Here's a $3000 cat. I would have paid twice that or more to save her. I don't know if you have a $7000 dog, but I do know that some things transcend the value of money.
Here's a $3000 cat. I would have paid twice that or more to save her. I don't know if you have a $7000 dog, but I do know that some things transcend the value of money.
Best wishes for a speedy doggo recovery.
Everyone should consider pet insurance. We have two dogs on it and it's impressively cheap, and honestly better benefits than our human insurance. Covers everything except medication, routine checkups, and preexisting illnesses, after a small yearly deductible.
I could never understand it, but I've never been in a position that I could afford to fix those problems if they happened to ME let alone a pet.
I'm having a hard time justifying care credit to get my teeth fixed so I'm not in constant pain every single day, and that's only like $1500.
Well done, and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Story time: My wife got a horse when she was 9 years old. He was 3. Spent every day with him, riding in the pasture, 4-H shows, etc. He was just a normal quarter horse, with maybe some good bloodlines. I learned to ride on him. When he was nearly 20, he had a ruptured diaphragm and a significant portion of his lower intestine went through the hole, was pinched off, and died. Hard to diagnose at home, but we had a good vet who came out and said he needed a hospital. We were newly married, not much money, and had to borrow a truck and trailer. After the diagnosis, they asked us the same question: How much is he worth to you? Old, just a pleasure horse, had a good life, etc. Estimate was $5K for surgery. Less than 50% chance to live.
We talked a bit, but really there was no question. We had to save him if possible.
We watched the operation, really interesting to see him on his back, and the surgeons pulling out tire size pieces and just setting them aside. Removed 28 feet of intestine.
He slept like a rock in recovery. They expected him to wake up after 8-10 hours. After 16 they called us, and said to brace ourselves. A few hours later they called back and said he was fine, looked stronger than he had any right to. Two weeks of recovery.
He lived another 18 years!
Our kids got to learn to ride on him and he knew he had been given a second chance. Awesome horse. RIP Blaze.
Worth every penny.
Around 11 years ago our bulldog got very ill. Short version is she had to have a feeding tube inserted and $100 a week food injected into that tube for 6 months. On top of $6500 worth of veteranary treatment for her underlying condition. It was not a good time for us financially and well lets just say good thing I was used to driving E36 M3ty cars.
6 months later the vet remarked as he removed the feeding tube "funny, I've never been able to do this on a living dog" Had we known her chances were that slim I may not have written that check. Thankfully I'll never know.
At the start of this year we lost that dog at a very ripe old age, and I'd pay that bill all over again to have another 11 years with her so yeah, I understand.
Apis Mellifera said:Here's a $3000 cat. I would have paid twice that or more to save her. I don't know if you have a $7000 dog, but I do know that some things transcend the value of money.
Ok, so I have at least twelve of these precious walks thru life companions ensconced in urns on the armoire in the bedroom with pictures associated of those fortunate to sit still long enough. I'd do it again.....and will, in the not to distant future.....yeah the CTSV needs a new rear diff ........but???
I can't say what I would do, pretty sure Mrs. 914 would sell the 914 or her body if that happened here.
Maybe I missed the part where someone (a cousin?) spoke to their insurance company or offered financial help. Is a dog covered under homeowners'?
My dogs are always there for me. I want to be there for them too.
Yeah. Including vet care. I only wish that a big vet bill could bring my Rocky back to life.
I'm glad your little buddy pulled through and you were able to afford it. I was staring down a $8k bill to fix my dog's knee a year or so ago. Luckily 8 weeks of essentially bed rest let him heal on his own, but I was ready to pull out the credit card.
Today's update is positive. Maddie is up and mobile, the plumbing is working, but they could not get her to eat. She doesn't like to eat around strangers for some reason so we stopped by this morning and fed her. That was the last major hurdle she needed to accomplish. We will be going back at 4 to pick her up and bring her home.
She is still stoned out of her mind on pain meds but she was pretty happy to see us.
That sounds like good news!
Good news, indeed. I do hope she makes a speedy and complete recovery.
In reply to Toyman01 (Moderately Supportive Dude) :
Thanks for the update - so glad to hear that she is doing well. Good news is always a great thing.
Let's hope she gets well soon.
Great news! Hope it keeps coming.
Good news!
Theo has had multiple $1500 surgeries, as well as our 20 year old cat.
I spent more on pets medical bills on 2019 then on my own.
In reply to llysgennad :
I read your post to my wife. She spent our first married New Year's Eve watching me run anesthesia on an equine colic case, so she knows what you saw.
It's a wonderful tale. Now I'm drying my tears.
About 90 goons.
I dropped out of school. I was going to UW and going to try for the ME program. My dog was hit by a trailer and needed something like 6k worth of surgeries.
I don't regret it in the slightest. That dog was one of the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. And she was stoic through it all. I remember running up to her after the accident. She was just sitting there, her entire leg had the skin peeled back from hip to paw. And she just sat there looking at me like, "Are you going to do something about this?"
In reply to iansane :
Maddie was not so stoic. She was fine until I touched her side to assess the damage. Then she bit the crap out of me. I have 5 puncture wounds in my thumb. One for each broken rib.
My partner is a Critical Care Specialist Vet, think of her as the emergency room bad ass that knows everything. She see so much come through the door every day, and it can be a really tough job.
We have insurance for all of our animals (2 cats, soon to be a new puppy) because even if she gets a discount, money is money and things can be expensive.
Surgeries are easily 4K+, fractures are 1K+, overnights get pricey really fast.
She can do a ton, but not without the money to pay for it, the equipment used is essentially the same as what is used in a human hospital. They lent out their ventilator to a local place for 6 months last year for COVID related cases, it's the same that they use on your pet that they use on you so unfortunately care itself gets expensive fast.
Tales of 10-20K bills are not uncommon to be honest.
Pet insurance can be a lifesaver (for both you and your pet), but get the ones that will pay up front and get pre-approvals. Otherwise you are going to be dealing with paying the full bill right there in and then getting reimbursed.
She is in my arms and in the car with the 21 year old driving HOME. I lost my mama two weeks ago... the thought of then losing my dog was just about more than I could bare. I had just gotten my head above water and then this happened. I am just praying her recovery is easy. Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers.
MB (my "financial planer") and The Little One (GiGi kinda runs the house) both send you their LOVE!
In the last 5 years, my wife has lost her Dad, the best GSD that ever lived, then her little dog she had for 21 years. She waited about 6 months before adopting this one.
Since then , we lost my Dad, my mother in law, and, unfortunately, my wife's son passed away at 37 years old. If we did not have our furry kids for comfort, I don't know how we'd get by.
I'm so glad Maddie is doing well, and give her a kiss on the noggin from all of us!
She's waddling like a little old lady.
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