How Much is Too Much?

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Posts about medical conditions of doodles and the ensuing hardships on their families has me wondering.  I know we would all do whatever we could to keep our doodles healthy and lead a comfortable life, but...I started thinking.  My husband and I aren't weathy by any means and we have two young boys to support and try to send to college.  I started thinking...How far would I go to save Bexter and Maggie - financially?  Luckily I have pet insurance with Bexter & will be getting it with Maggie now too (which is on my to-do list for spring break)!  But...what if I didn't? Or what if the amount stated was way higher than what insurance would cover?  I don't mean to stir controversy here.  I was just thinking.  I'm guessing that I would be willing to part with more money than my DH would, and I'm afraid that would cause some marital problems if it would arise.  I know he would probably spend a lot to help too, I don't mean that, but HOW MUCH?  I don't know.  I guess we'd start thinking of things to give up - cable, etc.   I just pray that this never becomes an issue for us.  I am so sorry to all those people who it is an issue for right now.  It has to be so hard.  I certainly don't ever want to come off as judgemental because I'm sure there are lots of people who simply don't have the money to cover some big medical condition their dogs have.  However - I DO know that people should really give that effort to give up things before they give up on their doodle.  I know we love our doodles as family members, but at the expense of our kids' college or our homes?  I guess this is all hypothetical.  Sorry, I'm just rambling aloud.  I guess this should have been a blog!

[Martha & Cooper]

I do understand what you are asking and I think we have all asked ourselves these questions.  I think for each of us the answer may be different.   I admire so much the care that Karen is giving Jack and doing it without insurance.   If she ever has a fundraiser, I would definitely help!  But, I think we should consider doing it for her and Jack!     :-) 

For me personally, it is more about quality of life of my dog, the same as Karen expressed.   I will do whatever is needed for Cooper and I pray that he doesn't get so sick anytime soon that I have to make a decision on whether to keep treating.  We have insurance, but it doesn't cover everything.   I am lucky that I found out the hard way 2 dogs ago that I don't ever want to be without it again.    We pay a 20% co-pay for all of his Specialists and I had the hardest time getting the Vets to use the same diagnosis over and over, so we wouldn't have to pay the deductible over and over, which is how PetPlan works.   

I can see that for others who don't have insurance, the costs already for Cooper's diagnosis and care would have been prohibitive.   The Internist even told us so.   He said a lot of dogs he suspects has this condition don't get the Splenoportogram and Liver Biopsy to properly diagnose it.  Their owners just can't afford it and there is no cure, just treat the symptoms, so they don't bother.   I wanted to know for sure what we were dealing with  and there was a chance that he had a Liver Shunt that could have been treated by surgery.   It is a lot easier for those that have a dog whose Liver shunt is clear on ultrasound, Cooper has a suspected Liver shunt on ultrasound.   

I think each of us has to make the decision that is best for our situation.  It would break my heart, but I wouldn't risk my home.   I saw that  you asked that question.    I would think that if Cooper needed that kind of care, he would be in such a shape that I wouldn't want to see him suffer and I hope I never have to make that decision.  

Can't speak to  the College Fund though.  My son is long past that. :-)

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Thanks for all of your responses.  It is so clear how much these beloved family members are to us.  I am in awe of what many of you have gone through or in some cases are going through currently to care for your sick pets.  It is amazing to see how much love we all have for our doodles!  I am sorry if I've upset anyone with such a sensitive subject.  I would never question any of your commitments to your doodles!  You guys are all awesome!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it's a very good thing that you brought up this "sensitive" subject, Traci. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Beautifully said, Roberta.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Since there are two of us in this equation I thought I would run it by my DH to see what he would say. He is willing to go broke and take out a second mortgage, thankfully we are on the same page on this. I am astounded every day by how much Quincy means to us, he is so much more than just a dog.  I have a friend who has two labs that actually have their own bank account as well as being insured, so it not just doodlers who love their dogs and are willing to do whatever it takes to care for them.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I have a separate section of one of our accounts that is for doodle health expenses (annual insurance premiums and wellness plans at our vet).  That way, I know that the money is there when I need it and even if the insurance premiums increase, we are covered.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Donna, we fill the exact same way. Sometimes in the evening when we are all settled and perhaps watching a show, one of us inevitably looks over and Daisy and says "just look at her, she is so cute" we can not imagine life without her. DH spends more time on the floor with Daisy than sitting next to me. Her laying there makes him just want to snuggle her.

I guess I need to grow a tail and some fur to compete....him too. LOL

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

DH and I thought long and hard before we got Cubbie to make sure that we were in a place to handle him financially.  We almost got a doodle a few years prior to Cubbie, but decided that it was just too much money to spend at the time and realized that it would be best to wait.  When we adopted Ollie,we examined the finances again.  I never would have gotten 1 dog let alone 2, it I wasn't 100% sure that we could afford all aspects of dog ownership.  If we were living paycheck to paycheck, I don't think we would have made the same decisions that we did.  If you think you might be in a situations where it is a choice between paying rent and taking your dog to the vet, then I think that people should do the responsible thing and not get the dog.  Sure, you may really really want a dog, but if finances are going to be an issue, do the responsible thing and wait until you can actually afford it.  (speaking in general here and not about anyone specifically).  If a person is already so financially strained that they only have the money to provide the bare minimum in terms of health care and food and training why choose to take on the added financial responsibility of a dog?

[F, Calla & Luca]

So true.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Amy this is all true but I think that since you can never predict the unknown you need insurance as well as the knowledge of how much a pet can cost.

When we decided to get Daisy we were much more wise than the first time we got a dog. However, I have to admit, if not for DK and the many discussions on insurance I would never have purchased Pet insurance. I thought they were scam artists.

I have sinced convinced many to do just that. Had my daughter and son in law listened they would not have had to spend $6000 on their dog last August and now they have PetPlan on their second one.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

oh I agree.  I have insurance on both of my dogs and convinced my SIL to get it on her new puppy too.