What do you think about their healthcare? When we had pets while I was growing up we could go a year or two without taking them to the vet. When we first got them we took them into be fixed (spayed or neutered) and after that it we just took them in for emergencies which there were hardly any of. But now with my cat my vet practically requires that I bring him in for a twice-yearly exam. When one little thing goes wrong it requires tests and procedures that bleed my bank account, and vet bills are huge. I’ve literally spent thousands of dollars on my cat in the past 4 or 5 years. I feel some tests are unnecessary. I mean if I was rich I would get him every test in the book. But a $400.00 teeth cleaning seems to be a bit much.
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Our dog developed a limp once. We took her to the vet. They told us she had a torn acl, and we would need to get an X-ray that would cost over $1000 to make sure, and if it was we would have to pay for an even more expensive surgery so she could walk again.
My parents were of course bewildered at the cost, and took a week to think about it first. By the next week our dog was fine, limp gone, no torn acl. Thank god we hadn’t paid for the X-ray right then.
They’ll do whatever it takes to get money. We only take her for her regular checkups and shots now, but she really hasn’t ever had any serious health issues so we’ve been lucky with that.
Pets are pretty hardy animals, especially cats. When the time comes that gonzo needs to go the vet I’ll probably feel conflicted but I would probably take him in. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t, I’ve grown very attached. Anyways he seems pretty healthy for now. Has been his whole life. It is sad they die so soon. Touchy subject. I want him to live forever or as long as possible but I have pretty limited resources.
He’s my brothers cat now anyways, but I was the original owner. Chill with the little bugger almost every day. He’s sitting on the armrest as I type this.
I would pony up if the others couldn’t come up with the money in a pinch. But if it was to expensive I probably would drop the idea of getting another cat after he is gone.
I’ll just get him taxidermied instead. He’ll be in the classic sleeping cat pose. Like a C
I’m mixed on this, it depends. I spent $4000 on chemotherapy for a girlfriend’s cat because she was in a fragile state at the time, and I didn’t think she could handle it otherwise. It paid-off, the cat went into remission and lived another 6 years.
But I haven’t yet paid for teeth cleanings. I don’t like the idea of the anesthesia very much anyway. I just take my present cat to shot clinics, and she’s doing better than the dogs who go once or twice a year.
My company offers pet health insurance, and I know someone who has pet health insurance from the vets offices that they have at Petsmart, and he swears by it. Oh well, I’m sure it’s cheaper than having kids.
I have a dog and a cat. I’ve had two more dogs and cats during the years. I take them to the vet when they are ill. I had to put my cat to sleep last fall because of pancreatitis and he was losing his teeth. Fixing him up should have cost about 7000 SEK (700 €) or more. I thought it was best for him to pass away because he was suffering.
I’ve never had dental job on my pets. They chew bones to clean their teeth.
It’d be so sad though. The little life form develops a semi minor issue in his life and the rest is death!!?!?
Pancreaitis is pretty serious though.
Would just hate to cut the cats life short from dying of old age. Even if it’s life has gone on far longer than it has in the wild.
Maggie, my cat has only been to the doctor for shots. She is only three and is pretty healthy.
i’m thinking about getting a dog but idk
Cats, always a cat or dozen in my life, currently 5 inside only and 6 outside only, plus hungry strays.
A few dogs as well as birds (cockateel,parakeet), spiders (tarantula , fuzzy jumping ones), and mice, rabbits, ducks, snake, rat, chickens…a tomato worm.
Don’t live on a farm, but could if needed.
Animals don’t need a whole lot of vet visits with the exception of shots, and even so, most cats have only been to the vet once, maybe twice if a problem I couldn’t solve, in their entire lives.
Vets are getting greedy, preying on the guilt, and lack of knowledge of their owners.
I’ve had bad experiences with vets before, from one telling me my kitty only had one kidney and even with the recommended weekly dialysis, would only live less than half a normal cat’s life.
That was 16 years ago, and NO dialysis or more visits since.
Another kitten 4 weeks old, had a broken foot turned 180degrees, pointing in the wrong direction, the mother, a stray, must have done it moving them to a new location.
My mom took him to 3 different vets, all recommended putting the kitten down, citing it would never heal right and be painful the rest of his life.
Wrong.
No one would be putting this kitty down, this was 6 years ago and the foot healed itself and the cat has always been able to jump over 6feet from one surface to another with no problem.
I love my animals dearly, but the truth is, they don’t need expensive vet bills to make them live any longer than they will anyway, that is, if you take proper care of them yourself.
