Are pets just a luxury item?

I was reading Von Krankipantzen’s blog, and the blog owner had been taking her cat to the vet for dental odor.  The cat had bad breath which cleared up with antibiotics but then returned again.  The blog writer was commenting that the vets she saw seemed to run a lot of tests which had inconclusive results, and she was dismayed at the costs she incurred while the problem was being diagnosed (or not diagnosed, as the case may be).  Some commenters in her blog implied they felt vets sometimes did unnecessary tests or inflated prices.  At the very least, many people expressed their feeling that the price of vet care was unreasonably high.  A veterinarian then got in on the discussion and left this comment, “It really gets me when people complain about vet bills. Pets are a luxury. You can choose to have them or not. You can choose to take them to the vet or not.”

I wanted to discuss the subject more, so I thought it was worth bringing up here.  I think there are two issues, “Are veterinary expenses unduly high” and “Are pets just a luxury”.

I don’t think the cost of veterinary care is unduly high, but I admit that I bitch and whine at my vet bills just like everyone else.  I complain about the electric bill and the cable bill, too, so it’s just a habit to complain a bit when spending $100+ on something “not fun”.  I also tend to not ask for estimates prior to veterinary care, as I’d just agree to have stuff done regardless of the cost anyway, so sometimes the total is a shock.  I’m getting better at “guess-timating” charges, but there are times I’m completely surprised.  Cricket’s ACL repair, for example, cost hundreds of dollars more than her *two* luxating patella repairs, so the ACL bill was a shock.  We’re always polite about the bills, but yes, sometimes we’re shocked and we might complain a bit.  It’s not a complaint accusing the vet of overcharging, though, it’s more a “ack, the high cost of pet ownership” complaint.  We also are very good to thank the vet for the discounts she gives us, and we will express pleasant surprise when a bill is less than we anticipated.  We’re fair.

Sometimes vet care can seem pricey because the costs vary so much from place to place.  Not only do prices vary regionally, but here in Las Vegas the prices for neutering at various places are all over the rate chart.  The shelter charges $20, the SPCA charges $77, and our vet charges $350 (including pre-op blood work).  The average person might hear the first two rates and just assume neutering costs less than $100, and take their pet to their closest veterinary clinic to have it done, without getting an estimate.  When they get the bill, the total might be a surprise.  The person might be inclined to accuse the vet of overcharging, without taking into account that the vet’s work isn’t subsidised by charity, and that the care the vet offers might in some ways be superior.  More staff members, more supervision, more after-care of the pet—all those things add to the costs.

I think the biggest thing which factors into complaints about the high costs of vet care is that the costs are usually very disproportionate to the “retail value” of the pet.  I’m not one to put a monetary value on a pet, but strictly speaking, the more something costs us the more we expect to have to pay to care for it.  If we buy a $30000 car, it’s under warranty for a few years, and then we expect to have the occasional repair which costs $1000.  If we buy a house for $250000, it’s also often under warranty for a while, but then 10 years down the road we might have to pay $2000 to fix some plumbing.  We expect that expensive things require expensive maintenance.  On the other hand, if you go to an animal shelter and adopt a dog for $13 (like we did Phoenix), it’s a surprise when she needs $500 ear surgery… then $800 bladder surgery… then $1200 eye surgery… etc.  The potential costs of pet ownership are limitless, and sometimes it’s scary and unexpected.  Lots of people have babies they can’t really afford, or who need expensive medical care, but then society steps in and helps out.  The cash-only human health care patient is rare, so I don’t think most people have any idea of the high cost of human medicine, either.  I know there’s pet insurance available, but in our experience it’s of minimal help.  We found that the costs the insurance company would pay for a procedure were so low that the extra which came out of our pockets just equaled what we’d paid in premiums.  The value wasn’t there for us, especially with pets who have recurring problems and insurance which would only cover one instance of testing for something like “feather plucking”.  You may get more mileage from your pet insurance than we did, and I hope you do, but when it comes right down to it I think most pet owners are out there facing the bills all on their own.

