Vet fees spiralling and I can't afford it

Undervalued

onwards&upwards said:

Undervalued said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

You would have your dog killed?  Really?  

Don't pretend its anything to do with concerns about quality of life.  Thousands of dogs have cruciate ligament surgery every year and they survive the cage rest just fine and go on to have happy active lives. 

If you aren't willing to pay for the care your dog needs and deserves then look at rehoming, go to Labrador breed rescues first.  Your dog loves you and trusts you and she is not disposable!!

Ultimately, she is my dog, so the question was do I have the right to ask for her to be put to sleep as her owner. I'm just trying to weigh up the right option for me and my family. 

Its a completely disgusting question to ask about an animal that just has a torn ligament. 

Weigh up what's right for your dog, forget about you.   You've already left her without treatment for too long, possibly breaking the law that protects her welfare. 

God, sometimes humans are the worst. 

She has had treatment for everything as per the vets advice. I have not once refused any treatment for her. I'll send you a copy of her medical notes that you can read whilst you're sat up there on your high horse  👍 

You are literally asking if its legal to kill your dog because she has become inconvenient. 

Which it is, providing it is done humanely!

I'm actually ok about being 'on my high horse' about that.  Can you not see how wrong it is?  Do you not love your dog?  Can you really look into her trusting happy face and coldly decide that you'll have her killed?

Not in the eyes of the law which regards an animal as property.

Are you really saying that there are no lengths and expense you wouldn't go to to provide advanced medical treatment to a pet dog etc? Regardless of all other aspects of your life? That is entirely up to you but you have no right to impose that point of view on others who wish to take a different lawful course.

I used to work with somebody who always had about half a dozen rescued cats and dogs. He gave them an excellent quality of life but would not pay for anything beyond basic routine veterinary treatment. Should they need more and their quality of life was significantly reduced they would be put down. His argument was that overall more animals would benefit and get some excellent years of quality life from the amount of money he was able and willing to spend. He also questioned whether it was right to impose the trauma of major treatment on an animal that couldn't understand what was happening and why.

I am not saying I would be comfortable behaving the way he did but I would 100% respect his right to do so.

I absolutely don't. 

It would have been much better for him to take on fewer animals in order to be able to care properly for the ones he had.  

I would never ever kill one of my animals for financial reasons.  Never.  The very thought is utterly abhorrent. 

If people really believed what they were doing was ok they wouldn't use euphemisms like 'put to sleep' or 'put down' either.  

You are entitled to your opinion, just as others are entitled to take a different lawful course.

KxMx

For my cat Vet bills totalled approximately £3500, the majority of which was a specialist Vet as local couldn't diagnose, this was purely diagnostic only. 
I opted not to persue treatment and the diagnosis probably came too late anyway.

Big bills don't always come from major treatment.

As I'm on a low income it's a good job I had insurance.

onwards&upwards

Undervalued said:

onwards&upwards said:

Undervalued said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

You would have your dog killed?  Really?  

Don't pretend its anything to do with concerns about quality of life.  Thousands of dogs have cruciate ligament surgery every year and they survive the cage rest just fine and go on to have happy active lives. 

If you aren't willing to pay for the care your dog needs and deserves then look at rehoming, go to Labrador breed rescues first.  Your dog loves you and trusts you and she is not disposable!!

Ultimately, she is my dog, so the question was do I have the right to ask for her to be put to sleep as her owner. I'm just trying to weigh up the right option for me and my family. 

Its a completely disgusting question to ask about an animal that just has a torn ligament. 

Weigh up what's right for your dog, forget about you.   You've already left her without treatment for too long, possibly breaking the law that protects her welfare. 

God, sometimes humans are the worst. 

She has had treatment for everything as per the vets advice. I have not once refused any treatment for her. I'll send you a copy of her medical notes that you can read whilst you're sat up there on your high horse  👍 

You are literally asking if its legal to kill your dog because she has become inconvenient. 

