Furkids are just as fallible to afflictions as their mortal owners. The best thing you can do to prepare is have a trusty vet clinic in your back pocket, know the costs and plan for emergencies.

Responsible pet ownership includes a certain level of medical care. No matter how much love and attention you lavish on your pets, there are certain unavoidable procedures that can only be reliably performed at a veterinary clinic. 

Some of these procedures you are likely to encounter during the lifetime of your cat or dog are:

• Microchipping – From $50
• Vaccinations – From $40 to $100
• Flea, mite and parasite treatment – From $40 to $450
• Sterilisation – From $150 to $1,000
• Dental scaling – From $150 to $600

These prices are indicative, and serves to give you a rough idea of what to expect in terms of vet bills.

Please bear in mind that the actual costs you have to pay will depend on a few factors, including the age and size of your pet, how advanced or serious the condition is, or the type of treatment option you choose. 

Common vet procedures for your cats and dogs 

While not required by law, microchipping your pet is nevertheless a good idea.

This involves the insertion of a tiny device between the shoulder blades of your animal, which can be used to trace your pet should it run away or get stolen. 

Vaccinations are important to keep your pet healthy while protecting the health of the feline or canine community in Singapore.

This goes the same for flea, mite and parasite treatment, as these conditions not only harm your pet, they can also spread to other animals and even humans.

Pet owners who have no intention to breed should look into sterilisation for their pets to improve their temperament, curb undesired behaviours and avoid unwanted pregnancies.

The cost for sterilisation ranges widely; it depends on the sex (males are cheaper to neuter) and size (costs more for larger dogs) of your animal, the type of procedure chosen (‘keyhole’ or laparoscopic surgeries are less invasive), and whether your animal is in heat or pregnant during the period.

Dental scaling is required to help upkeep the dental health of your cat or dog by removing plaque, tartar buildup and prevent other oral diseases which can lead to tooth loss.

Broken or diseased teeth can also be detected during dental scaling and safely removed for the comfort of your pet.

Unlike humans, our pets cannot be expected to stay still while their teeth are being worked on.

This means the dental scaling needs to be performed under general anaesthesia, which, in turn, requires a blood test to ensure safety.

Considering dental scaling needs to be done at least once a year, this procedure could add up and be quite costly.

Vet fees: Routine procedures for pets

Here are six established vet clinics in Singapore and their prices for some of the most common care and treatment packages.

Oasis Vet Clinic

Website: https://oasis-vet.com/
Address: 15 Venus Rd, Singapore 574302
Tel: 6256 2693
Contact form: https://oasis-vet.com/contact-us/

Located in the Thompson area, Oasis Vet Clinic offers competitively priced consultations of around $40 per visit.

The real winner is its core vaccination package for both cats and dogs, which costs just $48.15, inclusive of consultation.

Oasis Vet also offers complimentary urinary stone analysis for your pets – a procedure that can cost you about $300 at other vet clinics. 

The clinic offers comprehensive veterinary care, at prices comparable to other vet clinics, making this a reasonably priced option for pet owners in Singapore. 

Toa Payoh Vets

Website: https://www.toapayohvets.com/
Address: Blk 1002, Toa Payoh Lor 8, 01-1477, Singapore 319074
Tel: 6254 3326, 9668 6468, 9664 0404
Email: judy@toapayohvets.com

Started in 1982, Toa Payoh Vets specialises in boutique vet care with a focus on small animals.

The clinic offers a comprehensive list of prices for the various treatments offered, which is handy for getting a close estimate if you’re thinking of bringing your cat or dog for treatment. 

Consultations start from $40 and go up to $50 on public holidays. House calls are also available from $300 onwards, depending on location and day of call. 

Point Veterinary Surgery

Website: https://www.pointveterinarysurgery.com/
Address: 541 Jurong West Ave 1, #01-1044, Singapore 640541
Tel: 6425 6772
Email: pointveterinaryjurong@gmail.com

Address: 38 Telok Blangah Rise, #01-339, Singapore 090038
Tel: 6274 1677
Email: pointveterinarytelok@gmail.com

Point Veterinary Surgery prefers to offer consultations by appointment only, but also caters to urgent or emergency cases.

That’s why its consultation fees start from $30, with surcharges for public holidays and walk-ins.

There are two clinics in operation – one in Jurong and the other in Telok Blangah, which makes it easier for pet owners to find a suitable arrangement. Both clinics are well-equipped to address a variety of pet concerns. 

