Meet Zia, my dilute calico cat who enjoys chasing water droplets in the bathtub and lying on her back, like a fluffy rug in a log cabin. In her two years of life, she has spent quite a bit of time at the vet, for eye infections and painful cold sores, among other things. The bills for each visit have been piling up, making her an especially expensive member of my family.
Zia, a frequent visitor to the vet for minor but costly problems.
(Deborah Vankin)
According to a recent New York Times report, the cost of veterinary care has skyrocketed over the past decade, rising more than 60%. This is due to a number of converging factors, including: the rising price of drugs and vaccines, the increasing cost of staffing veterinary offices, and the continued corporatization of independent veterinary practices. And as medical technologies and treatments for our pets advance—MRIs, chemotherapy, allergy testing, even acupuncture—so does the average cost of a visit to the vet.
I know I'm not the only one bearing the financial burden of this expensive system. We'd like to hear about your struggles with vet bills in the Southern California area using the form below. And if you've discovered more affordable or alternative treatments for your pets' medical needs, we're here to listen. Be sure to include your first and last name, where you live in Southern California, and your contact information. We may email you with follow-up questions and include your response in a future story.
