I'm sorry, but my girls would get their meds before I got mine.

I'm sorry, but no way would I shell out so much as a penny for an animal. If my pet came home trailing blood, I'd smack it for leaving a mess and tease it with a cookie just out of reach. Then I'd laugh as it pathetically scrabbled at the door to get away from such a cruel, cruel person.

Hah, not really. I have a budgie and it eats better than me, frankly.

My mother is single-handedly propping up veterinary medicine. Between the old dawg with a bad hip and a new one that needs fewer testicles, she's put enough money into the system.

It's especially important to take care of your pets during hard times. You don't want the meat all stringy and diseased when the time comes to eat them.

Really? I guess nobody interviewed me. I spent $800 on my female cat Mable in November, even though I'm underemployed and fast going broke.

She's doing MUCH better these days.

Cheapest medication ever?




/ better than tossing domesticated animals into the wild and having them slowly starve to a painful death.

AmazingRuss: It's especially important to take care of your pets during hard times. You don't want the meat all stringy and diseased when the time comes to eat them.

Oh, and THIS. I tell my cats that they're good kitties, and I love them, and they do know they're my last-resort food supply when the apocalypse comes, don't they? Yes, they do. Yes, they do!

THE CLEVER USE OF CAPS IN THE ARTICLE HAS CONVINCED ME TO TAKE MY CATS TO THE VET.

CrispFlows: better than tossing domesticated animals into the wild and having them slowly starve to a painful death.

I live out in the country and get a steady trickle of abandoned cats (not dogs, though). I fed 'em and get 'em fixed at the low cost clinic, but that's it. Most don't learn that coyotes are not pet dogs until it's too late, or that the cars won't stop for them. But spend money on them? No way. Sorry. If they get too badly hurt, .22 rounds are cheap.

Somebody please define their definition of a weekly trip to starbucks? I don't of any starbucker who only goes to starbucks once a week. At $3.00 minimum per visit perhaps if the pet care truly came out to only $12-$20 per month then yes it might be affordable but we all know that is highly unlikely.

I haven't seen a doc myself in 15 years. Cats have certainly seen the vet since then. Have their shots. But, a general "cat's doing fine... just in for a checkup" visit? Not happening.

StoneColdAtheist: CrispFlows: better than tossing domesticated animals into the wild and having them slowly starve to a painful death.

I live out in the country and get a steady trickle of abandoned cats (not dogs, though). I fed 'em and get 'em fixed at the low cost clinic, but that's it. Most don't learn that coyotes are not pet dogs until it's too late, or that the cars won't stop for them. But spend money on them? No way. Sorry. If they get too badly hurt, .22 rounds are cheap.

Well, out in the country is a different paradigm. When I lived on a farm, we certainly shot our fair share of stray dogs. Had to.

saomai: Somebody please define their definition of a weekly trip to starbucks? I don't of any starbucker who only goes to starbucks once a week. At $3.00 minimum per visit perhaps if the pet care truly came out to only $12-$20 per month then yes it might be affordable but we all know that is highly unlikely.

???

Hoo boy. Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive. I have cats that are 14 and 15 years old, who've been to a vet maybe twice in their lives. The ones that my wife insisted had to have regular check-ups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, etc. are lucky to have lived for eight years. And now that we have pet health insurance, the cost of veterinary care is skyrocketing and approaching that of human health care. A recent (needed) trip to the vet for one of my cats required a standard set of blood work. Five years ago, this same visit would have run me about $90. This time? $340. He has to have a minor surgical procedure next week. I'm expecting this to run around $1000 -- if he doesn't need to be hospitalized, that is. And vaccinations? They are a scam. They are never necessary for an indoor cat and represent nothing but pure profit for the vet.

I spend a small fortune taking care of our menagerie of 5 cats, elderly dog and parrot. Heck, the food alone is mega bucks per month. They all came with a hard luck story, and as a family we love every one of them and are probably better off with them.

