This debate started on another thread, and I didn't want to continue hijacking it, so I figured it was time to bring the debate to its own thread.

Vet care is expensive. Anyone that has a pet knows this. If your pet gets sick you can spend a months, or even more, worth of pay, and still not get an answer, or a healthy pet.

I made a comment in this other thread that most vets are rich. Another respected member disagreed.

I'm sure there are vets that aren't rich, because they're fair. I've found one in my lifetime, that didn't gouge us for every last penny we had just to fix our beloved fur baby. The rest charged us through the roof, usually didn't solve the issue, and then continued gouging us for continued care of an issue they never diagnosed to begin with.

When our beloved Jasper became ill we took him to the vet many times in the 5 days from the start of his illness, until the end. Test after test, hundreds of dollars here and there. We never got a diagnosis. Many hundreds of dollars later on tests and medication that didn't work, or tell us what was going on, he couldn't even lift his head. It was decided that ending things would be best for him. With no diagnosis, and no improvement, he was dying a slow painful death. So to add insult to injury, after paying all this money to help him, we had to pay more money for them to kill him.

Not that it's the vets fault. But really, who can afford to spend thousands of dollars when their pet is sick? Should only the super rich have pets, since they're really the only ones that can afford an emergency? What about all the animals in the shelters? Shouldn't there be a way for an average family to afford to have a pet, and afford to make sure that that pet is healthy, and happy?

I pay over $400 a year just to have my two dogs vaccinated. I paid $300 to have my one store bought rabbit neutered. The other three, one was found on the street and too old to spay, the other two were adopted from the shelter and were already fixed when we adopted them for a fee of $25.

All vets may not be rich, but neither are the people that come to them for help. So what's the solution? Should we not allow anyone that isn't wealthy to have pets? I know that there are vets that make a living, but don't gouge their patients, I've found one of those vets, and I've had friends that have found those vets. There are vets out there that actually became vets to help animals. But the majority I've found are only in it for the money, and they aren't living paycheck to paycheck like the rest of us.

Don't have the cash, and your animal is sick, they won't even look at the animal. Come back when you have the money and maybe, after many tests and a few thousand dollars, we'll be able to help, but probably not. Do you want to try a blood test? It will cost $250, and we probably won't figure out what's wrong by doing it, but hey, you're already spending a fortune because you love your pet, so we'll try to get every penny we can out of you before your pet dies.

So what's the solution so that all animals can receive the care they need, and anyone that is willing to give an animal a good home, can afford to do so?

Sorry if I sound bitter, but truth told, I am.

The clinic that I found to be cheapest around here is called The Rascal Unit Hospital. It started with a wonderful woman that was heart broken by the number of strays and decided to run and operate her own Mobile low cost spay and neuter Van. From there she opened up a hospital and applied the same prices there. I have already looked into getting my Great Dane spayed after this "pending" litter and total cost for an over night stay with pain meds for a 127 lb dog will cost us $130. The clinic that we originally went to with her wants to charge me $370 for the same surgery! Why such a difference?

The clinic that I found to be cheapest around here is called The Rascal Unit Hospital. It started with a wonderful woman that was heart broken by the number of strays and decided to run and operate her own Mobile low cost spay and neuter Van. From there she opened up a hospital and applied the same prices there. I have already looked into getting my Great Dane spayed after this "pending" litter and total cost for an over night stay with pain meds for a 127 lb dog will cost us 0. The clinic that we originally went to with her wants to charge me 0 for the same surgery! Why such a difference?

Wow! I'd kill to be able to get a neuter for $130. With our vet, and all the other clinics I've found, the price ranges from $300 (that's not including pain meds, a cone, etc) to $500 (not including pain meds, a cone etc).

I agree, why the difference? My guess is that one vet charges only for the surgery, the medication needed, and a small fee to compensate them for the task, and the other vet charges over and above. That's most like also the vet that doesn't even have pets of their own, lives in a huge house, and only does this for the money. You can bring your dog there for years, they great her by name, but when there's an emergency, if you don't have the cash, too bad, they won't help. They don't care about the animal, they're in it for the money. Otherwise why the difference in cost?

You can't tell me that they're doing it at cost, that they're not making any money even at $130. That would be foolish. No one works for free. So why the difference in the same town?

I have to say, when you posted "The Rascal Unit Hospital" I smiled. Our border collie is named Rascal. A name he's earned. :) Our beagle is Chewy, a name he also earned. Sadly, I sometimes think that by giving them those names, they decided they had to live up to them. I should have name them "Good dog" and "Very good dog". ;)

But hey, they're lovies, even if they can drive me crazy at times.

I just looked on The Rascal Unit Hospitals page and they only charge $45 for a rabbit spay/neuter. Rabies shots through them are $8, or you can combo 3 shots for $25! I have a feeling I'm going to LOVE this place. I don't own any rabbits as 3/4 of us are allergic to them but I know that you have some.

Dog Neuter

Up to 20 lbs $40

20.1 to 40 lbs $45

40.1 to 60 lbs $50

60.1 to 80 lbs $60

80.1 to 100 lbs $70

100.1 to 150 lbs $100

150.1 lbs and up $125



Cat Spay $45 Cat Neuter $35

Rabbit Spay or Neuter $50

$2-5 per surgery travel fee may apply

Dog Spay

Up to 20 lbs $50

20.1 to 40 lbs $55

40.1 to 60 lbs $60

60.1 to 80 lbs $70

80.1 to 100 lbs $80

100.1 to 150 lbs $100

150.1 lbs and up $120

This is the pricing I took from the page. It's insanely cheap compared to other vets

Don't forget Alty that vets have to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans. They also have malpractice insurance to pay monthly and that can be in the $10,000 range per month. There is also overhead, lights, employees, food, medications, supplies, etc.

I know of very few vets under the age of 60 who are actually "rich." They have to charge according to what their payout is monthly and just a little extra to take home. I think it all may depend on the size of the clinic among many other factors.

I would look at the sizes and number of employees at each clinic, payroll is the largest expense in most clinics, then add to that the medications, supplies, (which I usually unpack and note invoices) Meds and supplies are not cheap.
That may not be the difference in these two clinics but is is a factor to consider.
NOT taking up for overcharging, I know there are those that will, simply because they can or because of the area there are in.

Dog Spay

Up to 20 lbs

20.1 to 40 lbs

40.1 to 60 lbs

60.1 to 80 lbs

80.1 to 100 lbs

100.1 to 150 lbs 0

150.1 lbs and up 0

This is the pricing I took from the page. It's insanely cheap compared to other vets

I may have to move to where you live. Those prices are insanely great, at least compared to what I pay.

I'll bite.

