pet question?

Question

This is my ratn on the lack of care so many neglectful people have for their pets wellfair! I am the proud owner of 6 rats and 2 cats and if ever any of them were sick I would be on the phone with my vet within seconds. If you are going to have any animal there should always be at least $300 (depending on vet costs in your area) put aside for emergency vet visits! When you get an animal you should be dedicated to take care of it, not just say oh well it's sick who cares! If you are not willing to take care of an animal like tit was your very own child then you have no right to have one at all! It sickens me that there are people out there who don't actually do any reasearch before they get an animal! And I juyst can't stand it. i AM DISGUSTED BY SOME PEOPLES ATTITUDE TOWARDS THEIR ANIMAL ON THIS PAGE!

Here it is plain and simple, if your animal is sick THEN TAKE IT TO A VET!!!!!!!!!!

I'd like to thank everyone who agrees with me, I occasionally need to see that there are actually people who care for their pets out there. I admit I lost my temper more then usual (hence the VERY bad spelling) and that this was esentally a temper tantrum, however I think it's a valid one.

At my last vet visit I had 4 rats and the bill was $225 + tax. and that's in Canadian dollars

Answer 1

omg i know. it's so STUPID when ppl are like "HELP! my dog is having a seizure and foaming from the mouth! What should I do?"

hello! it's called a VET.

Answer 2

Haroula,
you sound like you need help. You sound like what is known as a hoarder and it is a mental condition. I am not trying to insult you but how do you honestly expect anyone to believe that you can take care of that many pets by yourself without some sort of neglect going on? Think about each pet individually, does every single one have every thing it needs including food, water, love and attention from you, shots, and proper bedding, ect....
I don't see how 1 person could possibly claim to be able to care for that many pets even if they did not need sleep and were at it 24 hours per day. How do you have time to be on here answering questions, and caring for these animals? You state you have so many animals and you mentioned it like you thought it would make you sound like an expert but if what you say is true then I would sure not take any advice form you. How do you pay for all those animals? Do you work? If you do and you have money put aside for vet bills like the person asking this question suggests then how do you possibly have adequate time to take of and clean up after so many animals? Animal shelters have that many animals and they have full time staff and not just one person.

Sorry to get off the subject but I had to comment. As far as having emergency stash for possible unexpected vet bills, I am on the same page. My 30 pound diabetic cat once got a hold of a half a turkey on Thanksgiving and got peritonitis, we had to rush it to an Emergency vet who by the way charge even more for a holiday. Over $5000.00 later and multiple attempts to clear out the infection, he got sepsis and died anyway. We were heart broken but I know that if we had to we would do it again if there was any chance it could be saved. I feel as a pet owner it was my responsability to keep my cat healthy. I left the turkey out for a half hour while we were all eating in the other room so I feel responsible that my cat was able to get at it in the first place. I would never want anyone to feel the guilt associated with a stupid mistake like that but they do happen and while we did not have $5000 put away in case of emergency, the $500 that we did have was enough to show good faith and the vet took that as a first payment. Before, even making additional payments though we put $1000 aside incase there is another emergency.

Answer 3

Wow! Your 6 rats and 2 cats should be thankful that they have someone as caring as you to watch over them!

While I do love my rabbits and will get them basic healthcare (yearly checkups, spay/neuter, etc.) and give them a proper diet and lots of love and attention, if an emergency came up, like one of them needing a new kidney or something, I'm sorry, but I wouldn't go broke trying to pay for it, especially since there are no guarantees. If the pet were in pain, then I'd probably opt to have it euthanized humanely.

I figure if the pet is cared for, not suffering and has a better life than it would if it was on the streets or in the animal shelter, then that's decent.

Answer 4

Unfortunately there are people out there who feel it is there right to own animals and not a privilege. I feel if you cannot afford veterinary costs, grooming, good food, etc then your shouldn't own a pet. I cringe when I see a habitat for humanity home built for a family and as a bonus they give the family a dog. Is habitat for humanity going to pay for the care of the dog (if some one knows this, I'd really like to know).

In the US, people do not microchip their pets as often in Europe and Canada. People in the US do not or cannot afford advanced veterinary procedures, etc. In Indiana, where I live - people do not neuter and spay there pets and so many unwanted puppies die waiting for good homes. So many pets die because they are not spayed or neutered.

Part of it is ignorance. We just had a very well off family who owns a popular business in my town have their dog diagnosed with Leptospirosis - something preventable. And yes, it was a strain that is vaccinated against. I'm not sure if they just were ignorant of the vaccine, if their vet doesn't vaccinate against it or what, but the dog is in kidney failure now and I hope it recovers. And these people live less than a mile away from me.

