Man’s Best Friend
How much is that doggy in the window?
The one with the waggley tail may seem like a bargain these days compared to the dog with the $3,000 pacemaker. Or the cat with the $8,000 kidney transplant. Or the pet chicken undergoing radiation therapy after cancer surgery.
Medical care for pets now rivals medical care for humans, with veterinary oncologists, neurologists, cardiologists and other specialists providing high tech, big-bucks treatment for Fido and Fluffy.
But when cats have chemo and dogs have dialysis, their owners have something too: unexpected ethical issues triggered by enormous medical bills.
“Is the 15-year-old tabby worth $12,000 in dialysis?” asks a newspaper story with the nagging headline: Do some pet owners go a little too far?
“I admit sometimes questioning the reality of spending $11,000 on my cat when there are greater human needs,” said a California college professor, who readily paid for feline chemotherapy and pancreatitis treatment.
U.S. pet owners will spend more than $24 billion this year on pet medical care, an amount greater than the gross domestic product of more than half of the world’s countries.
But when man’s best friend is a integral member of the family, the question of whether it’s appropriate to spend top-dollar for animal medical care is often more emotional than financial. With the unconditional love, friendship, and support of a beloved companion at stake, many pet owners feel they don’t have the option of not providing—and paying for—expensive medical care.
It’s not a simple issue, said one veterinarian. When you hear of a medical bill of $14,000 for a dog, he explained, people ask, “Should you not just buy a new dog and give the money to charity? That, I have to say, is a non-starter of an argument. You then have to ask all sorts of questions about how people spend their money—should they spend it on big cars?”
Tell us what you think: When it comes to expensive veterinary medical care, is it more responsible to pay for a pet or perhaps give the money to charity instead?
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chi-chi
i have 4 chi-chis lol
kimberly | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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sick
how can you tell if your dog is sick cuz my dog is puking and all
janey | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Yall did great on this web site...
I really like this web site that yall have made to try to help the animals that do not have a home or anywhere to go well thank you some much for helps the poor animals…..
Deanna Lachea Bishop | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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my cat silver
silver was a very loving cat he was only 4 yrs old when he was taken from me he was like my child i would of done anything to keep him alive if i could nothing would of saved him he was dieing in my arms crying knowing how much i loved him a big piece of me went with him.hes been gone 4 a yr now and calico silvers mothercame up missing but they are both up in cat heaven with no more.
diane draeger | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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They are so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Savannah Faye Short | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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I miss my buddy, Buddy
I do to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Savannah Faye Short | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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I miss my buddy, Buddy
I was 5 or 6 years old when it happened. My daddy had to take our dog named Buddy to the Vet. When he left with Buddy, my daddy was holding him. When he returned,Buddy was no longer with him. We all started to cry. Even my mom. I am eight now, so that was about 2 or three years ago. When only my daddy returned, he told us,” Buddy has died. He broke his leg. Maybe in a couple years we can get another dog.” But now, we have a dog named, Oreo. I love him as much as I loved Buddy. Oreo is standing right behind me, right now.
I hope you liked this short story! I will never forget it.
Your Friend,
Savannah Faye Short
Savannah Faye Short | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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my cats
that was soooooo sad col
lucy | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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kate
cat 121
mom dad | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Ms
My sister-in-law paid 7000+ to save the life of her wonderful Irish wolf hound after life threatening complications happened after a routine spay surgery. It was so worth it to her. My sister paid 2500 for a similar problem with her golden retriever. She said to me she had to pay. How could she let her dog die? she would feel so guilty, I know. And it was a financial burden for her. These two dogs are living companions now. Isnt that the real reason we payup? I think so.
Jeanne Meger | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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