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#1
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when is enough, enough
I know most here will condemn me for suggesting it but I just can't
keep throwing money away on our cat Andy. In summer 2002 Andy was diagnosed with diabetes. The total costs in two months was $1,600.00. The vet still wanted us to bring him in every two weeks at $200.00 a crack for day long blood sugar tests. This would end when they determined the insulin level was right. However other costs such as expensive food, and the problem of having other cats that try to eat this expensive food. One good thing Andy is so overwieght he cannot get up to the other cats food dish. When he wants to eat he incesantly meows until we come and pick him up and put him on a counter and open the container with his food. Another thing is the insulin, a minor cost in the sceme of things. I accepted this money loss, because I do feel a commitment to our animals. However, this past May a urinary tract infection and blockage occurred. That ended up costing us another $1,200.00. The vet then said she cannot guranty this won't happen again frequently. Before we left the vet they said we were over due for the diabetes screening test, and should do one as soon as Andy revovers fully. We were going to call the vet Monday to schedule that test. It is Saturday night at 11:00 I catch Andy trying to pee on the carpet. (another blockage) I know we should rush out to the emergency vet, but I decided to wait until morning (it is now almost 1:00am) and see what the night brings. He may well be dead, have I not done more than most? am I evil? When is the point when enough is enough? |
#3
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in article ,
at wrote on 7/13/03 10:03 AM: Caliban wrote: For me, I'd start thinking about (1) how much Andy was suffering Andy's suffering is because of an incompetent vet and if changes are made he can have a good quality of life. I have already emailed the OP regarding this. (2) how many cats I could save down at the shelter with the money I was expending on a current but sadly very sick cat. This is really despicable of you to consider a cat disposable and unworthy of care because of a money issue, especially considering the circumstances the OP described which make it clear that the vet has failed miserably in helping the OP manage his cat's diabetes and UTI's. Part of the responsibility of having a pet is dealing with the cost of health care. Your logic is flawed because there is NO guarantee that the "shelter" cats wouldn't end up developing serious health issues that require even greater cost. I also doubt that the OP would be interested in adopting all those shelter cats that the cost of caring for his diabetic cat might pay for. This cat needs a new vet and a better plan to manage his diabetes, not death. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 I agree with this post. Karen |
#4
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wrote
Caliban wrote: snip (2) how many cats I could save down at the shelter with the money I was expending on a current but sadly very sick cat. This is really despicable of you to consider a cat disposable and unworthy of care because of a money issue, Do you spend all your money saving cats? If not, your hypocrisy is despicable. I think it's important to face the reality that there are very real financial limits to how much good a person can do. especially considering the circumstances the OP described which make it clear that the vet has failed miserably in helping the OP manage his cat's diabetes and UTI's. You've never seen this cat. No one can know from this kind of distance whether the vet has failed miserably or not. I think it's awful that you would slander a perfect stranger (this vet) with hardly any relevant facts at all If you have a problem with having limits to how much one can spend to save a cat's life, then welcome to the real world. |
#5
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Caliban wrote:
Do you spend all your money saving cats? Minus the rent, car payment, and occasional treat for myself, yes. If not, your hypocrisy is despicable. No hypocrisy here. I think it's important to face the reality that there are very real financial limits to how much good a person can do. I don't disagree, but what you seemed to have failed to notice (or maybe you just didn't because of lack of experience) is that there are a lot of things in this situation that should be different and can result in eliminating a lot of cost. especially considering the circumstances the OP described which make it clear that the vet has failed miserably in helping the OP manage his cat's diabetes and UTI's. You've never seen this cat. No one can know from this kind of distance whether the vet has failed miserably or not. A vet that would allow a cat that has already suffered a UTI and blockage to remain on a dry food diet has FAILED the cat. A vet that did not set up a plan for an OBESE diabetic cat to lose weight, and who has not offered the client any help with learning to monitor blood sugar levels at home and instead wants $200 every few weeks to do it in the clinic has FAILED the cat. The cost the OP cited is astronomical and it is clear that this vet is soaking him for a lot of unnecessary things. I think it's awful that you would slander a perfect stranger (this vet) with hardly any relevant facts at all There was no slander and there were enough relevant facts for me to know that the OP needs a better vet. If you have a problem with having limits to how much one can spend to save a cat's life, then welcome to the real world. I don't have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is people recommending giving up on a cat that has very treatable issues that don't necessarily require a huge financial sacrifice. The extensive costs incurred in this situation are directly related to the vet's failure to properly treat, not the cat, and a lot of it could have been avoided. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#6
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Caliban wrote:
Do you spend all your money saving cats? Minus the rent, car payment, and occasional treat for myself, yes. If not, your hypocrisy is despicable. No hypocrisy here. I think it's important to face the reality that there are very real financial limits to how much good a person can do. I don't disagree, but what you seemed to have failed to notice (or maybe you just didn't because of lack of experience) is that there are a lot of things in this situation that should be different and can result in eliminating a lot of cost. especially considering the circumstances the OP described which make it clear that the vet has failed miserably in helping the OP manage his cat's diabetes and UTI's. You've never seen this cat. No one can know from this kind of distance whether the vet has failed miserably or not. A vet that would allow a cat that has already suffered a UTI and blockage to remain on a dry food diet has FAILED the cat. A vet that did not set up a plan for an OBESE diabetic cat to lose weight, and who has not offered the client any help with learning to monitor blood sugar levels at home and instead wants $200 every few weeks to do it in the clinic has FAILED the cat. The cost the OP cited is astronomical and it is clear that this vet is soaking him for a lot of unnecessary things. I think it's awful that you would slander a perfect stranger (this vet) with hardly any relevant facts at all There was no slander and there were enough relevant facts for me to know that the OP needs a better vet. If you have a problem with having limits to how much one can spend to save a cat's life, then welcome to the real world. I don't have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is people recommending giving up on a cat that has very treatable issues that don't necessarily require a huge financial sacrifice. The extensive costs incurred in this situation are directly related to the vet's failure to properly treat, not the cat, and a lot of it could have been avoided. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#7
