Pets, you know they are part of the family

[Band_Member]

Not really a technical/mechanical question per se, but rather maybe a technical question about life and our love of our quadrapaw buddies. you know most of us have one or have had one or more at some point in our lives.

I was wondering what you guys/gals out there would do, or in other words, what extent would you go to to try to save the life of one of your pets if they suddenly became ill, or accidentally hit by a vehicle, etc. and the best medical help was available.

Has anybody gone through a crisis like that and what extent you have gone through to try to save your buddy ?

As we know veterinarian expenses can be costly. So thinking about your companion, your best buddy, how far would you go and where would you draw the line ? just wondering.

there was a radio show i was listening to the other day while i was on the road and they were talking about it. people called in and described what they went through and how much it cost. one person called in actually spent 15k to save their dog struck by a car. the dog eventually pulled through after a long struggle which involved the amputation of one of its limbs.

i've always thought TDS was a great place to exchange information and as a multi-pet family here I was just wondering what your opinion on this subject was.

TIA

[fieldtrialer]

Your answer would depend on the financial status of the dog owner. I know a person that spent a very large amount to treat his dog that had cancer. He knew it would not be cured but was willing to pay to have his friend a litter longer.

[crowz]

I agree its a matter of what you can afford and what you feel its worth. This varies from person to person.

The only time Ive ever questioned this is a person I know that had a dog that was hit by a car in front of their house. 3 months at a very expensive vet hospital and something like $6000 later the dog is back at their home for 3 months in a baby's play pen till it healed up. Was a huge rotweiller by the way. The reason I found this one questionable?
After it healed up and was allowed out of the play pen it was put back out in the yard not fenced in as before and hit and killed by another car going by

This case I considered DUMB.

[eagleeye]

I have had my "Abby" for 7 years. I am as about attached to her as a man can be to a dog. My kids love her. I have pictures with the kids and Abby the day we brought them home from the hospital. I would do anything to defend or protect her. However, if she was suffering greatly, I would let the natural cycle take its course. Everyone's thoughts will be different on this subject, but I don't believe in using a lot of resources to prolong the life, or perhaps the suffering, of an animal whose natural life expectantcy is relatively short when compared to our own.

[88beast]

well a dog doesnt live too long in the human animal realations area
dogs go 20 years max which isnt long at all so by having one you accept that you need to "move on " eventualy

i wouldnt do much past normal vet treatments like shots and those worm pills etc.
its like an old truck way past its prime why rebuild an engine when the frame is rusted through?

let nature take its course too
how do you know how the dog feels?
would you want to live without a leg just to make another person happy?

i know a person who paid 15k over 6 years to try to save a dog that eventualy died in the vets office 4 years it was in a clean room thing they said

and the other hand is old yeller

[drcampbell]

I'm pleased to say that my little guy is in pretty good health, despite turning 105 years old on Thursday.

I don't know what I'd do were there any surplus in the household budget, but at the moment, there's not, so that's pretty much answered for me.

I know the day is coming when I'll need to make that ultimate decision, but every year, he surprises me. It'll be the first for me; despite my age, he's the only one I've been solely responsible for.

Unless it's sudden & catastrophic, I'm sure I will err on the side of waiting too long. It's a monumental decision which I won't want to get wrong, it's difficult to tell what his frame of mind & body is, I know I will hesitate even after I know he's suffering, and what goes around, comes around. Were somebody deciding how much I'm suffering this year, their decision could reasonably go either way.

[Hook'em Horns!]

Not the end all answer but, health insurance is available and relatively cheap.
Never have gotten over my loss, almost 10 years now since we encountered an incompetent Vet. Hope this thread ends soon, too much tragedy to rehash here.

[RightWingNutJob]

I still carry a picture in my wallet of a Husky- German Shepard that I had for 15 years. (Pictures of wife and Kids are there in front of the dog's just to keep things in perspective.)
He's been gone 16 years now and I still miss him. He blocked me from falling down a 20 foot open shaft in dark, and interceded on my behalf on two occaisions when I encountered some folks who who wished me extreme ill will.

Never had a bond with any other creature - human or animal, like I had with him. Money was no object, but I had to put him down when bowel cancer became too far advanced and there was nothing more the vets could do for him. Toughest thing I've ever had to do so far in my life, but he had no remaining quality of life.

[checkthisout]

Originally Posted by Band_Member

Not really a technical/mechanical question per se, but rather maybe a technical question about life and our love of our quadrapaw buddies. you know most of us have one or have had one or more at some point in our lives.

I was wondering what you guys/gals out there would do, or in other words, what extent would you go to to try to save the life of one of your pets if they suddenly became ill, or accidentally hit by a vehicle, etc. and the best medical help was available.

Has anybody gone through a crisis like that and what extent you have gone through to try to save your buddy ?

