how much is too much? (pet surgery)

[41ravens]

so some friends of ours have a dog that is currently in the hospital for apparently swallowing something (plastic toy). tonight will be the second night of its stay. they're estimating the bill to be in excess of $5,000.

now maybe i'm a dick, but there is no way i would spend even a fraction of that on my dog. i like my dog and all, but f that. so what's the most you would spend/have spent on your pet.

and related, what do the vets do if you just say, "no thanks"?

[ExistenceNow]

I'd pay it.

If I could afford it, and it would keep my dogs alive with a good quality of life, I'd pay.


Not going to pay money to keep them alive if they'd be suffering though.

[thestand]

I'm a gigantic animal lover, so my diminishing returns curve is probably higher than a lot of people, but I can't claim it doesn't exist. If there's a surgery that costs $5,000 and I get another 5+ years of a happy, healthy dog, I'll pay that without a second thought. But as Matthew said, if I'm paying $5,000 to get a few months of a tired, old, suffering dog, it's not worth it.

In your friend's case, I'd absolutely pay it.

[Arby]

Thats a hard decision, but it's just a swallowed toy. We had to make that decision with chemotherapy.

How old is the dog?

[cry_minarets458]

i dont' have a dog (will be getting one once i am done with grad school), but if i did and loved it, i would pay as much as could with taking quality of life into consideration. if not, i could always put her/him down and then just get a new puppy...hopefully, a smarter one that doesn't swallow things its not supposed to

[drop2d]

I just dropped 1200 on my dog for the same thing. Fortunately, she passed it. I've also spent 1500 a couple years ago for her eating a pack of sugar free gum. Another 1300 for a broken tail... A few other minor things. I would do anything for my dog.... She's totally worth skipping a couple mortgage payments or racking up miles on the credit cards.

[rickyh24]

I would pay it. My brother had to pay a pretty hefty amount of money for the JRT I now have. He ate a whole corn on the cob and couldn't shit for days.

[Useliteski]

. my dog has had two tick born illnesses in the past 2 or 3 years that have led to complications requiring her to have surgeries. she's part of our family and we wouldn't just turn down an operation to save her life because it was expensive. If putting her to sleep is the only solution to ending her suffering, then so be it, but until thats the case, we'll do whatever we can for her.

[41ravens]

Originally Posted by som3d3vil34

Thats a hard decision, but it's just a swallowed toy. We had to make that decision with chemotherapy.

How old is the dog?

don't think it's very old.

this decision all depends on your lot in life, as well. i have 2 young kids, and $5k is a significant chunk of change. i know you can probably make it in payments and what not, but that's still so much money for a pet.

now granted, we've only had our pup for 3 months, so maybe i'll revisit this in a few years.

[efraser77]

As has already been said, it depends a lot on both your financial situation and the ailment. Three years ago my cat got cancer in its jaw. They said we could opt for surgery which would cost a lot, remove the entire lower jaw, and may or may not actually cure the cancer. I don't think there's any dignity for a cat living out its final days with no lower jaw, and since success wasn't assured anyway, we opted to just let her live out her days a bit longer and then when she no longer seemed to be "living", we took her in and had her put down. She was about 13.

[rickyh24]

Originally Posted by efraser77

As has already been said, it depends a lot on both your financial situation and the ailment. Three years ago my cat got cancer in its jaw. They said we could opt for surgery which would cost a lot, remove the entire lower jaw, and may or may not actually cure the cancer. I don't think there's any dignity for a cat living out its final days with no lower jaw, and since success wasn't assured anyway, we opted to just let her live out her days a bit longer and then when she no longer seemed to be "living", we took her in and had her put down. She was about 13.

Ya I'm with you on this one. If my dog was 13 I would not be removing his jaw to buy maybe another few months. Not worth it at all for him or us.

[Bron Yr Aur]

I would pay it, especially for a dog that is not really old already. Most people get so attached to their pets, and they really can be some of your most loyal and devoted companions. They care for you unconditionally, so it just seems very callous to essentially end that animal's life because you don't want to fork over the money.

[Tiduwho]

It cost me $900 the night I put my dog down. Guh. I could have gotten surgery for a gigantic amount more, but as has been stated, it would have added maybe a few more months.

