This may sound dumb but I invest in an animal health care insurance policy. I pay nothing to go to vets and only pay a monthly bill. In the end I think I've saved at least 5-7k dollars in would be vet bills this year, vet bills are almost as expensive as doctor bills these days, anything I think might be wrong I always never think twice and take the animals in. Then again I have 25 snakes this may not be a good idea if you just have 1 or never really take your pet to the vet at all but it works for me.