Where do you draw the line on vet bills?
My cat fell ill over Memorial Day weekend. To be frank, he couldn't pee. Turns out he had a bladder stone that was blocking him, and could have killed him.
He spent 4 days at the vets (remember it was a holiday weekend), before being spirited away to the animal hospital for surgery. We ended up spending a LOT of money on vet bills and surgery. My husband and I briefly talked about the possibility of having him put down, which was painful. Ultimately, we decided since these surgeries would make him better, we wouldn't take that road.
My mom owns a horse, and while she vacationed a few weeks ago, he seemed to have colicked. My mom's friend who was caring for the horse at the time called both my mother and me to keep us up to date. It turns out it wasn't colic, he was just being an old fart kind of horse. I asked my mom "Why did she keep updating me? What was I going to do?" My mother told me that she planned to tell me that if the vet said it would take a $10,000 surgery, I was to tell them to put the horse down.
This is an uncomfortable subject, but one I think every animal caretaker has to consider. What would you do if your pet's care was going to run in the thousands? Where would you draw the line between paying for the care and making the decision to put your pet down because you couldn't afford it?
I don't have children right now, I have cats. I love them to death. My young one, Loki, likes to sit between my arms while I type on the computer. Candy, who recently brushed death, buries his face in my arm and purrs to drown out the devil. But they're not children. I would certainly pay $20,000, or as much as it took, to save my child's life, but I wouldn't for either of the cats. Would I feel terrible and guilty if my cat died because I wouldn't pony up the money? Oh god, yes.
We spent several thousand on Candy's vet bills. In my mind, he was still young a young cat. The surgeries were 90% likely to fix the problem so it wouldn't come back, so it wouldn't be like I would have to subject him to numerous vet trips and procedures. If he were older, if it were more expensive, or if it would have seriously diminished his quality of life? It hurts to admit it, but I probably would have had him put down.
I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on this. It's hard to even consider, much less talk about, but I think it's an important aspect of pet ownership to consider.
14 comments:
I agree with you that it's something to consider. Many people take the position that a pet is a member of the family and you have a basically infinite (as I understand them to mean) obligation to care for them. But I know I'm not willing to spend thousands on my pets if I know that's what it's going to cost. In reality, I don't know what I'd do on the spur of the moment - I spent close to $500 to have the tail of one of my rats amputated after an injury - but there are limits to what I'm theoretically willing to pay to keep a pet alive.
This situation is even more complicated if you have children or a partner who may value your pets' lives more than you do.
I really enjoy your blog, by the way. I live in Denver too (and had fun discovering that you're in this area while reading your '25 ways to save money' post).
What a tough call. My partner and I have been sheeling out some cash for our older dog Mister. He has dad some urinary problems and the lab work is so expensive. We also have been buying him pretty expensive natural meds. All I can say is you'll know when it's time.
Bless you for being a wonderful pet owner.
How is the simplicity and frugality going? Would love to hear more about your journey. Best of luck! Keep the faith. Simplicity in Kansas
My personal limit is $1000. I figure I can cough that up without giving myself a heart attack. BUT it has to mean that the animal will make a full recovery. I would not have expensive surgery for my horse, as they are much less likely to fully recover than my cat or dog. If the treatment means that the animal ends up having a life that is less than full (old age is an exception) then I would put them to sleep before I would inflict pain and suffering on them. It's my duty as a responsible pet owner.
I had a similar experience this summer with my pug. He fell ill, and it cost over $2000. I thought nothing of it though because he is such a beloved member of our family. We also have 2 cats. I recommend getting VPI pet insurance. I have it for my dog. It's about $30.00 a month and I usually get back at least half of what I spend in vet expenses. In a sense, it's like saving towards the inevitable......
My cat is in need of $2,000 surgery to repair his knee (he has patellar luxation) This is the cost of one knee and he has the problem in the other knee, it's just not as bad... The vet can't say whether or not the other knee will need the surgery. This could cost me $4000 if I end up having to do both! I'm having a really hard time deciding... I love my cat but where do you draw the line? It's hard too because it's not life and death... so if I don't do the surgery, his knee will continue to get worse, arthritic and painful. And then we would be dealing with pain management. Not sure what to do. Help!!
My husband and I don't have children, unless you count the 4 legged fuzzy creatures running around our house! There are 2 dogs and 2 cats. This blog caught my attention because we had 3 cats until the spring of 2006, when my sweet orange and white cat wasn't sitting in the bathroom sink one morning begging for water out of the faucet. He, too, had a blocked urethra. Unfortunately, we weren't able to save him. So, about $400 later, we were heartbroken and out a lot of money. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I don't know about a $2000 bill for one pet, though. We did spend about $1600 for surgery for our Springer Spaniel, and we have no regret about that either. The way we see it is that our pets are our kids, and they bring so much to our lives that we want them to be happy and healthy.
Thanks for the opportunity to post. I just discovered this blog tonight after looking through the "25 ways to save money" posts.
First let me address the comment left by Melissa -
If you are willing to make payments you can get a credit card through www.carecredit.com which you can also use for yourself in the event of a medical emergency. I recently signed up for one when my family's dog (my dog as a child) developed Kyto Acedosis, an extreme diabetic disease. The vet told us that if we didn't treat him ($2500), he would be dead in two days. He was also in incredible pain. If we chose to treat him and take care of an insulin dependant dog he would be fine. I could not and cannot imagine putting a price on my pets life. It makes me sick to read articles about people who say that wouldn't spend more than a certain amount. You make the decision to care for the animals when you take them into your home. That means doing whatever it takes to protect them and keep them healthy. It is ridiculous that someone would put their own financial priorities before the life of ANYTHING. I will happily pay off the $2500, and whatever else it takes, to care for the animal I once promised to take care of. If you get a pet all the while knowing that in the event of an emergency you wouldn't be willing to empty out your pocketbook, then shame on you. Maybe someday you will need someone to take care of you and they won't bother.
