They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and it’s the truth. When it comes to pet care, taking preventive measures can save you a lot of money…and it could even save your pet’s life! Yearly checkups, vaccinations, flea and tick medications, and heartworm testing are all important for keeping your pet healthy and helping you avoid those big vet bills.
Let’s take a closer look at the three main types of preventive care for pets, and how prevention makes pet care more affordable.
Pet Vaccinations
After leaving their mothers, puppies and kittens are extremely vulnerable to infections. Their mother’s milk had antibodies that protected them from contagious diseases, but now their immune systems have to learn to respond on their own.
Without vaccinations, they won’t be able to fight off deadly infections like parvovirus or distemper. Completing the full schedule of puppy or kitten vaccinations and getting booster shots every year can save you a fortune in emergency care.
Parasite Prevention
Biting parasites like fleas and ticks can spread many different diseases. Even heartworm infections usually start with a mosquito bite. Pets who become infected with parasites may need expensive treatments for the rest of their lives. However, most parasitic infections can be prevented.
Taking precautions like giving your dog a monthly chewable and bringing a stool sample to their annual checkup will help keep them heartworm-free. At $10-$30 per dose, parasite prevention may seem expensive. However, it’s only a fraction of the cost of treatment for heartworm disease.
Annual Exams & Diagnostic Tests
A routine wellness exam could end up saving your pet’s life. Even if they seem perfectly healthy, dogs and cats are really good at hiding pain. And since they can’t tell you when something feels wrong, their condition will only get worse unless they see a veterinarian.
Diagnosing health problems in their early stages means that your pet can get treatment before the disease becomes life-threatening. For instance, medication for a thyroid disorder can prevent strokes, and antibiotics for a urinary tract infection can prevent obstructions from bladder stones.
Your pet’s physical and dental checkups give us a complete picture of their current health. Diagnostics like blood tests help us spot the signs of “silent” problems like diabetes or kidney disease. Treatment will also be far less costly when we detect a disease in its early stages. Instead of needing surgery, your pet might only need a prescription.
How to Make Pet Care More Affordable
- Start a pet emergency fund.
Set up a savings account specifically for your pet, and try to contribute on a regular basis. Saving a set amount every month will make it easy to cover the cost of your pet’s yearly exam when the time rolls around. You can also set aside a little extra, just in case of an emergency.
- Get pet insurance.
Veterinary care can be expensive, especially when your pet needs an emergency surgery or ongoing treatments for a chronic condition. Pet insurance will cover most of the cost of wellness exams, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and more. Depending on your policy, it can also cover illnesses and accidents.
- Ask your vet about financing options.
At East Valley Animal Hospital, we accept financing options like CareCredit and Scratchpay that offer affordable payment plans for large veterinary bills. If you’re ever surprised by an emergency or your pet needs a treatment that your insurance doesn’t cover, you won’t have to worry about paying a large bill up front.
Preventive Care for Pets in Gilbert, Arizona
At East Valley Animal Hospital, we’re equipped to address your pet’s every medical need, and preventive care is a great place to start. From vaccinations to dietary advice, we’re here to help your pets live the longest, healthiest lives possible.
If you just adopted a new pet or your furry friend is due for a checkup, contact us to make an appointment today.
Photo by Monica Yu on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 9/8/25.