A couple of months ago, one of our two cats got sick. We took him to the vet and, before we knew it, we owed $1,300. Almost every pet owner we know has a similar story about paying hundreds or thousands to save a pet, so we wrote an article about it that's up today on Salon: "What I wouldn't do for my cat: After shelling out $1,300 on a vet bill, I had to wonder: How much is too much to pay for your pet?"
Here's an excerpt:
On a site unfortunately titled "Thrifty Fun," there's a "urinary blockage in cats" thread describing our same predicament, although some of the cat owners in there have already spent thousands. Mixed in with the complaints is some boasting: "What can I say? I love my cat!" is a recurring theme. In a Yahoo chat room on the subject, one person trying to figure out how to help his cat without spending so much money is attacked from all sides. One poster tells him, "You obviously could not care less about your cat or you would get it the medical care that it needs."
So, are poor people, or even people who find themselves temporarily unemployed, not allowed to have cats? And isn't there something sort of unseemly about spending so much money on one animal given the state of the world? According to the American Humane Society, 9.6 million animals are put to sleep every year because they don't have people to care for them. If we hadn't saved Ferdinand, we would have eventually adopted another animal from the pound, saving it from euthanasia, and we would have had a thousand dollars left.
Read the whole article here. Would you pay whatever it took to treat a pet? Or is there a limit?
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)
16. Totally agree Vets are out of control on their prices. I recently had a Great Dane very sick and the vet wanted to immediately perform surgery and do a ton of tests, estimate $4,500 since I didn't have this kind of money available at the time, and that I had this type of surgery performed before on another dog which ended up passing away, I chose to look for alternatives. I found a kennel that offered me advice and what over the counter medications I could try. And sure enough in two days the dog was BETTER than normal. Vets use to have compassion for pets and now it seems they have more compassion for the $$
Tom Z at 8:31PM on Feb 9th 2008
17. I have a cat that had to finally be taken to
U. T. Vet. Hospital because our local Vet couldn't
handle the situation and only the Vet hospital
had the equipment to do so. It ended up costing
us almost $2,000 for her surgery and the medicines
she was put on and the follow up's. Yes, I felt
guilty having to pay that much, because I really
didn't have the money to do so...in fact, I
had to charge it and make payments to a credit
company. I couldn't put her to sleep because
she belonged to my precious granddaughter and it
would have devasted her. We all have to do things
that sometimes we really don't want to do, but
our pets are our friends as well, and part of
our family. I would do it again for any of my
precious animals. I love them, and they are
special. They give me comfort when no one else
can...and my grandchildren love them so much,
and that gives me that much more enjoyment...
God gave us animals to love and enjoy...but
to also take care of....and that is what I feel
we all need to do...Thank you.
Raena at 9:55PM on Feb 9th 2008
18. i have found a hospital located in all petsmart stores named banfield. they offer great deals like a basic plan for 300.00 plus a year that includes onlimited visits, all there shots, and neutering you would have to pay for medications. i find it a wonderful deal and my dogs are getting the treatments they need.
mary at 2:44AM on Feb 10th 2008
19. I have 7 rescue dogs, 3 rescue cats and 3 rescue tortoises. I have a great Vet who is reasonable. The trick is to find a vet who has compassion and is caring, both for the owners and the pets. I have lived in rural areas most of my adult life so it is easier to find a vet who doesn't charge an arm and a leg. My Vet does farm calls and the like, so he is great and knowledgeable. There are no appointments, just call ahead to make sure he is not on a farm call. Shop around. The city vets are are expensive. Unfortunately if you live in a big city they charge big city prices!
dolandogz5 at 9:42AM on Feb 10th 2008
20. For everyone who said they had cats with urinary problems, I have a cat who has chronic bladder problems, he gets stones and infections, and has had surgery once and a flushing once, and many many rounds of antibiotics. Finally what we did was put him on amitriptiline (Sp?) and also a glucosamine supplement for cats, that helps the lining of his bladder. This combo has worked wonders. He has not been sick again since we started him on it. The amitrip is about 10.00 a month, and the other is about 45 for a 3 month supply. And it was suggested to give him wet food everyday, so he gets more moisture, and the glucosamine goes on top of it so its easy to give. A lot less to prevent than to treat! Yes I have spent thousands on care for my pets...but they have given more to me that i could ever repay. Anyway if you have a cat with this trouble, especially a male because it can get deadly really quick...ask your vet about this. They do say that the amitrip can cause liver damage after so long of using it but the trade of is a better quality of life while they are here.It also keeps them from having bladder spasms. My kitty is much happier now that he dosnt pee blood. So am i!
