Need Financial Help For Vet?
 

Hello,

What I don't understand, and what I am confused about, is why there are so many people who don't take their pets to the vet when they sense something is wrong with them? Oftentimes I hear that it's too costly or they can't afford it. Why did they buy or adopt a pet (especially a small breed dog) if they don't have the doggy dollars or petpurse to tend to their veterinarian care and other health needs? It confuses me. I'm not angry, or disgusted (I've been called both), I'm simply bewildered.

We (my husband and myself) wanted another small dog for 10 years (our oldest is 12 years old). We are not rich people by any stretch. We live in a 1 bedroom home that we rent. We own a 20 year old Chev LOL.:D That being said, we're very happy.

We decided that if we wanted another dog badly enough, then we needed to do what we did with our older dog. The first time around, for 3 years we went without internet, cable, and all other forms of costly entertainment IE: movies, eating out, bowling etc. We stored every penny and called it the 'puppypurse'. We saved over three thousand dollars, and continue to put money into this 'puppypurse' still, on a monthly basis (although now we have steady income so we do have internet and cable as well, lol) It is never touched unless it is for the vet, groomers or other forms of dog care.

Life and occurrences are never guaranteed, with or without pets. If you want to be able to afford proper veterinary care for your beloved animals, then make them a petpurse. :) It has worked wonders for us, and we aren't even middle income; we're on the low end. We're never wondering how we're going to get dog food, or vet visits, shots, etc for our pets. We've had only one emergency vet journey and it was terrifying...but one aspect wasn't; the money. The money is always there because we refuse to touch it for any other reason.

After 9/11, the economy went in the pooper. It's still affecting all of us. We waited 8 years before getting another puppy because we knew we would NOT be able to save money for her puppypurse. If something happened to her, she'd be SOL because we'd be broke. That should be illegal (sorry but it should). In any case, once again we finally got to the financial point where we could create a second puppypurse for little Bella. When we reached the point where we knew we were solid on money for her (at least for the first two years if something major were to happen), we decided to get a puppy!

It is much more emotionally peaceful knowing that we'll never have to freak out not knowing how to pay for pet care.

I don't know if this will help anyone at all...I'm thinking many here are probably well off (we're not). But if it has helped anyone...I'm glad I posted it.

Moral of the story: you can have a small breed dog (or any other pet that requires more care than some others) even if you're poor, and still give it the cream of the crop in health care. It simply takes effort on your part, and a love that surpasses all understanding, and a will to save that money for your furry friend.

What is 2 years? Two years is nothing, folks. Wait 2 years if you're considering a puppy and know you have no money, lol. Wait those two years and sock away money at every possible opportunity. You'll be glad you did. :') And of course...don't stop stocking the money after you get puppy. It's a never-ending thing for those of us who live paycheck to paycheck. It CAN be done. :)

:thumbup: you may be of modest means but you my friend have a depth of character that most riches can't buy. Your Bella is lucky she has a human like you.

Over 15 years ago when my very first Yorkie went into sudden kidney failure, at the time I never knew about the high cost's to treat. We put all the expense on a Credit Card.
Fast forward to now and 9 Yorkies later. I have on hand the Care Credit if needed, and also I have Credit Card that is especially for the dog's as well money that is put back every month into an account for the dog's. So I will never have a problem with getting health care for my babies.
I did however feel very defeated the last 13 months as I lost 3 that had severe medical issues and no amount of money at the end could help them. I lost my oldest 14 1/2 yrs old last month.
I have to left now, that were recently adopted and I thank hevens they are healthy.
But I so get where are coming from.

I know I'm going to sound like a spoiled brat, but here it goes. We set aside money for Gizmo as well as get doggy insurance on him (thank goodness) I also have a credit card that has a low interest rate with a current zero balance that I call my "just in case" card.

With that being said, and here comes the spoiled brat part, I know my family would help with Gizmo if anything ever happened that was catastrophic. With that being said, my husband and I too would drop anything to help out with my mom's or brother's dog as well. I guess we all created a little support system for our pets.

I think many times people pick out a pet for a quick fix, and don't really think about it long term.

Perfectly said, Cathy.

