My last Saint Bernard was like that - "free."
He had more than his share of health problems, but was a terrific dog. I have never regretted a single penny spent on any of my dogs. They always repaid me many times over, in my opinion.
Anybody have an expensive pet?
- Thread starter Wayne02
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My last Saint Bernard was like that - "free."
He had more than his share of health problems, but was a terrific dog. I have never regretted a single penny spent on any of my dogs. They always repaid me many times over, in my opinion.
S/W - Lifer
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I've got 3 Mini Schnauzers now and been through 2 more. I feel your pain. The easy fix is to move up to a Standard Schnauzer. Great dogs and far healthier than the Minis.
gunlovingirl
Member
Well, my youngest mini Doxie has turned out to be expensive. On mother's day of '08, she ruptured a disk in her back. Couldn't move her back legs. Rushed her to the vet, who contacted one of two surgeons in the area who could do spinal surgery. He left his family to meet us at his office. After emergency surgery, two months of crate confinement and home therapy, and $3000, she was walking and running again. Some might think I'm crazy for spending that much on a "pet". But she's more than a pet, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Here's a pic when she came home after surgery.
red14
US Veteran
Well, my youngest mini Doxie has turned out to be expensive. On mother's day of '08, she ruptured a disk in her back. Couldn't move her back legs. Rushed her to the vet, who contacted one of two surgeons in the area who could do spinal surgery. He left his family to meet us at his office. After emergency surgery, two months of crate confinement and home therapy, and $3000, she was walking and running again. Some might think I'm crazy for spending that much on a "pet". But she's more than a pet, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Here's a pic when she came home after surgery.
With a face like that, how could you refuse? Just look at/into those eyes!
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gunlovingirl
Member
You should have seen those eyes when it happened. Soooo sad and scared. Now they're full of love and mischief again!
red14
US Veteran
You should have seen those eyes when it happened. Soooo sad and scared. Now they're full of love and mischief again!
Great picture. Bitterseet, makes me think of Fred's eyes right before we put him down. I miss him.
I took Missy into the vet this morning for her kidney stones surgery. We have a great Vet but Missy hates going there. She has had to go there so much over the years that she knows within two turns from leaving the house where we are going.
She usually loves going on car rides and loves stick her head out the window in the wind, but when we are going to the vets she is very subdued and when we reach the halfway point she will go from the front seat of the truck to the back corner of the rear seat. She starts shaking about two turns before the vet parking lot and then she shakes uncontrollably while in the vet waiting room or exam rooms. I've often wondered if this kind of stress contributes to the declining health.
She will be there two nights for recovery and I will bust her out of the joint on Saturday.
As and aside, our cat is going to be a real pain the next two nights as she will have no one to antagonize or bait into chasing her around the house.
She usually loves going on car rides and loves stick her head out the window in the wind, but when we are going to the vets she is very subdued and when we reach the halfway point she will go from the front seat of the truck to the back corner of the rear seat. She starts shaking about two turns before the vet parking lot and then she shakes uncontrollably while in the vet waiting room or exam rooms. I've often wondered if this kind of stress contributes to the declining health.
She will be there two nights for recovery and I will bust her out of the joint on Saturday.
As and aside, our cat is going to be a real pain the next two nights as she will have no one to antagonize or bait into chasing her around the house.
TNDixieGirl
Member
I totally agree. They do become part of the family.
oldRoger
US Veteran
We have had several dogs and cats. Mostly we have been lucky in that the health issues have come late and are age related. Like the current problem with Medical Costs for humans, I think it's fair to say that 80% of the expense comes in the last year of life.
We have an 18 ½ year old Abby who has very severe arthritis. It's a rare type of rapidly progressing arthritis, stem cell treatment is out, only palliatives are recommended.
It would not occur to me, as I see it hasn't to any of you, to euthanize him unless his pain is uncontrollable or he looses all muscle control.
I find this argument no different than for people, we spend the necessary money because we want to do so. I am sure that many progressives would say that our money is wasted on a pet that will surely die anyway. It could be "invested" in their social causes for example.
Obviously death is one thing along with taxes that we can all be sure awaits us down the road. I am not in any hurry nor is Mac, our Abby.
We have an 18 ½ year old Abby who has very severe arthritis. It's a rare type of rapidly progressing arthritis, stem cell treatment is out, only palliatives are recommended.
It would not occur to me, as I see it hasn't to any of you, to euthanize him unless his pain is uncontrollable or he looses all muscle control.
I find this argument no different than for people, we spend the necessary money because we want to do so. I am sure that many progressives would say that our money is wasted on a pet that will surely die anyway. It could be "invested" in their social causes for example.
Obviously death is one thing along with taxes that we can all be sure awaits us down the road. I am not in any hurry nor is Mac, our Abby.
I have 2 dogs, one is a Bullmastiff/shep mix, 8 yrs old next month, the other is a Aussie mix, 8 1/2 yrs. I got the big one as a puppy, she was an accidental litter from my ex-bf coworker. She has had so many health issues, I can't begin to add up the cost. She had severe allergies from the start, anal glands, ear infections, chronic diarrhea, etc. She has had a broken toe, broken tooth and surgery for aural hematomas. Allergy shots didn't work and since she is a drama queen, giving them was very stressful for both of us. She has been on the raw diet for 3 or 4 years now and that has helped more than any medicines. She gets anywhere from 6-9 50 mg Benadryl pills a day. She wears the e-collar any time I leave the room because even when she does not have an ear infection, she will scratch her ears bloody. I came home one day to find blood splattered all over my walls and one side of her face like she had the mumps it was so swollen. I do have insurance and almost every year it has been worth it as what I get back is more than the premiums. She has a great temperament and is my baby.
My 2nd dog was from the shelter. She was chosen for a companion for Shrek and is not what I would have chosen for myself but they get along so well, that was the important thing. She doesn't have health issues but she has emotional ones. Extremely high strung and very bratty. She is only 40 lbs to Shrek's 90 but she will go up and snatch a toy right out of her mouth. All summer she is on valium for thunderstorms. The noise doesn't bother her as much as the change in atmosphere so training with thunderstorm dvds did nothing. She was abandoned and after being adopted from the shelter she was returned by 3 families before I got her. It took me 2 years before she adjusted and she is still partly a psycho. I have insurance on her also but have never used it and probably will never need to.
My 2nd dog was from the shelter. She was chosen for a companion for Shrek and is not what I would have chosen for myself but they get along so well, that was the important thing. She doesn't have health issues but she has emotional ones. Extremely high strung and very bratty. She is only 40 lbs to Shrek's 90 but she will go up and snatch a toy right out of her mouth. All summer she is on valium for thunderstorms. The noise doesn't bother her as much as the change in atmosphere so training with thunderstorm dvds did nothing. She was abandoned and after being adopted from the shelter she was returned by 3 families before I got her. It took me 2 years before she adjusted and she is still partly a psycho. I have insurance on her also but have never used it and probably will never need to.
ChuckS1
US Veteran
I have kids, do they count?
