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