Comments on: Frugal or Bad Pet Owner? My Trip To The Vet http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/ Coupons, Frugal Living Tips, and Personal Finance Tips to Make Life A Little Easier Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:31:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kyle http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 Kyle Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:52:05 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1619 Good simple advice Kaye. It definetly does come down to that decision. Our dogs are family pets, we treat them well and they treat us well. My 3 kids love them, so I am willing to spend $18 a month for the Thyroid medicine. If it were $150 a month and did not fit into our budget, then that is where it becomes a hard decision. Do we buy it and try and make it work or do we find a different family for the dog. Thank God the medicine is not very expenisive and we did not have to ponder the decision!!! She is already doing MUCH better being on the medicine, so all is good! Good simple advice Kaye. It definetly does come down to that decision. Our dogs are family pets, we treat them well and they treat us well. My 3 kids love them, so I am willing to spend $18 a month for the Thyroid medicine. If it were $150 a month and did not fit into our budget, then that is where it becomes a hard decision. Do we buy it and try and make it work or do we find a different family for the dog. Thank God the medicine is not very expenisive and we did not have to ponder the decision!!! She is already doing MUCH better being on the medicine, so all is good!

]]> By: Kaye http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1618 Kaye Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:49:58 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1618 Plain and simple...there are times when you have to decide (for yourself...no one can tell you this) if your pets are members of the family or just pets. You then spend money accordingly. Plain and simple…there are times when you have to decide (for yourself…no one can tell you this) if your pets are members of the family or just pets. You then spend money accordingly.

]]> By: chris http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1603 chris Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:35:06 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1603 I know this comment is late and don't know if you'll even see it, however your bill isn't that bad to get over a problem and thyroid medicine is cheap - even when you pay cash for it. Currently my pug is taking an antihistamine which costs us $39.00 every ten days. I tried to let it go for a week, but her symptoms just returned. You know what all us crazy folks say..."Pets are people, too!" Our dogs are just too central to our family, so we go the distance - however, after a little creative thinking, I have been tempted to have my regular doctor prescribe this antihistamine to me, send it in the mail order pharmacy and get a ninety day supply for $10.00 - now that is being cheap! (not to mention, probably illegal) I know this comment is late and don’t know if you’ll even see it, however your bill isn’t that bad to get over a problem and thyroid medicine is cheap – even when you pay cash for it. Currently my pug is taking an antihistamine which costs us $39.00 every ten days. I tried to let it go for a week, but her symptoms just returned. You know what all us crazy folks say…”Pets are people, too!” Our dogs are just too central to our family, so we go the distance – however, after a little creative thinking, I have been tempted to have my regular doctor prescribe this antihistamine to me, send it in the mail order pharmacy and get a ninety day supply for $10.00 – now that is being cheap! (not to mention, probably illegal)

]]> By: Kyle http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1579 Kyle Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:07:11 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1579 Great Comments, thanks everyone! @ JHS, I agree, $100 is not much in terms of the Annie's age and quality of life. This is why I did end buying the medicine and running blood tests. Turns out Annie is hypa-thyroid (sp?) and will need to be on Thyroid medicine the rest of her life. Only $18 a month so it is obviously an easy decision. @ VMW, great idea on the big collar thingee, I think I will do that for sure! Good advice on the dog food as well. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! Great Comments, thanks everyone!

@ JHS, I agree, $100 is not much in terms of the Annie’s age and quality of life. This is why I did end buying the medicine and running blood tests. Turns out Annie is hypa-thyroid (sp?) and will need to be on Thyroid medicine the rest of her life. Only $18 a month so it is obviously an easy decision.

@ VMW, great idea on the big collar thingee, I think I will do that for sure! Good advice on the dog food as well. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

]]> By: Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1577 Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:29:45 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1577 I hear ya. When we moved to Florida, our dog started having skin problems. We finally figured out it was the stuff they were spraying on the lawns (deweed and debug stuff). He was sensitive to chemicals. We also switched to a higher quality dogfood...IAMS is one of the better "regular brands" but it still has alot of trash in it. If the dogfood lists any corn products in the first three ingredients, it is not quality...I don't care what your vet says. You'll also notice your dog poops less when he gets the better food. To keep your doggie from licking his wound (that's how our dog made his little spot on his leg infected), put one of those Elizabethen collars on him...they look God-awful silly and he'll knock everything down that isn't secured on your end tables (so put that stuff away), but at least he won't aggravate it and will allow it to heal. I hear ya. When we moved to Florida, our dog started having skin problems. We finally figured out it was the stuff they were spraying on the lawns (deweed and debug stuff). He was sensitive to chemicals. We also switched to a higher quality dogfood…IAMS is one of the better “regular brands” but it still has alot of trash in it. If the dogfood lists any corn products in the first three ingredients, it is not quality…I don’t care what your vet says. You’ll also notice your dog poops less when he gets the better food.

To keep your doggie from licking his wound (that’s how our dog made his little spot on his leg infected), put one of those Elizabethen collars on him…they look God-awful silly and he’ll knock everything down that isn’t secured on your end tables (so put that stuff away), but at least he won’t aggravate it and will allow it to heal.

