How Much Is Too Much?

[Cuddles With Cavies]

Currently there is a rather heated debate going on in my house hold as to how much money I'm spending on a dental for one of my girls.

Now for me, medical prices have never been an issue. Yes I sometime struggle to pay them (being a student and all) but I would never put an animal down just because I thought it was too expensive or that I couldn't pay it. There's always a way to afford it, whether it's through a payment plan or sacrificing the cars needed repairs. :3

Anyway, my family aren't of the same mind. They are very much "It's just a guinea pig" people. Every time I have to take one to the vets I get the same lecture on how I need to prioritise my money and start making sensible choices and thinking things through because at the end of the day it's just an £8 guinea pig (baring in mind I'm 20 and work very hard outside of my college course to afford my pets).

So what are your guys thoughts? Do you think there's a limit as to how much money you should spend on vets bills for a piggie?

 

[DM030819]

Part of becoming a pet owner is taking on the responsibility for the vet bills, no matter how much the pet costs. That's something I will solidly stand by. And it's the reason why I have reduced the maximum number of pigs I can have down to 2. People need to take into account the vet costs, and the feeding and housing costs when they get pigs. Saving up is a must, and going for pet insurance can be a good idea.

I've had a few pigs cost me a lot. I think the biggest bill I had for a pig was around £480. That's an absolute fortune but I had to deal with it! And I would pay it again if I had to.

I do understand that circumstances change. People lose their jobs and such and so they can't pay for their pets anymore

 

[Swissgreys]

I agree that when you take on a pet you also take on responsibility for the associated costs, which can include things like vet bills when a pet falls ill.
But I am also realistic enough to know that for most people (well us anyway) there isn't always a bottomless pit of money to dip into.
We have a decent vet fund set up (no insurance available here) and I feel confident we could cope with additional expenses should the need arrive.
But there would also be a point where eventually we would have to be realistic and say 'no more'.

I like to hope that would only ever happen if an animal was unlikely to achieve a good quality of life after treatment, but if I had to choose between a guinea pig and paying the medical insurance for the kids (for example) - no question.
But if it did get to that point, we would have already spent a large amount of money (assuming we got through the vet fund and additional savings) so at least we would have given our guinea pig the best possible chance.

I want to be the owner that is always able to say 'money is no object - we would find it', but I also need to be the adult who makes sure the mortgage and electricity bills are paid too, so I feel it is unrealistic to say we would pay no matter what the cost.
Everyone has a limit, and for everyone that will be a different amount of money, but I also think if you try hard to be prepared, and do as much as you are personally able then you haven't failed your pet.

 

[Cuddles With Cavies]

I completely agree with what you guys are saying. The thing that irritates me with my family is that isn't not their money they need to spend. I save up my own money for the pets and have always funded themselves. I have to money to spend on them but my family doesn't see any value or worth in spending £200 on an £8 guinea pig.

 

[Pawz]

I have to money to spend on them but my family doesn't see any value or worth in spending £200 on an £8 guinea pig.

If you were my child (I'm too young for you to be) I'd much rather you be spending your hard earned money on a pet that you love and makes you happy than blowing it all on cigarettes, alcohol and partying. At least a pet is a living companion that's good for your mental wellbeing.

Of course as others have said, eventually a line has to be drawn somewhere regarding ongoing costs vs quality of life but you earned that money it's yours to spend how you see fit. Just make sure to still save a little here and there for future rental deposits and things once you have graduated.

 

[Freela]

For me, it comes down to benefit for the animal and my ability to pay the bill... can I reasonably expect this to help my pet, and CAN I pay the bill... because there is always, for everyone, going to be a limit where a bill just simply cannot be paid with the financial means we have available. Fortunately, thus far I haven't had a vet bill that I really couldn't pay, though in one case I did opt for the less expensive option (also the less invasive option) to see if it would work, and it did, so I dodged a financial bullet there! I also have declined tests that I felt there was no real benefit to because the results wouldn't have changed the management. One of my pigs, Sundae, cost me thousands over the course of 6.5 years or so, thankfully in dribs and drabs rather than in a huge outlay of money. She had chronic bladder issues and also went through one really terrible year with repeat dental surgeries, culminating with one huge, nasty abscess surgery. Ultimately, she lived a far longer life than either the vet or I expected, and I do not regret a single cent spent to give her that.

I can't tell you the number of times I have heard, "But you can get another guinea pig for twenty-five dollars!" and I never understand it. For me, the money I spent acquiring the pet does not factor in to what I'm willing to pay in health care. It's not as if their life is somehow worth less because they were less to buy than a dog or a cat. If it will benefit my pet and I can pay it without undue hardship, I will pay it, whether it is a pedigreed dog or a rescued hamster that someone gave away. They aren't less deserving of care because they were cheaper to buy, and I've never understood why anyone would equate the two, but I've heard it a lot and know a lot of people do.

 

[Freela]

I completely agree with what you guys are saying. The thing that irritates me with my family is that isn't not their money they need to spend. I save up my own money for the pets and have always funded themselves. I have to money to spend on them but my family doesn't see any value or worth in spending £200 on an £8 guinea pig.

I understand, my husband rolls his eyes at the amount of money I have spend over the years on the guinea pigs. He is not a pet person, he doesn't understand. I can say that if you were my child, I would be proud of your for having your priorities right, in my opinion!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

No amount of money is too much for my girls, even if I have to beg, borrow or steal.

I always think, would someone pay that for their human child? If so, why not for our beloved furbabies?