/just spent 36.20 on a month's supply of Rimidyl for the dog's arthritic hips.

//2 cats need boosters and the bird needs his nails done next pay day.

///need to go to the doc myself, but won't spend the money

xlbrooklyn, did you not read the article? Here's what I was referring to posted below:

"BUT CARING FOR A SICK PET CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE, WHILE A LITTLE PREVENTION CAN SAVE PET OWNERS A BUNDLE DOWN THE ROAD, AND KEEP THEIR PETS HEALTHIER?

Yes, it is expensive, so we're trying to get the message out that, for the cost of a weekly visit to Starbucks, you can provide flea, tick and heart worm protection for your pet. If you let that go, it can cost you thousands in the future."

Doggy has epileptic seizures on occasion. I got scripts for him once $30. He drove me crazy on the medicine constantly waking me up. before I pay for surgery or more scripts outside of anything for a kennel cough/dog bronchitis, I will give ole Fido a chocolate covered onion to munch. I love my dog, but I'd rather have another child.

JackieRabbit: Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.

I'm glad you've been lucky with your pets. It's the same as with humans. There's a chance you'll be fine if you never get vaccinated or go to the dentist. No one is saying that your pets are doomed if you don't treat them with preventative care.

However, these things do help prevent and minimize what can be very serious and expensive problems. As the owner, its your responsibility to weigh the cost against the benefits, and you're welcome to take your chances, but don't think there's no benefit to most of the treatments.

Also, in a lot of ways, a vet has it a lot harder than a regular doctor. A human doctor only has to work with one species, whereas a vet has to be able to treat many. Each species, and even each breed within a species, has its own set of diseases, problems, their own anatomy, etc. On top of that, most humans can tell you how they feel and how they're responding to treatment. Vets work with patients that can't talk and who have no idea what's going on.

Veterinarians get paid a lot less than human doctors and have to put up with a lot more crap (pun intended).

xlbrooklyn: Well, out in the country is a different paradigm. When I lived on a farm, we certainly shot our fair share of stray dogs. Had to.

Yeah, teh kittehs get cheap kibble from the supermarket. Dogs, much as we love them, generally get greeted by a Remington Accelerator.



/hot like that round

Hell, no one interviewed me. Between November and New Years I forked out about 2000 bucks on my two dogs. For their christmas presents, my nieces and nephews were allowed to pet them.

My mom spends about $40 a month for medication to treat her 18 year old cat's thyroid disease. Apparently the cat has high metabolism and can't keep weight on without the pills. But she loves that cat like it's her baby.

This article is a perfect example of what I hate about our society. And this whole "preventive treatment is cheaper in the long run" argument sounds like something my mechanic would say. This is nothing more than a shallow attempt by the veterinary industry trying to strum up business through guilt. I'm waiting for an article discussing some poor guy being evicted because he couldn't pay the rent due to the burdensome expense of his dog's recent LASIK surgery. I like pets just as much as the next guy, but contrary to what PETA and the vet tells you, they're animals, not people. These idiots would have you believe it's more important for your pet to receive proper medical treatment than you. If you can't afford the vet bill, give the pet away. Problem solved.

/ poor law student- has no pets for that exact reason.

The last time I took the dog in for annual shots and a heartworm test it was over $100. I have been putting off taking the dog in because I know the doctor is going to give me the same laundry list of things that "have to get done" that he did last year along with the guilt trip to try to convince me to do them.

I'm buying Mom's 12 year old shiat Tzu's Rimadyl every month, and I gave her a gift cert for the vet for Christmas, so the pup's covered for the next visit.

I found a place online that help old folks keep their pets healthy by providing grants for vet care. My mom applied and got a very nice call from a woman apologized for not having any funds. The woman said she had about 20 other calls to make.

big>KVvetsupply.com omahavaccine.com>

vaccines, needles, syringes

buy my own vaccinations (except rabies, vet has to do that by law)
with 2 house cats and 4 barn cats it saves a ton of money and isn't brain surgery to do. I also do my own horses, have been for years

you can get perscription meds (dog cat horse) without the 500% Markup that the vet does.. Talk to your vet about faxing them perscriptions.