]]> By: JHS http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1573 JHS Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:33:09 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1573 In my experience, it has been a benefits vs. risks/costs analysis. I could not stand to watch one of my animals suffer, so would never hesitate to spend a minuscule amount like $100 for their comfort and well-being. You have a young dog (5 years old) with many years head of him/her with your family. Those years need to be cherished & his/her needs met adequately. I have, however, made the difficult decision not to treat when the animal was either older or the vet saw little or no possibility that the treatment would be beneficial. For instance, my cat developed stomach tumors at the age of 8. My vet offered expensive, invasive treatment but truly felt that, in the long run, it would not cure her nor would it prolong her life at an acceptable quality level for an appreciable period of time. I made the excruciating decision to put her down rather than have her suffer a painful, extended death. With the vet's blessing and concurrence, of course. Thanks for contributing this post to this week's Carnival of Family Life, hosted at <a href="http://www.modernsageonline.com/" rel="nofollow">Modern Sage -- Practical Living Blog</a>. The Carnival will be live tomorrow, so please stop by and peruse all of the wonderful articles submitted this week! In my experience, it has been a benefits vs. risks/costs analysis. I could not stand to watch one of my animals suffer, so would never hesitate to spend a minuscule amount like $100 for their comfort and well-being. You have a young dog (5 years old) with many years head of him/her with your family. Those years need to be cherished & his/her needs met adequately.

I have, however, made the difficult decision not to treat when the animal was either older or the vet saw little or no possibility that the treatment would be beneficial. For instance, my cat developed stomach tumors at the age of 8. My vet offered expensive, invasive treatment but truly felt that, in the long run, it would not cure her nor would it prolong her life at an acceptable quality level for an appreciable period of time. I made the excruciating decision to put her down rather than have her suffer a painful, extended death. With the vet’s blessing and concurrence, of course.

Thanks for contributing this post to this week’s Carnival of Family Life, hosted at Modern Sage — Practical Living Blog. The Carnival will be live tomorrow, so please stop by and peruse all of the wonderful articles submitted this week!

]]> By: Kyle http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1556 Kyle Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:25:08 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1556 D. DDG thanks for the advice and thanks for stopping by. I have heard the same thing, but we feed Iams and the Vet told us it is one of the better dog foods on the market. D. DDG thanks for the advice and thanks for stopping by. I have heard the same thing, but we feed Iams and the Vet told us it is one of the better dog foods on the market.

]]> By: D. DDG http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1553 D. DDG Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:56:01 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1553 As the owner of a natural pet foods store in the Pacific Northwest, I would urge you to go the any local like store and talk to someone with natural food knowledge. In our store we give our customers some reading materials to do from other vets talking about commercial "grocery store" variety dog and cat foods. It's sickening what they are allowed to put in their foods. We have customers who have very sick pets and have spent thousands at their vets who come to us and try their pet on a natural food, they are amazed at the change in them including their skin, coat and total health. In the long run a quality natural food is much cheaper than trips to the vet. Since they don't have any "fillers", you will also have less poop clean-up, because their bodies are able to use all of the foods and they actually eat less. You need to find a food that has " human grade" ingredients in it. I have a list of brands I could recommend if you are interested. Most stores will give you free samples to try at home and see what tastes best to your pet- that is what we do and it works. As the owner of a natural pet foods store in the Pacific Northwest, I would urge you to go the any local like store and talk to someone with natural food knowledge. In our store we give our customers some reading materials to do from other vets talking about commercial “grocery store” variety dog and cat foods. It’s sickening what they are allowed to put in their foods. We have customers who have very sick pets and have spent thousands at their vets who come to us and try their pet on a natural food, they are amazed at the change in them including their skin, coat and total health. In the long run a quality natural food is much cheaper than trips to the vet. Since they don’t have any “fillers”, you will also have less poop clean-up, because their bodies are able to use all of the foods and they actually eat less. You need to find a food that has ” human grade” ingredients in it. I have a list of brands I could recommend if you are interested. Most stores will give you free samples to try at home and see what tastes best to your pet- that is what we do and it works.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1532 Kyle Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:03:56 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1532 @ Four Pillars, I think you may be right. And that sounds like a interesting chess game! @ Sophie, peeing and pooing everywhere is a problem for sure....fortunately I have trained my dogs to only go in a designated spot outside. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! @ Four Pillars, I think you may be right. And that sounds like a interesting chess game!

@ Sophie, peeing and pooing everywhere is a problem for sure….fortunately I have trained my dogs to only go in a designated spot outside. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

]]> By: Sophie from France http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1529 Sophie from France Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:37:13 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1529 Hi! We paid some vet bills, and I regretted it afterwards even though the bills could have been a lot worse... The thing is... I am fed up with my dogs. They drive me crazy with destroying stuff, peeing and pooping everywhere... you have no idea. So now I admit it, I am sick and tired of them and will not put up with any vet bills in the future. If they occur an illness, then so be it, as long as they don't suffer. Hi!
We paid some vet bills, and I regretted it afterwards even though the bills could have been a lot worse…

The thing is… I am fed up with my dogs. They drive me crazy with destroying stuff, peeing and pooping everywhere… you have no idea.
So now I admit it, I am sick and tired of them and will not put up with any vet bills in the future.
If they occur an illness, then so be it, as long as they don’t suffer.

]]> By: Four Pillars http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/comment-page-1/#comment-1523 Four Pillars Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:25:00 +0000 http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/02/11/trip-to-vet/#comment-1523 Don't bother - it will probably heal itself. If not then take her in and get treated. I've had many major vet bills and the last one was the last straw - I can't even remember what it was for but I remember pay over $300 for service and a pile of medicine which I couldn't even apply to the cat. What a waste - he ended up healing just fine on his own while I played chess with myself using his various medicine bottles.... Don’t bother – it will probably heal itself. If not then take her in and get treated.

I’ve had many major vet bills and the last one was the last straw – I can’t even remember what it was for but I remember pay over $300 for service and a pile of medicine which I couldn’t even apply to the cat. What a waste – he ended up healing just fine on his own while I played chess with myself using his various medicine bottles….

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