topic Re: Vet bills! in Among Friends

Vet bills!

shy bobcat — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:13:33 GMT

I haven't had a pet in years so, I am really out of touch with current vet bills.

My DS and DDIL have a sick senior kitty, umm, cat. I was shocked to hear they were charged $500. for an overnight stay at the animal hospital. The kitty stayed two nights. This did not include the cost of any treatments and medicine. The kitty was discharged to the care of the primary vet and the testing continues. We are so glad the kitty is better but with four vets involved, the diagnosis remains unclear.

I loved all my pets dearly and always took good care of them but, I am stunned how expensive vet care has become. Perhaps pet health insurance is something to look into.

Re: Vet bills!

Carmie — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:19:49 GMT

I think Vet care is super expensive. I have pet insurance, but that is getting expensive too. Every year it goes up.

One of my dogs had surgery in 2011 with a four night stay. Her bill from the specialist Vet was over $8000, plus around $2000 for the animal hospital. I, thankfully had pet insurance that covered 80% of the bills. The surgery was life saving.

Re: Vet bills!

fthunt — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:20:35 GMT

Had pet insurance on my dog............ins co dropped her when she hit 10 range. Vet cost a reason I don't have another.

Re: Vet bills!

shy bobcat — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:27:34 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
I think Vet care is super expensive. I have pet insurance, but that is getting expensive too. Every year it goes up.

One of my dogs had surgery in 2011 with a four night stay. Her bill from the specialist Vet was over $8000, plus around $2000 for the animal hospital. I, thankfully had pet insurance that covered 80% of the bills. The surgery was life saving.

@Carmie

Gulp! Glad you had insurance and above all, your dear pet is better!

Re: Vet bills!

kaydee50 — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:29:28 GMT

As much as I would like to have a dog, the responsibility and cost make it a "no" decision for me. My bro has 2 German Shepherds. Last year he and my SIL spent $12,000 on their care. We all have our priorities and mine isn't spending that much on a pet.

Re: Vet bills!

chvall99 — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:44:02 GMT

It is true pets can be expensive but it might depend on breed too. I grew up with border collies that had consistent exercise on the farm. We spent next to nothing on their care (other than rabies shots) and they lived to ripe old healthy ages. We now have an accident-prone mini dachshund. He is only 5 years old and we have spent thousands on his care. He will swallow anything and we have ramps etc. to save his back. Fortunately, as he is getting older and we are getting wiser things are getting better. But still.

We adore him though and he brings us so much happiness on a daily basis that it is money well spent.

Re: Vet bills!

Ainhisg — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:58:47 GMT

The area of the country in which you live makes a difference in the cost of vet care. I live in Southwest Missouri, and while our vet care costs have gone up, it's not near what I read about it costing in other areas. After our two are gone, I don't want any more for the reasons others have listed… Responsibility and the cost of their care. My husband doesn't necessarily feel that way, but he is open to a period of no dogs after these are gone to see if his desire wanes for them. If he had to do all the medicating, walks, play time, feeding, and attention-giving I have to do, I think he would feel differently. As I've gotten older, I long for the ability to get up when I want, go when I want, take an impromptu trip, etc. without having the responsibility of pets.

Re: Vet bills!

Neetgal2 — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 17:15:37 GMT

At my age, they no longer bother me. These animals that I love like children have never failed a college course, never got numerous parking tickets at college, over and over for the same thing and only talk to me with a bark, meow, tilt of the head or eyes!

I am not complaining about my wonderful kids who eventually got their act together with advance degrees.

I am fortunate to be able to say this and do it. I help shelters with vet bills along with my own. My relatives always said, way back, do not put wreaths or flowers on the graves, donate to the shelters, that is what Grandmom wanted. In is in my genes I guess.

Re: Vet bills!

rescuedogmom4 — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 17:20:16 GMT

One of my dogs had a herniated disc, which required surgery to repair. The neurology office charged us $14,000, which included his 3 nights of post-op in the hospital. He also had heart issues, which took us to the cardiologist every 6 mos--$600-$700 per visit. Meds.....more money. Eye issues too. My other pets have had issues too, but he was by far the most expensive. Loved that little bugger! I've looked into pet insurance before, but at the time I had 4 pets, and it was so expensive that my husband and I decided to just save that amount each month and use it when needed.

Re: Vet bills!

hckynut — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 18:03:38 GMT

@shy bobcat

From what I read in your post, this feline must have been taken, to an Emergency Vet Clinic of some sort. Weekends and late night emergencies are not cheap anywhere. We live in a Midwest State that is far more $$$ friendly than coastal states, and that type of care can easily add up to numbers you gave in your post.

Our primary vet is nowhere near the cost of any of our Emergency Care Clinics. Unfortunately, we have had occasions where we had little choice, but to take several of our many felines to a couple of them.

Taking good care of our furry family members costs money, period. Generally speaking, as any pet ages, veterinary costs go up. Just like humans, organs start to fail, and special types of treatments are required to try to keep lives happy and comfortable.

If a person is concerned about care costs stretching further than they can financially handle? Our furry kids are much more perceptive than many seem to think. They understand stress and sorrow of those they own. Many are smarter in that respect than many humans I have known over my decades.