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Caliban wrote:
I think it's important to face the reality that there are very real financial limits to how much good a person can do. And they should do good with the cats they already own first. After all they took them in so those cats are their responsibility. I honestly think if we could get a lot more people to think that way we'd have less of a problem homing cats. A lot of times the idea of them being disposable and you can just get another cat cheaper helps with people just giving cats back to the shelter. A pet is a responsibility for life, not just a money figure. If you have a problem with having limits to how much one can spend to save a cat's life, then welcome to the real world. I understand that sometimes people can't afford care or even the consideration of what life left the cat has and how good it would be compared to how much cost it would be to try to give that amount/quality of life (for example, "I don't have much money. This cat is going to cost me 400 dollars to maybe save her/him, no guarentee, and she's 17 years old."). It sux bigtime, but I can understand it. Sometimes the money just isn't there. But, I don't suscribe to the because you can save this many cats with that money is justification to just put the cat to sleep. That's a different arguement entirely. That's not I can't afford the care, that is, the cat is disposable and I can just get another one (or two or three). Your first responsibility is with the cat you took in for care, not other cats you haven't agreed to care for yet. That should be what is focused on, not how many other cats could be adopted with the money. Alice -- The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation. People just aren't worth very much any more, and they know it. Makes 'em testy. ...Bev |\ _,,,---,,_ Tigress /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress |,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'-' '---''(_/--' `-'\_) Cat by Felix Lee. |
#8
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Caliban wrote:
I think it's important to face the reality that there are very real financial limits to how much good a person can do. And they should do good with the cats they already own first. After all they took them in so those cats are their responsibility. I honestly think if we could get a lot more people to think that way we'd have less of a problem homing cats. A lot of times the idea of them being disposable and you can just get another cat cheaper helps with people just giving cats back to the shelter. A pet is a responsibility for life, not just a money figure. If you have a problem with having limits to how much one can spend to save a cat's life, then welcome to the real world. I understand that sometimes people can't afford care or even the consideration of what life left the cat has and how good it would be compared to how much cost it would be to try to give that amount/quality of life (for example, "I don't have much money. This cat is going to cost me 400 dollars to maybe save her/him, no guarentee, and she's 17 years old."). It sux bigtime, but I can understand it. Sometimes the money just isn't there. But, I don't suscribe to the because you can save this many cats with that money is justification to just put the cat to sleep. That's a different arguement entirely. That's not I can't afford the care, that is, the cat is disposable and I can just get another one (or two or three). Your first responsibility is with the cat you took in for care, not other cats you haven't agreed to care for yet. That should be what is focused on, not how many other cats could be adopted with the money. Alice -- The root cause of problems is simple overpopulation. People just aren't worth very much any more, and they know it. Makes 'em testy. ...Bev |\ _,,,---,,_ Tigress /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ http://havoc.gtf.gatech.edu/tigress |,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'-' '---''(_/--' `-'\_) Cat by Felix Lee. |
#9
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wrote
Caliban wrote: snip (2) how many cats I could save down at the shelter with the money I was expending on a current but sadly very sick cat. This is really despicable of you to consider a cat disposable and unworthy of care because of a money issue, Do you spend all your money saving cats? If not, your hypocrisy is despicable. I think it's important to face the reality that there are very real financial limits to how much good a person can do. especially considering the circumstances the OP described which make it clear that the vet has failed miserably in helping the OP manage his cat's diabetes and UTI's. You've never seen this cat. No one can know from this kind of distance whether the vet has failed miserably or not. I think it's awful that you would slander a perfect stranger (this vet) with hardly any relevant facts at all If you have a problem with having limits to how much one can spend to save a cat's life, then welcome to the real world. |
#10
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Karen wrote:
The costs are out of bounds. Also for the blockage. My cat had a blockage and after three days of treatment it was more like 400 dollars (and that was an emergency vet, not my regular) not 1200. The OP's vet is exhorbitant. I totally agree. I have had two instances in the last year dealing with blocked cats. One belongs to a friend of mine who is legally blind and cannot drive. She called me up scared because Buster Brown was lying on the floor and unable to get up. I rushed her and her kitty to the ER at about 11 at night and it turned out he was blocked. The cost to treat, which is more expensive than a regular vet, was $500. He is now on a strictly canned diet and doing very well with no reoccurences. The second incident was a cat I was petsitting over Christmas. He had a UTI right before the owner left so I was watching the litterbox like a hawk and counting his pee clumps and looking at how big they were. After 12 hours of nothing I brought him into the vet and sure enough he was blocked. He stayed at the clinic for three days (over the Christmas holiday) and had to be catheterized twice during that time. The cost was a little over $600. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
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