As we know veterinarian expenses can be costly. So thinking about your companion, your best buddy, how far would you go and where would you draw the line ? just wondering.

there was a radio show i was listening to the other day while i was on the road and they were talking about it. people called in and described what they went through and how much it cost. one person called in actually spent 15k to save their dog struck by a car. the dog eventually pulled through after a long struggle which involved the amputation of one of its limbs.

i've always thought TDS was a great place to exchange information and as a multi-pet family here I was just wondering what your opinion on this subject was.

TIA

I thought about this the other day when the dog bolted out the door and onto the road.

I would give the vet my dog and my credit card.

Yes, I have good credit and a high limit.

[MarkEkberg]

I always said that if the cost of the vet exceded the value of a pup then I would put him down.

That being said, I lost my Weim in a fire last year. He was the only thing I really cared about. I have no idea what I would have given up to have saved him. He was a amazing animal.................

[LMJD]

what extent would you go to to try to save the life of one of your pets if they suddenly became ill, or accidentally hit by a vehicle, etc. and the best medical help was available.

We had a wild cat decide to live in our hay barn. Got him tamed down, turned out to be a fun cat. One of our other 5, (yes, 5) took a swipe at him with a meat-hook (claws) causing a bad abcess at the base of his tail. Cost for cleaning and medicating abcess and castration--$140. Two weeks ago, severe abdominal pain, X-rays, etc, etc,---$332. I now own a 17 pound $472 black and white cat, but at least he's castrated. Do I need mental help or what?

I still carry a picture in my wallet of a Husky- German Shepard that I had for 15 years.

Me too of my Blue Heeler. He was my good partner moving cows, guarding the pickup, etc, for 16 1/2 years.

[Band_Member]

Originally Posted by Hook'em Horns!

Never have gotten over my loss, almost 10 years now since we encountered an incompetent Vet.

I know exactly how you feel my friend, exactly how you feel. Godspeed.

[Hook'em Horns!]

This little ditty pretty much sums it up:

TRUE FRIENDS

The one absolutely unselfish friend that you can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is your dog.

Your dog is the essence of pure devotion, a companion of love that brings one closer to God, a friend that is truer to you than you are to yourself.

One of the sweetest gifts that life can bring is the love of a pet, our burdens seem less heavy, and the world seems brighter with them at our side.

Your dog will stand beside you in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground if only to be near your side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, and will lick the wounds that we encounter in this rough world.

Life has no blessing like the love of a pet. One of the most difficult things a person must do is to say “goodbye” to a good friend, especially when that friend has loved so faithfully and unconditionally.

Be thankful for the memories, good and sweet,

Remember all the times they made your heart leap,

Keep their memories steadfast in your heart,

Never from the soul depart.

[OMCUSNR]

Originally Posted by MarkEkberg

I always said that if the cost of the vet exceded the value of a pup then I would put him down.

That being said, I lost my Weim in a fire last year. He was the only thing I really cared about. I have no idea what I would have given up to have saved him. He was a amazing animal.................

Mark,

Did you ever find a new pup or settle on a name?

OMC

[IA712]

Originally Posted by Hook'em Horns!

This little ditty pretty much sums it up:

TRUE FRIENDS

The one absolutely unselfish friend that you can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is your dog.

Your dog is the essence of pure devotion, a companion of love that brings one closer to God, a friend that is truer to you than you are to yourself.

One of the sweetest gifts that life can bring is the love of a pet, our burdens seem less heavy, and the world seems brighter with them at our side.

Your dog will stand beside you in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground if only to be near your side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, and will lick the wounds that we encounter in this rough world.

Life has no blessing like the love of a pet. One of the most difficult things a person must do is to say “goodbye” to a good friend, especially when that friend has loved so faithfully and unconditionally.

Be thankful for the memories, good and sweet,

Remember all the times they made your heart leap,

Keep their memories steadfast in your heart,

Never from the soul depart.

thanks for that, that is awesome. We have two min pins and a mix that can't seem to stay out of the vets office. They have knocked over the turkey fryer (after it cooled) and ate a bunch of the oil. One can jump very high and was able to access two chocolate oranges (Solid chocolate) and another had an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. With that, we have spent thousands on our dogs to keep them alive/healthy. But for us it becomes a quality of life issue. I wouldn't put an animal through pain, suffering, etc. to make me or the family feel better about having them around for any extra amount of time.
I saw a breakdown in the local paper that sort of made sense, Grieving pet owners turn to hospice, support groups | Pets | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California
Here is the article. ON EDIT: The checklist is at the end of the article.

One last thing, I have a saying on my desk at work that is similar to the one Hook em' posted, it is:

He is your friend, your partner, your defender your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours,
faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to
him to be worthy of such devotion.