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?
Add Comment Share This
Comments
my best friend is a golden that is 12
she has stopped eating and i am be side my self with grief already and she isn’t even gone how will i be able to deal with this i have been trying to feed her everything under the sun and she has no desire i feel as if its my fault but my grandson tells me now grandma its casey’s choice not to eat he is just 5 and a half
n boardman | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
how do you do the machey
im having a problem doin my project and i need your help doin this project and this is why i hate doing projects so can you help the poor little baby
jazmine banda | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
poor dog
im so sorry of your dog
daisy mares | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
nice dog
i am so sorry you dog is sick i hope he gets better and does die or else it will be panfull for you. i hope he does not die because he is kind of your family. if he dies im sorry he was your friend and i hope his hand gets better !!!!! love you dog SO MUCH
daisy mares | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
cat and dog
I like cat and dog to be it
cat | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
cat lizeu back and dog lizeu back
I love they a iot
ho
cat lizeu back | 4 months, 1 week ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
vet`s fee.
I`m a single mom with two young girls and an adorrable lhasa apso.
When my children`s dad made that choice to leave home and file for divorce, it was as if the world was at it`s end for us all.But our little dog was such a tower of strength for us especially my children. The girls devoted all their time into this cute little dog Scooby.
We spent a lot of money on vet`s fee for Scooby but now times are so difficult, i`m struggling to put food on the table for my children.Now Scooby has an ear infection and this has us in tears and sleepness night because we do not have the money to take him to the vet.Is there a free vet or clinic we can take Scooby? Is there such a place?
A helpless family.
rafeeza smith | 4 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
puppies
Do you have any puppies for sale or for free?
sara jean riall | 4 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
puppies
my dauter wants a puppy not a dog.
courtney nicole riall | 4 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
macy
Ilove my puppy
chandler wade kuhn | 4 months ago
Add Comment | Post Reply
« First < 100 101 102 103 104 > Last » (158 pages)