This is a hypothetical question and I hope it doesn't cause too much controversy.  What do people do if their dog needs treatment (nothing life threatening) but the cost of the treatment is unobtainable, I'm thinking over £2000?  Insurance will no longer pay and you do not qualify for any benefits.

Any ideas?  Would people dig deep and pay for it or would the dog have to be PTS/rehomed but the problem pointed out?

I'd dig deep and pay up, but that's cos I can afford to.  However, I would hate to be in a position where my dog's life was compromised through lack of funds.

Would never re-home a sick dog, and if all avenues of borrowing the money were exhausted then it would be PTS.

Had a similar problem last year. I took out a credit card for the £2500 and will be paying it back over a very long time, but at least I still have my dog.

It depends on so much, like what the problem is, what the chances of full recovery are, how long it will be before the dog is back to normal again if full recovery is possible, how the dog will cope with the recovery period (really expensive surgery often means things like total rest for weeks) how old the dog is, etc etc etc. Nobody responsible would ever think of rehoming but you have to weigh everything up and decide what to do.

Yep, it would be credit card for me too :)

Ditto Brainless

Would your vet not do a letter to the PDSA or have rules changed?  I remember years ago that my parents had a Rough Collie who was really ill, they were taking him to and fro to the vets and not getting anywhere.  Within three weeks this dog when from a fit strong boy to bone.  The vet eventually did a referral to the PDSA.  Before my parents got home they phoned with the sad news that he had oesophageal cancer and he was PTS that day.

It was many years ago though.

I would remorgage the house.

If only all of us could do that.  It's OK saying that you would remortgage your houses, have credit cards etc. but would we all risk not having a house, then maybe still not being able to afford the vets bills if it's a long term problem?

My dogs mean everything to me and luckily I have people who would be there to help if ever necessary.

Yes!

If you lost your house in order to keep your dog alive, I'd give your dog a roof over it's head and may be find room for you too. Cos you have a loving heart.

15 years ago we spent just under £8000 over the space of 12 months on 1 dog. Do I regret it? Not a chance, she was worth every penny.

It was our fault we didn't insure her, a mistake I would never make again. Once we realised savings may run dry, we took out a bank loan and I have never once doubted we did the right thing.

If only all of us could do that.  It's OK saying that you would remortgage your houses, have credit cards etc. but would we all risk not having a house, then maybe still not being able to afford the vets bills if it's a long term problem?

And not everyone HAS a credit card nor own their own house.

And not everyone HAS a credit card nor own their own house.

I didn't have a credit card as I am old school and 'if I can't pay for it then I don't have it' age, but I had no option but to take out a card to pay vets bills. My pup had been insured but became ill during the first 15 days waiting time so nothing was covered. Failing that I would have sold anything and everything, tv, rings,music player, anything to raise the money ( too old to offer my body !!!!!)

> ( too old to offer my body !!!!!)

There's always someone out there to tak it lol.

I would maybe ask my vet to let me pay in installments if the dog stood a chance of recovery and quality of life.

Whether i follow my own reasonings if it ever happens is another issue.  I think I would have to be strong and say no to treatment if it was pointless.

> There's always someone out there to take it lol.

You took the words right out of my mouth. LOL

ditto here,i have remorgaged the house for my pug george and i dont regret it,i would do it again or a loan etc to save them and help them,
jo

Every ones situation is different, I don't have a credit card and the dogs are insured (probably one of our largest payments a year) but their needs come before ours! If needed, I would be asking our vet if we could pay by instalments, a loan, morgage, and lastly a credit card. I gave up all credit cards when the bank took full amount owing from my fathers account within 24 hours of his death, we have no idea how they found out that first day.

I would dig deep. We may find ourselves doing that in the future, hubby has decreed that after 8 years of paying out far more in insurance premiums than we received in pay outs, our dogs will no longer be insured and we will have a 'virtual account' for vet bills. I said that he was not allowed to say a treatment was too expensive in that case, and he retorted that the insurance only pays up to (whatever amount it was, can't remember).

I don't have a credit card either LOL!

I'm a bit puzzled as why people would have a dog PTS rather than rehome a dog who needed treatment. Provided the new owners were aware of the cost implications and were willing to treat the dog, why would euthanasia be a better option?

If money were no object for me, then I would be more than happy to take on a dog who needed treatment.

