Don't judge me!!!!

[Argentra]

I agree with Joanna - priorities of the whole and quality of life are the determining factors.

Myself and my BF come first in the $$ scheme of things (food, rent, bills...), but I do everything in my power, financially and physically, to give my animals the best life I can give them. I have a savings account especially for the animals, mostly for future vet bill coverage. Of course, I cut corners wherever I can - hides, bedding, decor...but NEVER on essential things like quality food or reliable equipment.

I've had to put pets down before, not only because surgical procedures were beyond means but because the animal might still have suffered afterward. More recently, when I took the little pastel in to the vet I did so prepared to pay for the service, but also ready to have him put down if it looked hopeless. Now, he's the prettiest and plumpest male in the group.

When faced with extraordinary vet circumstances, i.e. things beyond normal maintenance, I always ask these questions:
How special is this animal to myself or my partner (emotional ties, therapy pet)?
How much extra money can we give toward its care?
How much MORE are we willing to scrape together, if needed, to keep the animal healthy?
What will its quality of life be with the treatment and without?

I rarely ask how much the animal is worth...since even when I start breeding, these snakes will still primarily be my pets.

[Muze]

Since these are living creatures in my care, regardless of whether or not they are breeders that will someday make some money back for me, I would spend whatever I have that would spare them pain & suffering. I have spent hundreds (probably thousands) of dollars picking up stray dogs/cats/rabbits, etc., getting them healthy when needed and then finding them homes when possible. So I definitely would not think twice about spending it on one of my own.

That being said, I do understand those that are more pragmatic & think about the financial side of the hobby. I also understand prioritizing (family, dogs, etc. come first).

[vangarret2000]

If you get an animal, and refuse to pay a vet bill because its more than the animal is worth then you probably shouldnt be owning animals period.

I think this is a good point. The question asked for this topic was "Would you spend more then the value of the animal in vet bills?" Everyone, including myself, keeps bringing more factors into the equation then is asked. It is a black and white question and a lot of grey area can be added to it, but it doesn't ask what factors you would make you decide if you pay a vet bill or not, it is just simply asking if your pet cost $300 and a vet bill was $1000 would you pay it? I know there is a lot more needed in thought to pay a vet bill then just this but what would you do if this was the only factor? Not how attached to the pet you are, or if you have that much money in your bank or not, etc.

Earlyer I said I probably won't pay the bill, but really it wasn't because of the cost, it was because of other factors involved. I mention I had a hamster die because I didn't take it to the vet (hamster $15, vet $100). What really made me not take it was the chance of him living was still too low for me to pay that price. If I knew he could live I would have paid the $100 regardless of the fact that it was well over the cost of getting a new hamster. The minimal chance of survival was the factor in that equation, not the money.

So for me, if the vet bill being a higher price then the cost of the pet was the only factor, would I pay more on a vet bill then the cost of my pet, yes I would. As a pet owner/collector.

I think if you take out all the extra factors and just look at the question as basic as it is written, I think the majority of the pet owners/collectors, would pay more. And I think with breeders it could go one way or the other.

[vangarret2000]

You know after re-reading the topic question again I realize my last post could just be completly useless.

The question "Would you spend more then the value of the animal in vet bills?"

It kinda depends on what the first poster meant by "value". If he jsut means cost(which is the way i took it) then my last post works. Cost is balck and white, but value can be a grey area. Value can be money, but it can also be emotional attachment, among other things. So I was just wondering what the first poster means when he uses the word value. Is it just money(like cost of pet and/or how much it can make the breeder) or do you mean how much you emotionally value your pet as well? Or other factors you might wanna include?

Also if money value is the only factor(nothing else) what would you people do? If your pet cost $200 and it would take the vet $1000 to cure it if it was sick would you pay it? I know it will be hard to not add other factors but really try not too. The only other factor that should be considered in this is, for a breeders view, it's not just the cost but how much money that snake can make you. But that factor is still just a part of money value.

Me I would pay it. What would you do?

[rebeccabecca]

Personally I would take all animals to the vets regularly if our vets weren't so expensive. I was lucky when my fell and got knocked out it was only $500. if the costs don't equal a healthy happy pet then no I wouldn't spend lots of $$ to keep a sick pet alive one more month. My animals are never sick and die of old age or do instantly( mice virus??) that vets couldn't help!

[murray2213]

[QUOTE=wolfy-hound;1014829]
I'd be interested to see how many of the people that say "Whatever it takes" have had to put out a couple grand on a pet, and whether they were supporting themselves and a family on their income at the time.



