A Personal Entry....

When we make decisions about our pets’ health, finances often sit heavily on our minds. It can feel tempting to stretch out the time between appointments or to put off booking a check-in session for a few extra weeks or months. After all, what’s the harm in waiting just a little longer? Surely it’ll save money, right?

I’ve recently had a very personal reminder of why that approach doesn’t always work out the way we imagine. And I am so glad that I didn't wait!

My horse is 12 years old, and like many owners, I’ve always kept him on a routine of dental checks every 12 months. This is considered fairly standard and recommended by the dentist. But this year, during his check-up, we discovered significant changes in his incisors. He’s actually struggling to pull at grass and can't uptake grass at the same efficiency as a "normal mouth". On top of that, his gums are showing subtle signs of ulcers caused by the dental issues. The result? He now needs x-rays and is facing the likelihood of having both front incisors extracted. The cost for this round of treatment alone is around £500.

Now, that’s a lot of money. But what I can’t stop thinking about is how much worse it might have been if I’d decided to skip or delay his routine check. Here are a few of the hidden costs I might have faced:

Special feeds and supplements: If his condition worsened, he may have lost weight and condition. That would have meant spending far more on specialist feeds or supplements to keep him healthy and maintain his energy.

Riding lessons or behavioural training: If he had become uncomfortable in the mouth, I might have mistakenly thought he had a training issue. I could easily have poured money into extra lessons, trying to ‘fix’ a behavioural problem that wasn’t actually there.

Saddle and tack adjustments: Discomfort in one part of the body often shows up as tension elsewhere. It’s not hard to imagine I might have spent hundreds on different saddles, bits, or tack, trying to make him more comfortable - when in fact the root cause was in his mouth.

Emergency treatment later down the line: Left unchecked, dental problems can escalate quickly. Emergency call-outs, more invasive procedures, or even the long-term health effects of malnutrition could easily have cost far more than £500.

This experience really made me reflect on the importance of regular, preventative care. Yes, the upfront cost of a routine appointment can feel like another expense in an already busy month. But by addressing issues early, you often avoid far greater costs - financially and emotionally-further down the line.

And this lesson translates directly into the world of physiotherapy. Just like with dentistry, physiotherapy isn’t only about treating a crisis when it happens - it’s about prevention, maintenance, and catching subtle changes before they develop into bigger, more complicated problems.

When clients delay physiotherapy check-ins, they may not realise what it could be costing them in other areas:

1. Extra vet visits or medications if their pet’s condition worsens.

2. Higher costs for more intensive rehab later, compared to gentle, consistent maintenance now.

3. The emotional toll of watching their beloved pet struggle, when early intervention could have kept them comfortable and active.

4. Missed opportunities to keep pets enjoying the activities they love, which can impact quality of life for both pet and owner.

   
   

So, is it really cheaper to wait? From my own recent experience with my horse, I’d say no. Investing in regular, preventative care not only saves money in the long run, but also ensures the animals we love enjoy healthier, happier lives.

✨ If you’ve been thinking about booking your pet’s next physiotherapy session but wondering if you should wait another few weeks or months, take this as a gentle nudge: don’t wait. Small, regular investments now can save you - and your pet - from far greater costs and challenges down the line.

👉 Book your pet’s physiotherapy check-up today and give them the gift of comfort, movement, and long-term well-being.