For me personally, everything would be sold..and I would beg and borrow (never steal!) the rest. The dogs are my responsibility and it's up to me to do whatever it takes for them :)

Luckily enough I would pay and if I knew someone on here needed help I would try to help. You cant buy a dogs love or health but if I could help I would, I dont value money much, I lost a brother early and money doesnt count much.
As a family we support dogs homes and stuff and I'd squeeze our more if I had to.
No home no money - PDSA or Id sell what I could my rings whatever and work off the bill for the vet. But no hope of recovery then PTS.

omg I just pray I will never be in that situation. Mine are insured for £700 per iten for life. In our current circumstances (oh out of work)I just hope we dont even have go to the vet as would struggle to pay even the excess. We cant use pdsa I dont think as silly me I still work and earn just over the threshold so cant get benefits. !

A lady who is on my waiting list has a dog that was insured , however needed both hips done , the insurance would only pay out £5000 for the first hip , the bill was just over £7000 , she than had to find over £7000 less than a year later for the other hip. To do this she is paying off a loan , but it's something I would do in these circumstances as the dog was very young and otherwise healthy. I would of changed vet though as the price in my opinion was  extortionate!

I have borrowed off family in the past to pay for a dogs operation and paid it back in monthly instalments. Also at this time I had two of my dogs insured , the dog who needed operating on was not one of them , my vet offered to put the surgery down under one of my insured dogs names to save me the money , I thought it was a nice gesture although wrong in my opinion so I declined his offer , ( I think I am just too honest a person , I wouldn't forgive myself for ripping a company off ! )

i had to take out a bank loan some years ago when my dog needed a big opp. she was insured but vets required money up front at referal place and insurance don't pay till after.

Very interesting replies from all of you.  It seems people that have dogs understand how people would pay almost anything for their dogs yet non-doggy people just think you are weird and 'it's not worth it'.

It must be hard to fund though if you do not qualify for any benefits (such as PDSA) yet can't afford a credit card/loan etc.

If the problem was treatable and the dog in otherwise good health and fairly young would that make a difference to people?

> If the problem was treatable and the dog in otherwise good health and fairly young would that make a difference to people?

I think that has to make a difference, but not necessarily because of cost. 3 years ago my now 9 year old had a torsion and then a tumour 3 months later, cost around £2500 in total for the 2 operations but he was worth it. On the other hand, if my almost 15 year old needed surgery then he'd be put to sleep - but I think nothing of spending £50 on medication every month for him.

For me, I would not have a dog unless I could cover any vet bills - either insurance or self-insurance by saving. I appreciate some people have an unforeseen change of circumstances and this would then be impossible :( If I had dependant children, I wouldn't/couldn't put their wellbeing at risk for a dog Risking your own security is one thing, but not your children's. So insurance AND having a nest egg for unforeseen circumstances before getting a dog would be belt and braces.

> If the problem was treatable and the dog in otherwise good health and fairly young would that make a difference to people?

The cost wouldn't make any difference to me - only the likely outcome of any treatment and the quality and length of life the dog would have after an operation.

Daisy

> A lady who is on my waiting list has a dog that was insured , however needed both hips done

I would never put a dog through one replacement hip surgery and certainly not 2, not because of the cost but because I don't think it's fair to them.

In answer to the original poster I try never to let finances be a consideration if a dog needs treatment, but as I have strong views on putting pets through long or difficult procedures then I think that does limit my possible outlays. If one of my gang needed expensive treatment that was guaranteed to maintain an excellent quality of life and not cause any pain or discomfort then I would do whatever I could to raise the funds, including selling everything I could...but not my house as the rest of the dogs need that security too :-)  I'd like to think I'm fairly responsible though and have insurance for them all and also put a bit extra away just in case, it's all part of being a dog owner.

>If one of my gang needed expensive treatment that was guaranteed to maintain an excellent quality of life and not cause any pain or discomfort then I would do whatever I could to raise the funds,

Ditto. But without a guaranteed good outcome for a painfree, active life afterwards, I would seriously consider whether it was in the animal's best interests. Just because we can do something it doesn't follow that we should.

> Just because we can do something it doesn't follow that we should

Yep, my treatment of the dogs I have now, or the ones in the past that have went to sleep in my arms, wouldn't change if I were a millionaire. I hope I never have to consider finances when facing a difficult decision, and I also hope that I will remain true to my beliefs and not let one suffer to prolong a life for my benefit... I know how easy it is to waver!

i have 2 boxers one is insured and the oldest one is not as i cant find a insurance company willing to insure her as she was so ill as a pup and some times only get 2 weeks at a time without have vet fee so i would do without to mke sure she was treated but i remember last year she was stung with bee and her head went like a football and white foam coming out of her ears contacted the vet as i did not get paid till the friday and he told me to bring her down and he treated her and i paid on the friday if you have being useing the same vet and they know that you look after your animals and trust you he will let you pay it up as when it comes to my dogs they are my babies and i put them first the way you would put a child first

Its all down to the vet I agree Finn our vet lets our dog holiday person (Kelly) take the dogs in for any problem and we pay when we get home - I trust him with our dogs lives literally.

