Three hundred seven dollars and fifty nine cents well spent

[Silver Fox]

Took my little dog Abby to the Vets yesterday for her shots and semi annual physical and wasn't surprised when the girl at the desk handed me the bill which came to $307.59.
I figure since the cost of everything else is going up, why quibble over a necessity, when a family member's health is involved and that's precisely what she, my wife and I consider her as, another family member.
In the little over 4 years we've had her I figure she has cost us approximately 7-8 thousand dollars which doesn't include a 3/4 acre chain link fence around the back yard which I never would've gotten if it wasn't for her. Most of these costs were in Vet bills as she had two costly sicknesses which resulted in lengthy hospital stays and follow up treatment.
Vets around here charge as much or more for an office visit than the MD's do, unless you're lucky and have medicare and secondary health insurance.

Nothing infuriates me more than someone getting a pet, whether it's a turtle, Easter bunny, kitten or dog. then after the novelty wears off the kids will let the turtle and rabbit starve. The owners quit feeding the cat and let it run wild in the neighborhood and they tie the dog to a post in the back yard regardless of whether it's in the sun or shade. Then, when they do decide to go to feed it, the poor thing will wag it's tail off like it's receiving a visit from god.

[PapaBear]

Took my little dog Abby to the Vets yesterday for her shots and semi annual physical and wasn't surprised when the girl at the desk handed me the bill which came to $307.59.
I figure since the cost of everything else is going up, why quibble over a necessity, when a family member's health is involved and that's precisely what she, my wife and I consider her as, another family member.
In the little over 4 years we've had her I figure she has cost us approximately 7-8 thousand dollars which doesn't include a 3/4 acre chain link fence around the back yard which I never would've gotten if it wasn't for her. Most of these costs were in Vet bills as she had two costly sicknesses which resulted in lengthy hospital stays and follow up treatment.
Vets around here charge as much or more for an office visit than the MD's do, unless you're lucky and have medicare and secondary health insurance.

Nothing infuriates me more than someone getting a pet, whether it's a turtle, Easter bunny, kitten or dog. then after the novelty wears off the kids will let the turtle and rabbit starve. The owners quit feeding the cat and let it run wild in the neighborhood and they tie the dog to a post in the back yard regardless of whether it's in the sun or shade. Then, when they do decide to go to feed it, the poor thing will wag it's tail off like it's receiving a visit from god.

You may wish to look into pet insurance. There are a couple of firms out there that are good. For about the same monies you spent for an annual fee you get emergency care, an annual checkup, all necessary shots, etc. Well worth the costs.

We maintain it for our two mutts and enjoy many benefits with the program. Just a thought!

[dadyswat]

You may wish to look into pet insurance. There are a couple of firms out there that are good. For about the same monies you spent for an annual fee you get emergency care, an annual checkup, all necessary shots, etc. Well worth the costs.

We maintain it for our two mutts and enjoy many benefits with the program. Just a thought!

Can you recommend a particular company?

[retdetsgt]

I probably should look into it. I have two "special needs" dogs that cost me a small fortune in vet bills. I've invested at least a couple thousand in each. I just put out $1500 for an MRI for Joe, the beaten little puppy mill Chihuahua stud. He has a spinal injury and we're not sure how much we're going to want to do about it

I'd like to hear about recommendations for companies too.

[Joeyd6]

I have that pet insurance through VPI. They wack my wife and me about $50 a month. It goes up in price annually with the dogs age. They preclude any prexisiting condition on your dog and they get thet form the vet records. So if you try to hide it, they will find it. Anything previously treated for which shows a "pattern" is considered pre-existing and thus excluded for life.

They also have certian things which different breeds get, and preclude those, such as hips with german shepards, etc....

Also, they are reimbursement based. Meaning you vet charges what they want, and the insurance company pays you a fixed amount for each item. Rabies shot x dollars, office visit x dollrs, etc.... You may end up out of pocket a lot of money even with the insurance.


We have a dog and she is my only friend at home, I mean my little baby. She is a pure so problems are to be expected!
1) She has a allergy to wheat and requires perscription food.....NOT COVERED.
2) She had two instances of a rash in 5 years....considered pre-existing. Dog starts getting rash yearly during summer....testing reveals allergy to pollen = $5 day perscription for 5 months each year = $750. Since happened 2x in 5 years before diagnosed, it was considered pre-existing and NOT COVERED!

