How much would you spend on pet medical bills?

[driveway]

Ever since our guy's second knee surgery (the injury coming less than a month after $1200 dental surgery) we've taken to calling him "The Six Million Dollar Dog."

How many 10kg dogs you know manage to blow out TWO ACLs?

[hayduke's dad]

my dog is diabetic. we had a choice of putting her down or trying insulin & special vet diet. Anyway we chose the insullin route and spend about $300 per month oon insulin, test strips, needles and food. Initially thought that 3 months would be good but whe is still with us 2 years 2 months later.

to some dogs are dogs. to my family pets are family members too.

[Suzles]

Originally Posted by ericschand

Well, this is a coincidence.

After $2,000+ in vet bills for our cat, another "minimum $1,500" staring us down, being told it's not just the colon that has an issue, there's something wrong with the cat's liver, not to mention being anemic, plus no guarantees of recovery after sugery (if only one is required) and most likely continued suffering, I just had him put down this evening.

So, I guess my limit is around $2,000.

ers

How very sad. My deepest sympathies. RIP Puss.

[Fire Element]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Wow $40 k on a pet.....I'd sure like to know how much more money that guy has spent on stupider stuff (although I think his metal Mulisha hat is cool).

Anyways, this is one of the reason I do not have or really want a pet - years ago an ex and I had a cat that got sick at Christmas and the bill was ~$600 and it pretty much meant no gifts for me, I was not happy......

How incredibly shallow of you...

[FlamingLonghorn]

I am much like the guy in the article and have wasted money on much more ridiculous things then $40k on my dog (ie the amount of money I just spent on a purse for my girlfriend for xmas). My dog is about to turn 9 and I still think he's got a few good years in him and I wouldn't think twice about spending 40k to have a couple more years with him.

[MoneyGuy]

Nothing like discussions about God and pets to stir up emotions, huh?

[Rathji]

I have typed up a response to this thread a few times but stopped since I can't find a way to say what I want tactfully, so I won't bother trying.

I wish I could afford to spend more than several times my yearly housing budget or more than my entire owing amount on student loans on a pet. I can't though, and if I was in that situation, I would put a pet down without hesitation. For me, if a bill hit 4 digits, I would seriously consider it.

That said, taking care of your pets is a responsibility of pet ownership. If you have them, you need to be prepared to take care of them, and that includes paying medical bills. As a result, I don't own any pets currently and won't until such time that I would be able to provide them the care that they need.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Nothing like discussions about God and pets to stir up emotions, huh?

Do you tithe your church the recommended 10%?

I think you can count money, but I'm just wondering how you value it.

Everyone is different as to what they think is important.

Cowperson

[username]

My gf is a vet at a small animal clinic here in Calgary and it drives her nuts when a bill hits a 1000 bucks and people say they want to opt for the needle. It's like what did you expect - you would get a dog and it would be cheap? If someone isn't willing to fork out the money to own a pet then don't get it in the first place.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by username

My gf is a vet at a small animal clinic here in Calgary and it drives her nuts when a bill hits a 1000 bucks and people say they want to opt for the needle. It's like what did you expect - you would get a dog and it would be cheap? If someone isn't willing to fork out the money to own a pet then don't get it in the first place.

I can understand the frustration, but at the same time you can't know what every situation is. At this particular point in our life a $1000 vet bill would be looked at very differently than a $1000 vet bill at the same time last year.

[fredr123]

Wow, I don't feel so bad now.

We spent $1,500 on New Year's Day last year to get three large rocks removed from our lab's intestines. Nothing was passing through and it was emergency surgery or put him down. We wrestled with spending that much on a pet, but went ahead with the surgery.

The dog means a lot to our kids and my wife (and to me, but I'm not going to admit that very often). He wasn't quite two years old and there was a great likelihood he would do something else stupid to get himself in trouble again. There was a good chance we'd be back to see the docs again to have a pair of underwear removed from his gut in the near future.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Nothing like discussions about God and pets to stir up emotions, huh?

nm

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by username

My gf is a vet at a small animal clinic here in Calgary and it drives her nuts when a bill hits a 1000 bucks and people say they want to opt for the needle. It's like what did you expect - you would get a dog and it would be cheap? If someone isn't willing to fork out the money to own a pet then don't get it in the first place.

Originally Posted by fredr123

Wow, I don't feel so bad now.

We spent $1,500 on New Year's Day last year to get three large rocks removed from our lab's intestines. Nothing was passing through and it was emergency surgery or put him down. We wrestled with spending that much on a pet, but went ahead with the surgery.

The dog means a lot to our kids and my wife (and to me, but I'm not going to admit that very often). He wasn't quite two years old and there was a great likelihood he would do something else stupid to get himself in trouble again. There was a good chance we'd be back to see the docs again to have a pair of underwear removed from his gut in the near future.

I fall on the "don't spend too much" side of things but I wanted to point out that a) username if you and your g/f don't like it then TS, tell her to find a new job or pay for it herself and b) every situation is different. I totally agree with fredr123's decision. 1 time expense for a grand? Sure. $300 month for the next 5-10 years? Yeah, no thanks.

I had a cat that got sick less than a month after I got her. She ended up having to be put down. Does that make me a terrible person?

If you go through a dog per year because you consistently choose to put them down rather than care for them you're a dbag.

