Cost of Treatment vs. Cost of Prevention

VPI- Veterinary Pet Insurance, just released their 2012 numbers for the 5 most common ailments.  They compare the cost of treatment versus the cost of prevention.  All I gotta saw about this report is WOW, people the numbers speak for themselves!!! 

1.  Dental Diseases
Example:  Tooth infection or cavity and periodontal disease
Average treatment cost:  $531.71
Average prevention cost: $171.82

 2.  Internal Parasites
Example:  Round worms, tape worms
Average treatment cost:  $179.93
Average prevention cost:  $29.51

3.  External Parasites
Example:  Heartworms transmitted by mosquitoes, Lyme disease from ticks and flea allergy dermatitis
Average treatment cost:  $180.67
Average prevention cost:  $84.89

4.  Infectious diseases
Example:  Parvovirus, Lyme disease and feline leukemia virus
Average treatment cost:  $678.27
Average prevention cost:  $85.14-dog;  $73.52-cat

5.  Reproductive organ diseases
Example:  Pyometra, prostatitis and ovarian neoplasia
Average treatment cost: $531.98
Average prevention cost:  $260.69

Please remember that the 'treatment' cost DOES NOT  mean that all animals survive the 'treatment'.  I have had many animals die from very preventable diseases....

For those of you who maybe wondering what the 'prevention' is, I put a short list of what is the most common measures for each number:

1.  Dental disease prevention:  Routine dental cleaning, this is usually a sedated thorough cleaning.  Some dogs need it yearly and others can go several years.  At home dental care is also super important, remember we brush our teeth daily!  Check out several recommendations on my previous blog:
Dental disease
Dental products 

2.  Internal parasite prevention:  This includes monthly heartworm prevention that contains a monthly intestinal dewormer, in addition to preventing heartworms.  And yearly fecal-poop checks to make sure no worms are seen.

3.  External parasites prevention:  I recommend monthly, YEAR ROUND, flea and heartworm prevention.  This comes in all forms:  topical(applied to skin), by mouth and even a 6 month injectable heartworm prevention.  Just ask your vet what they recommend for your pet.

4.  Infectious diseases prevention:  All the above listed Infectious diseases can be prevented with vaccination.  Your vet can help you determine what vaccines your pet needs based on exposure. 

5.  Reproductive organ disease prevention:  SPAY and NEUTER.  If it isn't there it cann't be diseased!!