Veterinary questions

[scottmandue]

I have a sick pet thus and have been making multiple trips to the Vet... a few questions.

When speaking to the Vet do you call them Doctor? Is that the proper term?

On a more morbid note... the vet bill is running up... how much would you pay to keep a pet alive (presuming it is a very well behaved pet that you are very fond of, the pet still have a few good years to go, and is not in any pain.)

Thanks,

[stomachmonkey]

I call them Dr. They've earned the title.

Your second question is purely personal.

I know what I have spent on my pets and many people would say I was out of my mind.

I've also had pets whose time has come and their costs up till then were food and regular check ups.

I wish you and your pet the best.

You'll know what to do and what is right for the both of you.

[scottmandue]

Yes... over the years I have had to put many pets down.

But modern technology is a blessing and a curse... used to be when they stop eating you knew it was over.

Now its lets run some test, x-ray, ultrasound, now lets discuss treatment options.

I wish I could give them a blank check.

But I'm a middle class guy with a middle class paycheck and there is only so much I can do.

FWIW the Vet called and said she is doing better.

[Jim Richards]

My dog and my wallet have been on the wrong side of the "test everything" approach to veterinary medicine. I'm glad to hear your dog is doing better.

[VINMAN]

Always called my vets Dr.

As far as what would would I pay? I would have taken a second mortgage out on my house, if thats what it took to make my Toby better.

[Burkie61]

Definitely Doctor

And as my wife says " People would spend $2000 on a sofa and not on their pet?" Or I guess on this Forum "$2000 on a set of Fuchs but not their pet?"

Like Vinny, we would be second mortgaging the old homestead for Monty (dog) and Molly (cat).

A friend of mine's dog ate a ball that got caught in his throat...had to take him from Canada to Washington State for surgery. Changed his name to Disney - after that bill he said that's as close as he and his kids were going to get to Disney......

[Chocaholic]

A matter of balancing common sense with emotion. Not easy to do and everyone draws the line differently.

Regardless of where you draw that line, the time will come. And when it does, the best solution for your broken heart is to rescue another puppy from the shelter and start over.

[island911]

Yep. Sto-monk called it right early on.

I'll add that Vet's are very practiced at working within budgets. Like for a dog who won't eat, they will check for intestinal blockage by feel, then want to look with xray, Then, if still inconclusive, they will like to look with ultra-sound. ... unless the Vet is a surgeon, then they likely want to cut to see. (just like human Doc's)

fwiw, I Just went thru this w/ cat and a dog.

The dog we 'rescued' less than a month ago. A 10 y/o Aussie, right after the shelter did a spay (I know; at 10?) Anyway, she was very sick just a few days later. ...Stopped eating, started puking...

For her, she got an emergency trip for x-rays, and then the next day to the ultra-sound specialist. ...she ultimately pulled thru her bad Sx, Giardia and kennel cough.

Then, just a few days ago our tough young cat, of a year, had similar symptoms. Stopped eating, took him in for xray, he started eating the next day, but then Puked up a few meals worth of food. Our Saturday --how much do we really like this cat-- decision was that he gets an ultra-sound Monday/this morning, if he makes it that long. He did, bouncing back strong mid-day Sunday. (ultra-sound canceled)

So, in short, your Vet can help quite a lot, but the decision about how much is up to you.

So that such awful decisions can be made by (and paid by) someone Else. . .someone in DC, Maybe Obamacare should be amended so that pet insurance is also mandatory. ...to be fair and caring, donncha know.

[Rikao4]

I had // have the $$..

but when your in the office that last day...
you realize...
some things are truly priceless..

I wish you both well..

Rika

[recycled sixtie]

Yes i call my vet dr. I had my black lab euthanized last March. I think she was about 13. I spent $900 on a cyst a year before she died. Then later she developed growths above her legs. Cutting them out would have involved severing nerves to the legs. As one of the above posts say, you will know when the time is right to euthanize especially if the dr. recommends it.
Hope this helps. Not easy having a sick/dying pet.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I wish you the best. I'm facing this soon I'm sure with my almost 13 yo lab. His "brother" passed suddenly in February at 12 years old. Thankfully it was not long and drawn out.

Hooch is doing ok, had knee surgery at 10 and an infection treated this year after many years of good health. My big fear is that his arthritis gets real bad while he is still mentally alert. It's hard watching him go from a hard running and swimming athlete to a tottering old dude with lots of lumps.

[RWebb]

DVM = Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

used to be harder to get into a Vet. Med. school than to get into a Med School - a friend of mine could not get into a Vet. Med. school, so she became an OB/GYN...

so, yes call them Dr.

a Vet. will usually not specialize as much as in human medicine so that training component is usually lacking, FWIW that is changing somewhat

re costs - you can buy health ins. for a pet now

also, when your pet is suffering in deep unrelenting pain, you can euthanize them -- you cannot do that with your grandma

[Joe Bob]

What do you call a doctor that graduates last in their class?




































Doctor.....

[Mark Henry]

I'm a gentlemen farmer...you probably don't want to know my opinion.
Rabies, fleas and worms....last two I don't go to a vet for and that's about it.

[on2wheels52]

I was raised on a regular (not gentleman) farm, in this crowd I'll keep my opinion to myself also.
Jim

[scottmandue]

My parents grew up on farms... no need to apologize... I know what you are saying.

[Bill Douglas]

I grew up on a farm too.

I call the vet Laura, that's unless Linda is working that day, then I call her Linda.

What Toby wants, Toby gets. Whatever needs to be spent on Toby gets spent.

If I'm dog walking my GF's dog Rooney and another dog attacks; well, I did grow up on a farm.