Wow, thanks for posting this. I was an aspiring veterinarian, worked as a vet tech for 6 years. I finally decided not to pursue it, for many reasons. One thing that triggered my decision was an article about brain surgery on a parakeet.
First of all I must say that I'm an animal lover, and I totally understand the attachment we have to our pets. But for some reason, it occurred to me, that at the place where this surgery was first performed (in NYC) there are starving and homeless people everywhere, probably in the alley behind the veterinary hospital.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 774263Injustice occurs in all sorts of ways, this is one of them.
People totally project their psychoses onto their pets. I remember one Yorkie we treated, that was so obese it could no longer walk. We had to swim it everyday in the bathtub to keep up it's muscle tone. When the owners came to visit, they brought THE DOG a McDonald's hamburger and milkshake. I can still remember them standing there, with the cage door opened, offering the poor thing the straw, as though it could even drink out of that. Needless to say, the owners were obese themselves.
{Snip}
I am guessing that most people put their pets through unnecessary treatments out of guilt. If there exists a treatment for your pet's ailment, even at a high cost, and you opt not to pursue that treatment solely because of the cost, then you are a cruel person; that's what they want you to think. And, since euthanasia in the world of human medicine is still largely taboo and misunderstood, we cannot in good conscience make that decision based on economics alone. There must be another reason, such as, "there is no hope left". Well, vets today will rarely tell you that.
Get out of the city. Meet a real Vet.
One of the vets I worked for had, at any given time, $100,000 in outstanding bills that he was never going to see. People bring in hit-by-cars that don't belong to them, why should they have to pay? Wildlife, too. Crows, eagles, raccoons, etc. And of course the vet will treat them. What's he going to say, "No"? And at the same time, he's a small business owner, with bills to pay, employees to pay, provide healthcare for, and the drugs and equipment to run a veterinary clinic are the same quality, and cost the same amount, as in human medicine, with the major difference being that veterinary insurance is rarely used. Most people still pay out of pocket, and people don't want to pay a lot.
Yes, he says no. Call a GAME WARDEN to deal with wild animals. By picking up a WILD ANIMAL and transporting to you veterinarian you are putting BOTH YOUR LIFE AND HIS AT RISK.
Reminds me of one idiot that picked up a baby duck up by the lake after watching it for 15 minutes and brought it to the clinic. I gave her a talk I was given in first grade - Don't pick up baby birds, or their mama's won't take them back. She sentenced the duck to death by picking it up.
You can't feed your kids on accounts receivable. I require emergencies to be current clients in good standing with their bills. Care is a two way street, if you don't care enough about me to have me do your routine work, why should I give up Christmas Morning with my kids when your 10 year old dog, that I haven't seen since it was 6 weeks old, eats a large bowl of Christmas Candy.
So, there is an enormous incentive for the veterinarian to charge other people for unnecessary services (such as this ludicrous explosion of veterinary dental cleanings) in order to pay the bills for those that don't pay at all. Veterinarians are not unscrupulous people. Veterinary medicine, unlike human medicine, is not a high paying occupation. Even though education costs and business costs are the same.
Look at your animal's teeth. If they look dirty to you, have them cleaned. It's not that hard to tell. You can determine if it's necessary. Just read my response to TK (above) with regards to how bad plaque can get.
Veterinary medicine is like human medicine was 100 years ago. Remember Doc Baker from Little House on the Prairie? People used to pay him in chickens, and repairs to his wagon. Back then, doctors were true healers and humanitarians. They went to medical school to help people, not to be rich. Well, that's how veterinary medicine is today. Like it or not, it's on a kind of fucked up sliding scale where the rich clients are having to pay for the poor clients.
Never been paid in Chickens
I have been paid in Dogs.
I have been paid in Beef.
Same advice - shop around for a vet. I'm 60 miles outside of a metropolitan area, offer competetive care at 1/2 to 2/3 the price as those in the big city. A 40 - 60 minute drive could save you cash. Do not just go for the lower pricing, shop the doctor. Laser surgery, bloodwork, all the other points I've made.
Owning a pet is not free. There are a lot of people that own them that can't afford it.