As mentioned in the previous thread - the schooling that vets go through to do what the do is very very similar to what human doctors do. It's basically a PHD in that sense. It's a Doctorate. It takes about 8 years and most vets are more than $100,000 in debt once they graduate. They get out of school and usually make similar to something like a Registered Nurse ($25-$45 an hour).
A vet who owns their own practice generally makes more. However, I know about 40 Veterinarians, and only one lives a relatively "Lavish" lifestyle. Several live paycheque to paycheque, trying to jumble kids, a mortgage, car payments, and massive student loan payments. And this is KNOWING them on a personal level, not seeing them in a practice.
I am also very active in a Facebook group for Veterinary Professionals, that has 10,000 members. Maybe 5% are the exception.

Practices are EXPENSIVE to run. Most clinics have to be either custom-built, or go through extensive renovation to be properly certified to do what they need to do. There are hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment that NEEDS to be in a hospital in order for them to be even allowed to open. This equipment has maintenance. It breaks, it requires repair. There are tremendous amounts of hydro being used. There are property taxes and insurance. There is an extensive pharmacy - and in the back there is a large amount of drugs that HAVE to be kept. Thousands of dollars are thrown away when these drugs are thrown out because they are expired - but more must be ordered because it's REQUIRED. There are usually other vets in the practice that must be paid. There are RVT's to be paid. There's reception, there's assistants, there's kennel staff.

A lot of people do not understand the true cost of medical care - getting a dog spayed may be a couple hundred bucks. If that was human medicine, add a couple of zeroes to that price. Most people don't know this cost because it is subsidized by insurance.
Since the recession, I have noticed it being not-uncommon for practices to have to cut staff because they literally cannot afford to pay them and have cut back literally everything they can.

I went to school for 3 years to do what I do. Its basically a nurse for animals. In a nutshell I work as an ER nurse, a receptionist, a laboratory technician, a x-ray technician, a surgical assistant, an anesthesiologist, a pharmacy technician, a phlebotomist, a physiotherapist, and much, much more. I get paid peanuts. I live paycheque to paycheque and could not afford to live by myself. I drive a crappy car, eat crappy food, and make only a few dollars an hour above minimum wage.

That's the other end of the spectrum. There are bad vets, but they are NOT the majority. At all. Vets are people and need to make a living. Some clinics are more expensive, yes. However, you often get what you pay for. The difference between a $100 surgery and a $500 surgery is often things such as thorough anesthetic monitoring, proper patient warming, IV fluids, safer anesthetic drugs, etc.
We have a lower cost clinic nearby, and we get cases from them a few times a month. It's honestly sub-par care, and I cringe when I hear people are going there. Their animals are not monitored (literally put under, hooked up and the surgeon is the only person in there), no IV fluids, or even a port to administer drugs (not that it matters, because no one would know if something is wrong), older drugs that are considered less-than-ideal are used to cut costs. I hate it.
It is unfortunate that a lot of people cannot afford vet care. But it's something everyone needs to know about. I got a Great Dane. I KNOW that he will cost me thousands in vet care in his later years. I saved up about $6,000 to put aside for his care, as well as opening a no-fee credit card for emergencies. He is also insured with pet insurance. I am prepared. That has saved his life.
I find them similar to kids. They are not cheap to have, and that's why some people do not have them. Pet's are not a right, they are a privileged that should only be purchased when one is aware enough to understand the unexpected costs that may come with owning them.

ALSO - I have a secret. My clinic has about $330,000 in outstanding accounts. You know what these are? These are people who seemed genuine. They had an emergency, and had no money. They had all the excuses in he book as to why they could not afford care, but promised and promised to pay us back. That $330,000 is the reason why most vets require immediate payment. It is NOT the vets fault. Blame those who have ruined it for everyone else. This was more than double last year before we started using a collection agency.

No one works for free. If we could, we would all make vet care free. But we can't. No one would be able to work, and there would be no one there to help your pet. Vets and their front line staff are berated every day and accused of being cold an uncaring because we will not give care away for free. And we discount a lot - for some people, it doesn't matter what discount you give - they think that they're entitled to our charity and if they don't get it, we don't love animals, only money. It's emotional blackmail and it hurts because in that moment, it's pretty clear that we care more about their pet than they do. And it happens a lot. More than I'd like to know.

And I don't get the blackmail with vets - do these same people do this to mechanics? If you cared about my safety while driving my car, why wouldn't you do this for free? Don't you WANT to make sure I'm safe? What about dentists? If you cared about my health, you'd do it for free! Don't you CARE about my dental health? What about grocers? If you cared about me and my family, wouldn't you GIVE us food for free? Don't you CARE about me and my family eating tonight?
Give me a break.


Anyway, that is my opinion. And it's formed from working in the industry for 14 years, knowing about 40 vets, 60+ veterinary support personnel, and being in an active group of 10,000 vets, techs, and assistants from around the world. I feel like I always have my back up on this subject. Sorry that it was all over the place.

Don't forget Alty that vets have to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans. They also have malpractice insurance to pay monthly and that can be in the ,000 range per month. There is also overhead, lights, employees, food, medications, supplies, etc.

I know of very few vets under the age of 60 who are actually "rich." They have to charge according to what their payout is monthly and just a little extra to take home. I think it all may depend on the size of the clinic among many other factors.

Oh I get that J. They chose to become vets, they had to go to school to do so, which meant paying for their education. I get that. I did that too when I went to college. This was the profession they chose, and I'm very sure that the costs were something they considered when choosing this profession.

All but one of the vets I've been to are rich, live in mansions compared to the rest of the population. The one that I did know (he retired many years ago) that didn't charge over and above, just charged enough to make a profit so he wasn't working for free, still lived in a very nice home, and wasn't living paycheck to paycheck. His wife didn't work at all. They didn't worry about money.

But that's not really what I'm talking about. I'm talking about pet owners. If one vet charges $370 for a spay, and another, in the same town, charges $130, then something is obviously wrong. They're both vets. They both had the same education, and the same costs associated with that education and working in their field. You can't tell me that the one charging $130, is taking a cut, working for free. No sane person would do that. So why the cost difference? How can the average person afford the costs of most vets?

If your dog has parvo, expect to spend upwards of $5000 where I live. Who can afford that? I know I can't. So what are my options? Most vets won't take the dog on unless I can pay up front. So I can either try to treat my dog at home (which won't work), get a loan (it takes days to do that, and by that time my dog will be dead), or just watch my dog die. Does that mean I shouldn't have a pet, because I can't afford to spend a months pay on treatment if it gets sick, and spending that money would mean losing my house, not feeding my family, not even having money for gas so my husband can go to work, and there's no guarantee that my dog will even live?

I live in rural CT near MA and NY corner. Vets here used to be reasonable, and they did farm animals too. It all changed suddenly and I think this might be true most places. Now they have beautiful buildings, lots of staff, lots of forms to fill out, often a side store and kennel and training. It cost me $140 a pop to find out whether my dog's ear infections were bacterial or yeast or both, treatments lasted 10 days, she got hematomas from shaking her ears after I put the drops in them, and finally I stopped going. I clean her ears twice a day. Some of the techs were terribly uninformed, gave out a small portion of the pills I was supposed to get in a raging snow storm and I had to go back, and I got overcharged for my last dog's cremation. They wanted over $400 to spay my kitten, so I drove quite a distance to a non profit clinic who charged $60.

