From: lhuffman@stsci.edu
Subject: Re: Neutering question
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: usa,na
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 23:40:06 GMT


In article <1992Nov16.212236.26128@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, rkn3u@kelvin.seas.Virginia.EDU (R. Keith Norwood) writes:
> In article <1992Nov16.194804.3493@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> barlow@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu (Rebel) writes:
>>
>>When my cat Zeb(female) went to be spayed not only did they keep her
>>overnight the night following surgery but also the night before so
>>they could regulate her food and water and so that she would be calmer 
>>the next morning. The night following stay was to watch for complications
>>from the anesthesia. I am personally offended by this reply which
>>suggests that the only thing the vet cares about is his paycheck....Zeb
>>was given the best of care and in the case of an emergency qualified
>>people would be on hand to help something I could not accomplish at home.
>>Steve, the question I would ask you is does the amount of money for
>>your pet matter that much to you. You would expect an overnight stay in
>>the hospital if YOU had major surgery, why shouldn't your cat expected
>>the same? This just buggs me alot...in league with people who think
>>33 cents a can for food is WAY too expensive for a cat!! Please!
>>
>>Jen (proud mommy to Zeb
> 
> Unless you have a fat wallet, there is a limit to how much you will spend
> on your cat.  This amount varies with the individual but there is no "correct"
> amount. 
> 
> For instance, about a year ago I my cat Ziggy broke his hip and the vet 
> wanted $600 to fix it.  I told her that I didn't have it and asked about
> Ziggy's options, she made suggestions like:  "Charge it to your visa"; 
> "take out a loan"; and "ask your parents for the money". I repeated my answer
> and asked again about Ziggy's options. She said that he probably wouldn't 
> live 6 months, you really shouldn't wait, he's in a lot of pain, etc.  
> I replied, "If he's in so much pain, how much does it cost to put him down".  
> I'll never forget the look on her face.  Her mouth dropped and she started 
> stuttering, "What do you mean put him down"?  
> I repeated, "If he's in that much pain, just put him to sleep because I 
> don't have $600!" 
> "Well aren't you being a bit premature?", she said.  
> 
> To make a long story short, she agreed that I should take Ziggy home and 
> see what happens.  Ziggy went home and he is getting along nicely with his 
> broken hip.  Now if I had that kind of disposable income, I would've had 
> the surgery done ASAP.  But the vet's attitude showed me that she could 
> understand "I don't have it".  Only, when I threatened to put Ziggy down
> did she stop pushing the surgery at any price. Lastly, she really wasn't 
> concerned for Ziggy's health because I asked her to do the surgery at cost
> and her reply was a big fat "No!".  
> 
> 
> This isn't meant as a flame but consideration should be given to
> circumstances other than your own.  Whose to say that an elderly
> person on a fixed income MUST fix her ailing cat with there life savings.  
> 
> Peace,
> Keith


Perhaps we forget sometimes that vets are also BUSINESS PEOPLE. How much they 
have to eat is a direct result of how much money has been spent at their 
clinics. As in purchasing anything, be careful with whom and how you spend 
your money. If you don't like the first opinion, seek a second or third. A 
'DR." in front of the name only means they had the wherewithall to attend 
school. What kind of humans beings they are is as variable as in any other 
profession.
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