I have a credit care too. I plan to keep mine for medical emergencies kids and furkids. I also plan to wait until the spring or summer to get another pet. I looked at my vet receipts from my first pet so I can estimate how much I will need for new puppy visits. Thankfully he hasn't gone up too much. I also plan to buy heartworm and flea meds in bulk supply from the vet ( for a better price). I plan to start buying things little by little but I want to wait on some items until I am certain I will be getting a little female. I don't think a boy will appreciate a pink blanket. I don't have a lot of money but I love dogs. We always had dogs growing up and we weren't rich people then either. I believe in giving my pets the best care and love possible. No I won't be able to run and buy both of them a cute sweater everytime I want to but I know that I will be able to sometimes buy them cute things with planning and budgeting. My human children aren't spoiled and they don't get everything they want all the time but I remind them how blessed they are because they do get some of things they want. We all must set priorities. If it comes down to a medical visit and a cute shirt my daugther knows which it will be. Doctors and vets come before a cute shirt that is not needed.

Sometimes life hands people some bad cards. One day you could have the money, the next day you're struggling to keep a roof over your head.

I can afford my pups no problem right now....but if something were to happen, gawd forbid, I would have to make sacrifices...the last thing I would sacrifice is my doggy care but if it comes down to it...they also need a roof over their head.

I don't have anyone that is there to save my rear if something goes bad....I would just have to hope and pray that nothing bad happens so I can always afford my babies.

Well your preaching to the choir here.

I don't understand why people who can't afford pets get them or how people can say they "don't have the money" when they have the internet, cable, etc things they could sell or go without to come up with the funds.

I think many people are of the belief that pets are only here to serve them- so they should be able to have them to enjoy as long as they are healthy and then when they become too costly well they are "just animals" and not worth the money.

Agree!

I will NEVER understand the logic.

Sorry, but I am a 21 year old college student with not a lot of money but you know what? I MAKE it work! I can't stand to see grown women/men, often with families, on here who claim they can't afford it. Do you have cable, directtv, verizon, etc? Do you go out to dinner? Sacrifice something for the sake of your pup. I've seen it before too with people who have the money to go out every night, drive nice cars, and wear nice clothes, but "can't afford" care for their dog.

I am all for saving money when possible. I won't run Jackson to the vet for EVERY little thing. But I know my dog well enough to know when he needs to go, and when it's something that can be treated at home. When it comes to a lot of issues I see posted on here, going to the vet simply seems logical. And by waiting it out longer, you are just going to end up with more bills in the end because the worse they get, the more $$$ it gets.

I simply don't understand it. I am not made of money, I am young, but my dog has always gotten the best care possible. Like I said, I MAKE it work.

This year alone, I've spent close to $3000 on Jackson in vet bills. He's been a very healthy guy *knock on wood* but unfortunately, his two issues were "big" ... one was a really bad GI upset causing a hospital stay, the other was dental surgery to fix a tooth that was causing his gums a hole. I paid for them all by myself up front, I did receive some very generous donations (unasked for) for one treatment and it meant the world to me. But irregardless, my dog would have been taken care of.

I did a ton of extra babysitting, dogsitting, selling on ebay, etc, when it came time to making some of the money back.

I do not think you need to be rich to own an animal. It's really about common sense, and having some savings, or some form of financially taking care of a pet.


I know that, if a really really big emergency came up, I would also have family that would help. Jackson is a big part of this whole family and everyone knows how much I love him and have grown to love him too. I have quite a few family members who I know would offer to help if it came down to it, however I don't depend on this, or anything, but I do know the option is there.

The dogs I had now are dogs I had when my mom was still alive. Now that she's passed on I have a hard time keeping things paid (bills and such) I would go hungry before my dogs bowl would go empty. So I understand when some people say they cant afford the vet bills. I know I can't afford them but that doesnt stop me from getting my pets cared for. I'm going to the vet tomorrow for an allergic reaction my Sammy is having, I'll find a way to pay for it. I always do.

You are a very lucky and blessed person. My extended family has the "its just a dog" attitude. However my husband and children would do just about anything to help with the dogs.
I put money into a fund every month,we nolonger own any creditcards. We also have insurance and are lucky to have a wonderful vet that is willing to let me pay things out if need be.

Noone has a crystal ball to see the things that can happen to a child or furbaby during their lives and no matter how often someone may tell them that they need to have cash on hand,not only to purchase a puppy but to maintain its health,some people just dont think that far ahead. We live in a microwave/I want it now society and living within ones means is not what people want to do. Take a look at the state of our economy as individuals and as a whole. My dad used to say "those that can not listen can feel" my other favorite is " you have to decide what you are willing to give up in order to get what you want". I try to keep these in mind when making important decisions,,,like bringing a new furbaby into our home.