We have paid about $1,500 into the insuance and in April, the dog had a lens luxation, where the lens of the eye came through the pupil. Choice was:

a) Pain meds to help dog deal with the pressure being cuased in the eye until it "exploded" at which time they would remove the eye. Ouch..at a cost after watching her in pain of $650!
b) Put the dog down. $300
c) See a vet who specializes in eyes and they can remove the lens, taking away the dogs ability to focus in that eye, but still have "blurry/unfocused" sight and see movement.

We chose option C at a cost of $3600, plus three eye drops for life, which will run about $300 a year for 5+ years. VPI's fee was $2500. We only pain $900, however the cost of eye drops in the future are now "excluded" as a pre-existing condition and they will never cover them.

To date the do has cost me (breeder fee; medical [2 visists per years, allergy pills, 1 er visit when she had a big fall, eye surgery & drops]; VPI premiums less what they paid us back; and food: $15,799.80 in 7 years.

But, when we I committ to something, I am a firm believer you do it right. She has bene a great dog and a great friend to me. Plus I have the money to spend and her life should be a good as I can provide. She has her ocassional steak and salmon dinners with us. She plays when I want to, attacks my wife on command and makes me laugh and never complains. My wife does not play when I want to, rarely makes me laugh, and always complins, and she has cost me more. Sounds like I got the short end of a stick.

Maybe I will come back as my own dog one day....

[retdetsgt]

Pet insurance wouldn't do me any good then. My dog Chiquita has allergies up the ying yang and now has an autoimmune disorder. And she'll be 9 next month.

As I said, Joe the Chihuahua was a rescue and came with some medical problems due to his past treatment. They suspect he's about 5 or so.

Both are worth every dime. They both do something that makes me smile probably 20 times a day.

If someone intentionally hurt one of my dogs, I could easily cut their throat and then go home, lay down and take a nap with no problem at all.

[Taz_bb2]

If someone intentionally hurt one of my dogs, I could easily cut their throat and then go home, lay down and take a nap with no problem at all.

Amen!

[Joeyd6]

I am usually a mutt and shelter guy. I like going and grabbing two or three at once. We did that twice growing up and once on my own as a bachelor. Our pure breed was the runt of the litter and not show quality. She was days away from hitting a kill shelter and we snagged her. Ironically the breeder hosed us and charged full bill like a show dog, but she was well worth it.

Both are worth every dime. They both do something that makes me smile probably 20 times a day.

Me too! A full dog lover at heart here. The feds let you donate money form each paycheck. I put some with the NLEOM, some with a no-kill dog place, and the rest with the Elephant Sancutuary. I rather give my money to the real helpless victims than most humans. Never met an animal I did not like, but I met plenty of humans.

If someone intentionally hurt one of my dogs, I could easily cut their throat and then go home, lay down and take a nap with no problem at all.

Amen brother.

[retdetsgt]

I am usually a mutt and shelter guy. I like going and grabbing two or three at once. We did that twice growing up and once on my own as a bachelor. Our pure breed was the runt of the litter and not show quality. She was days away from hitting a kill shelter and we snagged her. Ironically the breeder hosed us and charged full bill like a show dog, but she was well worth it.

Me too. Years ago, I got a couple of purebreds that I paid beau coup bucks for and they weren't a bit better dogs than the mutts I've gotten from rescue organizations and shelters. Life has been awfully good to me, I need to pay it back.

Me too! A full dog lover at heart here. The feds let you donate money form each paycheck. I put some with the NLEOM, some with a no-kill dog place, and the rest with the Elephant Sancutuary. I rather give my money to the real helpless victims than most humans. Never met an animal I did not like, but I met plenty of humans.

I make an automatic monthly donation to the local animal shelter here. I used to give money to the national ASPCA, but they kept using the money to send me junk umbrellas, t-shirts and other crap that I didn't want to entice me to give more money. The local chapter here does some really good work.

The little rescued Chihuahua who is so terrified of people went to sleep on my wife's chest last night while she watched tv. After spending all his life up until now living in a tiny cage with only abusive human contact, you can't buy the feeling you get from watching him do that.