Quote Originally Posted by wilomn View Post

For me it's animal by animal. They're not my dog, no matter how much I like them they don't care whether I come or go, he does, hence a difference of treatment between them.

Way to go, really.
I agree completely, Wes.

My dog comes before any of the animals. She is my child (since I don't have nor want children, a whole 'nother discussion). My cats are important to me and I would likely spend what I needed to within reason (once spent $3000 at an emergency vet on my cat that ended up dying the next day). The reptiles get the best possible care and its case by case. I consider myself pretty experienced with reptiles and I have a good feel for when a vet is needed. I had a Leo that had a large obstruction in it's vent. Most people I asked said take it to the vet. I felt that it was something that could be taken care of. I gave the animal a soak in warm water and was able to push out the obstruction (which was a large block of urates). I know that some people take their rats to the vet if they get sick. I have to draw the line somewhere. I bred rats for a long time and sick ones got humanely euthanized. It's a fact of life. I now have a couple pet rats and as cute and cuddly as they are, it's unlikely that they would ever see the inside of a vet's office. Does that make me uncaring? I don't think so but some would.

In the end you have to do what's right for the animal as you see it.