Would you get a pet pts because of the cost of treatment?

[Reluctantadult]

Vet treatment is absolutely hammering our finances. Dcat is 16 and diabetic, currently badly controlled and in the middle of trying to sort. Ddog is 12 and has just needed his second lot of tooth extractions - which comes with the territory for greyhound types unfortunately. I think we must have spent £800 teeth, £665 teeth, £3000 things at emergency vet for cat, £100 baseline per month diabetic care. No insurance. Luckily we've been able to pay, it's come out of a pot of inheritance dh received, £30k left which we are never going to see the likes of again and which is earmarked for the kids futures. Dh thinks if more things come up now, particularly with the cat, that might need to be it. He doesn't want to see more money going on diagnosis and treatment. I'm not sure how i would handle that decision. I would want to diagnose before pts, and have it medical led. But it's not really my money. But i would have to cuddle dcat when he goes and live with it. What do others think?

The general answer to your question depends on a lot of variables, but in the circumstances you've described, the cat would be pts without a qualm. It's clearly at the end of its life. The grey won't get many more years, but if its just teeth for now then I'd pay that and take a decision if/when there is something else.

No, if I chose not to have insurance and I had the means I'd continue to fund treatment as long as my pet isn't suffering

My dcat is up to about £1500 for something that is deffo going to be fixed with zero ongoing issues - it's a massive dent in our finances but he's 8 and otherwise rudely healthy.

A 16yo cat with ongoing, uncontrolled diabetes is NOT living his best life, you are going to be spending £££ more with unknown results, extending his life which could be full of pain and confusion, not even thinking about future complications.

At what point would you consider stopping treatment if money were no object? I think that would be my starting point.

Thanks @Can2022getanyworse .i might write an actual list. Eating normally. Not drinking excessively. Maintaining weight. Those would be the main three as that indicates diabetes under control. The difficulty is when those are not right you get caught in a cycle of trying to right them. Which is where we are now. Not weeing in the house would be a fourth.

What is the cat experiencing from his point of view? I used an on line tool I found to weigh up when to make the final call for my dog. It is a horrible decision to make and I found the vet agreed once I made it but wouldn't suggest it. After my first dogs treatment went on too long and the vet suggested a big op on a hamster which I went a long with stupidly I realised it is down to me to do the right thing for an animal that lives in the here and now . I've also had a lot of treatment on a young cat who recovered well but it was horrible at the time and I am not sure that was right to put him through that in hind sight.

@Doingmybest12 do you remember what the tool was called?

I’m not for putting animals down due to finances, they are a member of the family and should be treated as such, and often people just go and replace the problem.
But in your circumstances I think you’d be right to PTS your cat. It probably feels very unwell with the out of control diabetes. Animals often hide pain/discomfort.

Yes.Animals live in the moment and have no hopes and dreams for the future

I've just tried to find it again but can't. I did lots of googling re how do I know its the right time etc. Also read mumsnet threads. The tool I used though asked questions about are you spending a lot of time worrying about this as well as directly about the pet which I thought was interesting to think about. I knew it was the end it was just the deciding on timing, all our adult children had been home for a holiday and said goodbye and that's when I decided it was the last day. No regrets. You will know in your heart what is right.

Thanks @Doingmybest12 .it's keeping be awake at night trying to judge this right.

I would with the cat.

Any elderly cat with ongoing health issues it should be a consideration due to how good they are at masking pain and suffering.

Yes, I would.

I don't agree with prolonging the life of very sick pets by medication. I agree that Vet bills habe become extortionate.

I am definitely an animal lover. Our cat is very much a family member.

However at 16 and with diabetes, I think having the cat pts is kinder than ongoing treatment. And that’s without the cost being factored in.

Whether I’d have an animal pts for purely financial reasons I’m not sure. I’m of the opinion that a lot of costs means a lot of treatments, so unless it was going to guarantee a healthy outcome (as much as one can guarantee it) then I’m not sure I’d pursue treatment. For example I’d pay for an injury to be treated in an otherwise healthy animal, but not necessarily an ongoing medical issue.

