|
| If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|||||||
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
July 13th 03, 02:57 PM
|
|||
|
|||
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
July 13th 03, 04:40 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
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
July 13th 03, 04:45 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
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
July 13th 03, 04:45 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
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.
|
|
#6
July 13th 03, 05:50 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
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
July 13th 03, 05:50 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
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
|
|
#8
July 13th 03, 06:13 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
"MaryL" wrote
"Caliban" wrote 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. Megan is licensed to care for 25 cats, and she currently is at the maximum of 25. Most of these cats were abused, neglected or feral when she adopted them. She gave me a tremendous amount of help when I adopted Duffy, and I know enough about her circumstances to say that she really does spend almost all of her resources on the care of these cats. Several of them are undergoing very expensive care at this moment -- care that she gives them even though this means that she must deprive herself of many things that most of us would consider to be basic. Assuming this is true, do you think that's fair to ask every cat owner to do this? That she would interpret my words as considering cats "disposable and unworthy of care" is outrageous. Fortunately, my post speaks for itself, as does hers. As is discussed here often, many agree that there is a point where, despite the best intentions, it's better to put a cat down. It may very well be that this cat is suffering and his time has come, couldn't it? I'm glad Megan responded to the OP. I thought of her when I first read this post about diabetes. She has considerable experience in this area and frequently cares for other peoples' diabetic cats. She's not a vet. She hasn't met this cat. She could be right. She could be wrong. I hoped that she would send information (which she did) because the amount of cost listed here sounds unreasonable to me. I don't think most veterinary care for diabetic cats would even approach the amounts that have been charged to the OP.
|
|
#9
July 13th 03, 06:13 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
"MaryL" wrote
"Caliban" wrote 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. Megan is licensed to care for 25 cats, and she currently is at the maximum of 25. Most of these cats were abused, neglected or feral when she adopted them. She gave me a tremendous amount of help when I adopted Duffy, and I know enough about her circumstances to say that she really does spend almost all of her resources on the care of these cats. Several of them are undergoing very expensive care at this moment -- care that she gives them even though this means that she must deprive herself of many things that most of us would consider to be basic. Assuming this is true, do you think that's fair to ask every cat owner to do this? That she would interpret my words as considering cats "disposable and unworthy of care" is outrageous. Fortunately, my post speaks for itself, as does hers. As is discussed here often, many agree that there is a point where, despite the best intentions, it's better to put a cat down. It may very well be that this cat is suffering and his time has come, couldn't it? I'm glad Megan responded to the OP. I thought of her when I first read this post about diabetes. She has considerable experience in this area and frequently cares for other peoples' diabetic cats. She's not a vet. She hasn't met this cat. She could be right. She could be wrong. I hoped that she would send information (which she did) because the amount of cost listed here sounds unreasonable to me. I don't think most veterinary care for diabetic cats would even approach the amounts that have been charged to the OP.
|
|
#10
July 13th 03, 06:36 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
"Caliban" wrote in message thlink.net... "MaryL" wrote "Caliban" wrote 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. Megan is licensed to care for 25 cats, and she currently is at the maximum of 25. Most of these cats were abused, neglected or feral when she adopted them. She gave me a tremendous amount of help when I adopted Duffy, and I know enough about her circumstances to say that she really does spend almost all of her resources on the care of these cats. Several of them are undergoing very expensive care at this moment -- care that she gives them even though this means that she must deprive herself of many things that most of us would consider to be basic. Assuming this is true, do you think that's fair to ask every cat owner to do this? Actually, I was responding to your inference that she was being hypocritical if she didn't spend all her money on cats. She clearly can't spend "all" her money on the care of cats, but she comes as close to it as anyone I know. I hoped that she would send information (which she did) because the amount of cost listed here sounds unreasonable to me. I don't think most veterinary care for diabetic cats would even approach the amounts that have been charged to the OP. Following up on my own statement: I amount charged for care appears to be incredibly high -- "outrageous," in fact.
|
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Linear Mode