I take excellent care of my two well-loved and quite spoiled dogs. I also have daughters who are undergoing very hard times and am not wealthy myself. I am not the least bit ashamed of the fact that, were I to have to choose between spending hundreds or thousands on one of my dogs and having money to continue to help my daughters, I would choose to continue helping my daughters.
Think before you "speak." Not everyone has your luxuries.
I faced this choice. My beautiful cat was hit by a speeding car a few years ago. I rushed her to the vets. She needed her tail amputating and had broken her spine. I was only a student but raised the $1800 to pay for her care. Two weeks later she died. Next time I would put her down- not because of the money but becuase when it gets to a certain point, it just prolongs their misery. She suffered in pain for two weeks.
I have another cat, and if he gets sick so it affects the quality of life seriously, I would put him down. If he would get better- if I have it, I will pay it.
I will consider pet insurance.
Why should we consider the life of a pet anything less than the life of a person? What is the difference? Are they not "alive enough"?
I respect everyone's right to like or dislike animals. But once you take a pet home with you, you undertake the responsibility for its well being.
Putting a pet down when the treatment gets expensive is no different than just throwing it out when you are bored of playing with it. I do not believe we have the right to kill anyting living, and feel right about it..especially killing for money..that is the bottom line if you think about it without trying to justify yourself.
Just recently we had to make the heart renching decision ofputting our beloved kitty cat down. He was only three years old, but had a blocked urethra. 1 week and $1,600 later we thought he had recovered, but exactly 1 week to the day we first rushed him to the ER, he was back to hiding and meowing in pain and not peeing again.
We brought him back to the vet that he was at the previous week and she said we had three options. 1. Put in another catheter and unblock him, but he will definately be back within a month, 2. pay 1500-$2000 in surgery where they amputate his penis, or 3. put him down.
Sadly, we had to opt for the 3rd option. I feel awful, but in the end I know it was for the best. I miss my little guy terrible, but in today;s economy no ones job is safe and we have to think about our rent, bills and food. We were already close to $2000 in the whole and it wiped out half of my savings. Plus, with my job not being secure in this economy int he United States I couldnt, I just couldn't spend that kind of money again.
Sometimes I think people really have no idea what someone elses situation is. These people who say we are awful because we have to put our beloved furry friends down because of money have never had to make a decision between payint the rent or buying groceries that week. THey have never had to tell their children or parents, "I'm sorry you cant get the new sneakers or medication you need this month because we just dont have the money." They have nver been told that their employer can no loonger afford to keep them, they have never had to face foreclosure, they have never had to face eating peanut butter and jelly for a week becuase they cant afford food, they have never been faced with the final notice that your electricity is going to be turned off, they have never had to embarrassed, or have their children being embarrased in front of their classmates because they cant afford brand name clothing.
I understand you make a promise to your pet, but sometimes you just cant chose. In today's economy the way it is those of us who were once doing well, no longer are. Don't you ever judge us because we had to put our pets down, or refuse treatment. Its not easy for us either. Money isnt a luxury or a second thought for some, its more like a rarity these days.
It doesnt mean we are bad pet owners, we just cant afford to drop $2000 like pocket change.
We recently had to put our two year old dog down, My kids have been super sad, I am fighting the worst case of depression, I have loads of guilt. His surgery would have cost $3,000 to $4,000 or more. He had a 50/50 chance of survival, I have four kids. I keep reliving every second of the day we took him in to the vet and every word she said, I sometimes wish I would have screamed save our dog, he is a part of our family! Our home is so empty with out him, my kids lost their brother. But I didn't and don't have the money. We have to draw lines, it makes me sick but we do. I will be heart broken for a long time and will always have a heavy heart when I think of our Riley, he was a good dog and he loved his people. I feel terrible. Like we don't deserve to ever have another pet. We were good dog owners, we bought the best food, he had the best bed, crate, leash, collar and toys, we went through two prior surgeries with him that cost us two thousand dollars, we had to let him go :(
I have a wonderful Boston Terrier nicknamed "the Dude." I rescued him from the Animal Shelter. He is a great companion, and goes shopping with me at many stores in town. He brings great joy to those he meets. I couldn't think of being without him, but I can't imagine spending thousands on him either.
First and foremost, I don't think about taking him to the vet unless there is clearly a problem. Even then, I talk to the vet over the phone first. This saves unnecessary vet visits and bills.
Second, animals are tough, so don't have a knee jerk reaction every time they behave a little differently or become ill. Let them work it out for a couple of days, and most of the time they'll get back to normal without help.
Third, have a reasonable line drawn so you're not bleeding yourself with an ill animal. Remember, you pay the rent. I know a woman who spent $16,000 on her dog during various illnesses over its life. That's ridiculous.
A pet should be a joy, not a black hole for money. I think it makes sense to draw the line where you feel comfortable and where it is consistent with the value you receive from having the pet.
As for "the Dude," I'd go a thousand dollars to keep my buddy around if there was a chance of recovery. I wouldn't do anything like that for a barn cat.
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