumb friends 'league thing' and get your animal after it has already been vaccinated and has already been spayed or neutered. You can save up for awhile or get the pet insurance," she said.
Depending on the insurance program, most operations and medical care will be paid for or the total amount will be deducted.
"The prices [of insurance plans] range and there are different things that can affect the cost: the company that you choose, the policy that you choose, and whether you have a deductable or not It should range you anywhere from $12 or so to about $30 per month," Benson said.
Sean was a 8-week-old kitten and the newest animal to be surrendered to Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital.
"We as veterinarians want to step in and do the right thing. We certainly don't want to euthanize an otherwise perfectly health animal with a fixable problem," Benson said.
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