Article: Here's Who I Blame for the High Cost of Vet Care

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

My Boston veterinarian's office just included this article in their newsletter and I thought I'd share it, as the author offers an interesting perspective which I hadn't ever considered. Take a read and let me know what you think:

https://pawcurious.com/2017/09/heres-who-i-blame-for-the-high-cost-...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've seen this before. My takeaway is that anyone who would be unable to pay a $5000 (plus) bill on the spot needs to get pet insurance. But I already knew that, lol. 

[Stacy]

You might need to bump that up closer to $10,000! I try not to add up what I spend on the girls just on a normal basis, but I gladly pay my insurance premium and hope I never need it. I never want to make a decision on their lives based on what I can afford at that minute.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is a hard subject for me, for obvious reasons. But yes, the amounts can easily be over $5000, and you have to pay it up front before they do anything, no matter how big an emergency it is. 

[Stacy]

I'm right there with you. File it with the things that never go away.

It is good to be prepared for emergencies. I swear, half of my found pet group on facebook is fundraising for medical bills for people's pets. People always come through, but it's not the best emergency plan.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That doesn't work when you are at the ER and the dog needs surgery NOW. 

[Stacy]

True story. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks!!!!

[Kate C Pappas]

I had a friend who always had multiple Pugs at a time, at one time she had 7; notorious for breathing, eye and teeth problems. She's had at least 15+ over the years I'd known her. Each one of them have had several expensive surgeries as do many dogs who are Brachycephalic which means "shortened head" and refers to the short nose and flat face of dogs like Pugs. She knew nothing about the needs of the breed and thought all the snuffling and snoring was cute. She denied the sore eyes for years until she was forced to go to a vet. The dog needed surgery on both eyes and many teeth pulled. This went on and on and on with all her Pugs. I advised her to at least brush their teeth. Her answer "they don't like me to look in their mouths and won't let me". I got so mad when I visited, picked up one of the little babes, cranked her mouth open (yes she didn't like it)...was hit with a horrific smell and could see rotted teeth. I really got mad and told her it was neglect and it doesn't matter that they don't like it. Pugs have no bite strength and you need to get them (actually yourself) to comply. So rather than take care of their teeth, she waited until someone's mouth stunk, then took them in for tooth removal which was VERY VERY expensive not to mention putting an older Brachycephalic dog under anesthesia. At that time she had the 5 Pugs and repeated these teeth removals until I think she said among the 5, they had 9 teeth. The other horror was that their nails had grown curled into between their foot pads causing them to walk on the sides of their pads, permanently deforming the feet. I offered to come over and do what I could on nails of 5 dogs and only got 3. I wrapped them in towels like cute little burritos, and pulled one foot out at a time and used my clipper first and then my Dremel being careful not to draw blood. I told her to take them down to her grooming place and have it done regularly. She didn't. Those dogs were so neglected. I called Animal Control and they said if they have food, water and shelter and I have no proof of neglect, they could do nothing. I had to walk away from her as a friend. I digress......with all the vet bills she had, I encouraged her to get insurance (which she could well afford). She was well aware she chose to get dogs who WOULD have problems. She refused. So until I had to just step away from that toxicity I got a call from her EVERY time she had to take one or more to the vet, and it was a lot....and listened (my bad) to her rant and rave and say vets are robbing her! I understand that a vet runs a business; a business needs profit; some vets cost more than others. Some of that is due to where they are practicing and paying rent for their building.

I haven't seen or talked to that gal in almost 2 years and occasionally come across a photo of them, feel sad and wonder how they are doing or it they're still alive.