Which it is, providing it is done humanely!

I'm actually ok about being 'on my high horse' about that.  Can you not see how wrong it is?  Do you not love your dog?  Can you really look into her trusting happy face and coldly decide that you'll have her killed?

Not in the eyes of the law which regards an animal as property.

Are you really saying that there are no lengths and expense you wouldn't go to to provide advanced medical treatment to a pet dog etc? Regardless of all other aspects of your life? That is entirely up to you but you have no right to impose that point of view on others who wish to take a different lawful course.

I used to work with somebody who always had about half a dozen rescued cats and dogs. He gave them an excellent quality of life but would not pay for anything beyond basic routine veterinary treatment. Should they need more and their quality of life was significantly reduced they would be put down. His argument was that overall more animals would benefit and get some excellent years of quality life from the amount of money he was able and willing to spend. He also questioned whether it was right to impose the trauma of major treatment on an animal that couldn't understand what was happening and why.

I am not saying I would be comfortable behaving the way he did but I would 100% respect his right to do so.

I absolutely don't. 

It would have been much better for him to take on fewer animals in order to be able to care properly for the ones he had.  

I would never ever kill one of my animals for financial reasons.  Never.  The very thought is utterly abhorrent. 

If people really believed what they were doing was ok they wouldn't use euphemisms like 'put to sleep' or 'put down' either.  

You are entitled to your opinion, just as others are entitled to take a different lawful course.

Doesn't stop me being disgusted by it, and I hope the vet will refuse to kill this dog, that I'm guessing is perhaps only 3 years old, as the OP says they have paid the insurance for 3 years, and she's dodged the question so maybe wants everyone to think this is a doddery old dog with not many good years left anyway rather than a young animal with many happy times ahead after a brief blip of a routine surgery and a short cage rest! 

OP here are some links to Labrador rescues, they won't want to see your dog die for this reason and may well take her and find her a better owner:

https://www.labrador-rescue.org.uk/index.html

https://labrador-lifeline.com/rehome/

https://www.labrescuekent.co.uk

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findarescue/Default.aspx?breed=2048

https://www.homealabrador.net

http://www.labradorwelfare.org

https://www.team-edward-labrador-rescue.co.uk

http://www.lrrss.co.uk

Ballerina78

rachel6188 said How old is she? If she is already showing signs of arthritis then being honest then she could possibly end up with it in her leg after the operation. My staffie had to be pts last year he had arthritis and sadly his back legs went completely and the vet told me that as it had happened and he had not recovered in the 12 hours since it had happened even with pain relief and other medication that the best thing for him was to put him to sleep. It broke my heart we had had him from 8 weeks old and he was 14 when he passed my boys absolutely adored him and even now they ask for him. I would say have a big talk with your vet hun. I hope whatever decision you make you will be at peace with. My love is with you all x

She is 4. She limped on both legs on/off originally but all the vet has advised for the last 4 weeks Is rest and anti inflammatories. However the left leg has now gone completely and after X rays etc they have said its the cruciate ligament.
The vet has just changed his quote continuously. Initially they told me £1500 for surgery, then it jumped to £2400 and now it's £3000. I spoke to the vet on Saturday and he said this doesn't include follow up appointments, xrays or medication  needed. So it just got to the point when we sat and said at what point do we stop paying our?  It's awful to put a price on your dogs life but the vet has made it clear that the other leg is likely to go in the next 12 months. He also said arthritis will set in quickly. 

onwards&upwards

4 years old 

Please please contact a rescue

KxMx

As I and others have urged contact rescues and see if they will take her. Also get a second opinion from a Vet at a separate practice. 

I can understand you asking the questions you are asking, but despite saying how much you love & care for her you don't seem desperate to explore options other than PTS. 

Ballerina78

onwards&upwards said:

Undervalued said:

onwards&upwards said:

Undervalued said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

You would have your dog killed?  Really?  

