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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my lilly
they could have saved her but because i didn’t have enough money at the time of the visit they killed her she was only 1yr 4 months old. they wouldn’t even work with me on payments. lilly was way more than a family pet she was a member of our family she was my youngest baby. how is that far ? how is that right ? my lilly was a red nose pit and the most beautiful loving playful dog. she was my baby girl. on 11-25-09 @ 5:45pm they took her away from her family forever. yes she was a dog and not a human being but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t a key member of our family. vetrianarians they don’t care about anyone or anything except that mighty dollar. how can you put a price on life. its wrong and i am gonna do something about it. just watch me!!! IN LILLY’S NAME ITS ALL FOR HER
dyanne johnson | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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VANESSA
MY DOG AND PUPPY
STAR | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Guinea Pig
I have a guinea pig who is about 5 years old. She has always been very energetic and a holy terror. The past week she has stopped eating and drinking. What do you think could be wrong with her and what is the life expectancy of guinea pigs? Thank you. Daniel J. Powers.
Daniel J. Powers | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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mira nash | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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New cat owner.
We just adopted two little brother orange tabbies and they’re a delight to have around but I have to say that I’m a little shocked by the vet bills. One of our boys, both were rescue kittens, seems to be immunity challenged and so is prone to yeast infections, ringworm and ear mites, (actually they both have the last problem, no surprise) I’m keeping their environment very clean, have subscribed to the pet “insurance” thinking that it would be good for that first year at least but I’m finding out that very little that is happening to them is actually covered by the Banfield insurance policy eg, ear mite treatments, ringworm treatment and so I’m feeling tooled by them. Those are what cost so much.
Long story short, I don’t know how much is too much to spend on pets, I simply wanted to rescue these two and now I’m feeling a little tooled by the folks involved in setting up this rescue and by our vet. Since I’ve brought them home, Sept. 15, I’ve spent over a thousand on vet bills, setting up their environment and paying the adoption fees and though I’m not saying that it’s not worth it I do think that it’s become yet another way to target consumers at our most vulnerable. Who can not want a beautiful little animal to be healthy and content? My faith in animal kind is standing up but my faith in the adoption programs are bring out my cynicism.
Jaynette Ersic | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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great story
i really think you guys tell everyone about takin g care of a animal i hope even people who dont have a dog read it and listen to it this is the best website ever.
from lexi
lexi hicks | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Mrs.
I’m trying to get help for my pet but I have no money to get a question answered. Can anyone help me. My pet is an 11 month old beagle who I had fixed months ago. She’s had all her shots and current with her immunizations. I am on a limited income so things are tight and I take her to the humane society. She’s behaving as if she’s in heat. Her private parts are swollen and she’s licking at it. If you try to touch her in that area she cries and tries to get away. Can anyone help me?
Donna Miller | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Health treatment on pets
I believe its up to each individual how to spend their money. A pet is like a family menber and deserve a full compromise on care and medical treatments. I believe its not wise to extend the life of an animal in tedious treatments and in many cases its more adviseable to put the animal to sleep. But my question is this Why should bother anybody how much of our money is being spend in our pets if the jails are fully packed of individuals, criminals and law offenders that are being treated very nicely with our tax money?
chelo serrano | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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vet cost/spent
We LOVE our pets! They are truly members of our family,however ,extravegent vet bill are Not practical for us,SO,we are forced to draw a line as to just how far to go. Emotional OH YES! It a choice I do not look forward to have to make.
Karen A. Martin | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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it's our business
if people choose to spend money on their pets is their business. I see people waste money on fancy cars, beer, cigs, gambling, the latest gagets. so why not spend your money (if you have it) on your pets. I have no problem with giving to charity, I do it quite often. but my pets are family.
delsa martin | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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