Food for thought

[gemy]

Who Deserves A Pet? The Irreverent Vet Speaks Out


This is now my fourth attempt to post this and my comments. I can't help but feel the universe is conspiring against me to post.


My ambiguity and less than clear position mayhap have something to do with this.


First I will say everyone deserves a pet that is willing to love and care for it. But they do need to be able to afford the basics of proper care for their beloved. That includes food, exercise, training, and regular vet care, with the appropriate and timely vaccines and medications.


But this document seems to slant things from a *vets* perspective. I know, that they see decisions that must hurt their hearts. The reality also is that in 30 yrs of time more medical options are available to pet owners, actually very expensive medical options, that may or may not eit her *cure* the problem, or at the best delay death or worsening of the problem.
Let me give a real life example: with a large breed dog. DDX'd at 18 months old with Severe Hip Dysplasia. Of course the limping had been going on for awhile - the owners thought it was growing pains. Regular vet check ups from 8wks old on - the vet said nothing - of course the owners did not know enough about dog movement to say we are seeing a hitch in his gait, or stiffness, or one of many of the other signs of hip problems. And again of course the vet did not inquire into movement patterns of large breed dogs that could indicate hip problems - nor did he examine as a normal course of his vet examination joint movement.
Pet Insurance on top of your regular monthly costs of care is not cheap especially if you are on a low income fixed budget. Does this mean you should not have a pet? I don't have the answer - just asking the question.
It finally got bad enough that the owners took in this 18month old dog for examination specific to this limping. THe cost of dual hip surgery over $8000 - the prognosis is poor for a regular pain free life. What do you do? Without Insurance that covers this do you borrow, do you cash in your retirement savings on a poor prognosis? Do you actually want to go into financial debt of $8K or so - which may or may not improve the quality of life for a dog for some unknown amount of time after healing?


This dog, I knew this dog - pet owners - when I saw him at 9 months old, I said to the owners - I know you love your boy, but he has movement problems. Did you know that Berners have a high incidence rate of HD? They said NO my vet never said anything. We thought it was just growing pains. I said I don't think so - you should get Xrays - and limit his running n jumping. Three months later that dog was worse. Finally at 18 months they brought the dog in They euthanized the dog after diagnosis.


And I can't say I disagree with their decision at all.


You know no-one has the ruler of what every-one should spend on extraordinary measures. In fact extra-ordinary is defined uniquely by each person.




I think that extra-ordinary measures for now for me - is defined as medical procedures that have a poor prognosis of cure and or leading a painfree life.


I do think that vets should judiciously offer to their regular clients and work with them on payment plans for surgeries et al that offer a very good chance of cure or healing. JMT

[mybellababy]

This is my second time trying to post a reply dont know if my internet cut out or what?

Thats a loaded question isnt it. I think everyone should be able to have a pet weather it a bird , cat ,dog or a frog in a box as long as the pet is cared for .
The fact that Vet care is so pricey is a problem. It is almost a must to have pet insurance I do wonder if Vet pricing is based on pet insurance coverage.

I do wish that vets could give the basic care like spaying and shot ( and we have found out we dont need as many of them as we have been told ) at a very low price and recoup it on other things.

I do think they made the right choice for the dog with HD .

Our Bella is like a child to us ( we dont see any grandchildren in our future LOL ) If anything happen to her you would have to scrap us off the floor. We do have Pet insurance but if she got something that would give her a life of pain we would make a hard choice to let her go. We would hurt and morn but she wouldnt.

Great topic I am interested to hear other thoughts

[KazzyK810]

I don't think everyone deserves a pet...but then again I don't think everyone deserves to have children either, and am in complete agreement with the vet about the whole octomom fiasco.

I don't think it should be so easy to get a dog. And I believe it should be costly. And it's not that I'm financially loaded. But making a big money purchase makes you stop and think. I clash with many of my "rescue" friends who are opposed to any increase in fees by our local animals shelters, and find joy in the "two for one" specials they run when they are at or nearing capacity.

[MissSunni]

I am all over the place on this discussion. I can never understand when people go to a very reputable breeder to purchase a perfect purebred dog, of any breed, yet don't bother to do all the things the dog may require for his/her well being and good health. I know people that don't feed the dogs properly, don't train them to behave…makes me wonder if they do take the pet for regular vet checks.

But, at the same time…My brother rescued a beautiful dog 4 yrs ago. He worshiped this dog. He was beautifully trained..went everywhere with my brother, even to work. The dog could clearly say I love you..in a doggie whine..he was amazing. Sadly he developed cysts at first. After a few more vet visits one of the biopsies came back bad. My brother did everything humanly possible. The poor dog when thru chemo, they tried other things but at the end of it, my brother had spent $13,000. trying to save Spanky. He was in a brief remission, but when it came back it was only a matter of 6 weeks before my brother had to make that awful choice. He was devasted of course. About 6 months later he adopted another rescue…both dogs were mixed breeds btw. Within 4 months because he was so paranoid about it, he noticed bumps on this dog! He had the same exact thing. I don't know what type it was…mas cell something. This poor puppy was only 2 yrs old and it was bad. My brother did the initial treatments but decided not to put him through the same treatment. He has wrestled with this since then. The vets kept suggesting new experimental treatments, but my brother just felt like the cure was as bad or worse then the cancer. The dogs were just so sick. He opted to keep the dog and treated for pain and stomach issues that had started. That poor boy lived another year. He was treated with such kindness and love, but he couldn't last. My brother let him go. Its such a hard thing to hear. My brother who never shows emotion except with his dogs, cried. No one can even bring up either dogs names or he has to leave the room. To me, he saved two dogs who would have probably lived a lonely brutal life in a cage until put to sleep..but they had a comfy life with him.
Can everyone afford to go to the extreme financially that he was able to? I seriously doubt it.
When I consider a new pet, I first add up what I think the average costs will be annually for the regular care and feeding. I also allow for emergencies and medications. From October to January I was living at my vets office with my beloved George. He had surgery on his eyes, but that did him in at his age. The surgery seems to have caused dementia..maybe the anesthesia. But, he passed away Right after New Years day. Devastating. Now my delimma is, I have another Shih Tzu, who bizarrely has the same type of cancer that my brothers dog had. It started with a big lump on his elbow. The biopsy show that it is spreading, but he is eating still..looking forward to walks, plays a little. He's on an experimental medication, but its not going to be a cure..its just slowing it down. I look at him everyday, and wonder if I should be getting him chemo. The vet said its spreading rapidly, and feels that the chemo will only make him feel sicker and may not help. I don't have $10,000 to pay for all that will be involved. He's a 10 yr old dog. Honestly I have been sick over this. I think thats why I'm ridiculously overprotective of the puppy. Who for a rescue has already cost me over $1800 in vet expenses because she had some medical needs. So, this topic is on my mind a lot. I will definitely be following this thread to see what others say.

[gemy]

MissSunni;


I just want to say my heart goes out to you. You are giving this dog lots of love and care until their time comes.


Cancer is a scourge - I absolutely loathe it! Ilost two pets to cancer a couple of years ago and one so very young.


Do you have a thread here on your gal? If so I am sorry I have missed it. If not if you like to share you can post in the Sick and Emergency. When my gal Zoey was diagnosed with cancer our members here were incredibly supportive and helped me get through some very rough times.