I did take one of my cat’s in to be put to sleep after he was poisoned (?) by a creepy neighbor (can’t prove it, but the night before I had said outloud as he watched through the fence, that he better not hurt my cat or I’d…)
I don’t believe in letting an animal suffer needlessly by keeping them alive for it’s owner.
Quality of life is much more important than quantity.
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If you have indoor cats-even less so.
Some Vets are doing the same thing that our doctors are doing…sending in for all kinds of well-checkups and screenings, etc…that aren`t needed
You can give your cat some kind of treat that will naturally clean her teeth.
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He was going to get anasthetic to remove his teeth but he would not survive it. He was very old and had “Forl” (the swedish name) that was very painful. An infection in his root canals. Only cure is removing teeth.
He could not eat. Vomited every time he ate. He was in constant pain and had nausea. He was on antibiotics but it only helped for a while.
You did the right thing… 
It was my husband’s pet. They slept in the same bed every night. He missed him very much. Now the dog is sleeping next to my husband instead.
When my wife and I had cats prior to our move (they were very young when we got them), the vet would charge $95 prior to administering their required shots. It showed up on the bill as a “Health Checkup.” All she did for that was listen to the cats’ hearts! What a crock. We found a new vet. The male cat we had was fixed for $35 at a spay/neuter clinic. The vet wanted $350 for the same treatment. Now they have insurance for pets. Ugh. It’s a booming industry it seems…filled with lots of scams designed to drain your wallet.
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There are a lot of germs and bacteria nowadays. There are places like Petsmart and other chain pet stores where there is a vet clinic and its less costly. There is pet insurance. Pets, in my opinion are best kept in doors. Making sure they have quality food and good pure water. Making sure they are bathed often. Chewy bones and teeth treats help keep the pets teeth clean. Research how to save money on pet health care. I noticed a big difference when quality food, pure water and chewy bones are given. Costco has wholesale items. Maybe even supplements will help. Try doing it yourself on some stuff, there is a lot of info out there.
I clean my own cat’s teeth. Cheaper. Same with clipping claws. We have checkup and shots every couple of years.
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I have been hit with a lot of vet bills but they have never hit me up with teeth cleaning. Once they told me the cats ears need cleaning and they sold me the stuff and a syringe. I went home and tried it and the cat didn’t like that at all. She but me hard on the hand trying to get away. I just happened to have a doctor’s appointment the next day and the physical therapist axed me what happened to my hand. I told him what happened and we didn’t even finish my appointment. He told me to go to the emergency room immediately. They gave me about a weeks worth of antibiotics. Long story short, if they ever tell me my cats ears need cleaning again they can clean them.
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Capitalistic salesmen - vets aren’t necessarily humanitarian in their work. We lose all life to death eventually. It’s painful to lose someone in death but it is unavoidable and a part of maturing to learn how to deal with it. Friends die, we make new friends. Helpers die, we find new helpers. New life is as sure as death, too.
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Well considering my cat hates strangers, and hates the vet (probably like most pets) I decided to only take her in when there’s an emergency. The only time I took her in otherwise was when I had her spayed and her front claws declawed (since she’s an indoor cat there really isn’t a need for her to have claws…but we left the back claws in). Since then I’ve been lucky that my kitty hasn’t been sick or anything so I haven’t had the need to take her in. I keep an eye on things like her stools, and periodically check for anything weird like lumps in her body or such, and haven’t seen or found anything unusual. She is a very active indoor cat that loves to play, and eats regularly. She’ll eat her dry food off and on all day but she gets a can of fishes (her favorite) at night with dinner. She doesn’t always eat the whole can, but the fact that she eats the dry food so much I’m not too worried about it. The fishes are more so she has oil in her diet and she doesn’t get dried out.
I really lucked out because cancer runs in her family, but she has yet to show any signs of it. As long as she keeps playing normally, and things are fine with her stools and her appetite is good then I’m okay with her and I don’t feel the need to take her into the vet so they can tell me she’s fine. It’s just money, money I don’t have to spend. Sure if I had the money I might take her in to get her shots updated…but I barely have enough to pay my own medical bills let alone the added bills for kitty.
My ex boyfriend’s dog had to be put down recently because his teeth were really bad and the infection went to his blood stream. Don’t mean to alarm you. I’ve never seen another animal have problems with their teeth. The ex tried to save him with antibiotics, pulling most his teeth, and cleaning the rest, but it was too late. They charged him 150 for pulling, cleaning, meds, and anesthesia so 400 for a cleaning sounds ridiculous. Maybe try and find another vet? And don’t be afraid to speak up. Ask if the test is necessary. I also know that you can brush your pet’s teeth at home, can’t remember specifics.
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