As to the second issue, I don’t think pets are a “luxury” or a “right”, but perhaps a “privilege”.  I think we’d be very wrong to limit pet ownership to only those who could pass some sort of income test, because I think pets make “better people”, and teach valuable lessons about love, empathy, and compassion.  I hate to think of all the elderly people who are denied pet ownership either because they live someplace which doesn’t allow it, or because their budget is so tight they can barely feed themselves.  It would be wonderful for society and for all the homeless pets if there was a program to help these people adopt pets without forcing them to worry about the costs of veterinary care.  The vet who commented originally said, “You can choose to take them to the vet or not,” yet I hope that wouldn’t be a viable option for anyone.  How could a person who loves their pet watch it suffer and just choose to not take it for treatment?  In some states, knowing your pet needs veterinary care and not seeking it is a felony (as it should be).

Flippy and I were discussing this today, and it’s such a difficult topic.  Is it better for pets to be euthanized in shelters than to be adopted by people who can’t afford anything beyond the basics?  If we “fixed” the spay/neuter problem in this country and managed to switch to primarily no-kill animal shelters, wouldn’t that save enough money to provide veterinary bill assistance to people who need it?  Would society ever agree to government programs helping people pay their pet care costs, given that so many people get angry when “animals are put above people”?

I obviously don’t know the answers to these questions and I don’t know if there are answers.  I just know that my dogs and cats and parrots have helped keep me company and helped to save my sanity through many tough times in my life.  I stayed in a bad relationship much longer than I should have, partially because I didn’t know how to take my dog, cat, and parrot with me if I left.  The “luxuries”, like diamonds and jewellery I would have left behind willingly, but the pets were my family.  I feel badly that vets who might otherwise love their jobs are put off by constant client complaints about prices, but until a few generations of people get used to the excellent veterinary care available today, and the associated costs, I think the complaints are just going to come with the territory.  If nothing else, perhaps vets need to start insisting that people look at, and sign, estimates for non-emergency care which might be expensive.  At least that gives the reality time to sink in.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 04/21 at 10:13 PM

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  1. I don’t think pets are a luxury “item” because an item is an inanimate object. A pet is a life form with specific needs to maintain its health and well being.

    Vet care is expensive and I wish there were more options when it comes to the expense. I understand vets have support their business and themselves (and many times a family) so I understand the bind they are in when it comes to charging for services. If the costs continue to rise, only the rich people will be able to afford pets and that’s not right.

    I feel as though the pharmacutical companies are trying to take over our pets health needs just as they are taking over our health needs. The more expensive medications cost to the vet, the more they charge the pet owner. It becomes a vicious circle with the pet caught in the middle.

    Posted by Nio  on  04/22  at  08:54 AM

  2. There are several factors that go into the whole equation of veterinary costs.  A good portion of pet owners not only expect but demand quality care.  That means the best diagnostic equipment, the best trained personnel, the latest and greatest monitoring equipment and anesthesia equipment.  They also want a fresh smelling and aesthetically pleasing hospital.  They want comfortable chairs while they wait, current magazines and they want their pet kept comfortable during their visits and hospital stays. 

    Costs will continue to rise, just as the status of the pet has risen.  There was a day when vet care was cheap and if the farm dog couldn’t do it’s job it got a bullet in the skull instead of an expensive surgery to repair the torn cruciate ligament.  A specialized surgery requiring specialized instruments and training to do.

    Veterinary medicine and the care has come a long way.  It will continue to improve and the health and longevity of our pets will likely increase as well.  The cost will follow. 

    A luxury is defined as something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity.  We can live without pets, but who the heck would want to, right??  They keep us healthy, too, I believe.  Unfortunately, we can’t get the people in power to see it the same way and thus they are “property” or a “luxury”. 

    Great blog btw. 