He is a vet at Pets at Home so not an old established vet but he is really really good. Plus he has a laugh with us and understands that our dogs have taken the place of our son's when they grew up and left.

I would not place my dogs in front of my children - but - a toss up between a new laptop for my son and an op for my dog? no contest the dog gets it - the son waits!!

Exactly you find the money (savings or credit loans), but if treatment is likely to cost many thousands it is likely to be something pretty major, and i would be looking at the benefit in quality of life.

Yes I would never pass on the responsibility of a sick dog to someone else, even if it meant PTS was the only option.  My dogs my responsibility.

I don't insure, as it is just too expensive for 5 dogs, 3 of which are veterans, but I do save up in a separate account.

They do come before everything else except human families health and welfare.

Agreed we are both over 50 and settled so we took the decision to have the dogs before retirement as we own our business they are here in the office with us. The best decision we have ever made.

But it is expensive, however I do feel that if anyone can rescue a dog, say OAP an older dog, that can share retirement then places like PDSA should be well supported.

Rather an old dog with an elderly owner that will love and cherish it than PTS or stuck in a home. Hence I give to dog charities - lonliness works both ways and you can never be alone with a beloved dog for company. Medical science proves that if you have a dog you live a longer healthier and less stressful life - I was really hyper and sad yesterday and my dog knew it and never left my side, and after a long walk, which did us both good I sorted out my head!!

I dont think a pet should be restricted to those that can afford one. carte blanche as they say should be used.

our dogs have taken the place of our son's

This is what my sons say to me. What they don't appear to have grasped is that while they were are home (and now one has bounced back :)) they always seemed like a very exotic form of pet to me.

And about a good a recall!!! never kept their rooms tidy, spent all my money and thier's, finiky with food. Made a mess, used my shower, yep not a lot to choose between the two is there? The ony real difference is the dogs can't open the fridge.

> The ony real difference is the dogs can't open the fridge.

Cheeper food bills then.  And dogs can be less smelly (than boys anyway). lol.

Mine got a bottle of Joop for his 18th he used so much when I got in the car with him we had to open all the windows - took my breath away!!

Cub camp - didnt open the soap smelt of woodsmoke straight in the shower - hadnt changed his clothes in a week - little begger!!

And dogs can be less smelly (than boys anyway)

mmmm...I can just imagine child rolling in fox poo!

I'm a bit puzzled as why people would have a dog PTS rather than rehome a dog who needed treatment. Provided the new owners were aware of the cost implications and were willing to treat the dog, why would euthanasia be a better option?

We took on a dog knowing she would have to have cruciate ligaments done in at least one back leg, most probably both.

We had the surgery booked within 4 weeks of her moving in and it took 6 months to regain full use of the leg.  Luckily the vet decided the other one wasn't so bad and once the worst one had been operated on and recovered she was able to weight bear more on that leg which took the load off the other.

We took in another dog knowing he had arthritis quite badly in his hips.  He was seriously overweight which didn't
help either his mobility or pain .  Once we got him home and vet checked we found he had spondilitis of the spine and a massive growth.  After 5 days he became very ill.  We spent £1000 and he died within 4 weeks of moving in.

I would do it again .

I'm a bit puzzled as why people would have a dog PTS rather than rehome a dog who needed treatment. Provided the new owners were aware of the cost implications and were willing to treat the dog, why would euthanasia be a better option?

We took on a dog knowing she would have to have cruciate ligaments done in at least one back leg, most probably both.

We had the surgery booked within 4 weeks of her moving in and it took 6 months to regain full use of the leg.  Luckily the vet decided the other one wasn't so bad and once the worst one had been operated on and recovered she was able to weight bear more on that leg which took the load off the other.

We took in another dog knowing he had arthritis quite badly in his hips.  He was seriously overweight which didn't
help either his mobility or pain .  Once we got him home and vet checked we found he had spondilitis of the spine and a massive growth.  After 5 days he became very ill.  We spent £1000 in vet bills and he died within 4 weeks of moving in.

I would do it again .

:) Suzie

Stories like that make me remember that there are truly good people out there :)