trinity at 12:57PM on Feb 10th 2008
21. My cat is my family, it's always been that way in my family. When this subject comes up my question is how much is too much to pay for your children? How much is too much to pay for yourself? Because these animals are living beings with personalities and preferences and love to give and receive. I wouldn't attack someone who is trying to find cheaper ways of helping their animal, just like I wouldn't attack a cancer patient trying to find a reliable altenative treatment, but neither would I ever put down a cat with a simple problem just because it was inconvenient to pay or otherwise care for them. There are programs out their, rare though they are, that will help when your pet is in trouble. Sometimes you have to give your pet up, but when it's their life, isn't it worth not seeing them again so that they can have it?
April at 11:12AM on Feb 10th 2008
22. Banfield's in PetSmart stores - $250 to clean a cat's teeth - other vets $150 to $175. I asked how much to get rabies shots (boosters of a sort) for my indoor babies...$150. My vet - $35. Please...they may be great but you really, really, really pay for that "service." Plus they were busy watching TV and had that "could have cared less attitude."
Gail in Orlando at 11:16AM on Feb 10th 2008
23. PETA is an outright fraud. They extract money from organizations like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. They will not address issues unless there is a large corporation that they can bribe or extract money from for their organization. They did absolutey nothing about the dogs that were thrown off bridges by the hundreds by the Mayor in Guyama, Puerto Rico. As matter fact the representative from PETA there is a relative of the political machine and kept her mouth shut.... Please refer back to story run by CNN about 2-4 months ago. It is a disgrace, alot of dogs were still alive in bags sufferring from being thrown over the bridges by the hundreds. Where was PETA on that?! Please start commenting on this and blogging, we need your help and donations! The Humane Society run by a nurse who retired from the army and moved there to retire but took up this huge task instead and runs a NON-Kill sanctuary in Guyama saving all the dogs that are stray, and have been discarded by the people there, 16 hours a day.
I have to tell you, Puerto Rico, which is the United States filled with Pedigree, McDonalds, Burger King, and the rest have done nothing to help us or donate even food to help us. Please help us, and spread the word. I can send you pictures, and her home number is 787-866-0091 & her cell number is 787-217-2336 (Leave messages of support!). Please get involved. It is a stand alone non-profit and our prayers need to be answered. My home number is 845-563-0397, and my cell number is 845-674-3946 if you want to speak to me to verify everything and make sure it is legitimate. Donations are deductible and every penny is spent on the dogs for medical needs, vetinary assistance, shots, neuturing, food, shelter on the sanctuary land. Please I am praying and begging you. It is ready to collapse, and these crooked politicians are trying everything in their crooked political power to close it down and make it disappear. The killlings of thousands of these dogs as reported on CNN is happening daily...I am pleading to all of you. This is a noble cause and the "phony" PETA organization has done nothing to assist, not even help to make it known as you can see when CNN reported it nationally to everyone, they made no comment. I beg of you, this woman and her husband Rafael Cintron are from New York originally and have dedicated their lives to this noble caring cause. EVERY PENNY GOES TO THE DOGS, NOT ONE CENT IS WASTED LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHO PAY THEIR CEOs MILLIONS.....
Ricki A. DeSantis
9 Elizabeth Lane
New Windsor New York 12553
Send donations to:
Humane Societe for Animals/Canita of the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Inc.
Send to the attention of:
Carmen Cintron, President
419 Calle Atenea Street
Urbane Jardines de Monteoolivio
Guayama, Puerto Rico 00784.
rickidesan at 7:28PM on Feb 10th 2008
24. I HAVE A PLAN.WHEN MY 5 DARLING DOGS JOIN MY 19 YEAR OLD CATS IN HEAVEN.Instesd of getting new pets because I'll be too old and may pre decease them,I'll set up a charity called "For the love of Millicent"(my Millie was the dearest little 6 year old beagel who died after going through Chemo for lymphoma)I was a young widow who would have done anything even to stop eating to save my baby dog.In her name I want to set up a charity to help people care for their sick pets to get the help they need without the worry of choosing between the pet and the care for their human children.That is the secret to keeping pets with the people who love them,help with the vet expenses and well pet care and ALL DOGS ON HEART WORM MEDICATION NO EXCEPTIONS.We can make this happen if we realize how important to our humanity the care of the littlest pets are.
suzanne at 4:10PM on Feb 10th 2008
25. I worked as office manager, back office, field and surgery assistant for my horse veterinarian. We ran all hours of the day and night to take care of routine and emergency calls.