My sister is in Vet School right now. One way or another, I gotta imagine she'll be making bank. And she'll be doing something she loves.

[smudge1]

Originally Posted by som3d3vil34

Thats a hard decision, but it's just a swallowed toy. We had to make that decision with chemotherapy.

How old is the dog?

Chemo for a swallowed toy??

[Doors Allan Coe]

Originally Posted by smudge1

Chemo for a swallowed toy??

the toy was made in china

[mr.MikeD]

I paid four grand for knee surgery on my dog. 10 months later the fucker did the same thing to the other knee. Paid that too.

[Arby]

Originally Posted by smudge1

Chemo for a swallowed toy??

Uh, no. There was no toy in our situation.

[scrock25]

Originally Posted by drop2d

I just dropped 1200 on my dog for the same thing. Fortunately, she passed it. I've also spent 1500 a couple years ago for her eating a pack of sugar free gum. Another 1300 for a broken tail... A few other minor things. I would do anything for my dog.... She's totally worth skipping a couple mortgage payments or racking up miles on the credit cards.

Skipping A COUPLE mortgage payments?

Yikes.

[decemberlov]

I just recently paid $1200 for my dogs tail that had to be amputated and $1500 last year for an emergency vet visit. These are the kind of things that make having a dog expensive not the shots and cost of dog food. Anyone that wouldnt pay these costs should the emergency occur probably should not own a pet. Im in no way referring to those situations such as cancer and what not that..those are totally different. I know a couple that has this dog that is do sick dying of cancer can barely walk and pretty much shits himself and has the worst quality of life and they just keep this dog around I feel so bad and just wish they'd put the dog down. Its really sad....I think making decisions like that even if they're really difficult is part of being a good owner.

[jdbartender]

I hope I dont sound like a dick, but I look at it like this....It's an animal. If it lived in the wild it wouldn't get fed, or pet, or loved to begin with. As a pet owner, chances are you are giving your pet a far better life already then they would get on their own... But the day tha pet starts damaging you finances is the day you got to either let nature run its course or put it down.. 5k is different to different people. To some, it's like spending nothing, to others it could put them in a financial hole that could be near impossible to dig out of. Honestly, I wouldn't spend more then 1k on my dog, and even that would depend greatly on the circumstance.

[drop2d]

Originally Posted by scrock25

Skipping A COUPLE mortgage payments?

Yikes.

Forunately I haven't had to take that route... But if that's what it took, hell yeah I'd do it.

[rickyh24]

Originally Posted by jdbartender

I hope I dont sound like a dick, but I look at it like this....It's an animal. If it lived in the wild it wouldn't get fed, or pet, or loved to begin with. As a pet owner, chances are you are giving your pet a far better life already then they would get on their own... But the day tha pet starts damaging you finances is the day you got to either let nature run its course or put it down.. 5k is different to different people. To some, it's like spending nothing, to others it could put them in a financial hole that could be near impossible to dig out of. Honestly, I wouldn't spend more then 1k on my dog, and even that would depend greatly on the circumstance.

This outlook is fine to have if you never plan on buying a dog or any other pet for that matter. They don't live in the wild they are domesticated pets that people choose to buy and people should know they are and can be expensive. You don't put a pet down because of stuff like broken legs etc. You fix them. You make that commitment when you buy them.

[MGH4007]

Originally Posted by jdbartender

I hope I dont sound like a dick, but I look at it like this....It's an animal. If it lived in the wild it wouldn't get fed, or pet, or loved to begin with. As a pet owner, chances are you are giving your pet a far better life already then they would get on their own... But the day tha pet starts damaging you finances is the day you got to either let nature run its course or put it down.. 5k is different to different people. To some, it's like spending nothing, to others it could put them in a financial hole that could be near impossible to dig out of. Honestly, I wouldn't spend more then 1k on my dog, and even that would depend greatly on the circumstance.

Until you let it eat a plastic, completely man made toy. Pretty sure it would have avoided that in nature. Point being yes domestic dogs live wonderful lives but they're also animals and can't be accounted for everything they eat, like a plastic toy. I'd say it's the owners fault for putting the dog in that position.

