"Affordability" is currently an issue in just about every aspect of life - including veterinary medicine. Increasingly, veterinary caregivers are facing conflicts between their desire to relieve suffering and improve the welfare of animals, and their client’s difficulties in meeting the increasing costs of our medical capabilities.
The cost of care for small animal companions frequently becomes a limiting factor in the treatment options clients can elect and the quality of care that an animal receives. Some reports suggest that decisions to end an animal’s life - based on economic factors alone (economic euthanasia) - is increasing.
In the coming months we will be hosting a series of discussions pertaining to various aspects surrounding the costs of veterinary care including practical approaches to these situations. We will begin our journey by examining this issue through the lens of someone who is board-certified in both small animal internal medicine and animal welfare. He will be discussing the impacts of costs of care on animal and veterinarian well-being. This will be followed by a series of discussions about the escalating costs of routine veterinary care as well as complicated disease management.
Those of you who work in veterinary hospitals likely face this gap every day. Veterinary medicine can now provide care that was unimaginable even a decade ago. Aside from wellness care protocols, we have access to advanced diagnostics, specialists of all kinds, and a myriad of therapies that can extend and improve animals’ lives. That capability, however, comes at a price and the costs keep rising. For many of your clients, the care their pet needs and the care they can afford simply do not align.
You know that moment. An estimate has been presented to a client and you're met with silence or hesitation. You get a feeling of what you're about to hear next. You may feel frustration, helplessness, anger, or guilt when the options you've presented to a client are declined and the opportunity to support the pet's wellbeing and outcome can't be pursued. This is a known source of workplace stress, moral distress, and burnout.
We would like our upcoming series to reflect and support what you are actually facing in practice. We invite our veterinarian, veterinary technician / nurse, practice manager and client service representative Members to chime in and share experiences or comments on this issue - including tips for managing these challenges. What has helped or backfired? What do you wish would be taught to help you navigate these challenges? Login is required to comment.
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