I know they need it, but why is vet care so darn expensive?

I imagine there was probably never a time when the bill-paying part of the vet visit wasn't painful.

I recall from my childhood the great BBC Television series “All Creatures Great and Small.” The British public broadcaster took the books by U.K. veterinarian James Herriot and created a wonderful series chronicling the life and adventures of a country veterinarian, following him from the hardscrabble 1930s Yorkshire Dales up into the decades after the Second World War. One of the recurring themes throughout the seven seasons was the perpetual struggle of small-holdings farmers to pay the vet for his services.

Then as now, many times animals were presented to Dr. Herriot in serious distress because the farmer had held off calling the “vit'nary” earlier to avoid the costs.

Those quaint days of vets running all over the countryside from job to job, carrying black bags with most of the equipment and medicines they needed are long gone. Companion animal practices are much more common now, and the barn cat of yesteryear has moved in with us as a cherished family member (probably with his/her own chair in the living room).

Scientific advancements in diagnoses and treatment over the past 40 years in human medicine has been largely tested first on animal models. The same standard of care and miracles of technology available to us are also available for your pet, but the newer drugs and equipment are very expensive.

Kidney transplants are performed in several university teaching hospitals across North America and such marvels as stem cell therapy and advanced orthopedic and dental procedures are available even here in Northern Ontario.

Now, as citizens of Canada, we are lucky to still have some measure of public health insurance covering the cost of our health care. If we fall ill, we do not hesitate to see a doctor for fear of expense.

Unfortunately, our cats don't get OHIP. Fortunately, there are excellent plans available for cats at reasonable prices, you just have to shop around. When you have pet insurance, it's unlikely you will be faced with the choice of putting down a beloved pet because there isn't the money for available treatment.

Yes, many people feel that veterinary medicine is expensive. First, keep in mind your pet's veterinarian is not only a general physician, but also wears the hats of surgeon, dentist, ophthalmologist, ear/nose/throat doctor, dermatologist, radiologist, pharmacist and so on. It takes a great deal of knowledge and time not only to acquire these skills, but also to keep them current.

In fact, the schooling to become a veterinarian is as long as rigorous as that of your family physician. Why should your furry pal deserve any less?

Now, not all price tags are equal. While the care for attaining excellence are set out by the veterinary regulatory board in a series of protocols and guidelines for proper treatment, surprisingly some of these protocols are not mandatory and left to the discretion of the veterinarian.

Always giving fluids whenever there is deep anesthesia or always inserting a catheter prior to surgery are just two examples that probably should be mandatory, but aren't as of yet (they are also standard in human care).

It's an added measure of safety and may be reflected in the higher price tag.

Another example concerns pet dentistry. X-rays are recommended, but are not required by the board. Personally, x-rays should be a standard of care. Who would want their dentist guessing about the condition of their teeth and miss problems under the surface? Be sure to ask if x-rays will be included. The lesson here is that a client must ask questions and not all clinics offer the same level of service.

There are other factors that go into your veterinary bill at the end of the visit. In addition to having a highly educated and skilled professional caring for your four-legged family member, there is significant cost involved in maintaining the veterinary hospital, including having medical equipment in good working order (much of which is the same you would find in a human hospital), a well-stocked veterinary pharmacy, building rent and utilities, and of course, essential veterinary nursing and support personnel.

So imagine, after all of that, and devoting your life to animal care, being told “if you really loved animals, you would do (insert here name of medical services) for free.”

I doubt that you would ever expect your own family doctor to provide a diagnosis, care and medication at no charge (and even though the bill is hidden, it is still there). Why would you expect this from your vet?

Most clinics stay within Ontario fee guidelines, yet with some people taking their pets to cut-rate, bare-bones spay and neuter clinics, expect fewer regular clinics in the future and, correspondingly, the costs to be much higher or the services rendered more restricted. Vets may become unable to absorb the operating costs discussed and still stay in business.

Bottom line, most vets will go the extra mile for their clients, but not at the expense of jeopardizing the quality of patient care by waiving fees.

In the end, your beloved fur person is the one who benefits when you bring him or her to see the vet. That seemingly never-ending car ride to the vet may be unpleasant, but the comfort of knowing that quality veterinary care will provide your pet with a healthier life and with extra years with you, should make the bill a lot easier to swallow.

Dr. Nicole Baran is the owner and operator of Sudbury Regional Cat Hospital.