Insurance renewal

[Elle]

Not sure Sarah. You could try looking on the Agria website or ringing them, they are very helpful there.

[Kristi]

Apr 19, 2011 10:14:51 GMT Lucy said:

Apr 19, 2011 0:00:19 GMT Kristi said:

I am kind of of the mind that while I love them dearly, there are certain things I will not do for a pet--e.g. chemo, cancer treatments, etc. I would rather let them enjoy their last few months than have them treated through the wazoo for things. That's probably just me, tho...

Does that apply to all of your dogs (including the ones you show)?

It does,...I love my dogs but there are certain stresses I don't want to put on my HUMAN family. I know its maybe an odd approach to take. If it was a young dog, and I had them insured, I would give serious thought to having it treated, but frankly I can't afford a $15k vet bill for a dog that might or might not make it, no matter how much I love them

[Lucy]

No I understand what you're saying and to be honest, I do agree with you. I think its A LOT to put a dog through as well. I've had animals all my life and we have had rabbits with cancer, a cat with a twisted stomach etc and it is heartbreaking.

[Kristi]

Apr 19, 2011 15:30:27 GMT Lucy said:

No I understand what you're saying and to be honest, I do agree with you. I think its A LOT to put a dog through as well. I've had animals all my life and we have had rabbits with cancer, a cat with a twisted stomach etc and it is heartbreaking.

Its just a lot for them to go through, which is why I would be unsure even with a young dog. Its not like a child or an adult where they can understand a means to the end, its pure misery for a dog, and that is why I do everything I can to AVOID it happening in the first place to my dogs thru natural lifestyle, food, etc. Its hearbreaking in any event, and I know many people would think I'm an awful person for their approach. I know a lady who took out a 2nd mortgage on her home to treat her dog and ended up bankrupt. She ended up divorced, unhappy, and the dog didn't make it.

[Paula]

I think it's hard to know until you're facing it. For me I think a lot of it would depend on how old they were, the potential for remission and so forth.

It's definitely a lot to put them through unless the outcome has a really good potential for many more years of life. We need to be aware of the difference between if we're doing it for them or for ourselves too.

[Sarah]

I agree and Paula I love your new sig the pic is prescious

[Paula]

Apr 19, 2011 18:09:29 GMT Sarah said:

I agree and Paula I love your new sig the pic is prescious

Thanks Sarah. x

[Kelly]

Kristi, I am sort of the same as you in your views. (hijack!!)

We do the credit card instead of insurance method. Easier for us.

We know that my 17y/o cat wont be here forever. I would literally throw myself infront of a car for him (and have done). However, I will NOT put him through the stress of having to be medicated for something that will kill him.. (ex. our 4y/o cat had to be pilled twice a day when we found out she had cancer - it didn't help a lot, she still got worse within weeks.. she was okay with being pilled. Zaq is NOT, and wont fall for the pill in food/treats thing - we've tried before). If Zaq had a cancer that was causing him to go downhill quickly like Penelope (4 y/o cat) I would just put him to sleep. Even worming him, he fights and hurts himself.

We had a 7y/o dog with chronic anal gland infections. Dr. said do this $500 surgery, she will be cured. We did it, no questions. She wasn't cured, her anus kept getting infected.. then they tell us her breed tends to get these things often, it's chronic and will never get better. They can put her on steroids, which would cause her liver to fail (or somesuch, it was a while ago) - because they knew her liver was weak (again, might have been kidneys? i forget). We just let her go that day instead of putting her through that.

I guess my point.. young pet, expensive surgery that will fix them for GOOD.. i would most likely do it (i do have limits on funds, however, i am not a millionaire). mid-old pet, surgery that will fix them for good.. would still do it. any age pet, with prognoses not good whether we treat it or not? no thanks. also, like Kristi, I would never put my pets through chemo or similar. As she said, you can't explain to a dog that this extremely painful process MIGHT eventually save them.. no, they just know the months and months of horrid pain and illness. I could never do it.. I wouldn't forgive myself.

All that said, Zaq is the love of my life and I KNOW I will not want to let him go when it's his time.. I will want to be selfish and hold on to every last moment I can with him. My father and spouse have my permission to make the decision for me if the vet advises it and I refuse.