When is enough $$ enough $$ for dog surgery?

[Sniper Uncle]

Wife and I have our dog on Banfield Plan as I travel with dog all the time. We also have a savings plan to cover some surgery. I had a dog which cost me $600.00 to find out if a tumor was cancer or not. I did it one time. I decided if it was cancer, then make her comfortable, and put her down when we couldn't do that any longer. I love my dog, she is like family, but growing up on a farm, there is a point past which I won't go just to get a couple more years from a sick or injured dog. Why put the dog through the surgery, recovery, etc, and go into debt, when you can put them down with dignity, and buy a new pup and start again. As much as they are family to me, they are still dogs, and while you can't replace them, you can get another one to help fill the void.

Part of the equation for repair or replace question is how much will it cost versus expected outcome and life expectancy. I won't spend the money if the benefits aren't going to be totally worth it. A new puppy is always fun, and yes, work to potty train, but I enjoy doing it.....

 

[Cartman]

Wife and I have our dog on Banfield Plan as I travel with dog all the time. We also have a savings plan to cover some surgery. I had a dog which cost me $600.00 to find out if a tumor was cancer or not. I did it one time. I decided if it was cancer, then make her comfortable, and put her down when we couldn't do that any longer. I love my dog, she is like family, but growing up on a farm, there is a point past which I won't go just to get a couple more years from a sick or injured dog. Why put the dog through the surgery, recovery, etc, and go into debt, when you can put them down with dignity, and buy a new pup and start again. As much as they are family to me, they are still dogs, and while you can't replace them, you can get another one to help fill the void.

Part of the equation for repair or replace question is how much will it cost versus expected outcome and life expectancy. I won't spend the money if the benefits aren't going to be totally worth it. A new puppy is always fun, and yes, work to potty train, but I enjoy doing it.....

This sounds like an ad for the nation's new health care system. I think this is how it works in the UK. For people.

 

[SPDSNYPR]

I think it is to each their own on this one. Im from the school of thought Im not spending a fortune on a dog. Not because I don't love them, because I don't have a fortune to spend. Im not going in debt for an animal. I would never fault anyone for spending a lot of money on their animal though.

Pretty much my view. I'm very attached to my animals, but I won't let them cost me so much money that I can't provide for my family.

 

[Vaughn]

Wow, tough situation and I would hate to be in your place. It's hard trying to factor financial limitations...Pray I never face a similar situation, b/c with my girls I'm sure I would have to find a way to go through with it.

 

[Jaytrigger]

Yeah its tough but im biting the bullet and selling some of my gear I have that I don't really use anymore and one of my current build projects. It sucks but after playing with my dog this morning i felt better about it. It would suck to loose my dog so much.

 

[Switchblade]

Dog is never just a dog. Bulleit is my buddy. I can be gone an hour, 20 minutes, or a whole day and he is always glad to see me. If he hears me grab truck keys, he knows he is going along for a ride just to sit and look out the window, or lie on the back seat and look at me through the mirror. He stops bad people from doing bad things, and he guards us as well as I would in his position. They are not replacable. Sure, you can get another dog, but each dog is different, behaves differently, or at times, makes a guy wonder if maybe there isn't some connection to that old dog ya used to have because they act so much like that old dog.
If Dog is in pain, and there is no way that total, full, recovery will happen, I seriously hope that day I can do the right thing and put him down...so long as I don't have to look him in the eye when I do it. Knowing I would be selfish just to spend one more day with him curled up next to me on the bed, or having his head across my chest as I lay watching tv next to my lady, damn, dog IS family, Dog is my brother!