Today’s post about snakes was written by Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury, a veterinarian at the AAHA-accredited St John’s Veterinary Hospital in St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. I got to know “Dr. Maggie BB” through a veterinary social media & marketing forum in which we both participate. I was always captivated by her posts and comments, as she writes so well and has a terrific sense of humor. Plus, she posted a comment about treating a snake with a respiratory infection, and she mentioned that the snake sneezed! I was fascinated. And that is how her guest post came to be….

According to a recent article published by USA Today (June 2014), the number of pets euthanized for economic reasons is on the rise. As the cost of veterinary treatment has increased — in great part due to significant advances in veterinary medicine — the ability of pet owners to pay for veterinary care has declined.

In the current economic climate, more veterinary clients are making decisions about where to take their pet based on cost, and the availability (or lack of) payment plan options.

Most of us who love our animals say that we’d spend whatever it takes to keep them alive…until we see the bill for an emergency procedure or costly surgery.