Letters to the Editor
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Pets are family. You take care of their medical needs.
Over the years we've spent thousands looking after our cats' medical needs. That's part of the responsibility of taking in an animal as pet or companion. Pets depend on you for their lives.
I expect dozens of letters from people bitching about money spent on vet bills. These people would be better off bitching about money spent on big screen TV's, or luxury cars, or vacations, or sporting tickets...but they won't. When it comes to animals, some people are just plain cruel.
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My pet bills
I had a pet rat who once broke his leg on a running wheel. The accident was partially my fault because I kept the lid to his cage open, and he was on top of it when he fell down, and broke it by getting it caught in the stationary part, while his body moved the wheel. Total vet's bill? $300.00
I also adopted a male alley cat, Sneakers, from a friend. He had mangled ear from a recent fight, an umbilical hernia, and both his testicles. I got the hernia fixed at the same time he got fixed, but the ear I left, because it had already healed by then. Total vet's bill? $375.00
I stopped going to the vet after I noticed that the cost of the annual vaccinations and other care for two cats who never went outside was getting close to half my monthly rent payment.
All you cat owners who have fixed male cats, pay attention to this, it could save your cat's life, and prolong it by years. Male cats hate drinking water, they're desert creatures by nature, so you have to force them to drink more water. How? Spread their wet food into a thin layer on the bottom and sides of the food bowl. Then pour water on top. Use a little at first, maybe about a tablespoon to start, but then more and more later on, preferrably about a quarter to third of a cup per feeding.
Another good thing to do is occasionally put some dry food into a bowl, and pour some of that milk made especially for cats on top, just like cereal. Once they're used to it, they'll lap it up like it's a big treat. Sneakers drinks at least a half a cup of water a day because of this.
I've pulled some big honking clay-potatoes out of the kitty litter box, so I know he's pissing it all out. He doesn't like it sometimes, I can hear him grumbling/yowling when he's in the box. But that cat is more than eight-and-a-half years old, and I know he's got the kidneys of a kitten. Even the vet that I used to take him to said that it was a great idea.
Only give them dry food in small amounts, and only after you've given them their wet food. The dry food will be mixed with the water already in their stomachs, and slow down the absorption. That will ultimately keep them from killing their kidneys with those urea crystals, and keep the vet from getting your hard-earned dollars for a urinary blockage or tract infection.
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food that worked for our cat
Our cat had severe feline urological syndrome. Oh, the crystals in the pee. How I remember the hell that was the crystals in the pee. We tried numerous specialty foods. Didn't work. Cat had emergency procedure. Cat had ultrasound. Cat had surgery. Cat still got the damn crystals. Waltham S/O cat food saved his life. He lived for 10 years with no more problems.
Except for the asthma. But that's another story.
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Pet strollers? No wonder we have big vet bills
Here's the text from an email I sent the people at the pet stroller retailer mentioned in the article:
"I break my butt trying to walk my poor dogs at least four times a week. What the hell is the point of a pet stroller? Dogs need exercise, as much as they can get. Why not sell dog potato chips, or dog TV? Why would people want a product to convert an occasion for perfectly good dog exercise into dog non-exercise? Are they for handicapped dogs? Then they should be called Dog Wheelchairs, shouldn't they? I just don't understand.
"By the way, I learned about your ridiculous products on Salon.com. If you're lucky, I'm the only crank who will write you and tell you how stupid your products appear to be."
I'm passing this on to my fellow Salon readers in the hope that they won't be lucky.
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My dog had a facelift
One thing I find interesting is what the vet told the author about what they do with animals when the owners can't afford the treatment - they treat the animal and then give it to a good home? I don't know - doesn't it seem better to perhaps charge less for a treatment? Or let the owner take part in a payment plan of some kind? Rather than sending an animal to a new home?
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What an offensive article!!!
And the fact that most of the people posting here seem to agree with the author is a testament to the materialistic, self-absorbed, and "throw-away" society we have truly become. No wonder our animal shelters are teeming with unwanted cats and dogs whose guardians never lived up to their commitments. The same people hedging whether or not their beloved cat (who has likely been a more steadfast and loyal friend than anybody else in their life) is worth a $1,300 vet bill probably aren't blinking when they spend the same amount on lattes over six months. How appalling. It's articles and attitudes like these that make me feel hopeless about our world and the animals and humans who suffer because of such ignorance and greed.
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Some pets are priceless
The amount to pay for your pet's life is relative to the possible outcome of treatment and the money you have.
For my dog, I easily paid $1,300 over 12 years for pet insurance, teeth cleanings, etc. She was a mutt I got for free and was never sick until the last two days of her life. I was unemployed on her last day, but I spent $500 savings for tests at the vet hospital and subsequent cremation. If there had been any hope, I would have begged anyone to lend me money for treatment. If there had been hope and I had been rich, there's no limit to what I would have spent.
My dog had a few sweaters and toys but I never went overboard. She was a dog. She liked old tennis balls and hated boutique doggy biscuits. She was also my constant companion. I was sure she was the smartest dog in the world and ready for a Hollywood career.
People often pay well more than $1,300 to buy a pet, especially if it's a horse. But the price of the animal is immaterial when confronted with a pet's illness. I loved my dog as much as I love my bestfriends and family. And I'm not someone who loves animals more than people. It was just that dog.
I know there are many people who feel the same way and we're not crazy. It's a good business for veterinarians, like nursing homes are a good business. When someone or some animal you love is in distress, there's no limit to the amount of money you will pay to make it better.