    :-)

    Posted by Nancy Campbell  on  04/22  at  09:52 PM

  3. I think about this alot, as we have senior pets - lost our 13 year old male golden retriever last year, still have his 14 year old sister, and a 15 year old cat.  George got sick 2 years ago - lymphoma, which there’s treatment for, but it’s from an oncologist and the cost was high.  We loved our little guy, and were grateful that 1) the choices all dealt with medicine regimens, and we didn’t have to make heartbreaking decisions about whether painful procedures should be used, and 2) although it was really expensive ($250-350/month), we were able to afford it.  He responded to the medicines and in a week went from old tired out guy to puppy again, and that’s how he stayed for almost a year until it roared back and we had to say our goodbyes.

    Jenny had a malignant mostly removed from her rectum, and she’s on monthly medications which retards the return of the cancer, and she’s doing great - at a cost of around $200/month now that the initial diagnosis and surgery - about $3,000 all told - are taken care of.

    Ziggy’s recently cost $1,500 for various diagnostics on a stomach ailment that has had her in a state of diarrhea.  The dx is a little vague, but the treatment seems to be returning her to health.

    All I can think of is that I’m truly grateful this hadn’t happened 10 years ago, when I was single and made a lot less money, because I would have had no choice but to euthanize these animals.  It saddens me so to know that there are people who are devastated by not having the financial resources for veterinary care, and there are animals who are euthanized instead. 

    I don’t know if society will ever get to a point of acknowledging a need for this kind of care - particularly since medical care for humans seems a very distant hope - but it does seem that there are more and more veterinarians graduating these days.  Vet tech schools are multiplying, and perhaps the growth of the veterinary industry will give rise to some kind of organized funding so that heartbreaking decisions don’t have to be made based solely on financial resources.

    I find myself pondering these days the fact that my next animal companions will likely see me into retirement, and it worries me a great deal that I may not have the financial resources to care for them as they deserve and as a responsible human would care for their pet.  It honestly gives me pause and has me pondering the possibility of not having another pet.

    When I was a kid, cats weren’t ‘fixed’ and no matter how bad a fight my tomcat would get into, my mother wouldn’t consider taking him to the vet; I don’t know if regular shots were a practise in the late 50’s, but my folks certainly never even considered spending any money on vaccines for the cats.  It’s a different world now, and that’s good, but we’ve a ways to go still.

    Posted by Print  on  04/22  at  10:33 PM

  4. Wow. Very thought-invoking blog.

    As to the first question regarding cost of vet care - costs are high.  But then, gas and electric bills are high too.  It’s getting really expensive just to drive to work every day, especially if you have a long commute.

    I think that when you choose a good vet, the expenses are worth it because that vet charges based on providing quality care supported by quality equipment and training.  The difficulty lies in ensuring that you really have chosen a good vet rather than one that racks up the charges just to make money.

    In regards to pharmaceutics, I have to say that is a difficult debate also.  I work for pharmaceutical companies in research and development as a regulatory affairs manager.  Part of what I do is to assess the data gathered on the safety and efficacy of a developing drug over the entirety of the 10+ years it took to develop it to ensure the quality of the data and that it was done with the best interests of people in mind. I have to be sure that it was proven safe above all, and that it was proven effective.  That the patient will be safe.  It is a fine line to walk when you are developing a drug, because a drug has to be safe first and affordable second.  But it can sometimes be more expensive because you have to run the studies to ensure that it is safe before you release it to the public. If you don’t, horrible things can happen. I’m not saying that the expense is unquestionably justified, I’m just saying that profit is not the only reason that drugs are expensive. It’s a difficult balance to maintain and a difficult debate to consider.  And it grows more difficult every day when I meet people who find out what I do and immediately think that my days are spent trying to take their money instead of trying to ensure their safety. Like the question regarding vet care, it is difficult because some pharma companies are expensive because they are producing quality treatments supported by quality equipment and training and some pharma companies are racking up the expenses just to make money. It’s not a black and white topic.

