A theoretical query rather than an actual issue that I have right now...

I had to take Tabitha to the vets yesterday and was slightly concerned about how expensive the treatment might be, and if I could afford it (as well as all the usual worries along the lines of 'what is wrong with my cat?').

Thankfully a) the treatment she ended up having wasn't too expensive, b) my parents very kindly paid and most importantly c), Tabitha is clearly feeling better, as she jumped on the bed in the middle of the night and started purring!

However it just got me thinking. I get help from social services but I'm 99% sure that vets bills are not one of the 'extra' items they will pay for. But is there any kind of charity that helps out pet owners of limited financial means with vets bills? Or is it a case of if you can't pay the bills, you have to give your pet up?

(I'm thinking more out of the ordinary treatment here as opposed to vaccinations and check ups).

Just curious really... hopefully Tabitha and I will never be in a situation where we need to know the answer, but I wondered.

I have a sneaking suspicion the alternative is less happy. I suspect that you'd have to put your pet down.

If you want to guard against unforeseen vet bills, you really need to take out insurance (in which case, I hope Tabitha is under 7 years old, as it can be tough to find an insurer that will take on an older animal). Of course, social services won't pay for this but you could pay for this out of your discretionary income.

Well, I have insurance for my kittens, but the lowest franchise is CHF 300 and with that the treatment costs are limited. I have a higher franchise but unlimited treatment costs.

To be honest, it is generally understood that animal owners should put aside a certain sum per month in the event of illness. My ex was on Sozialhilfe and when he asked them for help to neuter his two cats, that was the response he got, it is your responsibility to plan for these things. I can understand their point but it is harsh. So maybe ask your vet if there is a way AND try and put aside some money for Tabitha from now on / get insurance for her. I know it's hard when you are not earning much but I don't earn much either and I would never want to have to decide about my cats' lives based on money.

Thanks... as I said, this isn't a situation I'm facing right now, more of a 'what if?'.

As Tabitha is probably at least 9 years old (not quite sure as she was a stray and estimates of her age were between 3 months and 3 years but I've had her for 6 1/2 years), I think I'd better put some money aside from now on. Just in case.

I find the vets here in CH to be absurdly expensive (as is everything). I haven't had a single visit less than 400CHF since I've been here. But part of being a pet owner is being able to provide care for the pets we have. Unfortunately it seems that medical care is getting as pricy for pets as it is for people. And as mentioned, nobody is insuring older pets. I have a 14 year old, and nobody will insure him, yet he's the one who needs it most. however, when he was a puppy, pet insurance programs were relatively unheard of, and vet care was stilll rather inexpensive in the US. I think I paid $50 for his neutering.

I find pets are relatively healthy anyway, and the money spent on insurance premiums is rather a waste, especially for a younger animal. I prefer to put that money away for when I do have to make that unexpected trip to the vet.

Yes, vets prices are absurdly high here. For instance, it would have cost 700-800 CHF to neuter my dog here. I brought her over the boarder in France, and had it done for 120€!

I know that the SPA can help if you have financial problems. They have their own vets and can offer "cheaper" services. For you it would be the Refuge of ste Catherine.

Agreeing with KF too. Shockingly expensive! We had a quote to spay our girl later in the year 1000 Chuffs!!

We have since found an excellent vet 10 metres from Bad Zurzach in Germany. She has quoted 200 to 300 euros max.

Plus one of our labs had a tumour removed last week and it cost us 240 euros. And she charged us a little more so she was in line with CH standards. She compared it to what the Uni of Zurich would charge for a cat! Bless her she saud she couldnt charge us the going rate for a dog as she felt it was too expesive.

When we got our lab home unfortunately he managed to dislodge a stitch so we had to go to the local CH vet. He examined the dog, touched the dog and stapled his wound for a grand total of 150 chfs!!!!!!

My advice if you can find a vet over the border. Check out the vet thread A's many of us put our recommendations on there. It's also a good op to stock up on food etc.