I wish it were legal to have a van drive around just to treat ears!

Big pet chain stores have cheap rabies shots clinics with huge long lines out the door. Some cities have them too.
But that's it.

The average income for private practice in the United States rose from $105,510 in 2005 to $115,447 in 2007, according to wikipedia. The degree is a DVM, not PhD.

I adore my vet. I will not go to another one. I got lucky as we just googled for vets close to us and went there.
Why I love my vet is:
1. My cat Pony (RIP boy). He had allergies, severe allergies. She worked with us. She explained every test she was thinking of doing, told us the cost and told us how helpful it would be. She even paid for some of us medication for us. Apparently there is an online vet forum, she talked to vets there about Pony, trying to get us information and help. When we made the sad decision Pony was suffering and to let him cross to the bridge she cried with us. When it came time to pay the bill, all we got charged was the taxes. With all of the tests she did, Pony never ever, hissed, growled, bite, or scratch her. He loved her and would snuggle with her as if he knew she would help. Pony was his nickname his real name was Chronoz. I still miss him.
2. Owen and all of his issues she has done the same with. She understands our money situation and always explains cost versus necessity. I remember once she took Owen to meet people in the office who were scared of him due to his size. She showed them bully breeds are not be to scared of.
3. I don't care what others say about my vet. I love her, my pets love her and she is our vet. I remember once having to take Pony to the emergency vet as his allergies flared. They wanted to run tests to see what his allergies were, to vaccinate him etc. I said no just treat him so he is comfie until Monday. He will be going to his regular vet then. Pony never had any vaccinations due to the vet unsure if his body could handle it or not.

I do feel bad for people who do not have a great vet like I do. I wish all were like Amy (my vet).

I live in rural CT near MA and NY corner. Vets here used to be reasonable, and they did farm animals too. It all changed suddenly and I think this might be true most places. Now they have beautiful buildings, lots of staff, lots of forms to fill out, often a side store and kennel and training. It cost me 0 a pop to find out whether my dog's ear infections were bacterial or yeast or both, treatments lasted 10 days, she got hematomas from shaking her ears after I put the drops in them, and finally I stopped going. I clean her ears twice a day. Some of the techs were terribly uninformed, gave out a small portion of the pills I was supposed to get in a raging snow storm and I had to go back, and I got overcharged for my last dog's cremation. They wanted over 0 to spay my kitten, so I drove quite a distance to a non profit clinic who charged .

I wish it were legal to have a van drive around just to treat ears!

Big pet chain stores have cheap rabies shots clinics with huge long lines out the door. Some cities have them too.
But that's it.

I have a beagle right now with constant ear infections. We've spent thousands on swabs, and pills. He's 5 years old. None of the treatments work.

Just to walk in costs $100, that's without a vet even seeing your dog. Then comes the spiel "We can do a swab to find out if it's yeast or something else, that costs $150". NO! He's had this issue since he was a puppy, I don't need a swab, unless you finally figured out you're wrong and the treatment you're giving doesn't work because we're back here for the same issue every few months.

Then it's "We can do an ear wash for $200. That should work". Been there, done that, it didn't work. I'm here every 2 months with the same issue. It's time to find something that works!

The treatment, the same crappy drops he's been on since he was 12 weeks old. No improvement. We're back at the vet every 3 months because of his ear issues. At this point I feel like I should just send them a blank check and tell the to screw me to the wall, because nothing they're doing helps at all.

Sadly, they're the best and least expensive vet in my area. That's saying a lot considering the care we've gotten for our pets. :(

The average income for private practice in the United States rose from 5,510 in 2005 to 5,447 in 2007, according to wikipedia. The degree is a DVM, not PhD.

You're right. It's a Doctorate. Not much difference.

That is the salary for a private practice OWNER. That is someone who either had a hefty start-up loan, or have worked in the field for YEARS and have their debts paid off.
Vets starting earn from about $40,000-$60,000. It takes years to build up your income to make six figures.
Look at Doctors - average salary for them is $175,000-$275,000.
Dentists? $137,000 - $256,000
Pharmacists? $111,000, $135,000
Surgeons? $260,000-$400,000

Funny how vets learn all of the above in their school, and the top paying vets make about $160,000.

I have a beagle right now with constant ear infections. We've spent thousands on swabs, and pills. He's 5 years old. None of the treatments work.

Just to walk in costs 0, that's without a vet even seeing your dog. Then comes the spiel "We can do a swab to find out if it's yeast or something else, that costs 0". NO! He's had this issue since he was a puppy, I don't need a swab, unless you finally figured out you're wrong and the treatment you're giving doesn't work because we're back here for the same issue every few months.

Then it's "We can do an ear wash for 0. That should work". Been there, done that, it didn't work. I'm here every 2 months with the same issue. It's time to find something that works!

The treatment, the same crappy drops he's been on since he was 12 weeks old. No improvement. We're back at the vet every 3 months because of his ear issues. At this point I feel like I should just send them a blank check and tell the to screw me to the wall, because nothing they're doing helps at all.

Sadly, they're the best and least expensive vet in my area. That's saying a lot considering the care we've gotten for our pets. :(

Have they cultured the ear yet? If he's been on the same drops for 5 years, he's obviously built up a resistance. What about a thyroid test? Allergy testing?

Have they cultured the ear yet? If he's been on the same drops for 5 years, he's obviously built up a resistance. What about a thyroid test?

Thanks for asking. They've cultured the ear 2 times a year for the last 5 years. Always the same outcome, always the same drops, always back 3 months later with the same issue. We've had 2 thyroid tests ($250 each), both came back clear for thyroid issues.

I get it, he's a long eared dog, and they have ear issues. The drops do help, they get the infection down, but as soon as the drops are done, the infection comes back. So I called them and asked if I could just buy more drops, since he's never been prescribed anything else in the 5 years since this started. They said no, he has to come in, get swabs, etc. at least a $400 visit. I can't afford to keep doing this every 3 months for something that doesn't work long term.

So I tried to find the drops online. No luck yet.

Everything else we've tried hasn't worked. But we can't afford to keep putting a bandaid on the problem, without fixing it. :(

Sorry, forgot to add, all the swabs came back as a yeast infection. No allergy issues. He's a beagle, apparently this is a common issue for beagles because of their long ears. But who can afford to keep putting drops in when they don't work. I hate seeing him suffer all the time, with only a temporary relief. At this point I'm taking it into my own hands, trying to find a natural cure, because I'm tired of paying money towards something that doesn't fix anything long term.

Thanks for asking. They've cultured the ear 2 times a year for the last 5 years. Always the same outcome, always the same drops, always back 3 months later with the same issue. We've had 2 thyroid tests (0 each), both came back clear for thyroid issues.

