Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

Jequine — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:46:01 GMT

I totally agree, owners have to be more involved in care. If you are trying to cut costs, do more yourself. If you are unable to do things yourself, cut down the herd.

re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

Laura R. — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:00:03 GMT

Dear Deirdre,

I follow your forum and occasionally post as “Laura R.”

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re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

oiram — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:53:42 GMT

hey

if you have no-dough, stay away

from horses, this a deep pocket hobby- not an investment or buisness, dont be sold on the dream

it will become a nightmare very quick, IF YOU HAVE LIGHT POCKET'S

WATCH IT ON TV !

re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

WMT — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:52:40 GMT

I was a large and small animal vet tech for quite a few years. I never call a vet for something I can do myself, i.e. vaccinations and deworming. I realize that's the "easy money" for the vets, but it is one area where you can save about half the cost. Also, knowing how to take vital signs goes a long way to help you decide if you really need to call a vet. Especially in the case of colics. Knowing first aid can minimize the extent of an injury while you wait for the vet. Don't overcrowd your pastures so you maintain good grazing and never feed cheap hay.

re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

bernie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:17:32 GMT

The best idea to reduce vet costs is to reduce the number of horses .

re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

jdz033 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:27:04 GMT

I think you have to cut costs by doing more yourself as the owner. When things are good we have the vets do everything because we don't want to do it. Now when costs must be trimmed we should just place more responsibility on farm managers to do just that, manage the horses in a cost efficient manner. I know some horses are "worthless" as a business commodity, so instead of trimming costs on them, simply give the horse away. Our farm gives away at least 2 yearlings each year, because we don't like them as prospective racehorses and they won't bring anything in the market. I'd rather them go to a good home then go through the auction ring for a couple thousand bucks for some guy to take down to Mexico and race.

re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

da3hoss — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:18:41 GMT

You wrote: "Or if a mare was colicking, they would say, ‘She's not worth the surgery.'"

Gee, and we here in the real world try to save our pets and backyard horses all the time...and we're supposed to believe the race world cares for each horse...hopefully that "worthless individual" gets some compassion and the expense of a needle to end her suffering.

re: Saving Money on Your Veterinary Bills

vet tech in ky — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:29:20 GMT

I know I am looking at this from the inside, but veterinarians are not the enemy here. Vet bills in KY are normally lower than anywhere else in the world, due to supply/demand. Try raising that same horse in New England and see how much that screening set sets you back. How about the cost of hay, feed, farrier services, etc... There is more than one place to look at expenditures.