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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MS
OF COURSE WE ALL WANT TO KEEP THOSE THAT WE HAVE LOVED AND CARED FOR THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME GOVERNING BODY MAKING SURE THAT OUR PETS CAN GET HEALTHCARE AT AFFORDABLE RATES. SAD WHEN SOMEONE HAS TO PUT THEIR ANIMAL DOWN FOR LACK OF FUNDS. I RECENTLY HEARD FROM A FRIEND OF MINE THAT AFTER SPENDING 2500 DOLLARS MORE THAN SHE HAD , SHE LOST HER PET BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH THE NECESSARY TESTS. WHAT A SHAME. IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO IS A VET AND DISAGREES PLEASE WRITE AND LET ME KNOW OR IF YOU LIVE IN CT. AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE SLIDING FEES LET EVERYONE KNOW. THANK YOU
SUSAN GIANGRECO | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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SAVING MONEY
IF YOU ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT HOW MONEY IS SPENT, DO LIKE WHAT WAS DONE IN THE 50’S. INSTEAD OF USING ANIMALS FOR EXPERIMENTS, AND EACH OF THOSE ANIMALS ARE SPECIALLY BRED FOR EXPERIMENTS, COSTING MONEY, USE THE MURDERERS, RAPISTS, AND CHILD MOLESTERS FOR EXPERIMENTS. OR AT LEAST CASTRATE THEM BEFORE YOU LET THEM OUT AGAIN.
M W | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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My Sweet boy
I had a wonderful King Shepherd that broke his leg at 10 years old. We had 2 options. Put him to sleep or spend 3500.00 on his surgery. For us there was really only one choice. He went through the surgery. He had many complications and 8000.00 later he had to be put to sleep. I was told that we he had developed a disease that would effect his eating and he would only be able to eat if we put a tube in his stomache. I couldnt do that to him. My poor sweet boy lost his battle but in the end I know that I did everything I could to try to help make him better. I feel that it is my money to spend how I see fit. Many people told me I was crazy to spend that kind of money on my dog. My boy was gave me unconditional love and for that, he was worth it.
Michele Gicopoulos | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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jaquez 's satna little helper
u
jaquez jaquen jenkins | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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all animals should be loved
We belive that all animals should have a family that care for them no matter how different they are from other animals they are. They may have a sickness or something wrong with them, but it doesnt make a difference because they should be loved instead of staying in cages all their life because they have a desease.All animals should be loved because no matter what they will always be living animals and not bonless careless animals no matter what they should be loved like all of us they are living creatures. they should be loved like we were loved when we were little
Kylie renee werner & jasia rose mackey | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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hope you get well
ihope you get a goood family
victoria salcedo | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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dogs
i love dogs i have three my self .
lindseyshattuck | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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MR
If you are going to be the owner of a pet,then it is your obligation and duty to provide and care for that pet.While the cost is sometimes expensive the rewards and peace of mind are well worth it!You can be fined or imprisoned neglecting or harming your pet just as you should be.If you are going to make the decision to be a pet owner then you have to be in it for the long haul.Anyone who would hurt or neglect a pet would do it to a child!TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS!!!!
Dale Beverly | 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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sick dogs
dogs have fellings
shaelin alexis simpson | 2 months, 1 week ago
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animals
never treat your animals wrong it is not nice how would you like it if someone treated you wrong
alexis spackman | 2 months, 1 week ago
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