What is Your Limit?

[plasticbunny]

Exactly what the title says: What is your limit to spend at the vet's?

For example, I am willing to spend up to $700 per rabbit emergency, and 3 emergencies per rabbit.

I would spend up to $1500 per dog emergency, and 3 emergencies per dog.

I also have two rats and would spend the money to have them euthanised if they were suffering, but I wouldn't spend the money for them to have surgery or anything.

Rabbits can certainly deliver as much as dogs do as a pet, but I limit my funding for them because they are less likely to survive an illness. I won't invest what I consider an excessive amount of money in an animal that isn't likely to survive.

I also have a limit on what treatments I would provide. For example, I would never putan animalthrough chemotherapy.

So, I'm curious... What is your limit, if you have one? Would you go all out, spare no expense? Or have you decided previously in a non-distressed state of mind , how much you're willing to spend?

If you're a breeder with twenty rabbits, I'd imagine you wouldn't be willing to spend thousands of dollars on an emergency, unless you're a millionnaire. Or would you?

And is there any treatment that you've decided in advance that you wouldn't go forward with?

NO JUDGEMENT PLEASE, JUST SHARE YOUR POINT OF VIEW IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

 

[kkiddle]

I don't think I have a limit. I'd take out loans to pay for Cheeto if he had a chance of surviving and living a pain free life. Of course, I'd ask my vet (who I trust very much) what the circumstances could be like after the surgery/treatment. If it was likely he wouldn't live or he'd be in constant pain, I'd have to let him go.
I'm 18 and in college, but Cheeto is like my kid. I don't think I could put a limit on him, no judgements intended. I have a family dog that I'd do the same for, but my parents definitely have limits for him. Maybe it's just my 18 year-old mind =)

 

[MiniLopHop]

I don't have monetary limits for my cats or rabbits, just what is in their best interest limits. The turtles I would start getting squeamish around $1,000. I hate to say it, but for the birds and gerbils a vet visit and euthanasia would probably be my limit.

In the past I have spent $800 in diagnostics to find out my cat had a tumor on his heart. They could remove some, but he would have to have a drain and would basically end up suffocating as they heart would be unable to pump enough blood to move oxygen around his body.The tumorwas aggressive and surgery MIGHT give him a month tops. We decided euthanasia was the kindest option.

I had another cat that was going into renal failure. We spent $1200 in treatment, a week in the vet hospital, then he came home for about a week before he had a seizure and died. I realise now the vet sent him home to die (he was on heavy duty pain meds). It was probably selfish of me to put him through that, but I just couldn't let him go yet. That last week together we both cherished every moment. It's been 4 years and I still cry over his loss.

Becky has been the most expensive $15 rabbit ever. Not counting the normal set up money, we have spent a small fortune at the vet trying to get her healthy. $450 for spay with complications, $510 for exams from one vet, $43 vet visits for second opinion, $110 in eye duct flushing, $430 in medications. Her eyes are still running, but thank goodness they are FINALLY getting better! So far the total is $1543, ouch. That's the first time I added everything up.

I have a savings account set aside for the animals. $50a monthgoes into the account. It's great for taking care of their check-ups and to have some on hand if needed. For larger surprises we have a credit card. So far the account is holding up for Becky because it has been drawn out since last December.

 

[hillrise]

Can't say I've ever set a monetary limit on my vet bills. With my cats, I'll pretty much do anything, unless it's something that they're going to have to suffer with for the rest of their lives, in which case, I would probably have them euthanised (and proceed to cry for days following). They get their annual vaccinations, all got spayed (two were spayed when I got them, though). I've had to have two of them treated for bite wounds (one from a dog, the other from another cat). For complicated procedures, I would have to weigh all costs involved and their quality of life afterwards. The same thing goes for my dane. I would say that if the estimates start getting into the thousands, I would start balking. I really don't like it when they even reach a couple hundred, but I've done it.

With my rabbits, though, having 20+ of them, and they not showing many indications of serious complications until it's almost too late, I mostly limit it to buying antibiotics, dewormer, surface treatments (for mites, fungus, fleas, etc.) and wound treatment. That's my limit, but I've never had to take a rabbit to a vet. *cross fingers* It helps knowing how to treat rabbits at home for a lot of things that they start showing, as well as general preventative measures.

I agree I wouldn't ever put any animal through chemotherapy--not even myself.

 

[JadeIcing]

I don't limit what I will spend on any of them. If there is a chance they can survive it than I will try to help them. I spent about if not more than $300 on a gecko last year in hope she would make it she didn't. I knew the chance was tiny she would survive but I had to.

I am also lucky my family will help us.

 

[gmas rabbit]

I just spent $400 on my grand daughters rabbit. My own I have spent up to $500. Anything beyond that it depends on the illness, how curable it is, and how much money is coming into the household at that time. I really like the idea of putting money in an account for those vet bills. Think I may start doing that, although am suspicious enough to wonder if I am tempting fate. lol

 

[HappyFarmBunnies]

I think for me, it really depends on what the problem is, exactly. Chance of survival plays into it for me, whether it's a human or an animal. If I have cancer with a 2% chance of survival, but only if I endure rounds and rounds of painful treatment, I'm going to choose to live whatever other time I have in comfort, not in pain. I would imagine that I would make the same choice for any of my pets.

