What Choice Do You Make When Your Pet Needs Expensive Medical Care?

The practice of veterinary medicine will soon be a monopoly in the USA. Mars Corp. (the candy company that makes food that gets us sick) bought VCA which owned early 1000 hospitals, already owned the Banfield chain and more.....probably 2000 at this point and they won' t stop. They own ANTECH LABS , sell "pet wellness plans" and I PREDICT they will buy up all the pet insurance companies....premiums will go up, deductibles will be increased. Pets and ordinary pet owners will be the losers The older, fabulous vets are retiring, and all the younger ones will probably sell out eventually given the opportunity...knowing they will not be able to compete. Mars will probably lobby for regulations or laws that smaller hospitals will not be able to meet. You heard it first here!

I agree with Alan. Your pets are your children and you take care of them as if they were a human being. No matter what the cost is.

This is a most painful experience to deal with. Dr. Nancy at Kindness Animal Clinic in Bradenton, FL takes what you can afford after she helps your baby. I know she's still in business but personally haven't been there in many years. Hope this helps someone!

I have not been in that situation, luckily, but I took out health insurance on my horse in the event something might happen. I never had to use it and it was money well spent for my peace of mind.

we got a pup who ended up dying of Encephalitis....but not until we spent 6K trying to save him

The dog in the photo with me had Chiari malformation Syringomyelia...much testing and round the clock medication for 16 years...I would do it all again. even though it was very expensive.

I have thankfully not been in that situation either. I hope the vet would offer a payment plan. If so, then the decision would rely solely on the chances of success and the quality of life for the pet. If I had to pay up front and I didn't have it, then I'd try everything I could think of to have the pet seen by someone.

Holli, what a great answer, preventative care is always the best. Why do we wait to take care of our health or that of a pet until something happens. Why not do all we can to prevent problems. Would you run your car out of oil before doing something about it, NO!

I prefer to activate my genes and that of my animals rather than supplementing. Check out my site or give me a call, I'd love to talk to anyone interested.

No worries. I have no intention of surrendering my beautiful orange boy, or of euthanizing him. I have every intention of providing the care he needs. That's the promise i made to him when i adopted him almost 17 years ago. I was just saying that so far we've gone over $1000, and it was money well spent.

It was many hours of surgery, not 45 minutes, and it gave her 10 years more. Do the math- $300 dollars a year. That is less than a human doctor would charge... lo

Pet Insurance is the answer. It is not expensive. I use Nationwide and think they are great.