I get it, he's a long eared dog, and they have ear issues. The drops do help, they get the infection down, but as soon as the drops are done, the infection comes back. So I called them and asked if I could just buy more drops, since he's never been prescribed anything else in the 5 years since this started. They said no, he has to come in, get swabs, etc. at least a 0 visit. I can't afford to keep doing this every 3 months for something that doesn't work long term.

So I tried to find the drops online. No luck yet.

Everything else we've tried hasn't worked. But we can't afford to keep putting a bandaid on the problem, without fixing it. :(

Have they done allergy testing?
Does the infection clear after the drops? What do you do with the ears between when they clear and the infection is back?

Edit: Allergies can pre-dispose pets to both bacterial and yeast infections in the skin and ears. It's something to look into if you haven't.

The Rascal Unit Hospital that I have been posting about, the reason why I know about them is 2 times a month they bring their Van to the local Humane Society and spay/neuter 100-130 in one day. There's 3 Vets, and 8 techs that come with them. I have an almost two year old cat that has 27 toes. Along with that defect he also only "dropped" one testicle. They had to cut his stomach open and do exploratory surgery to look for his other one. After doing this they came up empty and took him back to the hospital with them and had a tech bring him to us 2 days later. We took him back to the mobile van 2 months later so they could do a blood test to she if he had any of his male hormones still which he didn't. After all of that I paid $75 and I still thank Michelle every time I see her for going over and beyond for one cat. Her answer to me was, they can't help the fact that they were born, but as a vet I can make sure they live a happy and healthy life without bringing more un-homed babies into this crazy world. Michelle has even allowed me to watch a spay on a pregnant dog just so that I (as a volunteer there) could help explain what happens during surgery and how well they care for others pets. We've even had a woman bring in her 3 pits to be spayed them didn't ever come back to get them. In the town I live pits can not be adopted out other than to 501c3 rescue groups so Michelle came back on her own time to sign the dogs out (for medical reason) so that they wouldn't be "put down" and she found them responsible homes in a different county. Some Vets do have hearts and do care and are willing to go beyond what's expected. Others however I fear have the "How can we screw you today?" Outlook.

Have they done allergy testing?
Does the infection clear after the drops? What do you do with the ears between when they clear and the infection is back?

Sorry, I did add more to my post, but too late.

Yes, he's been tested for allergies and he's clear, no allergies. All the swabs have come back as a yeast infection. The infection gets better after the drops, and medication, but never completely clears up. Days after the drops are done, the infections is back.

We clean his ears daily with medication the vet prescribed to simply clean the ear. I'd have to find the bottle to tell you what it's called. There are also drops that we administer daily that are supposed to help. I have that bottle in front of me, but it leaked, and now the tab on it is not readable. It's a small bottle, like eye drops, has a red line on the bottom of the tab which is really the only thing still visible on it. :( It's daily maintenance. Doesn't work.

Lately we've been trying new things, since I long gave up on the drops the vet prescribed. We've tried UP honey, and that helped, but didn't cure it. We even tried monistat, it's for vaginal yeast infections in humans. Consulted with a vet about that before I tried it, and it was a go, so I figured it was worth a try. Figured it couldn't hurt. It didn't, and it did clear up, but the infection came back again. We clean his ears 3 times a day now, and they're bad. But I'm tired of going to the vet, paying hundreds of dollars just so they can prescribe the same drops that haven't helped for the last 5 years.

Right now we're using ear wipes, monistat, eyewash (my son had major diaper rashes caused by a yeast infection when he was a baby. The eyewash worked wonders), which we only started using today, so no results yet. We're applying UP honey, which helps, and a cream (not sure what it's called, I'd have to check)

We're doing our best to help him, but really, I just can't afford to keep going to the vet for more drops that don't do a thing. I'm so tired of seeing Chewy in pain because of his ears. I'd pay everything I have if I could just end it, and I've paid more than most to try to find a solution, but it's always the same crap that doesn't help. So I've taken matters into my own hands to help him.

I looked up that clinic, and it appears that they are a non-profit organization that heavily subsidizes costs. Unfortunately, not every clinic can do this..

Do you have holistic vets nearby? They may be able to give some insight.

It's so odd, yeast infections are often easy to take care of. We usually do something like Burows solution for a week or two, then every other day as maintenance. If it's something bad, we use something like Surolan, Otomax, Mometamax, or Aurizon, none of which should be used long-term.

Hopefully you find something that works.

The Rascal Unit Hospital that I have been posting about, the reason why I know about them is 2 times a month they bring their Van to the local Humane Society and spay/neuter 100-130 in one day. There's 3 Vets, and 8 techs that come with them. I have an almost two year old cat that has 27 toes. Along with that defect he also only "dropped" one testicle. They had to cut his stomach open and do exploratory surgery to look for his other one. After doing this they came up empty and took him back to the hospital with them and had a tech bring him to us 2 days later. We took him back to the mobile van 2 months later so they could do a blood test to she if he had any of his male hormones still which he didn't. After all of that I paid and I still thank Michelle every time I see her for going over and beyond for one cat. Her answer to me was, they can't help the fact that they were born, but as a vet I can make sure they live a happy and healthy life without bringing more un-homed babies into this crazy world. Michelle has even allowed me to watch a spay on a pregnant dog just so that I (as a volunteer there) could help explain what happens during surgery and how well they care for others pets. We've even had a woman bring in her 3 pits to be spayed them didn't ever come back to get them. In the town I live pits can not be adopted out other than to 501c3 rescue groups so Michelle came back on her own time to sign the dogs out (for medical reason) so that they wouldn't be "put down" and she found them responsible homes in a different county. Some Vets do have hearts and do care and are willing to go beyond what's expected. Others however I fear have the "How can we screw you today?" Outlook.

Love this post.

It's not that I haven't met vet that's really care. I have. One.

The rest, it's "Your dog has a yeast infection, but spend a few hundred more dollars to do a swab which we know will show as a yeast infection because that's what it is, do an allergy test for a few hundred, because you care and you'll do it, and we want the money. Oh, guess what, it's the same thing as last time, here are the same drops. That will be 0. See you soon".

Why even bother? The only time a vet visit has actually helped one of my pets, was with the one vet we found with Silver, my poodle. I got him when I was 11, he died when I was 27! I'm 43 now! I haven't found a vet that even comes close since then. I've spent thousands, probably enough to buy a new house, on tests that never give a diagnosis, on meds that don't help, on appointments with more tests I can't afford that don't help, on putting my animals down after hundreds of dollars in tests that didn't help, because there's nothing else I can do.

I'm just done. If one of those vets had actually helped any of my animals, then maybe I wouldn't care about spending all the money. I'm mad because I did spend the money, and all but one of those animals died anyway, after thousands in vet bills. I get it, you can't diagnose everything, but once would be nice. Save one of my pets, that's all I'm asking for. Why should I trust them when they've never saved even one, or even helped them? Just a bit of help would make it worth it.

