Pet care --> how much expenditure is reasonable?

[AHapka]

You have a lot of debt and should focus on paying off the debt. We all should be prudent in our financial dealings.

Maybe, maybe not. It’s really relative.

That depends on their income and ability to manage the debt.

$50K debt when you make $30K a year is a lot.

$50K debt when you make $150K a year isn’t that much.

It all really depends. Not to mention how many dependents, etc…

 

[crenfro]

Hello.

Last week, on October 5th at around 10am, the vet put our dog to sleep.

We hadn’t known it until this visit, but he had cancer.

 

[SilverCamellia]

I’m sorry to hear that

 

[Cristiano]

Sorry to hear that. I had to put down a few dogs in my life and it is always hard even if it is the right thing to do. I am glad that you had a few years to enjoy your pet.

 

[andrewstx]

Hello.

My dog is obsessed with his leg. I wish I were joking. He’s licked it so much that, despite several rounds of anti-inflammatories with antibiotics and antidepressants, that there’s now a deep wound and he has to have surgery.

So far all of this has cost my husband and I approximately ,$600 to $700. Each time he has to have another round of anti-inflammatories he has to have his blood drawn and that costs about $160… We’ve tried the big Elizabethan collar to keep him away from his leg, but this has been going on for months and it’s just no way for a doggie to live wearing one of those things.

He’s going to be 9 years old this July, the good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.

Surgery costs approximately $1500 and we can pay it off over a period of 18 months, interest free.

My husband and I are already in debt to about $52,000 and this will make it $53,500.

I get the feeling from talking to my mom about this that we should just put my dog to sleep. This really bothers me. All my life I’ve seen pets treated like disposable beings and I’m trying to break this pattern as my doggie is an innocent being who entirely depends on me for his care and has unconditional love he’s always given me.

I want to be reasonable about this and do the right thing – the thing that God would want me to do, but I don’t like thinking about my doggie as just an amount of money or a disposable thing that I just get rid of when it’s inconvenient for me.

However, my dog isn’t a human being … However I want to be a good steward…

And so on and etc. as I keep turning this around and around in my head.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for listening and please pray for me. I know my trouble isn’t really serious compared to what’s happening in the lives of many others, but my doggie and all this money stuff bothers me.

That really is a tough one. You obvously love your dog, and don’t think of him as a “utility”.

I think if nothing helps you have tried and can afford, perhaps it is time to consider having him put down hard as that will be.

I love my four pugs and have a limited income, when care for the dog keeps you from eating, people do come first.

Has he been tested for allergies?

 

[Newbie2]

That really is a tough one. You obvously love your dog, and don’t think of him as a “utility”.

I think if nothing helps you have tried and can afford, perhaps it is time to consider having him put down hard as that will be.

I love my four pugs and have a limited income, when care for the dog keeps you from eating, people do come first.

Has he been tested for allergies?

Actually, allergy testing isn’t going to tell anything more than a good physical examination and history will. Allergy testing is ONLY useful when a diagnosis of allergic skin disease is made or suspected, and hyposensitization injections (not “steroid” injections) have been suggested as a treatment option. The allergy testing is done to identify which allergens should be formulated for the injections.

While allergy testing CAN be valuable for inhaled and contact allergens, food allergies are most accurately diagnosed with an elimination or prescription hypoallergenic dietary trial.

In any case, it sounds like the surgery was done. Hopefully it will be easier to manage the problem. Sometimes the problem recurs in the same location.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Hello.

My dog is obsessed with his leg. I wish I were joking. He’s licked it so much that, despite several rounds of anti-inflammatories with antibiotics and antidepressants, that there’s now a deep wound and he has to have surgery.

So far all of this has cost my husband and I approximately ,$600 to $700. Each time he has to have another round of anti-inflammatories he has to have his blood drawn and that costs about $160… We’ve tried the big Elizabethan collar to keep him away from his leg, but this has been going on for months and it’s just no way for a doggie to live wearing one of those things.

He’s going to be 9 years old this July, the good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.

Surgery costs approximately $1500 and we can pay it off over a period of 18 months, interest free…

There’s no guarantee that the surgery will cure the problem, is there? Your dog is 9. He’s going to have more and more medical issues, not fewer. I adore my dog. Really, it’s stupid how much I love this dog. But, it’s still a dog. You dog also sounds kinda miserable and might never really get much better. I think it’s okay to put your dog down and not get bled dry when you don’t know where the end it. You gave him a good life I am sure. Allow a peaceful and controlled death.

But only you two can really decide. I’m so sorry for this heartache. God bless you.

 

[Madeline616]

Crenfro,

So sorry to hear about your dog’s passing. I’m glad you were able to, at least, enjoy each other’s company for the last few months since the surgery.

God bless.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Again, not to second guess, but I’ve NEVER seen a lick granuloma need surgery. Lick granulomas are not as bad as they look, and they will resolve when the inciting cause i.e. the “lick” is removed. Some are advanced enough to cause scar tissue to form and loss of hair on the spot, but that is cosmetic.

Same here. I’ve had one of my dogs cause Lick graulomas where he’s had minor wounds. They’ve been treated with antibiotics that I mix, and apply locally. It takes a while but they heal.

A second opinion may have been a good idea.

But to the crux of the question. I think 1500.00 is not excessive for helping a pet or working animal out. So, a simple cost benefit analysis would be the way to go. If you can expect a reasonable recovery and a few more years out of the animal. Then it’s money well spent.

ATB

 

[ReasonBeing]

Have you thought about taking the dog to a shelter? Perhaps they have volunteer vets that will take care of the dog and give it to someone else. In my opinion (and I understand others may disagree), you should strongly consider getting rid of the dog. You have a lot of debt and should focus on paying off the debt. We all should be prudent in our financial dealings. The cost would be different is we were talking about human life (obviously). A dog’s life does not even come near to that of human life.

I know that this is a painful decision. It is sad to see an animal suffer. I have a dog and I feel sorry for my dog every time I miss taking her for a walk. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have to make the decision that you are making. I may one day have to do the same with my dog.

Wow! This is terrible advice. A pet is a life long commitment and getting rid of them because you don’t want to take care of them the right way is nauseating.