The Vet

We were late getting Peach to the Vet. I asked if Peach might try just an antibiotic treatment rather than surgery. The admissions nurse said she would check with the Vet. I also told them no unnecessary treatments. We will not be doing the teeth cleaning or the pre workup on the blood, just the draining of the leg, that is all. The cat either survives the surgery or he doesn't. Running a bunch of unnecessary tests wont change the outcome.



We are told to call at noon. Trevor calls, the vet is delayed, no surgery yet. They call back. The cat has been looked at again. They have opted for just an antibiotic treatment, no surgery.



I can't help being a little cynical. I do like this clinic. But sometimes I think that they really do go overboard. Tom compares them to dentists. Dentists want the teeth cleaning straightening and whitening even though the straightening and whitening it isn't necessary. The vet wanted to do the same thing to a cat.



Peach is nine years old. He is getting up there in cat years. His teeth weren't bothering him. I bought a cat food that is supposed to help with the cleaning. It didn't cost me an extra$200 as the cleaning under anesthesia would have. The potential extractions were going to cost anywhere from $25 to $125 per tooth and they wouldn't know until they got into Peach's mouth how many or how much. It sounded like a money pit to me.







Peach seems to be responding to the antibiotics. The vet did not charge us for the day stay. He also wasn't happy to hear we were buying our flea meds from Wilco Farm and Feed store. It is more convenient than driving out to the vet clinic. I also don't feel the need to make the required physical inspection of our pets every two years just to receive the flea meds.



Yes, our pets are family members, but I am not going to break the bank over unnecessary annual physicals. I will take them when they are sick, not before. It is a delicate balance where to draw the line.



We had a dog, Bubu. He was a Rottweiler, well loved and respected. We bought a king size bed, because our old double bed was too small with the dog sleeping with us in the middle. I would have to shove to keep my space in the bed.



Bubu blew out his ACL, one of his knees just gave while he was running in the yard. The Vet wanted to ship him to the veterinary college in Pullman Washington for a mere $25,000 for a complete knee rebuild. I asked if we could just chop the leg off. He compromised and charged us $2500 for a local repair. Two years later, Bubu grew a tumor in another leg. It metastasized quickly. He spent three months on pain killers and treatments before we said goodbye to him. He was our most expensive pet medically and he still died.



I am willing to spend the money, but I have learned to be reasonable. Vets are like any other business. They want you to spend as much as you are willing with them. Give them your limits. Don't let emotion rule and overtake your pocket book. I just saved my cat and $500 at least.