Love this post.

It's not that I haven't met vet that's really care. I have. One.

The rest, it's "Your dog has a yeast infection, but spend a few hundred more dollars to do a swab which we know will show as a yeast infection because that's what it is, do an allergy test for a few hundred, because you care and you'll do it, and we want the money. Oh, guess what, it's the same thing as last time, here are the same drops. That will be 0. See you soon".

Why even bother? The only time a vet visit has actually helped one of my pets, was with the one vet we found with Silver, my poodle. I got him when I was 11, he died when I was 27! I'm 43 now! I haven't found a vet that even comes close since then. I've spent thousands, probably enough to buy a new house, on tests that never give a diagnosis, on meds that don't help, on appointments with more tests I can't afford that don't help, on putting my animals down after hundreds of dollars in tests that didn't help, because there's nothing else I can do.

I'm just done. If one of those vets had actually helped any of my animals, then maybe I wouldn't care about spending all the money. I'm mad because I did spend the money, and all but one of those animals died anyway, after thousands in vet bills. I get it, you can't diagnose everything, but once would be nice. Save one of my pets, that's all I'm asking for. Why should I trust them when they've never saved even one, or even helped them? Just a bit of help would make it worth it.

I'm wondering if Chewy's problem lies a little deeper, in the middle ear or perhaps has had a ruptured ear drum, when you consider the anatomy of the ear.

I'm talking about pet owners. If one vet charges $370 for a spay, and another, in the same town, charges $130, then something is obviously wrong.

Exactly. Something is obviously wrong with the pet owner for not doing his/her research.

WHY are you with the same vet, Alty?

Vet care is expensive... which is why I urge people to do yearly blood work (Catch things early) and don't wait until payday two weeks after initial symptoms appear before you take your pet to the vet.

SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS. Believe it or not, a lot of financial heartache can be saved by spaying or neutering at an early age. An older pet came in not too long ago with pyometra. The dog died from it and the people are looking at a $500 bill with no dog to show for it. But if they were to have gotten her spayed at 2-3 yrs (or younger) the bill would have never been created in the first place.

Vaccinations, I think, are a personal preference and should be a choice once the dog hits 3yrs of age. Sorry, but you cannot tell me that a dogs immune system is crappier than ours. Everyone I know who has had a rabies vaccine still has immunity 10-15 years later, yet our dogs need vaccinated every 2-3yrs. Rabies and rattlesnake is the only vaccine I keep up with. Parvo/distemper.. my dogs are considered low risk and I just don't vaccinate. So do your own research and understand the consequence of either vaccinating or not vaccinating and live with the choice.

The vet I work for his not rich by any means. She has fair prices. However, in dealing with the rescue, people get their dogs neutered for $300+. These are "big city" vets and I feel as if they gouge and take money for no reason.

Another way of keeping the price down... GO TO AN ACTUAL VET! Not Banfeild. You're not saving money.. you're spending money on tests that are unnecessary for your appointment at that time.

Bottom line is, pets cost money, the same way kids cost money. Kids need to eat, and they need quality food. Same as dogs and cats. And it is so unfortunate that people think that a free dog is just a free animal. The only way this is going to change is with public education on animals and their care. And for the 100 people that blow you off and think you're a b---- for telling them that dogs cost money, at least 1 or 2 people will rethink their choices and make a right choice!

Puppies need vaccines. Kittens need vaccines. Don't let your dog get into things and allowing animals to live outside 100% of the time doesn't give you the opportunity to catch sicknesses early so that they are cheap (for the most part).

Pet insurance is also an option. Its not like our insurance, but it does help. People need to be educated about pet insurance. Everyone has a couple of 100 bucks stashed away some where.. wouldn't it be nice to get 80% of that money back? PET insurance will do that for you.

My animals have cost me so much money this year, medically, that its almost not right. But I found the money and paid for it. And in working with clients, most of them will find the money if there is a positive outlook for their pet.

But yes... medical care for our pets is not cheap. I wish it was.. but honestly, you get what you pay for. You pay for a cheap vet, you leave unhappy. You pay for a relatively expensive vet, you leave happy. Kind of strange, huh?

WHY are you with the same vet, Alty?

That vet clinic is the best I've found in and around my area. I'd be willing to go further out, but as of yet I haven't found anyone better, which is probably why I'm so bitter. They haven't helped a single one of our animals, I've just spent thousands after thousands to get medication that does nothing, only to have the same issue over and over again, or to lose my pet completely because they didn't have answers even after all the tests they could possibly perform.

But they're the best I've been able to find. The rest are either more expensive, or the same cost and same results. :(

I have the same problem with Xander and his ears. All I can do is clean them continuously.

The problem, if I may play Devils Advocate, is that a pet owner should research all costs of owning whatever pet they choose. This includes vet care and the high costs should there be an emergency. I'm sorry to say, but if it doesn't fit into the family budget, the family should not own a pet.

Unlike a child, a pet is a choice. Not all pregnancies are choices, but having a pet is a choice and with it goes along the costs.

I don't mean to sound rude, and I would die if I had to lose any of the 3 dogs I have left at home. However, when the next one crosses over, which shouldn't be too long from now, I won't be getting another one because it's just not affordable.

I've never lived without pets, but the roof over my children's head, and food in their mouth comes first.

I don't mean to sound rude, and I would die if I had to lose any of the 3 dogs I have left at home. However, when the next one crosses over, which shouldn't be too long from now, I won't be getting another one because it's just not affordable.

J, please don't be mad when I say this, and feel free to correct me, but you've been complaining about your finances for years. I get it, I have too. But I've never said that I wouldn't get another pet because they're not affordable. We make due, they get the care they need, and my family doesn't suffer because of it. They have food on the table, a roof over their head, and all the things you mentioned. Plus we have our animals.

Having said that, the last dog you got, you got after we got Rascal, if I remember correctly. You weren't any better off financially then, than you are now, from what you've posted. So how can you chastise others for getting a pet they can't afford, when it's pretty clear you did the same thing? Heck, you even said you wouldn't get another after one of the 3 dogs passes, because you can't afford it. You couldn't afford it then and you still did it.

I think everyone agrees that a roof over our children's heads, and food in their mouths, come first. But saying you should budget for a pet and all possible emergencies and the cost thereof, that's like saying, in the US, if you have a child, budget for that child having cancer. If you don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank, don't have a child. If you can't afford every emergency that could come along, walk away.

That's just not reasonable.

I'm not chastising anyone. Just making an observation. However, I DO have pet insurance through my work. I also have a $2,000 emergency fund put aside for anything we might need. Whether it be tires for the car or a vet visit. We don't touch that money unless there is an emergency.

One thing I have on my side is that my vet is a hunter and my husband is a gunsmith. They tend to either trade services or discount each others services. When Dixie get's fixed it will either be free or cost us 50% less usual costs depending on if the vet has any gunsmithing needs.