/spends too much on her stupid animals anyway

Hey....crazy pet people. Have some children! No one cares about your stupid pets! Instead of forkoing out 60 dollars for organic dog food (while your dog is eating other dogs feces in the park), maybe spend it on something worthwhile.
/I love dogs. Clean up your mess and don't bring your dog to parties.
//scatterbrain.
///i dont care about your stupid kids either.

Inaditch: JackieRabbit: Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.

I'm glad you've been lucky with your pets. It's the same as with humans. There's a chance you'll be fine if you never get vaccinated or go to the dentist. No one is saying that your pets are doomed if you don't treat them with preventative care.

However, these things do help prevent and minimize what can be very serious and expensive problems. As the owner, its your responsibility to weigh the cost against the benefits, and you're welcome to take your chances, but don't think there's no benefit to most of the treatments.

Also, in a lot of ways, a vet has it a lot harder than a regular doctor. A human doctor only has to work with one species, whereas a vet has to be able to treat many. Each species, and even each breed within a species, has its own set of diseases, problems, their own anatomy, etc. On top of that, most humans can tell you how they feel and how they're responding to treatment. Vets work with patients that can't talk and who have no idea what's going on.

Veterinarians get paid a lot less than human doctors and have to put up with a lot more crap (pun intended).

THIS THIS a million times THIS.

My wife is a vet, and every single day she deals with pets who accidentally got outside because someone left a door open or window. The pet gets munched on or scratched or what-have-you, and that's it. No vaccinations - infected pet.

The vet clinics have been suffering for almost a year, so this article is not news to me. It's not like vets are out there trying to force people to get unneeded shots, etc. You all do realize they have to be licensed, and the costs for vet school are higher than human medical school, because they have to go to human medical school first, then go to vet school. If they are peddling unneeded medications and inflating their prices, they can lose their licenses - it's not worth it.

If you are taking on a pet it is a responsibility. If you are not willing to take care of it, don't have one. I, too, have a low opinion of people who treat their pets like children, but one should treat them like living, breathing, feeling creatures. Again, if you are not willing to do that, don't have one. Please. It will keep them from suffering under your callous, insensitive, lack of care.

onebadgungan: ...they have to go to human medical school first, then go to vet school.

Say wut?

onebadgungan: Inaditch: JackieRabbit: Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive.

You clearly don't know what you're talking about.

I'm glad you've been lucky with your pets. It's the same as with humans. There's a chance you'll be fine if you never get vaccinated or go to the dentist. No one is saying that your pets are doomed if you don't treat them with preventative care.

However, these things do help prevent and minimize what can be very serious and expensive problems. As the owner, its your responsibility to weigh the cost against the benefits, and you're welcome to take your chances, but don't think there's no benefit to most of the treatments.

Also, in a lot of ways, a vet has it a lot harder than a regular doctor. A human doctor only has to work with one species, whereas a vet has to be able to treat many. Each species, and even each breed within a species, has its own set of diseases, problems, their own anatomy, etc. On top of that, most humans can tell you how they feel and how they're responding to treatment. Vets work with patients that can't talk and who have no idea what's going on.

Veterinarians get paid a lot less than human doctors and have to put up with a lot more crap (pun intended).

THIS THIS a million times THIS.

My wife is a vet, and every single day she deals with pets who accidentally got outside because someone left a door open or window. The pet gets munched on or scratched or what-have-you, and that's it. No vaccinations - infected pet.

The vet clinics have been suffering for almost a year, so this article is not news to me. It's not like vets are out there trying to force people to get unneeded shots, etc. You all do realize they have to be licensed, and the costs for vet school are higher than human medical school, because they have to go to human medical school first, then go to vet school. If they are peddling unneeded medications and inflating their prices, they can lose their licenses - it's not worth it.