 

[JadeIcing]

Grace you said it best.

 

[MiniLopHop]

To me, putting the money aside is my pet insurance. We have too many animals to pay for a policy on each one. I would rather take that money and save it up to be used on who ever needs it.

 

[slavetoabunny]

As others have said, it would depend on the long term prognosis and the quality of life for the rabbit. Sparky's abscess earlier this year cost almost $3,000 to treat. She is a very happy and healthy 7 year old rabbit now and I have no regrets spending what I did.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat:

 

[TinysMom]

As a breeder and pet owner it depends upon the rabbit, the prognosis and my financial circumstances at the time. We have a mortgage to pay and I have to make sure we have a roof over our heads first. Our credit isn't good enough to quality for care credit (or whatever its called).

I try to keep some funds on hand - Zeus just wiped that out (and now our fridge has died too).

So I guess I'd have to say I don't have a set limit...just that it depends on the timing and what we can do.

 

[slavetoabunny]

I have to add that Sparky has been my baby since she was 4 months old and there was no way that I could NOT treat her....as long as my awesome vet assured me of a good outcome. I trust my vet and she would tell me if it was her time to go. We spent almost 4 months in treatment and it wasn't an easy road for any of us. But I have Sparky with me today and she is totally healthy.

 

[LadyKat]

For me I do not limit what I would spend on my pets.

I had a Hedgehog before Smudge. Had him for only 8 months when he got really sick. I spent just over $600 on him and ended up having to put him down. This does not include all the traveling I had to do to go an out of town specialist. I would have spent more but I spoke with the vet and the prognosis was not good, even if I he survived the risky surgery they would have to do, his quality of life would have been greatly diminished and he would have been in pain.

So no limit, the deciding factor is not money but the quality of life the pet would have.

 

[jeanluc_pippen_merry]

To me, making the decision to get a pet is no different to making the decision to adopt a child, it's the same thing, just different types of "animals". I would do for my pets as i would do for my children so if i am in a position where i have to beg, borrow and steal to save their lives, i would do what i have to do. In saying that, however, i am still practical and if i am lead to believe that something like surgery may have a positive outcome and a good chance of success, then i will pay whatever it costs. If not and if the animal is going to be suffering and in pain, then as much as it would tear me up to make the decision, i would have it euthanised. But as long as i am lead to believe that they have a fighting chance and that there is at least a 50/50 chance of survival, then i will do all i can to pay for whatever needs to be done.

 

[woahlookitsme]

We've had quite a past with the vet and our rabbits. Of course being employed by one has helped with cost and anything simple my vets who normally treat dogs and cats can handle such as just needing baytril for a respiratory issue or even teaching me to home make a splint for a baby bunny with a broken leg who healed (a little crooked of course but hey she was fine with it). There was our e.cuniculi rabbit who just pained me to watch her live another day. We had x-rays and multiple opinions but in the end paid for her to be euthanized and necropsy'd. I think we paid 300-400 dollars for her. I think thats the most we would ever spend. But it was nice finding out a diagnosis for her problems and definately made me sleep better at night.

 

[Anaira]

What Grace said. But pretty much, until I have no way to pay, from any source at all.

 

[Myia09]

plasticbunny wrote:

Rabbits can certainly deliver as much as dogs do as a pet, but I limit my funding for them because they are less likely to survive an illness.  I won't invest what I consider an excessive amount of money in an animal that isn't likely to survive.

Just a quick note, plastic bunny, Rabbits are not "less likely" to survive an illness no more than a dog or cat. The only problem with rabbits is that since they are prey animals, they hide their illness well so by the time someone notices it may be too late. That is why it is so important to keep a close, experienced eye on your rabbit.

If you where to say this about, lets say a hamster, then it would make sense. But not a rabbit. I am not trying to be mean, but I don't want other people think that about rabbits. I have seen rabbits survive some extreme things.

My "Cheapest" rabbit has been $400. My most expensive, over 1200. I spent $800 on my hamster, Mr. Fatty. I have 3 diabetic hamsters currently that cost me $30 a month.

Just like children, there shouldn't be a limit.

 

[Brittany85]

Personally my limit is different for each animal. I do not judge others for their choices but there is no way I would bring my hamsters to the vet. It's just my personal choice.
I have never brought my current rabbits to a vet as I have never had any issues with them and as I am a breeder I of course do not spay or neuter them. In the past if a breeding rabbit was ill I will speak with other breeders on how to treat them at home. For example if babies have gastric enteritis or other issues. This has worked out well for me.
If one of my rabbits got ill I would need to know what the chances would be of them surviving and of them living a normal life after treatment...If it was a good chance of them being normal I would probably spend up to 300 on a rabbit. I don't judge others and I hope you don't judge my choice but as a breeder I cannot afford to spend an unlimited amount on each rabbit.

On the other hand if it was my Chloe (my dog) I would do everything in my power to save her. I would take out a loan and spend the rest of my life paying it off if it meant I could save her. She is a very important part of my life and I love her more than anything. Erin, you know that haha!

With my cats (parents cats too) it would probably be up to my parents but I think around 500 or so.

 

[Brittany85]

Myia I have to agree with Erin. I believe rabbits are not as hardy as dogs or cats. A bout of diarrhea can kill them very quickly. Of course rabbits can survive complicated procedures but they are a delicate creature.