Don't pretend its anything to do with concerns about quality of life.  Thousands of dogs have cruciate ligament surgery every year and they survive the cage rest just fine and go on to have happy active lives. 

If you aren't willing to pay for the care your dog needs and deserves then look at rehoming, go to Labrador breed rescues first.  Your dog loves you and trusts you and she is not disposable!!

Ultimately, she is my dog, so the question was do I have the right to ask for her to be put to sleep as her owner. I'm just trying to weigh up the right option for me and my family. 

Its a completely disgusting question to ask about an animal that just has a torn ligament. 

Weigh up what's right for your dog, forget about you.   You've already left her without treatment for too long, possibly breaking the law that protects her welfare. 

God, sometimes humans are the worst. 

She has had treatment for everything as per the vets advice. I have not once refused any treatment for her. I'll send you a copy of her medical notes that you can read whilst you're sat up there on your high horse  👍 

You are literally asking if its legal to kill your dog because she has become inconvenient. 

Which it is, providing it is done humanely!

I'm actually ok about being 'on my high horse' about that.  Can you not see how wrong it is?  Do you not love your dog?  Can you really look into her trusting happy face and coldly decide that you'll have her killed?

Not in the eyes of the law which regards an animal as property.

Are you really saying that there are no lengths and expense you wouldn't go to to provide advanced medical treatment to a pet dog etc? Regardless of all other aspects of your life? That is entirely up to you but you have no right to impose that point of view on others who wish to take a different lawful course.

I used to work with somebody who always had about half a dozen rescued cats and dogs. He gave them an excellent quality of life but would not pay for anything beyond basic routine veterinary treatment. Should they need more and their quality of life was significantly reduced they would be put down. His argument was that overall more animals would benefit and get some excellent years of quality life from the amount of money he was able and willing to spend. He also questioned whether it was right to impose the trauma of major treatment on an animal that couldn't understand what was happening and why.

I am not saying I would be comfortable behaving the way he did but I would 100% respect his right to do so.

I absolutely don't. 

It would have been much better for him to take on fewer animals in order to be able to care properly for the ones he had.  

I would never ever kill one of my animals for financial reasons.  Never.  The very thought is utterly abhorrent. 

If people really believed what they were doing was ok they wouldn't use euphemisms like 'put to sleep' or 'put down' either.  

You are entitled to your opinion, just as others are entitled to take a different lawful course.

Doesn't stop me being disgusted by it, and I hope the vet will refuse to kill this dog, that I'm guessing is perhaps only 3 years old, as the OP says they have paid the insurance for 3 years, and she's dodged the question so maybe wants everyone to think this is a doddery old dog with not many good years left anyway rather than a young animal with many happy times ahead after a brief blip of a routine surgery and a short cage rest! 

OP here are some links to Labrador rescues, they won't want to see your dog die for this reason and may well take her and find her a better owner:

Lovely to have you back.
Did you fund the cost of your dogs vet bills entirely yourself then? Perhaps you can lend me some of your funds if it offends you that much. I'll take cash or card.

onwards&upwards

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

Undervalued said:

onwards&upwards said:

Undervalued said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

Ballerina78 said:

onwards&upwards said:

You would have your dog killed?  Really?  

Don't pretend its anything to do with concerns about quality of life.  Thousands of dogs have cruciate ligament surgery every year and they survive the cage rest just fine and go on to have happy active lives. 

If you aren't willing to pay for the care your dog needs and deserves then look at rehoming, go to Labrador breed rescues first.  Your dog loves you and trusts you and she is not disposable!!

Ultimately, she is my dog, so the question was do I have the right to ask for her to be put to sleep as her owner. I'm just trying to weigh up the right option for me and my family. 

Its a completely disgusting question to ask about an animal that just has a torn ligament. 

Weigh up what's right for your dog, forget about you.   You've already left her without treatment for too long, possibly breaking the law that protects her welfare. 

God, sometimes humans are the worst. 