    As to the second question regarding whether pets are a luxury, that one is tough too.  They are a privilege, I think.  And before choosing to have a pet, one must be fully commited to giving them the care they deserve.  I’ve heard those that choose not to treat their pet because the vet bill would be several times what they could spend to just buy another pet.  I could never understand this, because a pet is priceless once it finds a home in my heart.

    But finances are finances and sometimes you cannot afford to save your pet.  It then becomes a choice of quality of life for your pet.  Will your pet be happier in the 2 months he has left spending time with you or sick and miserable undergoing treatment just to try to extend his life an extra couple of months never understanding why they have to go through the treatment they are going through? In less extreme circumstances, can your pet adapt to living happily with a handicap or would it improve their life much more to have a procedure done to give them a better quality of life? Hard questions.  The only thing I can do ever for my pets is to think hard about the quality of life I can give them to the best of my abilities and do that.

    They aren’t just luxury items to me, they’re family.

    Posted by prajantr  on  04/23  at  07:36 AM

  5. Prajantr, I think pharmaceutical companies have a pretty black cloud of public opinion hanging over them right now, which may make people inclined to see the issue as black and white.  Lower drug prices from Canada, drug recalls on Vioxx, record profits from companies like Pfizer, etc.  I personally blame the FDA for many of the problems, and I think that’s an institution which claims to have public interest at heart, but often seems to just regurgitate government policy.  I’d much rather hear them say, “importing drugs from Canada undermines drug company profits which in turn can undermine research”, rather than the usual, “drugs from Canada can be dangerous”.  Yeah, Canada’s just a third world abyss of poisonous pharmaceuticals :p

    Anyway, thanks for weighing in on the subject.  I wrote an entry about immigration a couple of weeks ago because it was something I had personal experience with, so it was good to hear from someone who understands the pharmaceutical industry.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  04/23  at  03:29 PM

  6. Hello, Print :)  I was thinking of you as I was doing our taxes last weekend—I came across a donation form which mentioned George the wonder dog.  I didn’t realize Jenny was on medication—I guess I figured the growth was removed with no further implications, so I’m glad to hear she’s doing well.  With Jenny’s medication and Ziggy’s diagnostics, you may have higher vet expenses than we do, so I hope your vet has promised you your own private parking spot :-)

    If I can’t ever count on the government to subsidise veterinary care, do you think I could hope they might one day allow it as a tax deduction?  Maybe if a 100% deduction was allowed for the costs of spaying and neutering, that might be an incentive for some people.  Otherwise, I’d be willing to accept even a pittance of a deduction via my Schedule C for other expenses.  Considering that I’d be allowed to deduct the tax on a boat, which seems very recreational to me, it would be nice if I’d be allowed to deduct the at least the sales tax portion of my pet care costs.  Nothing says “fun times” like lots of receipts!

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  04/23  at  03:37 PM

  7. I thought this was a wonderful post. I agree. Pets are a privilage. I guess the only thing I have to add is that, while, yes, vet care is expensive, it is much cheaper than the human cost for similar services. Yes, the overhead for running a human medical clinic are higher, as well, which translates to a higher bill to cover expenses.

    Posted by Diana  on  04/24  at  10:27 AM

  8. Diana, I was incredibly shocked when I saw the itemized bill for my hospital stay a couple of years ago.  The room was $800 for one night.  A syringe of morphine, which was distributed via an IV pump, was $600.  That one really bothered me because I threw up after just a couple of pumps and I had to be switched to a different medication, so I paid all that money for something which was wasted.  In contrast, I paid the my surgeon a flat fee of $2700, which included all my follow-up office visits, and I paid the anesthesiologist $1200.  He was so great—when the surgery took less time than expected, he refunded $300!

