How much are you're pets worth to you?

Last friday evening while i was a work my 2 year old siamese cat was run over and managed to drag himself inside.

Mrs took him to the vet and they told us his pelvis was broken in three places but there did not appear to be any other internal injury and all of the bones were still in the correct position. They said after a few days we could take him home and the best thing we could do was confine him for 2 months and let it heal naturally.

As i've been in sydney all week the mrs picked him up on tuesday along with pain medication etc and a bill for $1000.

This morning we had to take him back in to the vet as he has been refusing to eat or drink and has to be force fed so they recommended that we put him on a feeding tube.

In the afternoon we got a phone call with more bad news that the bones have now moved apart due to him struggling at some point and he will now most likely need an operation that will cost around $4500.

When i was a kid we had various cats and dogs that were hit by cars or had other medical issues but my parents could never afford any treatment so the animals were mostly put to sleep.

I dont really know what to do now as i would feel very bad about having him put to sleep when i do actually have the money but i wouldn't exactly call it spare. There is also the other thought of when is it going to end and is this going to solve all the problems or is the cat going to need further medical treatment later?

Anyway the cat is being taken to the ortherpedic specialist tomorrow for another opinion and we probably will end up forking out for the operation if they tell us he is likely to recover.

It also just so happens i spent $20000 on woodworking machines today so that would probably make me feel even worse about not spending money on the cat.

I'm sorry to put it like this, N, but it depends how much you've projected human emotions onto the animal. In other words, some people seem capable of loving animals almost as much as fellow humans. My SWMBO falls into this category, but I think that even she would stop at $1000 (then again, she spent $200 to have a vet repair a chook, so ....).

I, on the other hand, while I respect all animals, hate the way humans have developed a situation where these critters are destroying our native wildlife. So I'd be battling with anything over $200. You have to sit down with your family and decide where you fit in this spectrum and make a decision. My personal view is that it's time to let the cat go. Your woodworking expenditure has nothing to do with the cat; don't do that to yourself mate.

I endorse every word that Rossluck has said. Couldn't put it better if I tried.

Jerry

A further thought or two. Sorry but some vets like some doctors are unethical. It is likely the animal will continue to "need treatment" for some time. Also as a human we have no idea of the pain the animal might be suffering now, and in the future, because it can't tell us. It might be a time to consider whether the kindest action would be a gentle putting to sleep.

Jerry

My dog makes my children really happy and for that he is worth plenty.

We had a similar situation and we spent what it took. The way that we looked at it is that the cat is dependent on our care and is part of the family so we had to do everything that we could. The vet did however give the cat a very high chance of recovery and assured that she would not be in excessive pain during recovery or after.

If the quality of life for the cat will be reduced to an unacceptable level, or it will be in excessive pain, the right thing is to put it out of its pain and not drag it on just because you don't want to let it go.

Very hard decision and one your family will need to make .... just think about what it best for the animal that you are the carer for.

Good luck.

Next to my wife my dog is my best friend. I am not sure how much I would be prepared to save his life but I would sell my tools if it were necessary.

:oo: That does seem like A lot of money.

My cat of some years ago got run over. But she disappeared for a week. Then this skeleton turned up on the veranda. After a visit to the vet it turned out she had a perforated diaphragm. That only cost $450, which just happened to be the amount I had saved for getting a washing machine. :C So I didn't get a washing machine for another few months. :doh: Couldn't not fix her up after she dragged herself back to me. I'd be thinking a little harder about $4500 though. :C Will he really fully recover from such a major injury, or will he have athritis for the last few years of his life. :C

Glad its not my decision to make. :console:

It's up to you mate, you have to live with your actions. No one can really guide you in this respect as it depends on the affection and love that you have for the cat.

I only have chooks for the eggs and they are not pets, so when they stop laying I'll put them down and get others, no way I would sell my tools.


Peter.

Whats it worth....how long is a piece of string?

Its what value we place on the pet or anything else for that matter. That sets how much of our resources we will use.

horses for courses

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hughie

...how long is a piece of string?

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exactly twice as long as from the middle to one end.

That's an horrific injury and is going to cause problems for the rest of your cat's life. I would euthanase the cat, however hard the decision, (look upon it as a gift) and go to a rescue centre and give a healthy animal that would otherwise be put down a chance to live with your obviously caring family.

as a part time worker on a very low salary i just spent $ 450 ( more than i make in a week ) on my dog because he wasnt his normal self to be told in the end that he had just eaten something that didnt agree with him ?!
but worth every cent as had him for 12 yrs ( and not even my dog in the first place ) and would be lost with out him made it worse as i have been offered a puppy from someone else so felt almost guilty about thinking about it and thoughts that he is getting old and maybe need to replace him soon

[QUOTE=dzcook;1065387]as a part time worker on a very low salary i just spent $ 450 ( more than i make in a week ) on my dog because he wasnt his normal self to be told in the end that he had just eaten something that didnt agree with him ?!
but worth every cent as had him for 12 yrs ( and not even my dog in the first place ) and would be lost with out him made it worse as i have been offered a puppy from someone else so felt almost guilty about thinking about it and thoughts that he is getting old and maybe need to replace him soon[/QUOTE

been there too. I had a dog that was getting on in life and we decided to get a pup for company for him and as a hedge against the day he would die so it wouldn't be as strange withoput him.Well eventually the pup got old as did we and we decided not to have pets anymore. Trust me its not an option we would go through again and 12 months later we have a pup again. DZ get the pup you and your old mate will nerver regret it.
Pete

Easy putting a limit on how much one should spend on a pet when its not your pet.

If it was me Id spend the money....if I sat down and put a monetary value on the companionship and entertainment I've derived from pets over the years the figure would be huge.

Perhaps its easier for me. Im a farmers son. The pet lambs however friendly met the same fate as the others. Dogs doing the wrong thing got shot. As such it creates a more realistic view which perhaps some would call cold. But emotions are fine providing you are doing the best for your pet and not trying to cling to an animal that has outlived its worthwhile life. You have to remember everything dies and death is not the worst thing that can happen.