How Much Is TOO Much to Spend at the Veterinarian?

I'm sorry about your cat...It's never easy to lose a pet. I've found strays that I ended up taking to the emergency vet and paying lots of money to try to save, so I've gone through the "how much" question myself. One of our cats had to be put down when she developed a rare tumor in her ear. The vet said that he hadn't seen one like that before in a cat, and that they couldn't say what it was exactly without surgery and boarding her at an out-of-town specialist. For that particular cat, who had been feral and was really nervous by nature, it would have been way too stressful, and I decided to put her to sleep instead. Once I made the decision the vet told me that he wasn't supposed to try to persuade me one way or another, but he thought I'd made the right decision.

I think that it's a balance between the animal himself, the stress it will have to go through, and whether the procedures are prolonging its life or prolonging its death. Unfortunately, the pragamatic issue of how much money you have to spend also has to come into play, but everything else being equal, sometimes it's kinder to put the animal down than it would be to put them through all of the stress of the medical procedures.

Wow I feel for you and send my sympathies. This is a very difficult question. Last year we spent $1,000 on our parrot to find out that he had what in a human would amount to a pulled muscle or tendon. But he was in pain and crying terribly and wouldn't stretch his wing and his behavior changed radically...what other choice did we have? We got George when he was only 6 months old, he's going to be 8 this May and is very much a part of our family. I hate when money becomes an issue to caring for our pets.

Oh so sad for you. I lost one of mine a few months ago and went through some of the same thought processes. She saved you the trauma of having to decide - that's what my Tai did and I believe that is nothing but pure love. Hugs.

That is so terrible. It is tricky to balance the medical cost and treatment with the quality of the animals life. My dog is around 10 yrs (adopted so not sure). we have had her for about 8. She has seizures which are typically control thru medication. She also has a super sensitive stomache which doesn't go over well with a 1 year old who is trying to make her way into the dogs heart through food. Every so often she gets sick, like "i can't move" sick. I always get scared that a seizure has gotten her brain all yucky. My husband is quick to say "we'll have to put her down". I can't bring myslef to do think about it. But, now that she is getting older and I have two people kids I have to balance out their needs too. I can't drop that kind of money (like you did) in good conscience when I know my children have needs too.

It is so tough...sorry to hear that and I hope the cat is feeling better!

Oh, I'm so sorry. I just read your post, was hopeful for your kitty--and then saw the follow-up. It's so heartbreaking to lose a furry family member, and you did all you could to find an answer and make her comfortable. My heart breaks for you.

I have to tell you--I would have done exactly the same that you did regarding tests and medical expenses. We have a menagerie--two dogs, two cats, two guinea pigs, and backyard chickens. One of my daughter's chickens was attacked by a raccoon. We were able to chase off the raccoon, but it has seriously injured Salt. Our wonderful vet met us at her clinic at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and I gave her carte blanche to do whatever she could to save the chicken. Many people wouldn't understand--$400 for a chicken? Sadly, Salt's injuries were worse than we thought, and she didn't make it. Our vet ended up charging about half of the original estimate, but still--I would absolutely do it again to try to save our daughter's pet.

So very sorry.

Julie

Oh my goodness. I just came home from work (I work at a veterinary clinic) and read this post. It's hard, I know, and I'm sorry. Situations like yours are so much more difficult than injures or illnesses where you have at least some idea what the outcome might be. A broken leg say, or a bout of allergies. Then you know what you're looking at to some extent.

Everything is so expensive now. We have things to offer pets that we didn't 15 years ago. Not only did we not have the diagnostics before, CAT scans and MRI's for pets, but I know that my grandfathers generation, even my parents would have thought of it as a sheer indulgence, something only for the very wealthy and would not have been able to justify the expense when they had children to feed and care for.

When older pets with cancer come in and people choose to treat it, I think that to some extent they are buying time. You, however, are in a different place. You're not there at that place trying to stave off the inevitable. You are trying to restore the health and vigor of your pet, or at the very least give it some autonomy.

I lost two dogs last year. One to a tumor and the other to liver disease. One went slow, the other quickly. I could not afford extensive treatment for either. Both were 13yrs old.

It's a personal decision, you know, in regards to what you spend. It would be difficult to have spend so much for diagnosis and then realize that the treatment is out of your reach financially. But it's ok to stop too. It's ok to not treat her. It sounds as if you acted in earnest. Most people could not have or would not have spent what you've spent so far. You are not obliged to follow through with any treatment and it doesn't make you a bad owner if you choose to humanely euthanize. I know that I COULD NOT spend the amount you are talking about for surgery. I could not put that much on credit and it hurts to know that. Maybe you have resources - family, friends that could help. Maybe you could have a "fundraiser" to raise money. Some hospitals have little known "grants" for owners that do not have funds but they are very discreet about it. You have a lot to consider and I hope all the best for your kitty. You're in my thoughts.

