Most You Would Pay Pet / Vet?

[DebbieL]

Yes, but 19 years is short in comparison to a human. And, very few dogs make it that long, especially larger breeds. Like I said, my dogs have averaged maybe 12 years. I will take good care of a pet, but I won't go to extreme measures (costs) for a sick older pet. I know everyone feels differently, but to me a pet is a pet, and as much as I may love a dog, it doesn't approach the feeling I have for my human family members.

[maat55]

When I was younger, living in a mobile home park, my neighbors spent 400.00 on their dog. I thought, what idiots. Years later, I ended up spending more than 2k on my boxer.

I think people have to be real about their financial situation, sometimes you have to protect your family by not spending on animals, but I for one have become partial to my pets.

[GREENBACK]

I have two labs ( mother and daughter). I bought mom and bred her with another lab for the pup. I have bred other dogs over the years and it does create an emotional attachment. in addition to the cost of the stud I have already paid thousands of dollars for the two combined. I can't imagine putting a dollar figure on either of them. I can't count the hours of training and other time I have devoted to them. Call it what you will but I know their devotion to me is enormous and I would sacrifice a lot within reason to keep them alive and healthy.

No dollar figure here

[pearlieq]

When I adopted my cats I made a commitment to be their steward to the best of my ability.

I would spend as much as reasonably possible on their health, depending on the prognosis. I pray I'm never in a position to find out what I consider "reasonable" but I think it would be between $5,000 and $10,000. I'm willing to forego a vacation and other wants to care for my pets. I'm even willing to live on Top Ramen for a while. I'm not willing to compromise my family's long term financial security.

That's my personal threshold, because I have means and disposable income. For someone else a vet bill of $250 might bring them to the same place that a vet bill of $5,000 brings me. I agree that folks shouldn't take on a pet if they don't have enough in reserves for basic vet care. But costs can spiral out of control quickly. Just last summer I coughed up $1,300 to clear up a blockage in my otherwise healthy and young cat. It wasn't really a problem for us, but I know it would be devastating for a lot of people My heart breaks for people in that situaton.

For what it's worth, breed and "value" of an animal mean nothing to me. A mutt's life has just as much worth as a show dog's.

[PetMom]

Having a 'kitty fund' for my pets is what drives me to budget and save. We do not use credit cards and I am only concerned of being able to have enough to cover emergency room care for all of them.

This used to actually be quite doable but the cost of vetting your pet has had a dramatic rate increase (the medicines they dispense are not price regulated and they can have large markups).

The most ordinary run of the mill visit can now cost at least one hundred (counting office visit, vet exam, medicne). Do not even add in any diagnostics they need to do.

My vet bill for medicines for arthritis, a heart condition and allergies is running me 150.00 per month now. But these are worth it if they are improving your pets life. You just have to find other areas to cut back on in the overall budget.

I am currently looking into the online pet meds. but there is some cotroversy there!. I am paying full price for now at the vet because I like to call with questions about my dog and their medicine they are on and any probs involved. The online vet has not seen your dog. For chronic simple conditions though this may be the way to go.

I do not believe in the expense of keeping older dogs alive with cancer.
We spent nearly $3,000.00 dollars on our dog and to be honest it did not even keep her alive much longer and just put more strain on her.