The Animal Clinic

Website: https://www.animalclinic.com.sg/
Address: Block 109 Clementi Street 11, #01-17/19, Singapore 120109
Tel: 6776 3450 or 6777 0273 (Emergency: 6333 5550)

Address: 55 Lorong L Telok Kurau, #01-63, Bright Centre, Singapore 425500
Tel: 64404767 or 64402336 (Emergency: 6333 5550)

Operated by a team of 15 veterinarians across two clinics – one in Clementi and the other in Katong – The Animal Clinic offers a full range of animal care, ranging from surgical to general and medical care.

It also operates a subsidiary called The Cat Clinic, focussed on feline care.

First-time consultations will set you back $49.60, rising to $71.65 for more thorough examinations. Returning consultations, however, are lower, at $36.40. 

Island Veterinary Clinic

Website: https://www.ivc.com.sg/
Address: 123 Bedok North Street 2, Singapore 460123
Tel: 6449 4491

Address: 114 Jurong East Street 13, #01-404, Singapore 600114
Tel: 6560 5991

Operating since 2011, Island Veterinary Clinic is another household name when it comes to pet care, thanks in part to their accessible locations in the HDB heartlands.

There are two branches in operation, one in Bedok for people who stay in the east, and another in Jurong for the west-siders. 

Consultation fees start from $35 during normal clinic hours, but rise sharply to $85.60 near closing time. After-hours consultations are also available with a surcharge of between $150 to $250.

Island Veterinary Clinic offers among the lowest prices for dental scaling and extractions.

My Family Vet

Website: https://www.myfamilyvet.sg/
Address: Blk 265 Bukit Batok East Avenue 4, #01-403, Singapore 650265
Tel: 6566 0448 (Emergencies: 81022 6966)
Email: info@myfamilyvet.com.sg

With consultations starting from just $25, this Bukit Batok vet clinic is among one of the most affordable in Singapore.

My Family Vet also offers health checkup certifications at $45, so pet owners who are also breeders may want to note this clinic down in your address books. 

The cost of dental scaling services are also among the lowest, starting from $250 for small dogs and cats, and going up to $440 for larger animals. Packages for sterilisation are also competitively priced.  

Vet fees: Emergency procedures for pets

Accidents, disease and other emergencies can befall your pet cat or dog, necessitating advanced veterinary care.

In these situations, you should be prepared for a bill that could easily cross into the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

We zoomed into two vet clinics in Singapore to find out some indicative costs of how much common emergency procedures and treatments can cost.

Again, you should use these figures only as a guide – the actual amount you may have to pay depends on the unique needs of your pet. 

As you can see from the table above, some of these high-cost vet bills could come from:

• Cesarean delivery – From $800 onwards
• Surgery – From $300 onwards
• X-rays, lab tests – From $30 to $200 onwards

In case your pet runs into complications during pregnancy, an emergency Cesarean delivery might be necessary. As this is a major operation, don’t expect the bill to be cheap.

Once again, costs will go up depending on the size of the animal and her litter. 

While an unbearable thought, the likelihood of your pet requiring surgery is higher than you think. For one, your cat or dog may accidentally swallow something inedible which requires a gastrostomy to alleviate.

Tumours – whether benign or malign – and kidney stones can also plague our furry friends, and will require surgical removal.

Other common conditions that require surgery could be fractures, hernias or amputation of injured tails.

Adding to the bill are diagnostic tests such as x-rays and lab tests, which could easily add one or two hundred dollars to your bill. Also, don’t forget the costs of medicines and dressings.

How pet owners can cope with high vet costs

Dr Nair, Veterinary Surgeon at Oasis Vet Clinic advises that cat and dog owners should be prepared for the medical needs of their pets.

She said, “Young cats and dogs with minimal health issues should have a checkup at least once a year.” 

To cope with vet treatment costs, Dr Nair suggests owners set aside between $200 to $300 each month (or $2,400 to $3,600 per year) to meet veterinary costs. “Look into getting pet insurance as well, which may cover unforeseen circumstances and assist in high medical bills.”

If you’re having trouble putting aside the money, or facing an emergency and don’t have vet insurance, another option would be to apply for a personal loan to pay the treatment costs. 

Personal loans in Singapore are flexible. You can borrow just enough to cover the bill, or the bulk of the costs.

You can also choose a payment timeline that makes it easy for you to pay the loan back, while continuing to enjoy the faithful companionship of your beloved furry friend.

This article was first published in SingSaver.com.sg