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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When you open the door...
12 years ago I opened the door to my heart and let in Purrcy. At the time, having recently lost a beloved cat, I was reluctant to bare my soul and heart to another – but I did – and I have no regrets. Purrcy is a peaches and cream colored gentleman. No gentler soul could be found, nor a better friend, son, or companion.
He is, in one word – perfect. At least, in my eyes, he is.
It is easy to acquire a pet, it is not so easy to keep that pet in good health. When I let an animal acquire me, I make a huge commitment to do everything in my power to keep him or her safe and happy – and that includes regular visits to our vet. As well as spaying or neutering.
Recently Purrcy became very ill, and i took him to our vet. He was cared for, but not getting well. So I took him to another facility and had more testing done. He needed surgery, and he had the surgery. It cost me thousands of dollars.
But before I gave consent for the surgery, I asked questions – can he really survive, What about pain following the surgery, what is the expected outcome, and so forth. They only question that remained unanswered was – does he have cancer – and that was one of the concerns of the surgeon who was going to do the surgery.
During the surgery, biopsies were taken (results take at least 5 days). So even though I knew there was the possibility of cancer, I decided to give Purrcy a chance to live.
Purrcy survived the surgery, and was kept pain-free via continuous IV medication for several days recouperating in a controlled environment. I visited him and it broke my heart to see him so weak and tired. But each day brought improvement and he finally came home.
Recently I have spent much of my time making sure he is comfortable, fed, hydrated, but most of all – loved.
The pathology reports came back showing no cancer, and my heart rejoiced! But if they had come back with an unfavorable report, I don’t think I would or could have done anything differently, except given him supportive care until it was time for him to leave me – assisted or not – depending on his comfort level.
I am a Registered Nurse and I have devoted my life to taking care of those who need care. I have seen pain,and suffering and death, but I have also seen birth, and healing, and life.
How could I not offer life to my cat and give him a chance? And if and when he is suffering, how could I not offer him the solace of a peaceful passing?
Meohmy | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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idntknow
idon’tknow
miranda | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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A dog that got ranover by a raindeer
i sow it and it wAs SAD
kayly connell | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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animal lover who needs some help
I have rescued 2 mini dach I love these dogs one is a long haired mini about 13lbs the other mini is a wired haired very skittish from being in a puppymill in a small box she had and over bite so eventually we had to pull out several of her teeth pulled,both dogs have been fixed and well taken care of and loved. But at this time in my life things have changed I have been laid off from work,been diagnosed with cancer, so now I have a problem with my dogs they need their shots and I can’t afford to get them, I was woundering if there was a low income dog clinic in my area,I have looked to no avail,I live in New Bedford MA. If anybody knows of somewhere i could take my dogs for their shots inexpensive it would be a real help. Please help I can’t lose my dogs. I moved here from NV. after I was diagnosed to be closer to family and friends
Roberta Gullickson | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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retired
When I was told that treatment for a diabetic cat would cost me five thousand dollars, I did not have the money and I could not afford to borrow it. The alternative was to have her put down. I cry over that decision every time I think about it. I no longer have a pet, but my friend’s two cats have adopted me and try to comfort me for my loss.
Mattie Charlene Dyer | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Shadow should be HOME!!!!!
Shadow had a good home, if that women had the money to fix the dog……..how nice would it have been if she fixed the problem and gave the dog to its owner who loved him for all his life. To me this is selfish and not doing a good deed,( sure I will take your dog and fix him, but, you can not have him back,I’ll take him!!!!
Barbara Mitchell | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Oh, to have the money!
I thought the $800 I spent on my cat was exorbitant! I can’t even begin to imagine spending ten times that. If I had it, I imagine I would spend it but when push comes to shove and I just don’t have it, euthanasia is a humane albeit difficult option. I have had to put pets down when they developed epilepsy and diabetes among other things. It’s never easy but a pet is only a pet…not a child. When my peke attacked my 6 month old baby girl, there was no question what had to be done. He was old, ailing, and charged her across a room. He also was bonded to me and would be ill if I tried to find him another home. I had gone through the separation illnesses with him and knew what he would go through if I tried to give him a new home. What killed me was the $300 that it cost to have my diabetic cat put down and save his ashes.
Rayda Renshaw | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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sikcats
people are very mean to cats
taraleemilsvandebogart | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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sick cats
my cat’s eye is sick
callie ann elrod | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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Our loving pets
How much someone spends on their pets should be there decision. We have two dogs and they are part of our family. We call them our “kids”. When we first got our miniature Austrialian Shephard, his leg was dislocated because of a birth defect. He needed surgery, we paid over $1,000 for it. Then he had more problems with his leg and needed a second surgery. So, we had it done. He got caught under a chain link fence and hurt his eye, we had to take him to the emergency hospital to have it taken care of. I had to borrow the money. He is not just a “dog” and unless you are a pet person, you can’t understand how they affect your life. Is it anyone’s elses business, I think not. How a person spends their money should be up to them. After all, they are the ones who go to work everyday.
Scherrie Focht | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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