re: How much would you spend on your pet?

Spent about $6k on my 2 lab puppies within a week of when my son's family and I got them because they had parvo. It was right after my husband (His dad) died and a friend found these puppies for us. We later found out that it wasn't a reputable breeder. Both puppies lived and one is doing well and is 10 years old. I just had to put down mine as she had a stroke or brain tumor diagnosed in October. Both vets she saw advised that there was no successful treatment for her neuro issues. She was fairly suddenly mostly blind and had gradually more and more circling behavior where she couldn't be still and paced in circles. It was sad to let her go, but she had no quality of life and looked confused unless she was on Trazadone. She was so loved. This is week 2 without her.

I tell people there is no wrong answer to this (there is actually, I'll get into that).

We are trained that everyone comes from different backgrounds, experiences, and economic situations and we should never guilt nor persuade a person into a choice. I would never think less of someone who chose an euthanasia option over a treatment that costs several thousand dollars. I also would not give question or try to persuade someone out of spending large sums of money to treat their animals.

if I'm asked what i would do in the situation, i do give that information, but also clearly state that would be MY choice, not necessarily the right choice for you. I think a lot of people think being a vet, id choose to spend any amount for anything. I wouldn't. Some of the chemotherapy options for some cancers can be very taxing on the animals and for some types of cancers, you might be statistical only achieving a few months of extended life. in my own situation, I would euthanize when the pets quality of life deteriorates. On the flip side, if my pet is young, and the treatment will significantly increase quality and extension of life, boy my wallet will get deep.

That wrong answer are the people who refuse to spend anything to alleviate any suffering or pain to their animal or who want to convenience euthanize. Convenience euthanasia being "i dont want this perfectly healthy animal anymore and im too lazy to find a home for it, please kill it". i had a guy whose dog jumped out of the back of his moving truck and broke it leg. he brought it in to see what we could do. He griped at everything. He said we he would just take it home and shoot it. This was after we waived all fees other than just covering cost (not profit) of the drugs and materials. We were talking about 20 bucks. Still said nope, im going go shoot it. Those people shouldnt own animals.

We had to learn that limit the hard way last year. Had a super smart, super sweet labrador that would go to work with me every day. At just under 4 years old, she developed bone cancer in her hip. I drove all over creation to every vet school I could get her in front of. The team at Auburn had the best option in the world for treatment as it currently stood, but it would be $12k-$15k, which we were just not able to swing. The real kicker to that was it would only buy her another 12-18 months before it came back and we had to do this all over again. Miserable time in my and my family's life.

OK, I KNOW A LOT OF YAWL WILL NOT BELIVE ME! I REALLY DONT CARE, BUT EVERYTHING IS TRUE! VERY TRUE! BUT IF YOU KNOW, MY WIFE AND I, YOU KNOW IT IS. I HAVE THREE ENGLISH BULLDOGS. THEY ARE THE WORLD TO MY WIFE AND I. I HAVE INS. ON ALL OF THEM.( THANK GOD!) BUT JUST THIS PAST YEAR THEY HAVE COST ME AROUND 20K IN BILLS. EYE SURGERY ON TWO OF THEM. I GETS BETTER! MY BIG BOY BLEW OUT HIS PENIS AND HAD TO GO TO EMERGERNCY SURGERY FOR THAT! AND THREE WEEKS LATER HIS STOMMIC FLIPPED ON A SUNDAY AND HAD EMERGERNCY EXPLORTORY SURGERY AT LSU. THEN HAD TO REMOVE HIS SPLEEN! YEP! THAT WAS OVER 12K. I KNOW PEOPLE LOVE THER ANAMIALS. WE DO TOO! I KNOW IT COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO KEPP THEM IN YOUR LIFE! BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUR FAMILY. BUT THE ONE YOU WILL NOT BELIVE IS MY PAST BUBBA. MY FIRST ENGLISH BULLDDOG (LOVED HIM TO DEATH!) BUT HE WAS A F--KED UP DOG FROM BIRTH! (BAD BREEDER) THIS WAS THE ONE THAT ALMOST BROKE ME! IN HIS SHORT LIFE TIME (7 YEARS) WITH NO INSURENCE. HE COST ME AROUND 45 TO 50 K !!!!! HE HAD BOTH KNEES REPLACED, HCL SURGERY TWICE, EYE SCURGERY THREE TIMES, AND A PLETHYERA OF MEDICAL ISSUES! OH HE WAS DEFF TO ! BUT THE BEST DOG I EVER HAD. SO AT THE END OF HIS LIFE HE HAD A FAILING KENDNEY. (THAT WHAT GOT HIM!) SO TO END MY RANT ON HOW MUCH DOGS COST, I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WILL PAY FOR THEY EXTENDED FAMILY !!!! AND IF YOU OWN BULLDOGS I HOPE YOU HAVE DEEP POCKETS!

I’d do as much as I could within reason. If it were something that would affect my dogs quality of life even after the procedure, then I’d have to consider putting them down. My current dog is like a best friend to me, I’d be devastated to even have to consider that

All I'm going to say is - they make a lot of cats and dogs. As luck would have it, a bunch of them live down at the shelter and can be had for a nominal adoption fee.