Not Having Pet Insurance: I just hate hearing pet owners face a large bill for a sick pet comment, “I wish there was insurance for pets.” We have been trying to get this message across since 1982. A trip to an emergency clinic is likely going to be at least $1000, and problems requiring a specialist can easily run you $3000 or more. I have heard on specialty visits running above $10,000, and one of our clients spent more than $100,000 with specialists for his cat’s kidney transplants.

Skipping Wellness Care: Just like with your car, any money saved now on preventive maintenance will cost orders of magnitude more later in diagnostics and treatment.

Inadequate Nutrition: Your veterinary practice really does know more than your groomer, pet store employee, or the internet. The latest grain-free diet fad has no basis in fact; in fact, the FDA is investigating a possible link between grain-free diets and an increase in heart disease in pets.

Pretending Fleas Don’t Exist: Prevent them! Again, your veterinary practice is recommending a superior product. The worst flea infestations we see are on an indoor cat, or a small dog that “NEVER goes anywhere”. If you scratch from one mosquito bite, don’t you use mosquito repellent when you will be exposed to mosquitoes? Fleas hitch a ride into your house on pant legs, so no dog or cat is safe. $25 monthly prevents so much misery.