You are reading the rest wrong. Owning a pet is a choice. One that you must budget for. While many times children are a choice too, many times they are not. There is a HARRUGE difference there.

While our beloved Mick will be leaving us soon, how soon I'm not sure, and that will leave us with 2 dogs rather than the 4 we are used to. However, with the current economy and the changes in the work-force due to this new forced health care insurance, we won't be replacing Mick even though I have pet insurance and get a discount at the vet. It's just not feasible right now. Does that break my heart? Sure it does. Of course it does. However, once she is gone, I can't afford another pet, therefore we won't be getting one. And I mean no disrespect, but I know where my priorities lie, and they don't lie with replacing the dear dog, that is lying on my feet as I type, once she passes.

When Kimmie had parvo, we paid $1,500 to get her healthy again. She spent a week in the hospital with IVs for medication and hydration. I can't imagine how much that would have been without our discount or the pet insurance.

The fact remains that being a responsible pet owner means doing the research into veterinary care and it's costs as well as all other costs that go into being a pet owner. If it doesn't work into your budget, then you can't own one. Again, owning a pet is a choice. A choice one should be prepared for at all costs.

Oh, and you are reading into this all wrong. You are wearing your heart on your sleeve. I'm not talking about you personally, I'm talking about people in general.

When I first read this thread I thought Alty was talking about vets and pet owners in general. I, in no way, was intending for her to take this personally.

Since this has turned personal, not generic as it began, I will be backing out of this conversation completely before friendships are put in jeopardy.

I'd like to go back to ear infections, which is what I've been dealing with for years now. My JRT isn't just short, she's got the shortest legs I've ever seen on a JRT. My last dog, a golden, never had an ear infection. Ergo, I think it has something to do with being close to the ground, although I'm not saying that's the case with all ear infections. Cleaning her ears is more work now that her ears are all thick and crinkly from hematomas.
It was costing me $140 for each swab and exam and treatment. I see the beagle was costing more. A vet 'exam' is obligatory these days, even if the dog was just there the month before, and even if it's cursory. Taking a page from the MD book.

What is mainly bothering me about ear infections is the wide variety of information floating around about them, both on the net and among vets! One vet told me peroxide, another said no, oil. Some say dark brown means one thing, some say puppies only get one not the other, And so on. AND if yeast in humans is treatable with OTC products, why can't we buy products for yeast in dog ears? And if the infections keep coming back, why isn't there more information about why? We just keep going back for more tests, more drugs. Why wasn't I warned about ear shaking and hematomas? One vet pressed the blood out (when it was new) and said if it came back he'd do surgery, and of course it came back - wouldn't it come back if he did surgery, because of still shaking?

With hematomas, the surgery generally fixes it because of the way they compress the ear. But nothing is ever guaranteed, of course. Some vets use oral steroids to take care of hematomas.

On the exam note - yep! When people learned they could sue vets, exams started becoming more regular. If s dog comes in for say, an ear infection and the vet just dispenses medication without an exam, and it turns out the dogs ear drum is ruptured, they can get sued. Same with an eye infection, if they dispense eye meds without an exam and the dog has an ulcer, if the eye then melts because the wrong meds were used, the vet can be sued.
Vets are trying to get away from Rabies clinics too, because if a vet gives a dog a vaccine without an exam and the dog was actually unwell (but a temperature was never taken because there was no exam) and the pet dies, they could be sued.
It's not even just sue-happy people. The regulating body of the veterinarians are requiring these exams, and the vets risk losing their license, and therefore their job, if they are caught.
It's generally not the vet trying to be unreasonable and money-grubbing. It's because he fears the powers that be, that will take away his job if they catch wind.

That was very informative, thanks, Sariss.

I read an interesting book about health issues and dog food being related to skin infections (ear infections). And if you think about it, why wouldn't the two be related.

I don't know what you guys are feeding your dogs, but quality food is a must in keeping your pets in optimum health. You are what you eat, if the pet is eating, lets say Ol' Roy, than you're going to have issues at some point. The food is not quality and the ingredient are not quality either.

This book was centered around the raw diet and all of its benefits, and I have a tendency to agree with it. I'm not pushing to feed raw, but I just think its some food for thought. Maybe a diet change, one with no grains and possibly one source of protein, is an option for dogs with chronic ear infections.

Also, anatomy plays a huge part. Sometimes dogs are just not built right. Maybe these dogs with chronic ear problems have very narrow ear canals causing debris to be stuck down there. In which case, staying on top of ear flushing and cleaning will greatly benefit you.

Just because the dog isn't itching at its sides doesn't mean the dog isn't having an allergy to something. Ears are a dark and moist place, where yeast and bacteria love to live! All it takes is slight irritating and couple of shakes or itches and, ta-da! Ear infection!

And J, I agree with you! I didn't read everything you wrote, but the few things I did read I do agree with.

Pets are a choice. And its sad that so many people decide to pick up these free puppies and kittens, or pay (at the most) $50 for them and expect them to never get sick or need medical attention.

Pets are a luxury, they are not a necessity. Just like a cell phone, they are a luxury. People think that they need a dog or cat because they see others, who really enjoy their pets, and want that for themselves. They don't think about vaccines, surgeries or maintenance to keep them healthy.

When I first read this thread I thought Alty was talking about vets and pet owners in general. I, in no way, was intending for her to take this personally.

Since this has turned personal, not generic as it began, I will be backing out of this conversation completely before friendships are put in jeopardy.

J, I apologize. I did take your post personally, and after reading it again, I realize that you didn't mean it that way. This is about vets and pet owners in general. Sadly, sometimes general conversations can become personal. You know how it is.

Please don't feel you need to back out of this thread. Your opinion is important, and just as valid as anyone's. Our friendship isn't in jeopardy just because we may not agree on certain things.

(((hugs)))

And J, I agree with you! I didn't read everything you wrote, but the few things I did read I do agree with.

Pets are a choice. And its sad that so many people decide to pick up these free puppies and kittens, or pay (at the most) for them and expect them to never get sick or need medical attention.

Pets are a luxury, they are not a necessity. Just like a cell phone, they are a luxury. People think that they need a dog or cat because they see others, who really enjoy their pets, and want that for themselves. They don't think about vaccines, surgeries or maintenance to keep them healthy.

I do agree that pets are a choice. I chose to rescue or adopt every single one of my pets, and at the time of each purchase we had the money to afford their care. My dogs have never gone without their shots, or any medical care they need. Nor have my rabbits. I will admit that if one of the gerbils gets sick, it's unlikely that I'm going to go to the vet. I'll do my best to treat at home, but the vet in my area really knows nothing about rodents. Same with the fish. If one gets sick, I'll do my best, but I'm not going to call a vet. The birds, they would get vet treatment. So far (knock on wood) they've never gotten sick.