Hoping for a good remaining life for the "senior kitty" you mention. We have had many that lived into their very late teens, and each one of them needed special care. The kidneys and urinary tract are known to be troublesome for cats as they age. We have given IV fluids to several over the years, including 1 of our remaining 3 at the present time.

hckynut

Re: Vet bills!

patbz — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 18:06:51 GMT

Pet insurance is out of sight but we do use Care Credit where you can stretch out payments, without interest, for upto two years in some cases.

Re: Vet bills!

PamfromCT — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 18:27:57 GMT

Yes, certain things are true. Where you live affects many things. Salaries are higher, and costs are higher. For many things, including vet care. We bring our pet to a huge vet practice that is always busy. Costs are high.

It is such a shame that some large organizations don’t have a vet on staff to take care of pets with issues that their guardians can not afford to pay for. A pet brings a person so much joy, and so many would give a pet a loving home. We adopted our Winston kitty almost a year ago. Our children

have both agreed to take him if for any reason we can’t keep him. Both have and love pets. We are up years and feel so blessed to have our Winston. We are lucky to have the funds to care for him and would always fund his care.

Re: Vet bills!

furbabylover — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 18:54:19 GMT

It comes down to where your animal comes in the hierarchy of your life. My husband and I have said we would sell our house, if necessary, to save our Maltese pup. We have had many dogs over the course of our lives, but this one is so extraordinarily loving, I mean AMAZINGLY loving, that we would do anything to help him. I know that's hard for many to understand, but there is something almost spiritual about him. His every act of love, his antics, his clear understanding when we talk to him, all place him at the top of our lives right now. Yes, we have children, but this relationship is of another sort entirely. It may sound silly to some of you, but we feel like this little guy connects us to God everyday through his purity, his beautiful innocence. We are so blessed.

Re: Vet bills!

mspatmac — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 19:40:05 GMT

I have pet insurance but what does one do if they don't have the means to pay these prices for a senior ill dog, are seniors themselves on a fixed income and no family to help? I worry about that.

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Kalli — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 19:54:55 GMT

Vet care has skyrocketed. When we were first married we had dogs and cats. I don't remember ever feelng like we couldn't afford them. It's different now. Last summer a simple check-up and shots was $350 for my 2 dogs. Normally I also get their teeth cleaned each year but decided to delay that expense which in the past has been $400 (for both).

I have a pure bred sheltie from a show breeder. I won't bother listing all her medical issues for the almost 9 years she's been alive but suffice it to say, her file at the vet is thick and her procedures and meds have easily cost me several thousand. My previous sheltie was from a backyard breeder. We're always told to never buy from this type of seller. Well, this dog was healthy ALL her life and lived to be a week short of 17,( breed lifespan is 12-15).She had some issues during the last year of her life but, I expected that at 16!

In addition to the 2 dogs, I have a cat, a goat and 2 horses. If you've never had a horse, you have no idea of vet bills!! But they sure are fun!

Re: Vet bills!

beach-mom — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 20:10:13 GMT

Another thing that has impacted the rising costs is the acquiring of small practices by a larger nationwide conglomerates, like VCA. Even emergency care centers are being swallowed by Blue Pearl. The small practice veterinarians, who were used to doing things their own way, are now bound by time limits, rules, etc., just as in "people" practices. The charges are set, and they are the only game in town.

Re: Vet bills!

red&curly — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 20:26:29 GMT

I just feel bad when I hear so many people decide against having pet because of expense.

The love you receive is so far greater.If I get in a situation with their medical bills,I will try to just do the best I can cause I need my babies.

I just couldn't be without my animals.

I remember all these wild kitties I would tame when I was young.We had nothing.We were poor.We didn't even go to Dr.much less an animal.Yes, some didn't make it but most lived a long life.Grateful for those creatures.

Re: Vet bills!

Anonymous032819 — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 20:47:28 GMT

@mspatmac wrote:
I have pet insurance but what does one do if they don't have the means to pay these prices for a senior ill dog, are seniors themselves on a fixed income and no family to help? I worry about that.

@mspatmac

Simple, they have the vet put their pet to sleep.

Doesn't mean that they don't love their pet, they just can't afford to pay the vet bills.

Re: Vet bills!

mspatmac — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 20:58:00 GMT

@Anonymous032819 wrote:
@mspatmac wrote:
I have pet insurance but what does one do if they don't have the means to pay these prices for a senior ill dog, are seniors themselves on a fixed income and no family to help? I worry about that.

@mspatmac

Simple, they have the vet put their pet to sleep.

Doesn't mean that they don't love their pet, they just can't afford to pay the vet bills.

@Anonymous032819 Thats what I thought. Quality of Life for a senior dog is important too. I hope I am a long way away from making drecisions.

Re: Vet bills!

MoJoV — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 21:55:05 GMT

@hckynut You are soo right about emergency vet care. It's ridiculously costly. But my pets don't fall ill Mon thru Fri. They pick Sundays at 5 p.m.

It's one of my pet peeves that our vet doesn't have hours after 5 week days or after 12 Sat. There are about 6 vets in the practice how about rotating shifts? Oh well.

@shy bobcat I hope the cat is better. So much worry when our fur kids are sick.