Treatment Costs for the Most Common Pet Conditions

Costs of cat cancer treatment

It is estimated that cancer is the leading cause of death among these beautiful beings. Although around 32% of deaths caused by this disease are in cats who are at least ten years of age, cancer is a treatable disease if diagnosed in the early stages.

Treatment for cat cancer can range, if taken to a specialist, from $500 to $1,000 to do the initial diagnostic testing. After that, it costs from $800 to $2,000 on average to have the necessary surgery done. Chemotherapy is another factor to consider, costing anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000, and radiation – $5,000 to $6,000. Total cancer treatment cost: approximately $8,300 to $12,000, with prices varying depending on where you live. Keep in mind, if treated at a general veterinary practice, the cat cancer treatment can cost much less.

Costs of cat diabetes treatment

Diabetes is another common condition with cats. It can be a fatal disease, but a manageable one, even though its treatment lasts for the rest of the pet’s life. It is estimated that diabetes affects around 0.5% to 2% of all cats, just like it affected beloved Matilda.

Cat diabetes treatment costs around $300 for the initial diagnosis, plus the cost of the necessary supplies: insulin – around $12 per month, syringes – $9.50 to $15.50 per month, Touch Ultra test strips – about $100 per month, lancets (for blood tests) – $7 per month, and low-carb food – which costs around $40 to $55 for a 3 oz. can of Fancy Feast (a brand of canned food for diabetic cats). Minimum approximate costs of treatment: $428 monthly, not including the prescription food.

Costs of dog epilepsy

Epilepsy is the most common neurological illness in dogs, affecting around 0.75% of these pets. It is a brain illness that causes spontaneous seizures.

Prices for the treatment of this illness differ, however, generally, the initial diagnosis costs somewhere in the range of a few thousand dollars, plus the basic drugs and monitoring that cost around $200 to $500 yearly for smaller dogs. More expensive drugs cost around $500 to $5,000 yearly. Approximate cost for the treatment of this illness if the dog responds well to the standard drugs: minimum $200 per year, plus the initial diagnosis expenses.

How pet onsurance can help

Many pet parents prefer to have their furry companions insured just to make sure they are covered in case their pet develops a long-lasting condition. Before signing such a contract, though, it is extremely important to make sure that the insurance company offers coverage for these types of illnesses.

In this regard, the parents have to fully understand what the pet insurance firm defines as a preexisting condition and if the company offers coverage for it in the following year after the pet was initially enrolled and when he or she got sick (showed the symptoms and was diagnosed with the condition).

It is crucial to pay attention to whether or not the insurance company considers cancer a preexisting condition, since many of them do and, as such, do not provide coverage for this illness that is so common in both cats and dogs.

Another important aspect to consider when insuring your pet is if the coverage provides reimbursement for prescription food. While a lot of pet insurance companies do not offer this kind of coverage, there are others such as Trupanion that do, in certain conditions.

If you are unsure if the insurance policy you are about to open for your pet offers this type of coverage, make sure to give them a call and find out the exact answer, since prescription diets are more expensive than regular ones, and can usually only be bought from the vet office.

Goodbye Matilda! See you soon faithful friend.