Here's my issue. Yes, pets are a choice, and we did a lot of research for every pet we've gotten (minus the gerbils, I will admit those were an impulse buy. Or a parental choice. Jared had the money, he bought them, I allowed it. But as soon as we got home I researched the heck out of them). For every pet we've gotten we did the math for their care, and put money aside. Then times got tough. Very tough. It fluctuates. It seems that every time we get a pet we're okay, and then shortly after something happens and we're not okay anymore. Story of our lives.

That's why I mentioned that maybe only the rich can afford pets. Hattie, if you lost your job tomorrow, and couldn't find work again right away, could you afford your pets? Could anyone on this site?

When I take on a pet, it's a lifelong commitment. I don't believe in re-homing, passing a dog from one place to the next. Having said that, if one of my dogs were extremely ill and I couldn't afford the vet care, I would consider giving my dog up to the humane society hoping they'd be able to help my dog. I love my pets enough to let them go if it's for their best interest. But I've thought about this a lot lately. I've told people on this site that if they can't afford vet care, they should consider giving the dog to someone that can. But who would take a sick dog? The humane society would likely just euthanize the dog if the issue was too big. So wouldn't the dog be better off staying with me, with someone that loves him?

The economy sucks right now, and vet care isn't cheap. I don't know many people that have a few months worth of pay saved up just in case there's an emergency, and in my neck of the woods, an emergency can cost upwards of $7,000. That's what my neighbor spent on her cat when he had to have surgery. This was around 10 years ago, so you know the price has gone up. Her cat was given a 20% chance to live, had to spend 3 months at the clinic, and the cost was over $7,000. He survived. A few years later he had the same issue, another surgery, another $7,000. He died a few years ago. She used to say that she had the most expensive cat in the world.

Another friend got a hamster at a pet store. She'd had him for less than 24 hours when she noticed he was sick. She was already attached. She took him to the vet. I don't remember what condition he had, but it required daily medication. That medication cost her $250 a month, for a hamster!

I don't know many people who could afford that sort of treatment for their pets.

Unfortunately I know too many people that can afford outlandish vet bills. But I see where you are going.

It bothers me to no end, though, when we have clients that come in and deny certain care due to money, yet will turn around and get another puppy or kitten. If you cannot afford the first pet, than don't get a second, third or fourth. I guess that's the side of this debate that I'm talking about.

Things happen, people lose their jobs, get their paychecks cut or get sick themselves and have to pay their own medical costs. I think life's unexpected surprises should be in a different category than people who straight up don't have enough money to even feed themselves.

In my little city, we have 4 big vet hospitals. The main ones are the one I work at, a cheap, cheap vet hospital (Lots of complaints coming from that place) and an expensive, state of the art hospital. I realize that not everyone has the ability to pick and chose, but for those that do, know which place offers what. If I were in a pinch and needed a pet looked at right now, and my vet was not available or too expensive, I'd use that cheap vet. I doubt I'd ever step foot into the expensive place. Not only is the head doctor a jerk, but their medicine isn't nearly as good as the place I work at or the 3rd vet office who is very similar to the one I work for. I hope that made sense.

Life happens, I get that. And if you are in the position to put aside $2g in a rainy day account, more power to you. But we all know that when it rains, it pours. What would you do if your car broke down and cost up to $2g and the dog broke its leg? Than what? The pet is a living creature that is in pain, but in order to get the pet to the hospital, you'll need your car. Most of us will see a way around this dilemma, but 90% of the others will just simply sit down and claim they have no money period for either.

Exotic pets... whether it's a bird, hamster or an expensive Koi fish, you need to know what your veterinary budget is. Be realistic. Don't expect to spend $100 bucks on a sick Koi fish. Specialty vets are expensive.. and Koi fish are a specialty pet.

But once again, keeping our pets healthy without medical intervention should be a priority. Everyone on this site knows not to put an 8wk old puppy on the ground in a dog park. But other people think nothing of it and than cannot afford parvo treatment. it's the stupidity of owners that bothers me. I'm not saying that they should read up on every possible disease that dogs can catch, but be smart about some of the more common ones, like Parvo, and how to avoid it. Is it a 100% guarantee that the puppy won't get it because you dip your shoes in bleach before entering the home? No. But it lessens the chance by a lot.

Which is why I come back to PUBLIC EDUCATION. That is what this site is all about and I think we all do a pretty good job. But, we are only touching such a small percent of people that its not being as effective as it should or could be. I tell people at work all the time with puppies, don't put them on the ground. Most listen, even more don't. Its just a never ending battle.

I live in miniscule-town, Nova Scotia, Canada. I moved here from top-dollar city in Ontario, Canada. I pay, on average, about 40% more for most veterinary care that I received in Ontario from a very exclusive vet in a very exclusive area who was an ortho-specialist (among other things.) In fact, it cost me more to get 1 dog spayed here than it cost me to have 3 cats spayed (one of them with a very bad heart condition who needed special treatment & care during her surgery) AND one very large dog neutered.

I also don't get it. We have one of the lowest minimum wages in the country. Rents, property taxes and property ownership is at least 1/3 of what it is in comparable towns in most provinces. It is my understanding that we have lower fees for veterinary college here and my vet has been practicing for 30 years (don't know why she hasn't got it down right yet! ** poor joke **) so her mortgage on her two clinics and her education MUST be paid off by now!

I worked as a vet tech for many, many years and my job including purchasing, accounts payable/receivable, etc. so I know the costs of drugs, equipment and the like. There is just NO excuse for the costs involved here. In addition, our population has a very high amount of low income seniors and unemployed people. Hmmmm... could this be the McDonald's/Walmart syndrome? (Open up shop where the low income people live so you end up making lots of money!)

I will say this... I voiced my opinion in a well-written, thoughtful letter backing up my figures, etc. and the clinic has since started to include things such as nails, ear cleaning, check for fleas, etc. for FREE with their office visits AND now offer me a "quantity discount" because I have 3 dogs, 3 cats and 20 to 70 chickens. I think we need to be a lot "squeakier" as far as wheels go.

Finally, I wanted to make a suggestion regarding the yeast infection in the dogs ears. I have a Chocolate Lab who had ongoing ear issues when he was younger. (He loves water, of course.) I also have a Golden Retriever who is a little prone to allergies when ingesting the proverbial chicken-** after all the breeding hens are turned loose after their productive times. Our 3rd dog is part Golden and part Irish Setter... yep, another water lover. Anyhow, I would suggest cutting back on PROTEINS (not what most people think) and adding a bit of cider vinegar into your dogs drinking water. Stop cleaning the ears daily... you are likely irritating them and opening them up for yeasts. Clean the visible area of the ears LIGHTLY with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution every 2 weeks to start, gradually reducing to every 4 weeks. Again, many people won't agree, but I would strongly recommend (ONLY if the problem continues) using a bit of alcohol on a swab to clean the ears once a month. It will sting a bit if there is irritation, but it will kill any bacteria and help to dry the outer ear area well. I had tried everything with our Chocolate Lab and just decided to go back to the basics with him and we never have ear problems with any of our fur-kids... so good luck!