If you are taking on a pet it is a responsibility. If you are not willing to take care of it, don't have one. I, too, have a low opinion of people who treat their pets like children, but one should treat them like living, breathing, feeling creatures. Again, if you are not willing to do that, don't have one. Please. It will keep them from suffering under your callous, insensitive, lack of care.

WTF are you smoking? In the states, Vet school is a post-graduate 4 year program just like medical school.

Here is the cost of Tufts Vet School :$37,910/year
Here is the cost of Tufts medical school: 48,386/year

Some state medical schools (like the one i attend) may be cheaper than their vetrenary counterparts.

However, this is because the state seems to care more about human life then animals and loses money on every physician it produces.

When Fido starts paying his taxes, then we will talk.

JackieRabbit: Hoo boy. Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive. I have cats that are 14 and 15 years old, who've been to a vet maybe twice in their lives. ... And vaccinations? They are a scam. They are never necessary for an indoor cat and represent nothing but pure profit for the vet.

And yet, the plural of "anecdote" is still not "data". Glad you're here to fill us in on how unimportant vaccinations and preventative medicine is, because otherwise I might stupidly keep spending money on it to keep my pets alive! It's also nice to see that there's no chance that your cats could ever conceivably escape and get exposed to anything. Or that you could inadvertently track in any pathogens that stray cats or wild animals might be trailing across your porch or yard.

The reasons vaccines might appear like a scam is that they *work*. So, in well cared for communities of animals, the diseases we vaccinate for aren't all THAT prevalent and people say "well, that never happens around here, so why should my dog get his shots?". Instead of using that as a reason not to vaccinate, it should be held up as the best reason why you SHOULD vaccinate, to keep the prevalence low.

/seen two dogs with heartworm in the past week (Expensive AND dangerous treatment, two for one!)
//coupla "got out of the house and got bitten by something" cats that were damn lucky to have had rabies shots too.

Inaditch:
Also, in a lot of ways, a vet has it a lot harder than a regular doctor. A human doctor only has to work with one species, whereas a vet has to be able to treat many. Each species, and even each breed within a species, has its own set of diseases, problems, their own anatomy, etc. On top of that, most humans can tell you how they feel and how they're responding to treatment. Vets work with patients that can't talk and who have no idea what's going on.

Veterinarians get paid a lot less than human doctors and have to put up with a lot more crap (pun intended).

... and Inaditch takes a spot on my favourites list.

/real doctors don't limit themselves to a single (usually cooperative) species

bonehead800: Inaditch:
Also, in a lot of ways, a vet has it a lot harder than a regular doctor. A human doctor only has to work with one species, whereas a vet has to be able to treat many. Each species, and even each breed within a species, has its own set of diseases, problems, their own anatomy, etc. On top of that, most humans can tell you how they feel and how they're responding to treatment. Vets work with patients that can't talk and who have no idea what's going on.

Veterinarians get paid a lot less than human doctors and have to put up with a lot more crap (pun intended).

... and Inaditch takes a spot on my favourites list.

/real doctors don't limit themselves to a single (usually cooperative) species

People doctors are the reason for a functioning society. Outside of live stock veterinarians are not nearly as necessary as actual MDs.

ScaliaDissenting: This article is a perfect example of what I hate about our society. And this whole "preventive treatment is cheaper in the long run" argument sounds like something my mechanic would say. This is nothing more than a shallow attempt by the veterinary industry trying to strum up business through guilt.

Not at all. It's because it's entirely true that preventative medicine is a lot cheaper. Getting a dog through a parvo episode (generally intensive care, fluids, heavy duty IV antibiotics because their immune system is shot) can run over 1000$ whereas a yearly 20$ shot is incredibly effective at preventing it. Ditto heartworm treatment: Monthly preventative is a lot cheaper and less hassle than the 1000$+ on immiticide treatment, hospitalization for observation post-treatment and 6 week cage confinement that actually treating heartworms requires. Not to mention that the treatment itself is still dangerous.


