Pet Care Extraordinary and Otherwise

I met with my program advisor yesterday at Penn to peruse the topic of veterinary ethics as it pertains to my thesis. It seems that everyone has a tale of extraordinary veterinary interventions and he is no exception.

It turns out that he has a relative who elected surgery for his hamster (yes, hamster!) for kidney disease. The surgery cost about $1000 and the hamster died a month later. An amazing story, to be sure, and perhaps one in which the vet should not have even offered such an option.

But then again, who am I to determine the "value" an individual places on their pet? Clearly this person's attachment to his hamster was far greater than the hamster's intrinsic cost or the person would not have brought the hamster to the vet to begin with. "Value," it seems, is clearly a subjective quality, and not tied to the animal's worth in the marketplace.

Which brings us to the topic of pet insurance, a commodity I don't hesitate to recommend to friends who are getting a pet. I learned the hard way--emergency surgery for one dog at 2:00 AM for which they wouldn't even call the vet until I wrote a check for $1250 on the spot; cancer for another and the various infirmities of old age for a third--that pet insurance eases the pain. For about $300 a year, you get covered for routine care, flea protection, heartworm meds. and a portion of major exploratory procedures. For me, it makes sense if only on a psychological level because I don't think twice about doing expensive procedures. I know I will get a portion of their cost reimbursed. The catch is to get the insurance when you get a puppy or kitten because there are no pre-existing conditions.

Does that mean I would do surgery on a hamster? I doubt it because I don't think my vet would recommend such a procedure. Which brings me to my second point: you need to develop a good relationship with your vet based on both of your reasonable expectations of care. I have known my vet for a quarter of a century and we have been through a lot together. She knows my limits and I think I know hers, but it has taken a while to develop this kind of shorthand. She has currently recommended a more aggressive treatment plan for my collie's limping (I think he pulled a muscle) than I would have pursued (acupuncture and referral to a specialist) because he is only 4. If he had been 14, I think we would have gone with medication. I am listening because she is right--it is one thing to be limping at 4 and another at 14, but there have been times when I haven't agreed and that seems to be OK with her.

So if you are getting or giving a pet this holiday season get and/or give pet insurance and a referral to a good veterinary hospital. Because little animals can generate big bills very quickly.