Hugs, Didi

Thanks for all that grammadidi.
Re the ears again, if I don't clean my dog's ears daily, she can't even walk straight, and scratches much too much, and shakes her head, and the gunk builds up in there quickly.

Thanks for all that grammadidi.
Re the ears again, if I don't clean my dog's ears daily, she can't even walk straight, and scratches much too much, and shakes her head, and the gunk builds up in there quickly.

I have the same issue Joy, with our beagle. I do a deep clean every single day. I bought a cleaning solution from the vet, cost a pretty penny. You literally squirt the liquid in his ear, rub the base of his ear to make sure the liquid gets right into the ear. Then you clean it out with a cotton ball. We also put cream on his ear 3 times a day. I've also tried UP honey, and that helped a lot. We put it in his ear, and we give him some to eat. UP honey is a natural healer. I would highly recommend trying it.

On a side note, my friend's cat, the one I was talking about in another post, passed away last night. She went into respiratory distress at around 2:30am. All our friend could do was try to perform CPR, but she didn't make it. :(

How sad :(

What was wrong with the kitty?

How sad :(

What was wrong with the kitty?

They said it was an infection. She hadn't eaten regularly for quite some time. He took her to the emergency vet because it was Thanksgiving weekend last weekend. They put her on intravenous, did an ultrasound, an x-ray, and other tests. They said her liver was enlarged, but no cancer. They figured the enlarged liver was due to her not eating. They kept her overnight, then sent her home.

The next day my friend took her to his regular vet. They ran the same tests as the emergency vet, found that her liver was enlarged. They prescribed 2 meds (don't know what, didn't ask) and 6 forced feedings a day, which my friend was doing.

Last night she just flopped, wasn't breathing. He tried CPR, no time to rush her to a vet. She passed away in his arms.

That's very sad, Alty. I also lost our Chocolate Lab the other night. He just cried out a bit, stiffened up and stopped breathing within 20 or 30 seconds. I cried and talked to him, saying, "Oh Browni, I'm so sorry." and he took a deep breath, wagged his tail twice and was gone. Apparently he had a heart attack. :( We lost our Bernese Mountain Dog to an inoperable mast cell tumour that spread to his organs and brain a year ago, and now my "Chocolate Moose". It's tough losing a part of you. My thoughts and prayers are with your friend.

Hugs, Didi

That's very sad, Alty. I also lost our Chocolate Lab the other night. He just cried out a bit, stiffened up and stopped breathing within 20 or 30 seconds. I cried and talked to him, saying, "Oh Browni, I'm so sorry." and he took a deep breath, wagged his tail twice and was gone. Apparently he had a heart attack. :( We lost our Bernese Mountain Dog to an inoperable mast cell tumour that spread to his organs and brain a year ago, and now my "Chocolate Moose". It's tough losing a part of you. My thoughts and prayers are with your friend.

Hugs, Didi

I'm so very sorry to hear that Didi. My thoughts are with you and your family. It's always hard to lose a member of the family, and that's what pets are, they're family. My heart goes out to you.

I am so sorry to hear Didi. I agree it is the hardest part of having pets, losing them. May your memories of them help you through the next while as you grieve. I have posted this lots for others that have lost pets, and hope it helps you as well. It is called the Rainbow Bridge.
The Rainbow Bridge (http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html)

It is called the Rainbow Bridge.
The Rainbow Bridge (http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html)
I cry every time I read that. But there's hope there too.

I cry too but tears of joy. Let me explain as it sounds odd. My cat had numerous health issues. He lived in a cone all of his life due to not being able to control his allergies. He would scratch so much he would need pain meds and antibiotics. Pony was on so many medicines to try to control his allergies. We made the painful decision as he was not happy, he was in pain, and he had no life really with the cone.
I read that and I picture him running free, no medication, no cone, no diet restrictions. He is playing and healthy and happy. I picture pets getting along and I see Pony welcoming pets of my friends. I see that they know each other somehow. That is how I cope and I am fine with me believing that.
There is a Rainbow Bridge poem for animal rescuers, and fosters. That one makes me cry and gives me a funny feeling in my chest. I can't explain it but it affects me more.

I cry too but tears of joy.
I understand. And if my beloved cat Thomas Jefferson isn't waiting for me on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, I don't want to cross it myself.

I understand. And if my beloved cat Thomas Jefferson isn't waiting for me on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, I don't want to cross it myself.

I think all pet parents feel that way. When Indy and Jasper passed the only comfort I had was that I knew that my parents were waiting for them. My parents raised Indy the first year of his life. My dad didn't want to give him back to us when we finally bought a house and could have Indy with us full time. He kept making excuses (you need to finish the backyard. Okay, that's done, now you need a fence. Okay, that's done. You know maybe Indy should stay with us, you can get another dog. My mom finally told him "Stefan, this entire year they've come every weekend to take him, and come during the week to see him. He hears their car and runs to the door. He knows who he belongs to. He loves us, but he's their dog".

Indy was at every Christmas dinner, every Sunday night dinner, stayed with my parents when I had Jared, and whenever we went out. One time my parents hosted Christmas dinner for our family. We left Indy at home because we thought it would be too much to have a huge lab walking around with all those people. We got there, (this was before Jared was born) and the first thing my dad said "Where's Indy? Why didn't you bring Indy? He's part of the family too. Go get him". Rod went back to get Indy.

So I know that Indy is with my parents, and they finally get to have him, and care for him, until I get there. Jasper too, even though my parents never got to meet Jasper.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words re: my recent loss. I didn't mean to hi-jack the thread... it just came out. Rainbow Bridge is something I chose to believe in many, many years ago and now I have many faithful companions waiting there for me.

By the way, loved your post about Indy, Alty. That's exactly the way it should be! :)

Hugs, Didi

Thanks to everyone for their kind words re: my recent loss. I didn't mean to hi-jack the thread... it just came out. Rainbow Bridge is something I chose to believe in many, many years ago and now I have many faithful companions waiting there for me.

By the way, loved your post about Indy, Alty. That's exactly the way it should be! :)

Hugs, Didi

It's my thread, and I say that you didn't hijack it at all. :)

Losing a family member is never easy. I hope that you know we're all here for support if you need it. Start a thread about your pet, tell us all about him, so we can get to know him like you knew him. Post pictures, cry if you need to, laugh when you remember the many great memories I'm sure you have.

A dogs life is so short. George Carlin once said "Life is a series of dogs". It's so true. Every time you get a puppy you know that you'll likely outlive him. You enjoy every moment, because they're only with you for a short time. I've lost many fur babies, and each time it rips my heart out. But I do it again, knowing that it will end the same way, and that one day I'll be mourning them. The joy that I have with them is definitely worth the risk to my heart.

Hugs to you Didi. We're here if you need us.