The Pros and Cons of Getting an Animal Hospital
- September 30, 2020
One of the biggest changes in veterinary medicine today is the difference between animal clinics and hospitals. Both provide care for sick and injured animals, but animal clinics usually have a specific focus, whereas hospitals generally treat any variety of diseases or injuries.
The biggest difference between animal clinics and hospitals lies in the level of treatment that medical staff can provide to your animal. Most animal clinics offer the same level of medical care as a hospital – basic surgery for minor problems. Animal clinics are relatively new in the field of veterinary medicine.
But don’t think that the services offered at an animal clinic are the same as those offered by a hospital. For one, many clinics offer specialty services such as heartworm treatment, surgery for trauma and cancer, etc. This is because animals don’t respond well to general surgery. They’re much more delicate than humans.
There’s also a big difference in the level of training required to be a veterinarian in an animal hospital and one at a clinic. Many animal clinics require no schooling at all. They simply ask you to attend an orientation class before they allow you to take their classes. Animal clinics are run on a fee-for-service basis. So their medical staff consists of former veterinarians who’ve been through the wringer.
As opposed to animal clinics, animal hotels and sanctuaries need to have veterinarians who have completed specialized schooling. They also need to be licensed and insured. Because animal hotels and sanctuaries provide services other than caring for animals, they need to be licensed to operate. They must also be financially stable in order to pay their staff and meet all their other financial requirements.
So how does an animal hospital compare to a clinic? While animal clinics are generally less expensive than clinics, they may not be a good choice if you need urgent, specialized care for your animal.
Most animal clinics offer basic services like x-rays, antibiotics, and blood work. They also offer procedures like heart worm treatments and surgery for major accidents or injuries, as well as basic surgeries like ear surgery and skin grafting. This is a great option if your animal requires emergency attention.
And when you consider that your pet is going to an animal clinic, you’re actually getting it from another member of your family – namely, you! So, it’s reassuring to know that your vet has the best interest of your animal at heart. Even if you have to pay for more time, you get peace of mind knowing that your pet is getting the best treatment possible. Animal hospitals are usually the best place to go if your animal needs emergency treatment.
The biggest disadvantage of having an animal hospital is the extra cost. You’re probably already paying for the service of your veterinarian on a part-time basis. But once you’ve paid for an animal hospital, you’ll have to continue to pay for your animal clinic’s services.
But there are some situations where the expense of the animal hospital outweighs the benefits you get by letting them run the clinic for you. For instance, if the animal clinic doesn’t have enough funds to properly care for an animal, you may not get the benefits you think you do.
The other disadvantage of having an animal hospital is that there’s a lot of paperwork involved. That’s because vets must keep records of all their surgeries and treatments. So when you go to an animal hospital, you’ll have to take it upon yourself to make sure that the records are accurate.
Some animal hospitals require you to submit a yearly application and background check, but others don’t. So keep that in mind if you’re planning to send a pet to an animal hospital.