He worked with people to for payment arrangements. Unfortunately, there was over 100k in unpaid services. I had the ugly task of calling customers to see if they can make any payments.. anything. JUST give me a story as to why you haven't paid anything for so long after the doctor drove many miles to your house in the middle of the night to save your horse.
When we went through some hard times, I also had a chihuahua lose an eye in the middle of the night from a squirmish with the greyhound over a meat wrapper.
I told the e.r. animal clinic that we didn't have the money for heroic efforts. it looked like the little dog might have had permentant neurological damage. I suggested under the circumstances to euthanize him.
They insisted that I pay only 16 dollars for the protective collar, and to make "whatever" payments I could each month. Our chi dog is happy and healthy.
I did. So many people don't, and as a business, most have a pay now rule. can't blame them.
Tammy at 4:53PM on Feb 10th 2008
26. Get pet insurance. It's your best defense against a really high vet bill (and believe me, vets do not live in the lap of luxury!), and it allows you to save your pet and love him or her for many years to come.
Amelie at 4:57PM on Feb 10th 2008
27. Vets are NOT "money-grubbing pigs" as some have characterized them here. (And no, I'm not a vet -- I'm someone who has spent thousands on veterinary care for my cats, though, so I do know what I'm talking about.) In fact, the cost of vet care -- often using the same instruments, medications and technology as human care -- is not even a FRACTION of the cost of human medical care. Every time I go to the vet and shell out money, I think of what the very same treatment would cost for a human. Ten times, twenty times as much? (You don't even know the half of it, if you have medical insurance -- but even if you do have medical insurance, SOMEONE is paying for the medical care for yourself and your kids. It's not coming out of the hospital's pockets -- it's reflected in the soaring cost of medical care for everyone!). No, veterinarians get pretty much the same training on the same level as MDs, and my vet, at least, has many of the same technical instruments that a human hospital would have. $80 for a vet visit? How much for a human doctor visit -- $200? $100 for kidney medications for my cat? How about $1200 for the same meds for a human (who's not taking a much higher dose than the cat does...). I have nothing but the highest respect for the education and medical knowledge that a fine veterinarian has, and I am more than willing to pay for that expertise. If you can't pay for your pet's medical care, then you should NOT have a pet -- you need to assume that at some point, probably several points, in the animal's life, it will need veterinary care. To let an animal suffer in sickness or pain -- as can be seen in several of the stories posted here -- because you "can't afford" vet care is just heinous. You "can afford" other luxuries in your life. You "can afford" the house and car you chose to buy and the children you chose to have. Well, you chose to have a pet, too -- and treating its illnesses and injuries is part of the responsibility. Vet care is not inexpensive, but vets are not out to fleece you. The range of care available to animals today is far greater than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. When you get a pet, it's wise to either look into veterinary insurance or, even better, start a veterinary savings account for that animal. Put away $20 a month and you'll have $240 your first year, $480 by year 2 and so on. Put away more and you'll have more. Plan for the bad times -- because they will happen. No animal stays well forever, and when you adopt one, you must plan for the bad times as well as the good ones.
Mary at 6:35PM on Feb 10th 2008
28. Gee having the dogs spayed and nuetered is expensive to begin with! But my dogs I have 3 2 of them both Labs had urinary trc=act infections that I certyainly went to the vet to take care of and 1 had an ear infection which I took care of. The responsible pet owner would do this for sure. Surgery wise I hope I don't ever have to so this but if I did they would be done even if I had to take out a loan. The dogs in this home are like family and always will be would you not help a family member in need? Some people may not I would just that type! Love the pups like family for sure! If vet care is need would do for sure! People who cannot afford to take care of their pets shoudl just visit people with pest then or go visit animals on free days at the zoo. I am for one not paying someone elses vet bills. I have my own pets to think of and want the best for them! Sorry people can not do everything for everone wish I could but taking care of my own comes first on my list!
Dottie at 7:01PM on Feb 10th 2008
29. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord voting for Hillary!
Lola at 7:03PM on Feb 10th 2008
30. Infestation grows in the wild. Be wary of the beast. Walk softly tread lightly.
Donita at 7:04PM on Feb 10th 2008