#its not a jab at people not paying for their pets healthcare

[thehappyvet]

Veterinary medicine is reliant on universal human healthcare.

If humans are paying out of their own pocket for their healthcare, there's less funds available for their pets.

It's a trend we see often during recessions or cost of living pressures, like people giving their pets up for adoption or trying to stretch out elective procedures or checkups as long as possible while things are tight. It's just one of the things we do to try and ease the financial pressures.

With shifts, particularly in Australia, of reduced bulk billing for GP visits and Medicare struggling to cover most procedures this trend is becoming apparent.

We don't have Medicare for pets. Everything is out of pocket unless you have insurance.

If there's less money due to cost of living pressures and rising healthcare costs sadly pets are one of the things we stop spending money on. And if we do, we might be forced to choose high interest loans that can lead to further pressures.

Universal healthcare is a human right. We deserve to have our health issues covered by the taxes we pay.

But it's also essential for animal health and welfare. If society doesn't have to spend its money on their own health, there's funds available to ensure pets get vital veterinary care including check-ups, dental care and diagnostic procedures. We can act early with less invasive treatment and better chances of success.

Veterinarians struggle to practice preventative medicine and are forced into reactive medicine when human healthcare isn't universal.