The vet wanted just under NOK 6,000 to pull the tooth of 11-year-old Chico. Then Marie Helen Rødli (21) from Brønnøysund feared she would have to kill the relocation dog. – I felt so guilty for not having checked my teeth earlier. It felt absolutely terrible. She believes the prices at the vet should be lower. – It is too stupid that you have to wait until you are well-established and well-established to be able to afford a dog. It’s true that you have to have money to have animals, but it has become far too expensive. Veterinarian Linda Bakken Bøe from Dyrlegene in Bodø confirms that treatment at the vet is expensive, but clarifies that it is not too expensive: – The prices are carefully calculated based on what it costs us to offer the services we do, and in the way we think they should be performed on. DENTAL PROBLEMS: One of the most common complaints of so-called “Pomchi” is dental problems. – When we took him over, he only had ten teeth left, says Rødli. Photo: Privat Bakken Bøe says that it is not just the treatment itself that you pay for when you take your dog to the vet. – We pay rent, electricity, cleaning, maintenance, staff, courses and skills development and so on, and receive no support for operation or treatment from the public. – Many have never seen the actual price tag of what a doctor’s visit or hospitalization is for a person, as it is hidden in the taxes we pay to the state. Got help to pay the bill Although she was afraid of criticism, Rødli went to Avisa Nordland to talk about her situation. Then more people appeared who wanted to help. – A man tipped me NOK 4,000 to take Chico to the vet. I could hardly believe it. I am so incredibly grateful, says Rødli. Soon after, she sent a message to a vet in Bodø to make an appointment to have the tooth pulled. It costs more to insure older dogs than puppies, and a breeder recommended that Rødli save money himself instead of taking out insurance on Chico. But the money she put aside, she has had to spend on other things. – The savings have gone to food and electricity. Everything has become so expensive, says Rødli. CALLS FOR BETTER TEETH BRUSHING: Rødli admits that she should have discovered the dog’s dental problems earlier. She encourages everyone to take better care of their dogs’ teeth to avoid ending up in the same situation. Photo: Privat Rødli receives support from another woman news has spoken to. She does not want to be named because of the stigma around not being able to afford it. – I have never felt poor. Even though I have a small buffer account and life is fine, the cost of getting a dog is too great, says the woman. – We have wanted a dog for a long time, but it would be irresponsible of us to buy. She believes that dogs as pets are about to be reserved for the upper middle class and the upper class. – Being able to have a pet should not only be reserved for the richest among us. Then the animals eventually become just status symbols. Should save to have a dog Cecilie Holgersen in the Norwegian Kennel Club says that it has become more expensive to have a dog today than 10–15 years ago, and that it is not just because most things have gone up in price. Cecilie Holgersen says you should prepare to spend at least NOK 1,500 a month on having a dog. Photo: CF-Wesenberg – We treat our pets very differently today than before. Among other things, safety and nutrition will be prioritized higher than before. She says that more people also insure their dogs today. – We care more, and simply take better care of our dogs. Holgersen recommends everyone to insure their dogs, and is supported by vet Bakken BETTER TREATMENT: Veterinarian Linda Bakken Bøe says vets today are able to treat animals for ailments they couldn’t before: – This especially applies to dental problems and allergic ears. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / news Bøe from the Veterinary Clinic in Bodø, who says that we treat the animals more and more often than before. – If you can’t afford to insure the dog, you really can’t afford to have a dog. Bakken Bøe says that not all veterinary treatment is covered by the insurance either, and that you should also put money aside. – And then there is no shame in saying that “I can’t do this” if you see that you don’t have the finances to take care of the animal, and perhaps relocate it to someone who can afford it better. She also recommends having a chat with a vet before purchasing a dog. – Some breeds have more known health problems than others, so familiarize yourself with these and consider whether you should get another dog.
ttn-69
– Veterinarians have become too expensive – news Nordland