A very good friend of mine has just had their first yorkie litter and I was offered a new baby. I had to say no,but you can bet that I will be going to visit. Maybe I will put a little extra in the doggie fund for later,,,much later.

I am extremely blessed to have a family that looks at dogs and animals in general the same way I do. We don't go on vacations, or have big expensive houses, but our pets are taken care of. And that's all that matters to me.

What a great post, I love the term "puppy purse" meaning a savings for your puppy, rather than "purse puppy", which means a dog that lives in your purse. I don't know why saving for something is so foreign to some people. That's another reason I hate it when a breeder takes PayPal or some sort of credit card payment. if a person can't afford the purchase price upfront, will they be able to afford the necessary vet care?

I'm a big offernder of this. I bought Gizmo with a credit card because I get 5% back on all of my purchases!:p I had the money up front no problem. But I guess I'm just one of those people.

Ha ha, me too, I buy most things with credit card, but I do pay it off at the end of the month. So many people think they can pay $20.00 a month, and they get overwelmed in a hurry. Lol, I was young once, I know how it is.

I hear you. I used to work for a Credit Union and was amazed at how young people didn't know to pay the statement balance as opposed to the minimum.
But anywho, I'm getting off topic! :p

I'm reporting you to the OT police! I look at it this way, we're bumping the thread so others can read the original poster's post.

Uh oh!! There's OT police!:eek: I'm in trouble. I thought I just had to cower from the Polite Police! :rolleyes:

I feel a fine being written....

Lol, most of them just put me on ignore! :D

...Elvis has become coined 'the $10,000 dog'...
however some people are just cheap trash plain and simple...

(heck, despite his high cost of medical care and medications-I honestly don't think he ever saw a vet before getting his rabies shot and health check to be flown to me...)

often people have the means and they still simply don't want to pay for needed care.


What really bothers me is how people will pay thousands for a dog, hundreds on designer dog cloths, jewelry, purses to carry them in, even grooming etc...but their dog has NEVER seen a vet!!!

That's how I look at it. There are many people who spend their money on things that don't add joy to their life and aren't necessary.... Jackson brings me so much joy and happiness, that he's completely worth every penny.

What else could I spend money on that gives me so much sheer happiness, pure unconditional love, and laughter? He literally makes me smile every day. I don't think there's anything else that can be bought that brings me so much value to my life.

sadly, it is soooo true... people really do need to consider the cost of vet bills when accepting a new pup into their family. as others have said, care credit can be a godsend, plus i have a credit card just for doggie emergencies. every so often there will be an extra pay period in the month, so that is a good time to save $ for your pets or plan their needs around that. if you regularly see your veterinarian and establish a good relationship with him/her, many (like mine) will offer to accept payments directly. i have never had to take our wonderful vet up on that offer, but i am so thankful that she has offered. there are so many ways that you can make it work!!! beleive me, if i could afford it i would have 4 little furbutts running around right now lol. but i am just as happy to have my 2 and feel very fortunate to have them and be able to do whatever needs to be done!!!
we were very lucky that my zowi has been extremely healthy her entire life but at 9 years old started to have problems and was diagnosed with cushing's disease. currently, all her meds are costing just under $4 per day, about $120 or so a month. she has to get a blood test sent to the university of tennessee every 2 months at miniumum. when we 1st started her treatment in june it was $185 and just last week she had it done and it has gone up to $255! often we have had to do that test every 3 weeks while getting her dose adjusted correctly. plus she needs regular bloodwork done every 3 months at minimum at about $100. she will need the meds and tests for the rest of her life. my little nika (rip) had several medical issues (bad reactions to shots, allergies, hypoglycemia, pancreatitis) starting from a 6 week old pup and by the time she was a year old was a $3,500 dog. that's only the first year! several er visits over the 6 years she was with us cost between $400-1,300 each time. this does not even include groomers, bi-yearly dentals, dog training classes, toys, food, treat, etc.
ALL THIS BEING SAID, IT IS / WAS ALL MONEY WELL SPENT AND I HAVE NO REGRETS! but i know that 2 is my limit once you factor in all the expenses and of course, you want to be able to spoil them rotten and have fun with them lol. my girls have been on doggie boat cruises, carriage rides, etc. my babies care is very important and we never ever compromise that. thanks for pointing this out and posting this!!!

