Would you save your animal if was going to cost 2500.00 at the vet to fix him?

Question

I took my cat in the other day because he was peeing blood and the vet told me it was going to cost 2500.00 to do surgery on him to save his life. I had to choose to spend the money or save his life at the cost of 2500.00. I ended up putting him down because I just had a baby 2 weeks ago. I cried for three days. I hate vets!

Answer 1

Don't hate the Vet. It's not their fault your cat died. I would have spent over 2500 to save my pet. Because he trust me to take care of him and in return in will love me and stay by my side until the end. To me, that worth the price for unquestionable friendship.

Answer 2

Understandable, a new child is expensive! Now my cat was doing the same thing a couple years ago, peeing blood and looked to be in pain. My cat just had an infection that a good long dose of antibiotics cleared up, but my vet told me that he could have a crystal build up and blockage from that. I asked how much it would cost if that was the problem (which obviously it wasn't) and she quoted me at around $900.00 total. I was thinking get the money somehow, my husband would rather put the cat down or give him up at that point. So I suppose if $2,500 was the cost you were quoted and it was the same problem as they suspected my cat might have had, then maybe it's time to find a different vet in the future. It's hard to lose a pet, and at least you didn't bring him home and just let him suffer. I would try to find the money if I didn't already have a newborn to care for, but again $2,500 is a bit steep, and a payment plan really would have helped lessen the financial blow.

Answer 3

As sad as it was you did the right thing. I understand as my family went through the same type of problem. My cat had intestinal blockage and had to go into surgery. It cost about $1000 my parents decided to go ahead with the surgery because I was away at college and they didn't want me to loose a pet while I was away. Unfortunately the cat had a heart attack when given the med's to knock her out for the surgery. My parents still had to pay most of the money for the surgery time and med's so it would have been better to just put her down. However I would probable try my best to come up with the money and always have emergency money in an account. We have another cat that is 16 and on thyroid medication so we will do as much as we can for our pets but their is a limit to how much a person can do.

Answer 4

If you can't afford the surgery, then euthanasia is far more humane than simply letting the animal suffer. In that respect, you made the right choice.

If you choose at some point to get another kitty, you may want to consider finding a veterinarian that offers Care Credit. Our clinic recently starting using this service so that people who could not afford costly, life-saving procedures up front did not have to make the choice you just did. Care Credit allows you to break the payment up into several low-interest installments. See the website below for more information. The website even hase a search function to allow you to find a clinic in your area that offers the service.

Answer 5

If you absolutely couldn't afford it, putting him down was more humane than prolonging his suffering.

But that wasn't your question. Personally, I would sell my SOUL if it meant one of my two dogs' lives, or saving my kitty. I would open a new credit card. Make payments to the vet. Beg, borrow, or steal. I would give up everything I own if one of my animals was deathly ill.

I know some people will think I'm crazy for saying that, but I really would. And some might not believe it. Well, my first year of college I paid $200 for surgery on a hamster. She lived another 6 months. That was the last money I had in the WORLD. There was literally $0 in my checking account after they cashed that. I had to take a side job for the next three months to pay my bills afterward.

Now, if the vet had said "yeah, she'll live but she'll be in pain" I wouldn't have. Then I would have had her put down. She lived another HAPPY six months, and that's the important part.

Regardless, if you had to choose between saving your cat and supporting your baby, I understand your choice. I don't have kids yet, but when I do, I hope I never have to decide anything like that.

However you feel about it, he'll see you at Rainbow Bridge.
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

Answer 6

..my hubby and i were just in the same situation, we rushed one of our kitties to the vet and they said that they had no idea what was wrong with him, and that the tests and everything they could do necessarily couldn't save him, plus who knew how much it would cost, all the vet could say was that it would not be cheap, and we decided that the best thing was to put him down, both for his well being and our finances, had i had the money, i would have said to run every test they could, but we know that he is in kitty heaven watching us, we miss him dearly, and will forever, he was a special boy, we cried and cried too, we still are really upset about it and it was a month ago...you did the right thing, you had to do what was the best in the welfare of the animal.

Answer 7

I would have spent the money. Most vet practices will let you set up a payment plan so that you can have the surgery done and just pay over time.

Also, you could ask for donations, posting your cats picture on a can and placing the cans at gas stations or other stores (with the owners permission of course).

I am sorry for your loss. You shouldn't hate vets, they help save hundreds of animals everyday. Dont let this one experience affect you. If the vet was unwilling to work out a payment plan with you, then you should have went to another vet.

Answer 8

First I would get a second opinion. And I would spend that much money if it was necessary and the cat will have a good life afterwards.

Answer 9

don't hate vets. instead, get a second opinion if something this unfortunate should happen again. when i first moved out 20+ yrs ago i brought my cocker-poo. i was working for a vet part time and when i noticed a lump i brought her to him. he barely looked at her said "put her down" and left the room. i had Cuddles for about another 7 yrs or so before we lost her. she was about 18.
i brought a cat to the vets once for blood in the urine. B.K. had a UTI. antibiotics and a change in his food fixed him up. what exactly did your vet say the problem was?

Answer 10

I am so sorry for your loss, losing a pet is never easy. Each one of us has different circumstances, and you did the only thing that you could at the time. God Bless.

Answer 11

You did the right thing. I definitely could not afford 2500.00. Life is tough especially on mat. leave. You have no guarantee how long your cat would live after the surgery. Although you can love your cat, it is and never will be the same as your child. Caring for your child comes first.