These idiots would have you believe it's more important for your pet to receive proper medical treatment than you. If you can't afford the vet bill, give the pet away. Problem solved.

/ poor law student- has no pets for that exact reason.

... no. I frequently see people who I think were total fools to take on the responsibility of a living thing that they can't afford to take care of. Hell, I'm six weeks from being a vet and I don't even have a cat because I know my financial limitations while living on loans. Every day I see our vets at school looking for every way they can to cheapen the bill ("we saw you here for something last year.. this'll be a recheck fee, half the price of a new exam fee" etc.) to make it easier for people to care for their pets. And yes, this is a school so it's not a money making venture. I've also seen people do it in private practice too. Vets realize that if they make it too expensive, the animal won't get cared for. And, whatever you choose to believe, our oath is not to making money, it's to relieving suffering and caring for the patient.

//to the guy who said we had to go to human med school first: Put down the drugs, dude. Vet school may be harder than med school, but it's still just the four years post-graduate.

zahal:
People doctors are the reason for a functioning society. Outside of live stock veterinarians are not nearly as necessary as actual MDs.

Didn't say they were. But you'd be amazed at the research and public health work vets do. I did a summer at Johns Hopkins working in a lab studying treatments for breast cancer. All the researchers in that group? Vets. As well as all the ones on the floor above working on SIV-infected monkeys to study HIV.
Vets were also the first ones to realize West Nile had come to the US and warn public health officials of the human risk (Bronx Zoo folks, actually). So yeah, MD's are more important to keeping things going... but the veterinary profession ain't chopped liver!

onebadgungan: If you are taking on a pet it is a responsibility. If you are not willing to take care of it, don't have one. I, too, have a low opinion of people who treat their pets like children, but one should treat them like living, breathing, feeling creatures. Again, if you are not willing to do that, don't have one. Please. It will keep them from suffering under your callous, insensitive, lack of care.

I've owned 5 cats and one dog in the past 20 years. I still have 3 of the cats--2 are about 8 and one is 3. My first cat was diagnosed with diabetes and I had her put down when she was 15. My 2nd cat died of a heart attack. We knew he had a heart murmur when we adopted him (he was about 4 then) and were told he would maybe live 2-3 years. He died 7 years later. We adopted the dog, an emaciated, horribly abused 5-yo long hair German Shepherd and we put her down 9 years later @ age 14. Top-end for a healthy German Shepherd is usually around 10-12 years. All are or have been well-loved, well-cared for, and have never known hunger, thirst, or pain while in my care.

That being said, none of my animals has ever been to a vet unless they were sick. I adopt from shelters, which gives all of them their basic shots, and that's it for immunization. I know my pets and can recognize immediately when something isn't right. At the first sign, off to the vet they go. The cats have always been strictly indoor and do not go outside. In 20 years, one got outside once--she got as far as the first step on the porch before hightailing it back inside.

I truly believe preventative vet care is a scam. At the rate they're going, I'm sure the youngest cat is going to outlive me.

bonehead800: zahal:
People doctors are the reason for a functioning society. Outside of live stock veterinarians are not nearly as necessary as actual MDs.

Didn't say they were. But you'd be amazed at the research and public health work vets do. I did a summer at Johns Hopkins working in a lab studying treatments for breast cancer. All the researchers in that group? Vets. As well as all the ones on the floor above working on SIV-infected monkeys to study HIV.
Vets were also the first ones to realize West Nile had come to the US and warn public health officials of the human risk (Bronx Zoo folks, actually). So yeah, MD's are more important to keeping things going... but the veterinary profession ain't chopped liver!


kibble joke?

brigid_fitch:
I truly believe preventative vet care is a scam. At the rate they're going, I'm sure the youngest cat is going to outlive me.