Heartworm disease is endemic is many parts of the US and I can't stand seeing so many people who think they are good owners who don't have their pets on preventative! We have about 14,000 confirmed cases each year. It just kills me.

I work in animal rescue and we just had a woman pay to get a dog surrendered to our group (our group does not pay for animals, the woman knew that was the only way to get the dog out of the situation and then she gave it over to our care). The toy poodle was being used as a guard dog, kept outside, never groomed, and had a horrible staph infection. Needless to say it was never neutered, and had received no vaccines and thank the GODS he was heartworm negative!!

This dog is now in a home where this wonderful retired woman dotes on him, and cost is not a object. She will spend whatever she needs on this dog. Sad thing is that woman who used to own the poodle (that didn't take care of it) went out and bought another one and refuses to take it to a vet. The woman's daughter did nothing to stop her.

It's just up to people like us to try to educate others, promote spay and neuter programs and try to save the ones we can. Right now I have 3 foster cats living in my home waiting for forever homes.

Answer 5

I have two dogs, a cat and two mice.I adore my animals and completely agree with every word u said. I had to have my 12 year old dog treated for cancer. It was a long and costly issue. Ended up costing me near to $3000. People were constantly saying 'why would u bother hes 12" 'just get him put down" I was so upset that people would think like this let alone voice it. They are part of the family. Would u put your bother down cause he was sick. I mean the mentality of some people. Good on you for saying what you thought.

Answer 6

Your thoughts are so RIGHT ON! I am soooooo sick of ignorant people who number 1 think that dogs have fur coats, therefore it's OK to leave them out in below freezing weather. That's sooo far from the truth. I have 1 dog now, and when it's cold, I let her out long enough to go potty, and run a little, then it's back in the house. I don't leave her out all night, as a matter of fact, she sleeps in my sons bed with him. NEXT issue. If you are going to have cats..............for God's sake, have them safe! These idiots that get a cat, DON'T have it fixed, don't get it's shots then leave it outside ALL THE TIME should be put in the same circumstances. People, WAKE UP! There are idiots out there that HATE cats, and go out of their way to TORTURE and kill them. Why on earth would you get a cat you love, then leave it for someone to torture or run over with their car?? I have 4 cats, had 5 but 1 had to be put to sleep from old age, and my cats are STRICTLY house cats. They are all fixed, and de-clawed, and spoiled rotten. There's not an excuse that having house cats cause a house to smell. It takes cleaning their little box sometimes 2 or 3 times daily, or cleaning any accidents up when they happen. As for cat hair, that's what vacuum cleaners are for. My thinking is that people who don't have the attitude that their animals are like their kids, have no businesshaving animals.

Answer 7

Have you ever had your always healthy 10 yr. old cat go into unexplained convulsions, and lose the ability to walk? The vet opened at 8am and I was ringing them at 8:01 blood and xrays needed to be done, along with IV fluids and she died 2 hours later. I agree that you should always bring your pet to the vet when they are sick, but I have been in this situation one too many times...pay the $1200.00 bill but the pet dies. Bringing them is one thing but paying the huge amounts of money for 'no guarantees' is another. If I were rich there would never be a question of that...but I am not. WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC AT SOME POINT. THEY ARE NOT CHILDREN. THEY ARE PETS. I would give up anything and everything for my child....but not my pets.

Answer 8

I know exactly what you mean. I have actually taken things to the pawn shop to pay extra vets bills on occasion. My pets are my children (because of severe medical problems that prohibited me from having children) and the attitude that pets are disposable irritates me to no end.

However, I have felt pretty stupid taking a dog to the vet only to find out it had gas! :)

Answer 9

you're right!!i have 25 cats +strays+8 dogs+strays that i take to the vet whenever they get sick or need their shots!!i don't ask strangers who may have no idea on how to treat a pet!!i am constantly fixing stray animals or helping sick ones!!!i have a special agreement with my vet and i pay him when i have the money!!i just wish more people like us would get on this site and fight for animal rights!!!god bless us all!!!

Answer 10

You are 100% right on..
I have 4 dogs, cat and ferret.... they are costly but people should do research and all that prior to getting a pet.... They are just as much responsibility as children if not more.. .Kids can talk... we can only guess that something may be wrong...

Answer 11

I completely agree with you but,

How much do vet bills cost for a rat??