Is there a limit on what you would spend?

[mickeysmomma]

Is there a limit on the amount of money you will spend for vet care for your beardie? Was talking with my sister today, and she mentioned that if her dog needs this one operation, it's over $4,000! Got me thinking about my babies...Louie and Mickey.

Some people thought I as CRAZY for spending $285 at the vet when Louie was sick. But, I couldn't imagine NOT getting her the care she needs.

What are your thoughts? Just curious!

 

[MissT]

Money is no object when it comes to my beardies. In the past 4 months, I have spent roughly £1000 ($1600) on Kazi and I wouldnt have it any other way!! He has more tests coming up which will be another £100 - £200 but, only the best for my little guy!!!

In hindsight, I should have taken out exotic pet insurance... but of course, I didnt find a company which did this until after he had started his treatment.

 

[mistybugs]

What kinds of benefits do you get from having exotic pet insurance. I was thinking about getting some for my beardie but did not know if it was worth it. Also about how much will it cost if I do decide to get the insurance.

 

[bambichik39]

i would spend what was reasonable. I love Pablo, and all of my other animals, but you have to take risk/benefit ratio into account and the animals prognosis. It's hard for many people to do, but I wouldnt want to spend a lot of money to save any animal if it would only prolong its death/bad health. I would do whatever possible if it was going to make them better, but from previously working at a vet i learned that the animal sometimes suffers more by trying to do too much. For instance, we did surgery on this 20 year old cats eye (removed it). It was diabetic, and was already blind in the other, along with other health problems. I don't see spending 1000$ to remove a cats eye, when its already uncomfortable from its other problems. It was put down 4 months later.

 

[Ragginout]

There's plenty of limits I would impose on myself when it comes to our pets. As much as I would hate to put one down, I'd do that over spending a grand in vet bills. I know this type of mindset isn't always looked nicely on, but as far as I am concerned, I can get the kids a new pet and keep some money going towards their college funds and our savings, which for me is more important. Everyone is different though and some people would mortgage their homes to save their animals. I'm just not one of them.

 

[Ragginout]

i would spend what was reasonable. I love Pablo, and all of my other animals, but you have to take risk/benefit ratio into account and the animals prognosis. It's hard for many people to do, but I wouldnt want to spend a lot of money to save any animal if it would only prolong its death/bad health. I would do whatever possible if it was going to make them better, but from previously working at a vet i learned that the animal sometimes suffers more by trying to do too much. For instance, we did surgery on this 20 year old cats eye (removed it). It was diabetic, and was already blind in the other, along with other health problems. I don't see spending 1000$ to remove a cats eye, when its already uncomfortable from its other problems. It was put down 4 months later.

Pretty much this. I worked at a vet for about 7 years. Worked at the front desk, filing, pharmaceuticals, office visits, kennels(where I started out), and then surgery(which I spent 4 of those 7 years for the most part). People would pay insane amounts of money just to buy their animals 6 months for time to live, no matter the quality of life the animal would have. The person did it selfishly because THEY wanted more time with their pet, and I perfectly understand that. Some people just have such a bond that they can't let go. Sometimes, letting go is better than treatment though, which in the case of most animals is the best thing to do. I say this very generally, but by the time an animal is at the point where they NEED to see a vet regularly they are usually never going to be back to their old selves again. How much that quality of life deviates from it's former self is where I would begin to make decisions.

Our clinic had the highest ratio of animals put down in the county and other hospitals would routinely talk down about us to their clients, who we often would get because the surrounding hospitals charged such extreme amounts. They were there to make money, while our practice was there to offer affordable health-care to everyone, often when they couldn't afford.. meaning that some minimal services were done at no charge, or payment plans were made with no credit checks.

Working in the industry definitely changed how I look at approach health-care with our personal animals.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

I dont know If I can answer this. Every situation is different.
I have spent about 1000 dollars on Apollo over the past year. I havent really thought about it. It was something that needed to be done. His quality of life did not suffer from the treatments, and I feel he would of been worse without them.

 

[mickeysmomma]

Hopefully we never have to deal with this situation! I might look into the pet insurance...not sure where to start! Guess online first!

 

[MissT]

I dont know If I can answer this. Every situation is different.
I have spent about 1000 dollars on Apollo over the past year. I havent really thought about it. It was something that needed to be done. His quality of life did not suffer from the treatments, and I feel he would of been worse without them.

Tom, im in the same boat and I totally agree with you. Kazi is getting better - if it costs me another £1000, I will pay it (it just means my wedding budget will continue to decrease but that is not something I really worry about!) Hes active and happy (other than at injection time!!) so I dont really think about the money and I know, other than when I put the needle in wrong and make him bleed (which results in him hopping around on 3 legs for a couple hours) that his quality of life is not suffering. But Kazi is one tough little guy - he has been from the day I got him. If he had been weaker in himself, he never would have made it this far and each day he gets a little more like his old self!!

by the time an animal is at the point where they NEED to see a vet regularly they are usually never going to be back to their old selves again.

With reptiles tho, it takes a long long time for them to recover. It can take weeks to even see a little improvement so that is something to really think about when treating reptiles.

Hopefully we never have to deal with this situation! I might look into the pet insurance...not sure where to start! Guess online first!

Insurance is definitely a good way to go. Then, if anything ever does happen (which I really hope it doesnt!) you are covered and wont need to worry about the expense.

 

[mistybugs]

Does anyone have any idea about the reptile insurance and about how much it may cost and the benefits and things like that? I would love to look into it I just don't know where to start looking.

 

[mickeysmomma]

I am going to look into it. I saw a sign at my vets office. I am going to ask about it when I drop off Louie poop sample this week!

will let you know what I find out!

 

[Ragginout]

I know locally, the clinics worth going to don't except a lot of various pet insurance. You need to make sure the clinics available will accept pet insurance.

 

[Phoenix17June2009]

honestly, money is tight, but if one of my animals were sick, i can promise they would still get all the care they needed. it wouldnt matter to me, they are my babies and i love them all so much... plus a lot of hte clinics in my area will help you by working out payment plans if needed and what have you... so no, there isnt a limit for me. i wouldnt care if i had to work 10 jobs to get them the care they needed, i would for them :love5:

 

[BigHass]

Having friends or in my case a wife that works at a vet clinic is great in the situations when a pet gets sick. Unfortunately the place where she works doesn't treat reptiles. But as far as how much I would spend, lets just say me and the wife already spent $480 in the past 2 months. But he is getting alot better. That amount was just for coccidia and pin worms. Now imagine if it had been something worse.

 

[MissT]

I know locally, the clinics worth going to don't except a lot of various pet insurance. You need to make sure the clinics available will accept pet insurance.

Good point. My own vet really pushes insurance. The charge for a consultation at my vets is a lot higher than the average but its worth it. They dont directly accept insurance - you have to pay them first and then make the claim from the insurance company.