How much are you willing to spend on your pet?

[fuzzybuddy]

I've had pet cats all my life. They are not just animals, they are part of your family. And like all living things, stuff happens. Most of the vets are now "animal hospitals", where it's more like "people's" medicine than animals'. Instead of kindly old vet "Doc' Jones," it's blood panels, x-rays, lab work-which costs a pretty penny.
How much are you willing to spend on your pet?
And have you had pet medical insurance?

 

[hollydolly]

Yes my DD has pet insurance always has had, without it she wouldn't be able to afford sky high Vet bills

She will spend whatever she deems necessary on her dogs without being ridiculous. She buys top quality leads , collars, and toys and beds .. she grooms them herself, she has her own grooming table and equipment, and is a qualified City & Guilds Groomer.. so that saves her money.

She feeds them top quality food, which she had a hand in inventing herself and now a large company makes it.. and sells it

She wouldn't however buy expensive jewel encrusted collars... as some people would

 

[Remy]

No pet insurance. My cat Chloe had diabetes for over 11 years and lived to old age. Her vet bills were not crazy, she only usually went every six months with a few extra trips. One trip to the after hours pet ER for about 1000 dollars. I didn't care.

Juniper (tabby) had blood in her urine. Ultrasound was negative 2 years ago. I'm not doing any further texting and she's been OK. Talia (calico) was diagnosed with possible low grade lymphoma last year. It has turned out to be inflammatory bowel disease controlled with prednisone and diet change. She is now on every other day prednisone and doing well on that. I had to consider if I would do the tx for lymphoma if that had been the actual diagnosis and I was leaning toward treatment. I'm glad it wasn't.

I'd have to consider cost and quality of life for my pet. I'd never torture them to keep them alive. They don't understand the treatment.

 

[oldaunt]

As much as it takes.

 

[Buckeye]

As much as it takes.

^^This^^. It's now been 20 years ago, but our little toy poodle woke up and couldn't move his back legs. Trip to vet, then animal hospital that just happened to have a canine orthopedic surgeon on staff. ~$3,500 later the little guy was all better, and never had another problem.

More recently, my SO's shih tzu needed dental work after he had jumped out of a shopping cart and hit the floor with his chin. $1500 later, he is doing fine.

The flip side, when it's time for them to cross Rainbow Bridge, I don't want to prolong their illness and pain.

 

[CallMeKate]

As much as it takes.

Yes!

 

[Gemma]

No pet insurance, but I would spend whatever it takes to keep my cats healthy. We're luck to still have a "kind old vet Doc Jones," that is 30 miles away. He's worth the trip.

The vet we use to go to, retired and sold his business to another. They want to do every test under the sun, including CT scans and MRI's. They are more about making the money than healthcare for your pet.