Back in October 2008, Chuck and I went to the grocery store. When we got home we found an empty bottle of advil on the floor complete with teeth marks that had chewed the plastic bottle in half.

We couldn’t find Liko. He was hiding under a blanket his eyes as big as dinner plates.   When we called him he could barely walk and was swaying from side to side.  We were pretty sure that the bottle was almost full and Liko weighs 15 pounds.

Frantic calls to the Animal Poison Control and to the emergency vet, since it was Sunday, had us wrapping the now projectile vomiting rat terrier in a blanket and rushing him to the emergency room.  He had to stay overnight where they gave him charcoal and flushed his blood.

The next day the emergency vet let us take him to our regular veterinary office where they advised he stay overnight for the same treatment.  Dr. Mathew let us take him home that night with instructions to bring him back in a couple of days for tests, to make sure no permanent damage had been done to his liver or kidneys.

Luckily, Liko’s test came back fine and 6 months later he tested normal again.  It was such a relief.  What was not a relief was the $800 emergency veterinary bill and the $300 bill to Dr. Mathew.

According the an article on Dog Age I received via email, here are ways to help pay for unexpected vet expenses:

• Consider pet insurance. Although it requires making small but continual payments, having pet insurance could help soften the blow of bigger vet bills down the road.
• Be honest with your vet. Let him or her know that you’re having trouble making ends meet, and ask if he or she would be willing to work out a payment plan to help you get your bills paid off. See if there is a monthly amount you could pay that would work for both of you.
• Talk to some other vets. Although it will probably cost you a consultation fee, it might be worth it to get a second opinion — or even a third — before committing to expensive services or procedures.
• Visit a vet school. Many schools operate clinics that provide services at discounted rates, so check around to see if there is one anywhere near you.
• Check with your local shelter. Their staff might be able to recommend subsidized vet clinics or other programs that can offer assistance. Also, check with the Humane Society of the United States for other available resources.

This post is purely of my opinion and personal experience.

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