Just curious... do you believe preventative human care is a scam too? I mean, I've never met anyone who's had polio. Can't believe all those money-grubbing MD's that went and got rich giving those shots when there was no need for it!

saomai: Somebody please define their definition of a weekly trip to starbucks? I don't of any starbucker who only goes to starbucks once a week. At $3.00 minimum per visit perhaps if the pet care truly came out to only $12-$20 per month then yes it might be affordable but we all know that is highly unlikely.

WTF? I can't speak to Starbucks - I brew my coffee at home, but I do buy expensive cat litter and cat food. It's so inexpensive that I can't even tell you what I pay, but if I were broke and had to cut back it would probably only be $12-20 per month. I figure I only pay $30-40 as it is now.

And when I ever question that amount - I remind myself how much I spend on food for myself and my cat is a part of the family.

If you're worrying about the price of cat or dog food, you have no business owning a pet.

bonehead800: brigid_fitch:
I truly believe preventative vet care is a scam. At the rate they're going, I'm sure the youngest cat is going to outlive me.

Just curious... do you believe preventative human care is a scam too? I mean, I've never met anyone who's had polio. Can't believe all those money-grubbing MD's that went and got rich giving those shots when there was no need for it!

That is a good point. I want to note that my puppy has had a lot of vaccinations/vet checkups.

JackieRabbit: Hoo boy. Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive. I have cats that are 14 and 15 years old, who've been to a vet maybe twice in their lives. The ones that my wife insisted had to have regular check-ups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, etc. are lucky to have lived for eight years. And now that we have pet health insurance, the cost of veterinary care is skyrocketing and approaching that of human health care. A recent (needed) trip to the vet for one of my cats required a standard set of blood work. Five years ago, this same visit would have run me about $90. This time? $340. He has to have a minor surgical procedure next week. I'm expecting this to run around $1000 -- if he doesn't need to be hospitalized, that is. And vaccinations? They are a scam. They are never necessary for an indoor cat and represent nothing but pure profit for the vet.

I generally agree with you, but people go to desperate lengths to prolong lives these days and medical technology might buy you a few days, or maybe even years - or maybe not - who can tell?

A couple of centuries ago, people and pets just got old and died. Now we have the technology to keep them alive just a little bit longer.

If I had thousands of dollars laying around, I'd spend it on my cat so she could live 3 more months. I don't so her life expectancy is that much shorter.

I will miss her when she dies, unless I die first in which case I'm sure she'll miss me too.

zahal:

People doctors are the reason for a functioning society. Outside of live stock veterinarians are not nearly as necessary as actual MDs.

I think food sharing is significantly more important than MD's. If we had less MD's we'd just have less people.

If you're in a position where you have to skimp on dog food, don't get Ole Roy. It destroys their livers and causes other anomalous health problems. Talk to your vet, he'll probably confirm it.

JackieRabbit
Hoo boy. Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive. I have cats that are 14 and 15 years old, who've been to a vet maybe twice in their lives. The ones that my wife insisted had to have regular check-ups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, etc. are lucky to have lived for eight years. And now that we have pet health insurance, the cost of veterinary care is skyrocketing and approaching that of human health care. A recent (needed) trip to the vet for one of my cats required a standard set of blood work. Five years ago, this same visit would have run me about $90. This time? $340. He has to have a minor surgical procedure next week. I'm expecting this to run around $1000 -- if he doesn't need to be hospitalized, that is. And vaccinations? They are a scam. They are never necessary for an indoor cat and represent nothing but pure profit for the vet.

You keep telling yourself that. You're that client my friends and I shake our heads at when they come in and wonder "Why does is my dog suddenly in congestive heart failure? Heartworm prevention? That's a crock! He's been perfectly healthy until now and I didn't want to spend the money!" or "My cat has cancer that's too advanced to treat? Well I've been noticing him losing weight for six months but didn't want to come in a do a bunch of expensive diagnostics. Why can't you make him better, Doc?"

