How much would you spend or continue to spend on your aging pet if you are on a retired income?

Question

Or would you have the pet put to sleep if you could not afford the medication (which has vomiting as a common side effect). Mind you, the medication does not cure but stabilizes a condition. An example: A 14 year old cat.

Answer 1

I would let my cat go back to heaven. It can't be much of a life for him/her to vomit from a medication that is needed. The animal's medicine can be as expensive as ours.

If this were my decision, I would not hesitate. The cat has had a full life at 14 years old. You have to think about your income & your health first. It can't be much fun taking care of a sick cat on a daily basis.

You also need all the money you have to live on. It is time to let the cat go...................

Answer 2

There is no one fits all size answer. It depends. How is the animal's quality of life? How much does the animal mean to the owner? Has the animal a vet that it has been taken to for years? Sometimes vets will work out an arrangement for an animal who's owner cannot afford the treatments. While I was in college, my daughter's old pug developed diabetes. I couldn't afford the insulin shots, blood tests, and vet visits that his care entailed. The vet didn't charge me for the weekly office visits for his blood tests, but I did pay a minimal charge for the test and his medication.

Unfortunately with the advances in animal medicine, cures are now possible that was not even considered in years gone past. But they are often very expensive. Unless you have pet insurance, the newer treatments could be out of a persons ability to pay.....just like in human medicine, there are procedures that insurance companies won't pay for, but would improve or lengthen the life of people. If cost of treatment for a geriatric pet is too much, then humane euthanasia is an alternative to allowing the animal to suffer until it does die.

Answer 3

The cat has had a good life and there's nothing wrong with having it put down. I had to have my dog put down 3 weeks ago she was having heart failure and would not have lived too much longer. I spent 800 dollars on her two years earlier, but she enjoyed two more years of active life. This time there was no hope of her getting better and she was having hard time breathing so I had her put down. No regrets I feel I did her a favor.

Answer 4

Great question. I had 3 dogs this time last year and now only one is left.
My oldest had arthritis, pooped herself at night so she had to sleep on the porch in a (heated) dog house. She still wagged her tail and ate well enough but getting up and moving got tougher and tougher. My husband tried to convince me to put her down. He was afraid we'd find her at the bottom of the stairs with a broken hip. Finally, I saw her dribbling urine as she slept and I decided it was time. My only regret is that I didn't listen to my husband earlier. I wish I hadn't let her suffer so long for my selfish reasons. Medicine and technology and usually only prolong the dying process.

Answer 5

This is a question that each individual pet owner must answer within themselves. For what it's worth... someone once told me this. Sometimes the most loving and caring thing one can do for their animal companion is to let them them go when their life becomes unbearably painful.

Answer 6

it's gonna cost money to put it to sleep, so i would buy the medication and try to keep it as comfortable as possible until i couldn't anymore. i would just be there for the cat, just like i would a person. til the bitter end.

Answer 7

I love my dog very much, but I will not see him subjected to misery, and what you describe is misery. A poor animal that is constantly sick to its stomach cannot be enjoying life much. I would ask the vet for the pills, give them to the pet, and hold him as long as it takes for its release. I would cry, I would be greatly saddened, but I will not keep a poor animal live for MY purposes, period.

Answer 8

any amount!!


if I don't have it, I will charge it!!!