Absolutely. But then I eat animals, so I’m pragmatic and not overly soppy about the ones I keep as pets.

Besides which, animals don’t know that they’re in pain or discomfort because you feel you have a duty to keep them alive or love them so much that you can’t let them go and are hoping they’ll get better. They just know they’re in pain or discomfort and have no concept of an end point. Keeping elderly animals alive artificially when you’ve really no idea of their actual pain level isn’t in their best interests.

I think it depends on age of pet, your cat is old & you’ve looked after it well for all this time now it sounds like it is suffering so it comes to point where enough is enough & quality of life isn’t good. However having any pet without insurance (unless you can afford vet fees without) is hugely irresponsible especially with dogs & I emphatically believe you shouldn’t have pets unless you can affirm them for the entirety of their life.

Animals(pets) don’t view the future like we do, they just live for the moment. They can mask pain very well, eating is not a sign they are happy & content.

I personally feel too much medical intervention on pets is cruel. Fair enough if it is allowing a better quality of life but generally it is just putting off the inevitable.

don't feel guilty for making this tough call, but you do need to look at the bigger picture here.

Personally, I would see it the other way, and ask whether I could live with myself if I spent thousands of pounds that could provide for my children on a very elderly cat.

The answer would be an emphatic no.

I had my 16 Yr old cat pts in feb and went through the turmoil. We had been on holiday and it was what our cat sitter (a good friend of mine) said that made me make the call

He had thyroid issues which we had tablets for which was fine. What tipped it was he has a seizure in Jan which left him instantly blind. When we were away he basically didn't move from where she left him in the morning to where he was where she saw him in the evening. We had to take him to his food and litter tray and he was getting dehydrated as he couldn't smell the water. He wasn't ill which is why we kept putting it off but he couldn't adapt to his sudden blindness and would walk into walls, go round in circles and as my cat sitter said he seemed scared. After some sleepless nights I just spoke to my husband and said 'this is the best his life is going to be and realistically is the quality what we would want for him' and phoned the vet. It was the hardest thing I have ever done (I rescued him before I met my husband) and was distraught but I know in my heart it was the right call as he had gone from being very independent to being unable to go around the house unaided.

From what you have said just consider - if this is the best your cats life is going to be, how much quality of life does he have? And base your decision on that.

The dog I would fund without question but kitty I would be seriously considering their future

I wish you well whatever you decide

I agree.

I appreciate it can be hard to be so pragmatic when it's a beloved pet but at some point I think many owners, myself included at times forget what would be in the animals best interests and instead focus on doing everything possible to extend their lives.

The cat is 16 and unfortunately he's likely to be masking how uncomfortable he is, it would be kinder in this situation to let him go now rather than put him through more treatment.

For me it would depend on each circumstance but I have tbh in that a 16yrs cat has had a good lifespan and with only deterioration ahead I think if pts before they suffered . 12 yrs dog with bad teeth no I wouldn't .

This is my experience
im never told the full picture
so the scan ,then leads to an X-ray ,well that wasn’t explained
the blood tests lead to a scan and then medication at A cost monthly not included in pet insurance..always pushing for the next thing

A big op on a hamster …omg
thats awful ,
and it’s hard to say no to vets ,but sometimes we must

Absolutely! Fuck your kids everyone and put every single penny you have into an already dying animal!

Yes. My husband was asked to take our dog in for a review of meds. He wasn’t told about any cost. Just invited for the review. That review cost him. Our new 18month pup was taken for a check up as we were rehoming her. The vet didn’t even weigh her, check her teeth or her body. Just gave her an injection ‘just in case’. Of course there was a charge for the injection but also a charge for a scant check up. I noticed after how bad her teeth were and managed to treat her myself with a powder you put in her food. Saved me about £300 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