    In any case, you’re right about expenses—I’d much rather spend a night at the vet’s office for $13 than another noisy, uncomfortable night at the hospital for 60 times the price :p

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  04/24  at  11:17 PM

  9. WOW what a discussion.  You took the words out of my mouth, Leigh-Ann - if you think veterinary medical care is high, look at the human field.  We vets know people use their disposable income to pet for their pets’ health care, and we don’t have a huge percentage of our costs going to administrative and insurance costs, so its lower, but still expensive.

    I was sad to hear about another vet taking a flippant attitude toward this issue.  Obviously, pet ownership is not strictly a necessity, but then neither is a car, but most Americans can’t live without either, eh?  Seriously, pets aren’t exactly property (though they are mostly classified that way legally) and they aren’t valued as much as humans, but no one can deny their worth to the people bonded to them.

    I think a lot of vets get burned out by people who don’t value their knowledge or the services they provide, and who are so out of touch of the actual costs incurred by medical care.  The best thing we can do is educate them, show them how cost effective preventative care is, and teach them the amazing things that we are able to do to relieve animal suffering and prolong their lives.

    Posted by vetmommy  on  04/25  at  06:53 PM

  10. You have asked some very tough questions here.  For me.. having a pet is pretty much a necessity.  I can not imagine my life without a furkid by my side.  With pet ownership comes responsibility.  With responsibility comes vet bills.  For me..it is just a given. But I am realistic enough to realize that I am, in many ways, the exception to the rule.  Will the governments ever offer assistance for pet/vet bills.. I very much doubt it.. and in all honesty I am not sure that they should.  Difficult questions.. that is for sure.  Especially for those with little money and big hearts.

    Posted by Simply Coll  on  04/25  at  10:03 PM

  11. Pets are definitely not a luxury. I agree that “privilege” is a much better term. I have pet insurance for Snickers. It paid off the first year and broke even the second, so I keep it for emergencies. Veterinary care in NYC is incredibly expensive, but then again so is everything else! Luckily, I knew what I was getting into when I got him, so even when it is painfully expensive, at least it is not a surprise.

    I don’t think there is any way the government would EVER subsidise pet care/ownership or even allow a deduction for pets. Even if you could get past the fact that too many people would never agree pets are that important, there would just be way too much room for fraud. I think it is up to pet people to take care of other pet people - vets that do some charity work, foundations to help poorer people have pets, etc.

    I don’t think society at large will ever value pets the way that some of us do. It’s truly their loss.

    Posted by jg  on  04/29  at  11:29 PM

  12. Oh, and I also meant to say… the vet who thought pet owners could CHOOSE whether to take their pet to the vet should not be a practicing vet! That’s terribly callous.

    Posted by jg  on  04/29  at  11:30 PM

  13. Thanks to everyone for weighing in on the subject—it was interesting to hear everyone’s opinions, even though we seem to generally all agree :cheese:  The subject is near and dear to my heart, not just because we invest a lot of money into our pets now, but because it’s something I’ve felt obligated to do since I was a teenager.  I can remember my father being furious with me when, at age 16, I spent $800 of my own money for veterinary care for my sick parrot.  My father isn’t a bad guy but it thought it was ridiculous to spend so much, even though it was money I’d earned by working.  That parrot is still alive today, 24 years later!

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  04/30  at  04:40 PM

  14. I am the “callus” vet, the one who should not be practicing..the one who has a “flippant attitude”.

    Those who know me and read my blog daily, know that neither of the comments fit.  Anyone who has me out at their farm, knows I am damn good veterinarain.

    I still believe pets are a luxury and certinaly they are a privilage to own.  I also agree they have many benefits, I see it when I take Gracie for therapy visits.  A luxury items is something that is a choice to have..some things like food, shelter,medical care are neccessities.  My pets are luxury items, whould I go to the ends of the earth for them, absolutly.

    Posted by twisteduterus  on  05/05  at  04:36 AM

  15. Hey ladycakes. I understand both sides of the issue. I’ve had plenty of vets try to talk me into procedures that I knew my pet didn’t need. I’ve also found several who are very kind and understand that loving your pet doens’t equal going overboad with treatment. A good vet would never place an animal in jeopardy to make a buck or try to make a pet owner feel incompetent or guilty by pushing unnecessary services. The fact is that many pet owners simply don’t know the facts and some vets take advantage of that- but they are a minority.