Jan 26 of 08 my cat passed away. Feb of 2000 I got a pure bread Bengal, payed $1600 for him with out breeding rights. (yes for a cat ) He was my little man and was by my side every second of every day. Mid 2007 I noticed a lump in his belly just in front of his right hind leg and after several vet and specialist visits it was confirmed cancerous, they thought it could be removed with no long term effects. A cat scan (no pun intended) reviled a spot on his lungs witch was bad news. The specialist told me that if it was cancer removing the tumor would be all for not, as there was nothing that could be done about the spot on his lung.

Just over 8k later in vet and specialist bills, between the surgery, and his stay for 3 weeks at the local animal hospital, (he had a real rough recovery and had to be resuscitated a few times) he got to come home and was back to his old self. 3 weeks later to the day he died. He seemed 100% ok and 10 min later he was DOA in my arms as I ran through the doors of the animal hospital.

I live and support myself, don't have a family yet but spent every spare dime I had on treatment for my little guy. I even sold my brand new motorbike I bought earlier that spring because I just didn't have the money to keep up with the vet bills for Chance.

I can say whole heartedly I would do what ever it takes and if I had to do it all over again I would do it in a heartbeat!

[vangarret2000]

[QUOTE=murray2213;1015161]

I'd be interested to see how many of the people that say "Whatever it takes" have had to put out a couple grand on a pet, and whether they were supporting themselves and a family on their income at the time.



Jan 26 of 08 my cat passed away. Feb of 2000 I got a pure bread Bengal, payed $1600 for him with out breeding rights. (yes for a cat ) He was my little man and was by my side every second of every day. Mid 2007 I noticed a lump in his belly just in front of his right hind leg and after several vet and specialist visits it was confirmed cancerous, they thought it could be removed with no long term effects. A cat scan (no pun intended) reviled a spot on his lungs witch was bad news. The specialist told me that if it was cancer removing the tumor would be all for not, as there was nothing that could be done about the spot on his lung.

Just over 8k later in vet and specialist bills, between the surgery, and his stay for 3 weeks at the local animal hospital, (he had a real rough recovery and had to be resuscitated a few times) he got to come home and was back to his old self. 3 weeks later to the day he died. He seemed 100% ok and 10 min later he was DOA in my arms as I ran through the doors of the animal hospital.

I live and support myself, don't have a family yet but spent every spare dime I had on treatment for my little guy. I even sold my brand new motorbike I bought earlier that spring because I just didn't have the money to keep up with the vet bills for Chance.

I can say whole heartedly I would do what ever it takes and if I had to do it all over again I would do it in a heartbeat!

I was just wondering, knowing that in the end he dies, why would you still do it all over again?

[Repfanaticlady28]

I paid a $200 vet bill for a $7 rat and a $1,000 bill for an $80 cat, so yes I would spend more than the animal is worth......no matter what kind of animal. As far as I'm concerned if you can't, or won't, pay the bill then you shouldn't have the animal.

[grammie]

well, I never in my life imagined taking a snake to a vet, much less several times. But I'm so happy I did, my rescue is the sweetest girl and I feel good that I did everything she needed. Times are tough, but I will always do what I can. I just hope it will always be enough at the time.

[icygirl]

My normal balls are probably not worth much more than say $50. I have definitely spent more than that on food and husbandry, so would I drop money on vet bills over $50? Of course.

That being said, there is a point where I believe it gets excessive.

When I was younger we had a cat named Simon... he was a purebred Burmese, and also the nicest, sweetest cat in the world. I loved him dearly. One day my mom found a lump on his belly, and it turned out to be lymphoma. He was only ten years old, which I'd say is "middle aged" for a cat. Now my mom, she would not let me or my dad have a say in anything. She dropped thousands of dollars on vet bills for him. I was only 11 at the time. What happened was that Simon turned into a zombie from the chemotherapy, and we watched him suffer and slowly fade away. Finally when things were looking far too bleak, my mom decided to have him euthanized. She would not even let me come with her. Honestly, I know she was distraught over his being sick. But I really think she was clinging to something that just was not going to happen. Even at 11, I could see early on that he was not improving at all from the treatment.

Would I drop significant amounts of my money on vet bills for an animal? No. I will pay up to what I feel is a reasonable extent. Anything past that and it is a quality of life issue - if they are really suffering, then I would choose to put them to sleep. I agree with Frankykeno that animals are NOT people... obviously if the question were rewritten to "Would you spend beyond your means on medical bills for a beloved family member or friend", that would be a no-brainer.