In recent years, the cost of veterinary care for pets has increased significantly. Veterinary care that was once considered routine is now a much larger financial burden to pet owners. An honest look at a cat’s medical records can tell you a lot about your cat and what kind of medical attention it will need in the future. One way to make sure that you know how much care your cat will need is to understand its history through x-rays.
X-Rays For Cats – The Need To Know
Cats should have an x-ray taken every summer after the age of one year, or more frequently if they have been ill or have had accidents. X-rays are done because there may be undetected from being hit by a car, for example, which can be life-threatening.
The value of x rays is that they will show up any problems with bones or joints. An example would include a cat having arthritis of hip joints, intervertebral disc disease, spondylosis deformans (arthritis of the spine), osteosarcoma, or bone cancer.
X-rays are also very helpful in determining what types of injuries have occurred. For example, if your cat falls from a second-story window and leaves behind broken teeth on the concrete below you may think nothing has happened to it. You might not discover until later that your cat had compound fractures of its pelvis – it may limp but be unaware that something serious has happened because there was no blood and the pain has subsided. Another example would include a cat not eating and losing weight with no indication of why – an x-ray may reveal a tooth abscess or some other problem causing your cat to avoid food.
An x-ray, in addition to revealing internal problems, is also helpful in finding foreign objects such as grass awns that can perforate organs such as the intestines.
This type of injury is very serious and is often difficult to diagnose without taking an x-ray. You might notice that your pet vomits or has diarrhea. It is important to determine if something foreign was ingested so it can be removed before it causes intestinal obstructions and death.
X-Rays for Cats: The Cost
The cost of an x-ray for cats is anywhere from $65.00 to $100.00, depending on the part of the country you live in and where your veterinary hospital purchases their film. The more involved equipment that your vet uses, the more expensive it will be – an invertebrate table may double the cost, for example. If there are two views taken in one day then this could also increase costs by 50 percent or more because it is now time-consuming for kitty at the hospital.
Although some veterinary hospitals do offer discounts if you provide them with a voucher (which can be purchased through www.cheapholidaypetsitting.com) you should still figure on paying between $65-100 for cat x rays. Before every summer, ask your vet if there has been any change in your cat’s appearance or behavior that would indicate it is time for another x-ray.
If so, ask your vet how much it will cost and add this to the total amount of money you will spend on your pet this year. It may also be helpful to keep track of how many times a year do you need to take your cat in for an x-ray – after all, they don’t like going either!
X-Rays For Cats: The Big Picture
The importance of taking care of a kitty and making sure it is well taken care of cannot be underestimated. There are things we do every day, such as feeding and playing with them, that we may not know could cause harm to our pets. By keeping track of the various tests you are having done, such as an x-ray, you will better understand where your kitties’ health is.
The cost of an x-ray for cats may not seem like a lot in the big picture, but it should be remembered that this amount will pay for your pet at least once this year if not more. Taking care of your cat’s health by providing them with regular veterinary care, including yearly examinations and vaccinations can help avoid unnecessary costs down the road because something was overlooked or left untreated.
The average annual cost of taking care of a cat, including food, vaccines, medical checkups, and dental cleanings are anywhere from $600-1,000 per annum – so take care of your kitty and it will take care of you!
One more thing – clavicle fractures are pretty common in cats that are hit by cars. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have your cat x rayed immediately if you suspect an injury. It may be the difference between life or death!