Quick question for anyone. Does the amount you paid for your dog matter in this scenario? If you paid 100$ would it be any different than if you paid 4.5k? Jw.

[coldengrey12]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

This outlook is fine to have if you never plan on buying a dog or any other pet for that matter. They don't live in the wild they are domesticated pets that people choose to buy and people should know they are and can be expensive. You don't put a pet down because of stuff like broken legs etc. You fix them. You make that commitment when you buy them.

To draw a crude comparison, it's like buying a car. You have to pay for maintenance as well as the starting price of the vehicle.

I dated a girl who was working to be a vet and nothing aggravated her more than people who would get an animal they never really planned on taking care of.

[rickyh24]

Originally Posted by MGH4007

Quick question for anyone. Does the amount you paid for your dog matter in this scenario? If you paid 100$ would it be any different than if you paid 4.5k? Jw.

Well I would never pay 4.5k for a dog but I don't think it would matter. I paid 550 for one of my Jack Russells and the other was free. That wouldn't factor in at all.

[ExistenceNow]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

This outlook is fine to have if you never plan on buying a dog or any other pet for that matter. They don't live in the wild they are domesticated pets that people choose to buy and people should know they are and can be expensive. You don't put a pet down because of stuff like broken legs etc. You fix them. You make that commitment when you buy them.

[mr.MikeD]

Originally Posted by MGH4007

Until you let it eat a plastic, completely man made toy. Pretty sure it would have avoided that in nature. Point being yes domestic dogs live wonderful lives but they're also animals and can't be accounted for everything they eat, like a plastic toy. I'd say it's the owners fault for putting the dog in that position.

Quick question for anyone. Does the amount you paid for your dog matter in this scenario? If you paid 100$ would it be any different than if you paid 4.5k? Jw.

No. Mine was an SPCA mutt, some more like 100

[jdbartender]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

This outlook is fine to have if you never plan on buying a dog or any other pet for that matter. They don't live in the wild they are domesticated pets that people choose to buy and people should know they are and can be expensive. You don't put a pet down because of stuff like broken legs etc. You fix them. You make that commitment when you buy them.

That's your opinion... My family's financial well being comes first. I take care of my dog on a daily basis, and I spend hundreds on him every year... But I have my limit on what I believe is reasonable to spend on an animal, and so do you... We just don't see eye to eye on what that amount should be.

[MGH4007]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

This outlook is fine to have if you never plan on buying a dog or any other pet for that matter. They don't live in the wild they are domesticated pets that people choose to buy and people should know they are and can be expensive. You don't put a pet down because of stuff like broken legs etc. You fix them. You make that commitment when you buy them.

I agree with you but I think it's fair to say that when someone buys a 100$ pet they aren't signing up for a 5k bill which I think is somewhat unfair. Not everyone can afford a 100$ dog assuming there is a 5k bill coming in the future, nor should they feel like they have to. Again, I agree 100% with you, one is buying and selling dogs, the least you can do is take care of it but sometimes it's just not that easy or simple.

[jdbartender]

Originally Posted by rickyh24

This outlook is fine to have if you never plan on buying a dog or any other pet for that matter. They don't live in the wild they are domesticated pets that people choose to buy and people should know they are and can be expensive. You don't put a pet down because of stuff like broken legs etc. You fix them. You make that commitment when you buy them.

Originally Posted by MGH4007

Until you let it eat a plastic, completely man made toy. Pretty sure it would have avoided that in nature. Point being yes domestic dogs live wonderful lives but they're also animals and can't be accounted for everything they eat, like a plastic toy. I'd say it's the owners fault for putting the dog in that position.

Quick question for anyone. Does the amount you paid for your dog matter in this scenario? If you paid 100$ would it be any different than if you paid 4.5k? Jw.

They may have avoided the toy, but what about the coyote? Seems my dog doesnt have to worry about get mauled by a rabid animal sleepIng at the foot of my bed every night. Neither here no there.. I'm not saying you shouldn't take care of your pet, you should. But when people get sick, you spare no expense to get them well. I just think it is crazy treat an animal in that same vein, unless of course you have unlimited resources.