Only you can really say as her mama. You know how she is, how she's progressing or not, and how she would take to a surgery and things. I face this every several years with our pet rats; they do not last long.

The right answer is the one you choose.

We all try to do right by our pets everyday and especially when they're sick. We inherently do no wrong by just trying to give them a better, longer, healthier life. My heart is with you and Chee Bee. You have already made such an investment with her monetarily at the vet so I can see how the surgery would be beneficial to try, but if it turns out as not beneficial would you want her to go through that?

Whatever your answer like I said, it's the right one. You're her furmama.

I am so, so sorry... It is heartbreaking to lose a member of your family regardless of whether they are a fur baby or not. I have spent whatever I have had to keep my pets alive and it would put a kid through a good year of college by now. Hang in there and know that lots of people are sending you big virtual hugs!

LorieH,

I am so sorry for your loss and especially having to deal with the money thing on top of it. We complicate things so much in society with having to deal with those two things at odds together. I hope that the coming days bring you some comfort.

It is a very difficult thing and I think hartsbeat has the right idea. My father spent thousands in tests, surgery and treatments (hyperberic? chambers, etc) for his dog. (Actually I think if I knew the total I would cry.) However, my husband and I refuse to let our vet do surgery to biopsy the lumps on our golden retriever that she has had all her life. Until she is miserable, it is not worth making her quality of life worse. What were we going to do if it was cancer? Nothing. We know we don't have the money to do anything and don't want to make it worse on us. Maybe it is selfish but we were okay with the decision.

She's 13 now - I guess it is a gamble we won. But I know it could have just as easily went the other way.

I am so sorry for the loss of your little kitty. I am sheding tears for you all.

I have now adopted 2 stray kitties who i am sure need vet care and that will strat happening next week. I would spend every cent I had and more for my anumals.

You did the very best you could and than more.

Your kitty is now waiting for you on the other side of the Rainbow bridge where she is happly playing and waiting for the day she is in your arms again.

HUGS to you and your loving man.

It will take some time but the saddness does ease up some everyday.

Melissa

“How Much Is TOO Much to Spend at the Veterinarian?”

That question can only be answered by the pet owner, in my opinion, and everyone could come up with something different.

Personally, I would spend what I had to in order to keep my pet alive, as long as it would have a quality life. I wouldn’t, however, do surgery, or extraordinary measures if it would extend my pet’s life and it would be in any kind of pain or not be able to move around, etc., because, to me, that’s no way to live.

I truly hope that your dear Chee Bee gets well. Even though you’ve only had her a few months, I’m sure she has embedded herself into your heart. Pets have a way of doing that.

Good luck and best well wishes.

I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved Kitty. It is always heartbreaking to lose a pet. I have been through nightmare vet costs with my own 7 year old cat who developed an extremely rare condition that veterinary science still knows very little about. It's called Chylothorax and the cat's chest cavity fills up with fluid making it hard for them to breathe. I've been able to manage it for almost 2 years with a low fat diet, powdered supplements and vet visits where he gets a "chest tap" (needle siphons off the fluid). Grand total for the vet bills so far, close to $7,000. Needless to say, I have no pet health insurance so this is all out of pocket and disasterous financially. But he's still alive. Another vet appointment looms this Wed and I shudder to think what it will cost.

To everyone that has a young healthy cat....run, don't walk to get your Pet Health care insurance before any of this happens to you!

Oh Lorie that's so sad to hear, but I know I would be exactly the same. My condolences for your loss, but be thankful for all the memories you have with her from the last 5 months.

Oh Lorie, I'm so sorry. For what it's worth, I was logging in to say that I thought you were doing exactly the right thing. You knew that how much was a question but you knew that you weren't ready to weigh the worth yet. You'd have known when you needed to. None of that makes it any easier to lose her. It just sucks. Glad you got her cremated so you can bring her home. I bet she had a kick ass 5 months with you guys.

The Neurologist offered to front the payment for a biopsy since they really have no idea what was going on. They did cremate her and her urn is ready for pick up...but I haven't exactly had the strength to go pick it up yet. And I think my fiance is waiting until I "harden" up a little bit before he goes and gets her.

My kitty Chee Bee didn't make it. I went to visit her at the Neurologist and once she saw me, she raised her head then laid it down. I picked her up and noticed her body was limp. She passed away in my arms.