It's good you are asking these question, Vlh22 - this is something every pet owner should think about, and budget for. Emergencies can spring up at any time.

To my knowledge, there is nothing like the PDSA here, at least in my area. (Off to research this now...)

(Sign of the times, but I understand from my colleagues in the UK that the PDSA has put new limits on their low-cost treatment service, including no longer treating pure bred dogs, due to a steep increase in abuse of the charity's services.)

It is expected that a pet owner will plan for unexpected financial demands - that's fundamental to responsible pet ownership.

(Again, a sign of the times, but when I interview prospective adoptive families we discuss the finances around pet ownership in depth, as inability to afford the pet's care is sadly becoming a more frequent reason for giving up the pet. If you find yourself in absolute dire straits and the pet needs urgent care, speak to a rescue. However, in most cases this will mean giving up your pet for rehoming.)

The good news is that many vets still bill monthly - which gives you a bit of leeway. I would recommend establishing a good rapport with your vet, and speak openly about costs. When discussing treatment, ask directly what the costs might be, and ask if there are less expensive options. If necessary, ask if you can arrange a payment plan. And as others have mentioned, seek care across the border where prices are lower.

(Sign of the times part three: I've seen a few vets' websites where they say they have had to discontinue the monthly billing practice because of the number of customers who skip out without paying. It's a shame that the few ruin it for the many.)

One needs to be aware, however, that the two big emergency hospitals, the Tierspital and Spezialistenklinik, both have a policy of payment when you pick up the animal, and both charge an out-of-hours fee. That said, I have needed to rush to both clinics after midnight, and in such cases - perhaps because the reception staff are not there - they have simply sent me a bill later. And even when I am there during normal hours if the bill is many thousands they usually send a Rechnung.

In law one may not leave an animal to prolonged suffering, one has a duty to provide necessary medical care. If an owner cannot afford treatment, or will not pay for treatment, a vet has no option but to euthanize the animal (and the owner will be billed for that) if the suffering cannot be alleviated. Now, most vets will seek other options - but one should be aware of what the law says about not providing appropriate treatment.

Bottom line, if one owns a pet one MUST be able to finance the pet's care. If that means forgoing other things to be able to put a bit aside every month, so be it.

Here's hoping you don't run into any unexpected health concerns with your cat, Vlh22 - but kudos to you for looking ahead.

A tad tangential, but this ethics statement from the GSTSVS is interesting:

http://www.gstsvs.ch/files/Ethische_...2004_NEU_d.pdf

Specifically, a vet is required to provide emergency first-aid treatment (or euthanasia where treatment is not possible) for a stray or homeless animal brought to him/her, even if payment cannot be secured.

"Der Tierarzt und die Tierärztin leisten jedem ihnen vorgestellten, verunfallten oder erkrankten Fundtier die erste Hilfe oder schläfern es ein, falls die Leiden zu schwerwiegend erscheinen, unbesehen davon, ob die Honorierung gesi- chert ist; das weitere Vorgehen in unklaren Fällen richtet sich nach den „Richt- linien für die Honorierung von Behandlungen von Findeltieren (Hund und Kat- ze)“ der GST vom Dezember 1994."

I agree a sign of the times. Vets in the UK will never turn an animal away though But unfortunately this has led to abuse of their own system where people have requested euthanasia for their animal, then are unable to pay for the cost. I believe a vet in the UK must agree to the request unless they feel its completely unnecessary. So then when the person doesnt pay the vet is left with an unpaid bill and at putsressure on their practice and subsequently other honest clients So sad.

Insurance is a good option to spread payments even if they are not sick all the time. I've had my cats 10 years. I started off with insurance for them. Then stopped a few years ago as they were never sick and I thought it was a waste of money. Unfortunately, one of our cats developed kidney failure and now that I stopped the insurance our vet bills are steep. If only I had kept paying the insurance, which isn't that much in the long term. Animals will get Ill as they get older, even if it's a small thing. That's what I have learnt.