    Knowing Dagny personally, I know that she is one of the good guys. She would never try to pressure someone into unnecessary treatment- she would just suggest the best thing for the animal. She adores animals, and treats hers like kings and queens. She’s looking at having a cart made for her three legged dog, Ilean, because her good back leg is giving out from the strain. In other words, she is planning to care for Ilean as an almost totally disabled pet, which not many folks I know would do. 

    I really think that what Dagny meant by “luxury item” is that if you decide to own a pet, you have to be willing to be financially responsible for its care. For instance, I have a weenie dog, and at some point I may have to spend thousands of dollars fixing his back problems. I knew that when I got him, and I accept responsibility. I think what bothers Dagny is when people own an animal and then bitch and whine about the cost of its care, or just don’t take care of it at all. She has to deal with the backlash of a lot of that. She has to put animals down because they are suffering- because their owners didn’t spend the time or money to keep them healthy and they’ve reached a point of no return. It rightfully makes her angry.

    I’m saying all of this, because I want everyone to know that Dagny is the sweetest person in the world, and she devotes almost all of her waking hours to the care of animals.

    Posted by Amanda B.  on  05/05  at  09:21 AM

  16. Hello Amanda, and welcome, Dagny :)  Speaking just for myself, I didn’t have any issue with the “luxury item” statement, I only had issue with the idea that a person could choose whether or not to take their pet to the vet.  Now, perhaps this is just a semantics issue—perhaps Dagny meant that by choosing whether or not to own a pet at all, a person was choosing whether or not they wanted to incur vet bills.  That, I understand—it’s like avoiding complaining about the high price of gasoline by choosing not to drive a car.  I’ll admit this interpretation only occurred to me this morning, though.  Otherwise, it just seemed so harsh to think that a person was being given permission, by a veterinarian, to not properly care for their animals.

    I’ve read Dagny’s blog and know she’s a great pet owner and loves her animals.  I didn’t mean for my blog entry to be any sort of attack on her (which is why I didn’t identify her, and originally had no link to VonKrankipantzen), I really just wanted to address the issue of whether or not pets were a luxury, or whether an argument could be made that they were a necessity in an enriched and fulfilled life.  The issue of whether or not an owner was obligated to seek veterinary care for their pet was a secondary issue, but obviously turned into the one which received the most attention.  I believe that’s the issue which upset the people who commented here.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  05/05  at  11:30 AM

  17. hey there is always room for all opinions.  i just wnated to sort of defend myself a bit from some of the comments, that is all…cause i do what i do becasue i enjoy animals and their owners.

    Posted by twisteduterus`  on  05/05  at  12:09 PM

  18. I gotcha babe, I didn’t know if you knew Dagny’s site or not. I just wanted to let people know she’s good peeps. Thanks for listening.  :cheese:

    Posted by Amanda B.  on  05/05  at  03:46 PM

  19. is there no charity to help the elderly with vet costs? y not my moms dog is very sick and my parents have very little my mother has had many medical problems and her little dog has helped her recover now they will sell the only home they ever owned for this dogs well being it is so very sad.

    Posted by schwartz  on  01/15  at  03:08 PM

  20. Schwartz, there are quite a few programs geared towards helping seniors and low-income earners with emergency pet care bills, but they all have different application procedures and requirements, and a lot of times, it depends on where you live.  You didn’t list your location, but in northern California, UC Davis has a special low-cost clinic for seniors.  Give me a day or so and I’ll write a blog entry listing all the charities I’m aware of which could help.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  01/16  at  05:49 AM

  21. Okay, all done—here’s a tinyurl version of a link to my blog entry on emergency veterinary funding:

    http://tinyurl.com/yafq7p

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  01/16  at  06:44 AM
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