unexpected pet health care costs. Is there a limit to what you would spend?
Before anyone snaps at me, I've never been faced with a pet care expense that I haven't willing paid. Including $2000. for a cat with kidney failure.
2006-09-21 15:31:20 · 8 answers · asked by LAUGHING MAGPIE 6 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
We are a 5 cat, 2 rabbit,3 dogs household.. We spend between $600-$1000 per year on vet expenses ( Normal expenses, shots, health checks, meds for one dog, teeth filing on the buns)
We have a separate animal account at the bank, we add $20 to it every two weeks, kind of a 'just in case' fund. We don't ever want to be in a position where our animals were denied care because we didn't have enough money at the time. I think we have about $5000 in the account now. We had $7500 or so in there, but one of our dogs needed knee surgery.
2006-09-22 09:37:29 · answer #1 · answered by Nikki T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Regular yearly shots run me around $110 per animal (I have 3). I have an allergy dog, so food runs $30/17 pound bag every 5 weeks plus $34/24 cans every 3 weeks. Cat food is $30/10 pound bag about every 7-8 weeks. Treats, I am ashamed to admit cost anywhere from $50 up per month (spoiled critters!). Heartworm/flea control runs somewhere around $375/year.
We have had 2 trips to the vet this year for mystery illness with the dog, and one unknown but very painful injury to the escape kitty.
I can not imagine a vet bill that I would decline to pay, provided that it would improve the quality of the animal's life.
2006-09-21 15:40:51 · answer #2 · answered by Sharingan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the situation. If it's something easily fixable that will probrably save my pet's life, or at least make it more enjoyable for my little guys, I'd use up all of my emergency savings to do it. If I knew it would be only prolonging the suffering, I'd have to put away the checkbook.
As far as annual costs go, it's hard for me to tell. I work at a vet clinic, so my office visits are free, but I do spend about $300 a year for everything else. (3 cats and 2 rabbits)
2006-09-22 07:45:28 · answer #3 · answered by Rebecca C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me it would depend on the circumstances. I have had many rescue ferret in my life and for the same amount of money, I made two different decisions. One of my little guys had a rapidly growing tumor in his mouth. For his basic keep him comfortable vet bill it was $200. To biopsy his tumor and get rid of it was $500. I did my research and knew it was an agressive cancer and even a removal wouldnt have gotten rid of all of it. I made the decision to keep him comfortable and when his time came it came. He had to be put down 2 months later. (The surgery would have prolonged his life my maybe 3 more months, one of which would have been healing) On the other hand, another rescue boy brought ECE (a nasty virus that can kill a ferret) in, and of course all of mine got it. Supportive care is manditory for this and even then the older ones, and babies still have a hard time with it. My oldest girl(who is also the smallest) almost died. She had a $545 vet bill by the time it was all said and done. I keep a savings account just to help out with the emergency vet care. I dont make a lot but they are my kids. At the same time, I try to think in their best interests...it is a cure, will they pass away in a few months anyway, by my trying to fix it, will I induce more discomfort....ect.
My annual vet care for the ferrets is around $400. For the exam, distemper and rabies shots for all 8 of them. For my cats its only about $80 for both.
2006-09-22 02:30:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure but there are now companies that offer pet health insurance for the unexpected events and maybe help with the regular expenses. Do an online search.
2006-09-21 15:37:06 · answer #5 · answered by Amy >'.'< 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Willing to pay ANYTHING, but able? I would have to consider my dog's quality of life too. I had a dog with cancer, found too late to do anything, the dog wasn't in any pain, so we took him home and made his last 6 months the best we could. When the time came to say goodbye, we knew. And we had the vet come to the house so the dog could be in familiar surroundings when he died.
2006-09-21 15:46:44 · answer #6 · answered by msuzyq 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We paid $950 recently for our dogs knee surgery so don't feel alone. We consider her a family member so we care for her as such because we loves her.
2006-09-21 15:38:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can visit http://16aveanimalhospital.ca/ and learn more
2015-08-25 03:47:27 · answer #8 · answered by Dilip 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