Also, your cat might be an indoor cat, but what happens if he gets out or you take in another cat or you board him someday? It's really up to you, but I feel with my pets that it's better to be safe than sorry. I'm glad your previous cats lived long lives without needing much care, but that doesn't mean your future pets will be so lucky. My great grandmother lived to be 93 and only went to the doctor when she was dragged. I still go in for yearly checkups.

Finally, the cost of veterinary care isn't skyrocketing because of health insurance, btw. About 1% of pet owners have pet insurance (I was just at a meeting where we were discussing how to educate our clients about it). It's going up because the price of everything goes up over time. Pet health care lags about 10 years behind human health care so in order to provide the best care (to sleep at night and not get sued), we have to shell out the money for the equipment to provide it, which has a cost approaching that of the equipment used on humans. We vets aren't trying to cheat you, we just need to pay out bills and...you know eat every once in a while.

When my childhood cat turned diabetic, I spent almost $5000 total over the last year and a half of his life.

It was worth it too since I got a year and a half more with him around. I would have spent more if I had it, or if it would have made a difference. I'd rather the money go to helping to maintain the good health of a few animals, since at least they have a much lower average percentage of assholes in their ranks as compared to us humans.

bonehead800

//to the guy who said we had to go to human med school first: Put down the drugs, dude. Vet school may be harder than med school, but it's still just the four years post-graduate.

I missed that in his comment when I first read it. Maybe it just feels like 8 years :p

I take one of my rats into the vet a few times a year for breathing problems, to get an abcess checked, etc. Even the people at the vets office think I'm a little nuts(They're friggin RATS!) But y'know, if I decide to take resposibility for an animal, that includes making sure they stay healthy.

Pet health insurance is currently being sold at a loss because the insurance companies are trying to develop the market. If you are insured and do the recommended annual or bi-annual checkup, then you'll break-even.

Pet insurance is not the "wellness plan" or pre-payment scam that the corporate clinics like Banfield are selling. Call your insurance broker, the same guy that shopped you around for car insurance or PPO coverage, and ask him to quote for Fido and Fluffy.

Don't actually buy the insurance from the veterinarian because you probably won't get what you really want or need.

StoneColdAtheist: onebadgungan: ...they have to go to human medical school first, then go to vet school.

Say wut?

zahal:

WTF are you smoking? In the states, Vet school is a post-graduate 4 year program just like medical school.

Here is the cost of Tufts Vet School :$37,910/year
Here is the cost of Tufts medical school: 48,386/year

I'm sorry, I misspoke. They have to get a bachelors in pre-vet, work with a vet for a year or two, then get accepted to vet school, which is harder than human medical school because there are so few of them. And considering that they get paid less than human docs, and have to take an average of 75 credits in their undergraduate courses, AND move to a college that is probably out of their state causing higher tuition (since the vet school generally take people in their state or schools first, leaving little to no room for transfer students), it is more expensive cumulatively.

Old enough to know better: I take one of my rats into the vet a few times a year for breathing problems, to get an abcess checked, etc. Even the people at the vets office think I'm a little nuts(They're friggin RATS!) But y'know, if I decide to take resposibility for an animal, that includes making sure they stay healthy.

There's a docu on the Willard DVD about the strange world of rats as pets. It shows people kissing them with the rats licking their lips. Yeesh. But, the animals seem to be intelligent and loving creatures. To each his own.

JackieRabbit: Hoo boy. Most "preventive" veterinary care is unnecessary and expensive. I have cats that are 14 and 15 years old, who've been to a vet maybe twice in their lives.

Keep telling yourself that, dude. Instead of the couple of hundred dollar tab your general practitioner would have charged you to work up your diabetic/hyperthyroid/renal failure/whatever geriatric cat, I'm going to hit you with an estimate of 2k when ketoacidosis/cardiomyopathy/acute on chronic failure sets in and I see him on emergency. And when you punk out and opt for a syringe full of pentobarb instead, I'll answer your "Could this have been prevented if I had gotten off my ass?" question honestly.