If you have a dog for 5 years and he gets an ailment that will require a one time surgery for $1000, well I'd have a hard time understanding not spending the money unless you happen to be unemployed or in some financial hardship at the time.

If you have an animan that requires ongoing care to the tune of several hundred a month for years? I'd have a hard time agreeing to that.

At the end of the day if you have the money, why not spend it? Most of us don't have thousands of dollars in disposable income to spend on a pet though. No one should ever question another person's financial decisions when it comes to their pet.

[username]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

At the end of the day if you have the money, why not spend it? Most of us don't have thousands of dollars in disposable income to spend on a pet though. No one should ever question another person's financial decisions when it comes to their pet.

Clearly you don't get it. If you can't afford a pet then you shouldn't own one. That's the point I'm making. People bring their dogs into the clinic and can't believe it's going to cost a 1000 bucks for an operation - like what did you expect?

So yes, you can question finanical decisions when it comes to owning a pet. If you own a pet, expect there to be a financial burden on your family that you should plan for. Your pet will get sick just like humans get sick.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by username

Clearly you don't get it. If you can't afford a pet then you shouldn't own one. That's the point I'm making. People bring their dogs into the clinic and can't believe it's going to cost a 1000 bucks for an operation - like what did you expect?

So yes, you can question finanical decisions when it comes to owning a pet. If you own a pet, expect there to be a financial burden on your family that you should plan for. Your pet will get sick just like humans get sick.

If I'm not mistaken, about 50% of dogs are surrendered to new owners or rescue agencies in their first year. People hadn't anticipated the financial burden or the lifestyle changes that might be required

We were the third owner of Ruby within her first 1.5 years of life and we are Pete's second owner. Our four cats are rescues, including Polly who cost me $800 the first day I knew her (her feet had to be amputated or she would have been put to sleep. The surgeons at Western Vet donated half of the $1,600 bill without being asked. That was seven years ago. Polly is 10 now).

I've let three dogs go and, I think six cats. Very difficult every time. But that's the way it should be.

I can easily see why your vet girlfriend would be upset in a lot of the cases she might see. My own vet flat out refuses to put a reasonably healthy pet to sleep, referring the owners instead to charity financing programs or no-kill shelters. She's on the Board of one I believe.

The Farley Foundation in Ontario is an example of an agency providing financial assistance. http://www.pgaa.com/financialaid.html and there are a lot of these in the States: http://www.pgaa.com/financialaid.html

Aid isn't necessarily accessible to everyone.

Polly, no back feet but still able to catch incompetent mice . . .



Cowperson

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by username

Clearly you don't get it. If you can't afford a pet then you shouldn't own one. That's the point I'm making. People bring their dogs into the clinic and can't believe it's going to cost a 1000 bucks for an operation - like what did you expect?

So yes, you can question finanical decisions when it comes to owning a pet. If you own a pet, expect there to be a financial burden on your family that you should plan for. Your pet will get sick just like humans get sick.

Unfortunately most people don't understand the financial aspects of pet ownership (somewhat like the financial aspects or raising children). I certainly didn't. Owning a pet has cost much more than I expected... starting right from the cost of buying a purebred Golden Retriever. I was expecting to pay about $500 but ended up paying $1200.... and the bills start adding up from there.

But I love my dog... and the money paid so far and all money's that will be paid in the future are more than worth it. Fortunately I am in a financial position to be able to say this. I feel for those who have a pet and their financial position may have changed for the worse and they just don't have the resources to pay the piper.

... but then again... thats why there are pet rescue organizations to help pets in need

[Sliver]

Sometimes pets should be put down for reasons other than financial or health. We had a Siamese cat that turned vicious at about three-years old. She'd stalk you as you walked by and dig her claws in and bite as hard as she could. We had to sleep with the door closed to our bedroom or she'd try to kill us while we slept.

I've never regretted getting rid of that cat. She had to go.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Sometimes pets should be put down for reasons other than financial or health. We had a Siamese cat that turned vicious at about three-years old. She'd stalk you as you walked by and dig her claws in and bite as hard as she could. We had to sleep with the door closed to our bedroom or she'd try to kill us while we slept.

I've never regretted getting rid of that cat. She had to go.

One of our friends did the same thing and I can't say I blame him.

He could describe it, the vicious, sudden, clawing ambushes coming out of nowhere, but you just had to go over there and see it and experience it to believe it.

He's quite happy with the two, benign cats he has now.

Cowperson

[username]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I can easily see why your vet girlfriend would be upset in a lot of the cases she might see. My own vet flat out refuses to put a reasonably healthy pet to sleep, referring the owners instead to charity financing programs or no-kill shelters.

That's exactly what they do at her clinic.

One lady brought in 4 healthy cats that were all under a year of age to be put down. The whole clinic was obviously very upset by this and boarded them all until they were all adopted.

It's just ridiculous (to me anyway) that someone would do that. Apparently she said she didn't realize how much it would cost to have 4 cats, like wtf????

[username]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Sometimes pets should be put down for reasons other than financial or health. We had a Siamese cat that turned vicious at about three-years old. She'd stalk you as you walked by and dig her claws in and bite as hard as she could. We had to sleep with the door closed to our bedroom or she'd try to kill us while we slept.

I've never regretted getting rid of that cat. She had to go.

Totally agree - you can't argue putting down a vicious animal.