Why Going Alone Can Cost Your Dog More Than Money
We see it all the time. With the high cost of vet visits, sometimes it feels like you can take a stab at solving your dog’s problems yourself. After all, you’re a loving, caring owner that knows your pet inside and out.
But here’s the truth. As stressful as getting hit with that vet bill can be, researching and guessing while your dog continues to struggle rarely works out. In the interest of saving money, you may actually be costing yourself more… and costing your dog their health.
We’re here to tell you that with the right kind of vet, there’s a better path forward. Don’t step over dollars to save pennies.
The Top Mistakes of DIY Vet Advice
→ Listening to strangers in comments with great stories
→ Making wrong assumptions based on surface symptoms
→ Misdiagnosis due to lack of nuance and experience
→ Treating the symptom, not the root cause
→ Relying on generic online advice without personalization
→ Delaying proper treatment while the condition worsens
Treating your dog incorrectly only leads to despair… while your dog gets more ill over time. A great vet, on the other hand, is trained to see nuance. They’re able to get to the root of your pet's illness, and can quickly navigate the noise to find out what's happening faster.
Look at it this way: you could learn to build a house on YouTube—but it would take much longer and cost far more than hiring a trained, trusted professional. And you’ll take 300% longer, and save less money than you think making the mistakes along the way.
There are really good solutions - more on that soon.
Why People Avoid Seeing a Vet
→ Poor past experiences with rushed, impersonal care
→ Belief that great vets aren’t nearby
→ Assumption that expert care is too expensive
→ Fear of being judged or upsold unnecessary treatment
If you’ve had a negative experience with vets in the past, whether that was being rushed, left with an unresolved problem, or whatever else, you’re certainly not alone. But the truth is that incredible vets are out there, particularly holistic ones—and are certainly worth the cost.
The average holistic vet consultation is somewhere around $200-350 depending where in the USA. But when you total up the cost of your regular vet visit plus supplement or medication costs going with the DIY route, you’re in the same boat. Except a great vet consult can get you to the solution in a fraction of the time. Be very conscious of wasting precious time. The problem with your pet gets worse and in some cases, time is the enemy. Your pet is uncomfortable or in discomfort presumably during this time while you’re sorting through information and products. You can’t afford to waste days - sometimes hours.
Trial and error takes time to order the thing(s) you’re trying, get them shipped and days to see if it actually works. Sometimes it can take weeks or months. Wouldn’t you prefer a great vet’s steady hand and the confidence to know you should stay the course.
We have the benefit of hearing from tens of thousands of customers and their regrets. They’re out of time and money. They’ve spent the hundreds they had or even thousands. Now they have no more time, no more money, or both. It breaks our hearts every time we hear this familiar story.
The Value of a Great Vet (Especially Holistic Ones)
→ Thorough understanding of patterns and nuance
→ Ability to quickly identify root causes
→ Strategic, multi-faceted treatment approaches
→ Saves time, money, and stress long-term
→ Provides clarity, direction, and peace of mind
Really great vets draw on years of experience and thousands of dogs examined. You're paying for that experience and perspective. We also highly suggest you go the route of a holistic vet! They have traditional and conventional training, but additional training that allows them to see the same problems from many different angles. They have many tools in their toolbox to draw from and therefore, have a much greater opportunity to address your dog’s concerns multiple ways.
Not only that, but great vets are also available via telehealth or Zoom consultation. Oftentimes, a strategy can be made without examining your pet. They’ll lay out all of your options, so that you can go into a local vet’s office with less anxiety and a clear path moving forward.
Take Advantage of Our Pet Consult Resource
If your pet is struggling and you need guidance, don't go it alone. We have a trusted list of veterinary professionals who can help you find clarity. We've thoroughly interviewed them and trust them ourselves. Contact these vets to see if one resonates with you. We can promise you that for over 90% of customers, this is the better route than doing it yourself.
Explore our Vet Consult Resource →
Forget the stress. And get good advice—quickly. You and your pet will be glad you did.
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