Modern veterinary medicine gives owners of pets the ability to choose the modernized techniques of operation and medicines for their beloved pets.
Along with modernization, there are many bothering questions that comes. Is the necessity of applying medical technology to animals the correct option? Is it really appropriate for the animal involved? Did the owners really made the right decision considering that it may involve high cost of veterinary bills?
The pet owner is faced with more medicines to choose from – pain killers, microsurgery, insurance for pets and programs that provide hospital-like care for pets right in the comforts of their home.
The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association has reported that $34 billion are spent by Americans on their pets every year. Half of the amount is used for veterinary care and drugs.
Organ transplants, surgery of cataract and chemotherapy are some of the medical treatment available for pets today.
Sometimes, there is uncertainty on the genuineness and benefit for the animals among owners of pet.
The decision is not easy particularly for people who have developed fondness to their pets who may be an important cure for loneness. For the older pets, there is always a consideration about what is beneficial to the animal – this is the tricky part.
There has been an increase in the number of visits American pet owners as well as the cost of money spent since the differences in the method of treatment has become varied.
For cat owners, the average number of visits to veterinarians increased 2.3 times in 2002 as opposed to 1.6 times in 2000. In 2002, $263 was spent by dog owners in their visits to the vet as opposed to $196 in the year 2000.
According to a survey done in 2003 by the American Hospital Association, 71 percent of owners say they’d rather go into debt for the well being of their pet rather than incur expenses.
It is estimated that only 1-2 percent of Americans provide pet insurance even though there is an alarming increase of costly medical options for pets. For example, a cat undergoing an organ transplant, is worth as much as $7,500.
With the advancement in medical technology, the options of owners as well as ethical considerations has greatly increased.
There is a question that needs to be answered and that is : How long will pet owners continue spending heavily on the health of their pets? How long will this expensive spending continue to make sense?
