Comments on: Expensive Dog Surgery Worth It, Say People Who Have Paid For Expensive Dog Surgery, Ridiculous, Say People Who Opted Not To Pay For Expensive Dog Surgery http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/ Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To Ask Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:09:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: squishycat http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-45247 squishycat Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:37:11 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-45247 @margegunderson Yeah, but it's not like the money that is being spent on pet care has a good route to take towards providing human health care - there are some funds and charities that help provide for treatments, and clinics you can donate to that provide basic health care, but the health system in the US is so fucked that people having the private funds to spend on medical care for their pets isn't exactly a reflection of fucked-up priorities, because I don't think anyone who spent that money on pet care wouldn't also spend it on human care (which costs shittons more because we've created a system where instead of spreading out the costs in any balanced sort of fashion, we've created all sorts of bizarre tiers and inflated the hell out of prices). It's not like there is Medicare for cats. (Also, poorer people have pets, too, and their pets don't get that kind of money spent on them, but their vets are a hell of a lot more likely than their hospital to work out a reasonable payment plan with them.) @margegunderson Yeah, but it’s not like the money that is being spent on pet care has a good route to take towards providing human health care – there are some funds and charities that help provide for treatments, and clinics you can donate to that provide basic health care, but the health system in the US is so fucked that people having the private funds to spend on medical care for their pets isn’t exactly a reflection of fucked-up priorities, because I don’t think anyone who spent that money on pet care wouldn’t also spend it on human care (which costs shittons more because we’ve created a system where instead of spreading out the costs in any balanced sort of fashion, we’ve created all sorts of bizarre tiers and inflated the hell out of prices). It’s not like there is Medicare for cats. (Also, poorer people have pets, too, and their pets don’t get that kind of money spent on them, but their vets are a hell of a lot more likely than their hospital to work out a reasonable payment plan with them.)

]]> By: margegunderson http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-40669 margegunderson Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:42:33 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-40669 Am I a jerk? My first reaction to seeing the amount people pay for their animals' health care is to think of all of the people in our country who can't pay for their own human health care. Not that it's wrong to get your cat a heart transplant, or whatever, but it's shocking to think that in our super rich country, some animals are treated better than people. Am I a jerk? My first reaction to seeing the amount people pay for their animals’ health care is to think of all of the people in our country who can’t pay for their own human health care.

Not that it’s wrong to get your cat a heart transplant, or whatever, but it’s shocking to think that in our super rich country, some animals are treated better than people.

]]> By: Lucky Luce@facebook http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-28172 Lucky Luce@facebook Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:00:49 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-28172 ok so looks like my male German Sheppard 6 year old may have stones, I've already spend $300.00 on x-rays, blood test and urine test, and now they are going to put him on 1 week of meds that will cost another $125.00, then doctors says we may need an ultrasound, then after all, he may still need to have surgery to remove the stones in his bladder. I can't afford another $1,000.00! Does anyone know of a cheap clinic that will do it for less? ok so looks like my male German Sheppard 6 year old may have stones, I’ve already spend $300.00 on x-rays, blood test and urine test, and now they are going to put him on 1 week of meds that will cost another $125.00, then doctors says we may need an ultrasound, then after all, he may still need to have surgery to remove the stones in his bladder. I can’t afford another $1,000.00! Does anyone know of a cheap clinic that will do it for less?

]]> By: megadith http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-453 megadith Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:53:01 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-453 In grad school I took in a 1-year-old cat who was weaning kittens (!) and a couple of months later she needed $700 ear surgery. And UGH of course I did it (probably because of that cat-mind-control virus). She was young, the vet said she would be completely fine afterward, and it would clear up the problem for good. It's been about 4 years and she is a joy, if a little ungrateful for my sacrifice. In grad school I took in a 1-year-old cat who was weaning kittens (!) and a couple of months later she needed $700 ear surgery. And UGH of course I did it (probably because of that cat-mind-control virus). She was young, the vet said she would be completely fine afterward, and it would clear up the problem for good. It’s been about 4 years and she is a joy, if a little ungrateful for my sacrifice.

]]> By: backstagebethy http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-303 backstagebethy Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:05:38 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-303 Man, and I thought shelling out $1000 for bladder stone surgery for my pup last month was rough. As has been said, age and quality of life certainly would affect my decision, but till Sassy's an old fart I would probably shell out any amount of money to keep her with me. Man, and I thought shelling out $1000 for bladder stone surgery for my pup last month was rough. As has been said, age and quality of life certainly would affect my decision, but till Sassy’s an old fart I would probably shell out any amount of money to keep her with me.

]]> By: Logan Sachon http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-290 Logan Sachon Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:41:43 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-290 @Nicole Cliffe@facebook annnnnnnd i misspelled your name. FIXED. @Nicole Cliffe@facebook annnnnnnd i misspelled your name. FIXED.

]]> By: Nicole Cliffe@facebook http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-288 Nicole Cliffe@facebook Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:57:46 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-288 The age and quality of life stuff is key. At this point (he's almost 15), we wouldn't do it. I mean, I certainly hope we wouldn't, but I also hope it never comes up. Once your dog is 15, you just hope that you'll wake up one morning and he won't. In, you know, another four years. The age and quality of life stuff is key. At this point (he’s almost 15), we wouldn’t do it. I mean, I certainly hope we wouldn’t, but I also hope it never comes up. Once your dog is 15, you just hope that you’ll wake up one morning and he won’t. In, you know, another four years.

]]> By: Ooey http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-285 Ooey Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:23:48 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-285 I "love" my two cats, but also know that they would conspire to kill and eat me if we were stranded on a desert island together. But would I do the same? Good question . . . I “love” my two cats, but also know that they would conspire to kill and eat me if we were stranded on a desert island together. But would I do the same? Good question . . .

]]> By: sovereignann http://thebillfold.com/2012/04/expensive-dog-surgery-worth-it-say-people-who-have-paid-for-expensive-dog-surgery-ridiculous-say-people-who-opted-not-to-pay-for-expensive-dog-surgery/#comment-279 sovereignann Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:30:08 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=1187#comment-279 I had the last one happen with a 17 year old cat by a vet tech. Then the vet himself came in and was like, "I would put her down. Just think of it as a final gift to your best friend. You have had a long time together and you can end her suffering." That really helped because I think sometimes the vet looks at you askance when your decision is "I can't afford 15K surgery for an elderly pet", which has also happened to me. The pressure to spend the money is incredible, especially when you don't have kids or other family around and the pet is your main companion. I had the last one happen with a 17 year old cat by a vet tech. Then the vet himself came in and was like, “I would put her down. Just think of it as a final gift to your best friend. You have had a long time together and you can end her suffering.” That really helped because I think sometimes the vet looks at you askance when your decision is “I can’t afford 15K surgery for an elderly pet”, which has also happened to me. The pressure to spend the money is incredible, especially when you don’t have kids or other family around and the pet is your main companion.

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