To ask what you would do for your pets?

Pretty much anything if it was in their interest and fair on them. They’re family to us.

Years ago the insurance only covered about £7k of costs and we paid thousands on top. We had to put it on a credit card at the time.

We’re financially comfortable now and have paid thousands for them in recent years. One of our pets would have died very young without an operation and treatment. She’s now 5 and has a normal life expectancy.

Would you get into debt to pay their treatment?
No.
Would you sacrifice your own health needs to pay for theirs?
No
Would you use up your savings?
No
If insurance couldn't cover, or couldn't cover much, would you happily pay the rest?
No

Sorry but it's a cat who I have looked after for 15 years. He's had a good life but I wouldn't be spending a lot of money to prolong it.

The answer to your questions is no.

I would not let my pets suffer, but at the same time I would not put my own health (financial and otherwise) at risk either.

Would you get into debt to pay their treatment?
No.
Would you sacrifice your own health needs to pay for theirs?
No
Would you use up your savings?
No
If insurance couldn't cover, or couldn't cover much, would you happily pay the rest?
It depends how much. I've paid for dental work not covered by insurance.
Hundreds, thousands?
Again depends, hundreds yes, thousands probably not.

I don't get the argument that they are like children because I would say yes to all of those for my DC but not for my dog. I love her, look after her well but there are limits, especially as they have a more limited lifespan than humans.

I see your opinions and raise you donkies. Far superior in pet top trumps. Although not when they get out and scratch themselves on your wing mirrors and break them so they hang down like spaniels ears.

I’m very sorry you are in this situation OP. I think we need more context to decide whether you are being “reasonable” or “selfish”. You had pet insurance so I see you were trying to be responsible but they won’t pay out. If you are living a good standard of living e.g. nice cars, holidays, expensive hobbies etc. so have spent all your money on this then it’s potentially selfish to let your animal suffer. Totally different if you are struggling to make ends meet though.

What is your plan and what’s the condition, broadly? If it’s something relatively minor but causing a lot of suffering I would be doing all I could to put it right, especially if the alternative is PTS. Could you come up with a payment plan with the vets? Would an animal charity help? Loan from friends/family? If it’s something that can be left without your pet suffering or something very serious anyway where PTS might be kinder, I think that’s different.

To answer your questions, I wouldn’t drain my savings and go into debt. Currently we’re in a situation with a rescue dog where we weren’t made aware/warned about their potential needs beforehand. Although this isn’t impacting too badly financially atm, we’re putting the dogs needs above our own heath and other needs. Not sure this will be sustainable for us long-term, so we’re doing all we can to address their behaviours.

I'm with PetPlan. They're expensive but they've never refused to pay out. They've actually paid out more than I've paid them over the years. I have hit the yearly limit a couple of times and had to cover the rest myself. Growing up we did get into debt having uninsured pets treated. That's why I've always invested in a good lifetime policy with my own pets as an adult. I would do anything for them.

Fair point. I’ve never had a bond with a cat.

What's the treatment?

Thats just your opinion
We always had dogs growing up and I love my cat way more than I ever loved those dogs. Maybe it's different because she is actually "mine" rather than family or my mum's dogs but I don't think you can make that blanket statement for everyone

It depends on what it was. If the treatment would completely cure him and give him a great quality of life, then I would pay anything for my dog even if I had to go without myself. If it was cancer treatment for example that would only prolong his life by a couple of months while he suffered, then no I wouldn’t pay thousands for that.

My dad was a vet and I have lots of pets. If it will vastly improve a suffering animals life then yes I would pay ( removing a huge tumour on a young dogs leg for example) . If it's putting an older animal through invasive surgery or treatment to gain an extra year or two ( chemo on a 12 year old cat for example) then it's a no for me.

Is this for a cat or a dog?
As awful as it sounds, I don’t think the relationship is anywhere near the same with a cat as you have with a dog (I have dogs and previously had cats). I wouldn’t pay £1000 on top of insurance for a cat even though I can afford it. I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at tens of thousands for one of my dogs (I mean obviously I would, it’s a hideous amount of money, but I would probably go as far as remortgaging my house if it would actually save them).

Yes to all really. My cats are my world- and I have children
Last year one of my cats was referred to a specialist vet. He has insurance, but the bill still came to £1200 over his limit. I went into debt to pay that bill because his life was worth more to me. I used up the spare cash in my ISA and put the rest on a credit card.

The cat made a full recovery and I appreciate every day he is still with us. I didn't put my own health in jeopardy thankfully because it wasn't necessary, but I was prepared to eat beans on toast for a bit if we needed to.

When we take on a pet, we take on the responsibility to put their needs above our own as far as I'm concerned.

I would do, and spend, anything when it comes to my pets.

My animals can’t look after themselves, they rely on me to do that. When I took on each animal I have I also took on that responsibility and there really isn’t anything I wouldn’t do when it comes to their wellbeing.

Well, I guess I wouldn’t murder anyone. Maybe that’s the line I wouldn’t cross 😄

Is the treatment to make the animal’s life better, or to keep her alive because I love her and want her to live? These are often very different things.

If my pet had cancer I’d probably put her to sleep rather than treat the cancer. I believe for an animal who lives in the Now, with no understanding of a future, decisions should bear that in mind. Your dog or cat can’t understand awfulness for a couple of months buying a couple of years of good health; they are in distress now. With people, we can bear chemo and surgery and side effects because of the hope of recovery. A Labrador cannot.

So for me, prolonged suffering and pain of treatment in the present for a future without the disease isn’t a fair bargain. I would choose not to go down the expensive treatment route and PTS.

For £2k dental work allowing the dog or cat to eat normally and resume a happy life, yes, I would raid the savings or discuss a repayment plan.

So it’s not a straightforward money Vs treatment decision.

My husband run into a burning flat to get our cat out.

Our insurance was to the maximum possible amount but still didn't cover the full amount of the complex cancer surgery couple of years later. We paid a few grand on top without even discussing it. What made it even more heartbreaking was the (amazing) vet still having to ask at every step whether we would proceed based on cost.

Yes, we are lucky to have the money. But I would not get a pet if I couldn't afford the best quality of life and any treatment they might need.

I’d pay absolutely anything as long as it would genuinely heal or improve quality of life. What I wouldn’t do is pay to prolong the life of an animal with a miserable quality of life because I am not ready to let go.

However, I have the means to do this without making myself homeless, or unable to eat or heat my home. I’d go without heating, survive on as little food as possible etc to do the above if needed…but the line I wouldn’t cross is sacrificing the ability to provide a warm, safe home and warm, decent food for my human children.

Ultimately though, if something is beyond your reach financially, there’s no magic money tree and you can’t magic money from thin air. I would exhaust all avenues such as a credit card, loan etc however.

Debt - only up to a point and only if I was confident of the outcome of treatment. Not really relevant as have insurance.

Use up savings - as above

Neglect my own health- no

Pay beyond insurance- no. Excess and thats it.

I wouldn't do that, no. In my current financial position. If the treatment was thousands and would give the animal another year or so of life, at limited capacity, then I'd sadly have to pts. If it was in the hundreds I'd definitely pay, and would sacrifice certain things for myself to do so. If I wasn't on benefits and was a millionaire, I think I would spend several thousand as I'd be able to afford it.

I would do absolutely anything for my pets. I also strongly believe you shouldn't have pets if you're not willing or able to pay vet's bills. No decent owner would leave an animal to suffer and vets will often do a payment plan if you can't afford to pay all at once so there's no excuse.

As much as a person with kids would do for them.

Probably more.