She has had treatment for everything as per the vets advice. I have not once refused any treatment for her. I'll send you a copy of her medical notes that you can read whilst you're sat up there on your high horse  👍 

You are literally asking if its legal to kill your dog because she has become inconvenient. 

Which it is, providing it is done humanely!

I'm actually ok about being 'on my high horse' about that.  Can you not see how wrong it is?  Do you not love your dog?  Can you really look into her trusting happy face and coldly decide that you'll have her killed?

Not in the eyes of the law which regards an animal as property.

Are you really saying that there are no lengths and expense you wouldn't go to to provide advanced medical treatment to a pet dog etc? Regardless of all other aspects of your life? That is entirely up to you but you have no right to impose that point of view on others who wish to take a different lawful course.

I used to work with somebody who always had about half a dozen rescued cats and dogs. He gave them an excellent quality of life but would not pay for anything beyond basic routine veterinary treatment. Should they need more and their quality of life was significantly reduced they would be put down. His argument was that overall more animals would benefit and get some excellent years of quality life from the amount of money he was able and willing to spend. He also questioned whether it was right to impose the trauma of major treatment on an animal that couldn't understand what was happening and why.

I am not saying I would be comfortable behaving the way he did but I would 100% respect his right to do so.

I absolutely don't. 

It would have been much better for him to take on fewer animals in order to be able to care properly for the ones he had.  

I would never ever kill one of my animals for financial reasons.  Never.  The very thought is utterly abhorrent. 

If people really believed what they were doing was ok they wouldn't use euphemisms like 'put to sleep' or 'put down' either.  

You are entitled to your opinion, just as others are entitled to take a different lawful course.

Doesn't stop me being disgusted by it, and I hope the vet will refuse to kill this dog, that I'm guessing is perhaps only 3 years old, as the OP says they have paid the insurance for 3 years, and she's dodged the question so maybe wants everyone to think this is a doddery old dog with not many good years left anyway rather than a young animal with many happy times ahead after a brief blip of a routine surgery and a short cage rest! 

OP here are some links to Labrador rescues, they won't want to see your dog die for this reason and may well take her and find her a better owner:

Lovely to have you back.
Did you fund the cost of your dogs vet bills entirely yourself then? Perhaps you can lend me some of your funds if it offends you that much. I'll take cash or card.

So it is all about money. 

And yes, of course I pay all my animals' vets bills.  That's what you do when you take on the responsibility of a dog!  Did nobody tell you this?

Look, I'm clearly not going to convince you to pay for this surgery that your dog needs, so please please at least contact some rescue groups and find somebody who will take her on.  Your dog does not deserve to die because she's torn a ligament.  Give her up to a good rescue and she can have many more happy years with another family. 

Surely you'll do that?  If you'd see her dead, you can't have any problem with seeing her taken away by a rescue group?  Please tell me you'll call some?

theoretica

Looking at it logically, many pets are not vegetarians which means animals are being killed so people can have pets.

Ballerina78

onwards&upwards said: 

Look, I'm clearly not going to convince you to pay for this 
Surely you'll do that?  If you'd see her dead, you can't have any problem with seeing her taken away by a rescue group?  Please tell me you'll call some?

My initial question was 'do you have the right to ask your vet to put your pet to sleep?' which a few people have answered for me so thank you. You're entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. Throwing out accusations that I neglect my dog and don't take her to the vets or that I don't care for her isn't any use to anyone. 
 She's actually provisionally booked in for the op on Wednesday but they want to take the full payment on Monday.
My husband is currently outside building a bed base out of pallets so I can sleep in the lounge. I've ordered  two extra large dog crates with memory foam liners. I've arranged with work to take the next two weeks off. We've been to the carpet shop to ask for some off cuts that we have used to cover the wooden floor in the lounge. I love my dog to pieces and I WILL pay for the op but if there are complications etc or if the recovery on this leg isn't great and the other leg goes - then I will be asking that question at the vet. I will also then sleep very soundly at night knowing that at least I tried.