I hear this completely. I thank God everyday that my fiance & I have kept our jobs and make decent incomes. But that could all be taken away tomorrow. I have a 0% interest Care Credit card with a $3000 limit (which I could up on the fly) if anything happens.... this is not ideal but would get my pups the help they needed should anything happen.

I love the term puppy purse. So many ways it can be done too. A separate savings account with automatic withdrawals going into it every 2wks or once per month. You can set it up so that you can't write cheques or anything against it. Here in Canada, and I'm assuming something similar in US, we can buy Canada Savings Bonds, 100% backed by the federal gov't, and these will give you a better rate of return than a savings account - and again can be set up by the bank to withdraw $x per month out of your account. They can be redeemed yearly, or in a pinch during the year, you would just lose a bit of interest on the amount.
We don't have anything like care credit up here, but of course credit cards.

Maybe OP it would help to know that 10yrs ago a customer survey was done by the AVMA on lots of aspects of consumer spending. One question asked was; "How much are you willing to pay annually for vet care'? The answer was very low indeed about $250 or so. Even less was a consumer willing to pay for cat care.
This opened my eyes, to ppl's beliefs/values etc.

i wholeheartedly agree. i would just get care credit if i have to for anything too major to just pay out. now i don't rush to the vet for little things that i have had the knowledge and experience to treat at home like a one day tummy bug, but my gosh if that tummy bug doesn't go away quick and my meds and methods don't work fast i'm off the the vet in a hurry. anything that causes them pain or makes me scared we just rush to a vet. i'm not about to wait something out all night that i feel is putting their lives in danger. wouldn't do it to a child and won't to my pups. if i go into debt and take years to pay it all off i'd do it in a minute for them both.

i love those dogs and their lives are so important to me. can't watch them suffer. even with little tummy bugs like Sadie had last saturday i was preparing myself that the cerenia wouldn't work and if she threw up even once after the meds i was ready to leave for the ER weekend vets. luckily she stopped, bland diet worked, and the pepcid worked and she's back to her usual stinker pot self. :D

anyways thanks for reminding us the importance of a "pet purse" and that if you can't afford the vet you can't afford the pet.

Ha ha - I never thought of using a credit card to buy the dog - I don't think the breeder would have accepted it, but I sure could have used the miles I would have earned!!

I agree! I don't know why people think they can adopt an animal and then not take care of it properly! I have an 8k Care Credit and a $15,000 credit card along with quite a bit of money saved up, so I feel good knowing my babies would be covered should something happen. So far we have only had a couple of non-routine vet visits (less than 1k), so we have been lucky. I had a friend whose yorkie mix was ran over by a truck and it was 7k for her surgeries and rehab and they used Care Credit. It is worth the piece of mind to have it and to know that your pups will not ever go without.

I agree about pet care. But I will add, it is about education of the owners.
Many people were raised that pets were ONLY pets... They can learn. The other comment is we really don't know what is going on in a home, or the reasons some people make bad choices. Some of us have iit easier then others. I have Never :confused:had to make a choice of my care vs my fur babies care, so I am lucky. I have learned life can change in a second!

This is the reason ZoE has a Trust. Not only would it cover her medical bills, but it would cover the cost of her life care should anything happen to me. My daughter would gladly care for ZoE, but I don't feel it's right to burden her (a young college student who has plenty of bills of her own) with the additional cost of supporting & caring for my dog.

Not all expenses can be anticipated and absorbed. I, too, have savings, and all of my credit cards and lines of credit have zero balances. Aside from a modest car payment, I have no debt.

That said, it's still not difficult to imagine a series of circumstances that could destroy my nest egg. I'm grateful it hasn't happened, but I firmly believe that the vast majority of people are one medical emergency away from bankruptcy.

I love my baby. He's 12, diabetic, hypothyroid, and today I got the possible diagnosis of Cushing's Disease. I'm really beside myself. Yes, I can afford his insulin, needles, blood glucose testing supplies. and regular vet visits. Yes, I could afford the $140 in blood work today, and I'll be able to afford the $242 test to confirm his Cushing's diagnosis.

After that? I'll have to take things as they come. I live in the real world. There are treatments and medications that I can't afford for myself. There are also treatments and procedures that I simply would not put a 12-year old, elderly dog through.

I wish I was without limits on my resources, but it's my reality. There would be a lot more homeless (and euthanized) pets out there if only those with the means to anticipate every emergency were able to be pet owners.