I’ve been spending a lot of money lately on my senior dog—bloodwork, tests, checkups, etc. She’s almost 14 now, and I’ve had her since I was 14 myself. She’s been with me through half my life, and I’m willing to spend what I need to in order to keep her healthy and comfortable.
Today, my sister and her husband sat me down and basically told me I need to “be realistic”that she’s old, she’s going to die, and that the vets are just trying to take my money. I’m using my savings for her care right now—money that was supposed to go toward a new car and a vacation. But honestly, those things can wait. She’s more important.
What bothers me more is that my sister doesn’t even take her own dog to the vet for things she clearly needs, so I feel like she’s projecting. I know some people would agree with her and say “she’s old, let her go,” but I would never forgive myself if I let my dog suffer or die from something I could have treated. Plus my dog is a chihuahua, 14 is not super old for them.
Just needed to vent. Do other people see it the way I do—or am I being irrational?
Comments
Does she seem like she’s in pain or does she seem like she’s comfortable?
I feel you adopt a dog, you agree to take care of it till it dies. If it has a bad quality of life, that is different.
If you’ve got the money and you’re not neglecting your other bills/expenses in order to care for your dog, then what you do for your senior pup is your business. Granted, I just started working at an animal hospital after volunteering there for 8 months, so my view may be skewed. My partner and I take our 15 yr old cat there and he had to be in the ICU last December (we had to reschedule a trip to see my brother and his family to a few months later). Our animals can be our family, and like you, I don’t want my boy to suffer from anything he doesn’t need to!
As long as you’re providing compassionate care and putting your dog’s quality of life first, it’s absolutely your choice on what to do with your money. And it most certainly is not your sister’s place to tell you how to spend your money, particularly when she’s neglecting her own dog’s healthcare.
As long as the dog isn’t in pain and has a decent quality of life, I would do exactly what you’re doing
Some savings is supposed to be there for these things, emergencies. I’m not so sure about dipping into an emergency fund for supplements and anxiety medications and monthly visits for each.
My point is if you are dipping into a vacation or car fund for these visits and still have an emergency fund then it’s your call but if you don’t have 3 to 6 months of living expenses saved up then you need to put in extra work for those expenses instead of dipping into your savings.
Our little chihuahua lived to be 17. The last few months, he really slowed down. He became more lively when we brought a puppy into the home, and it seemed to bring him comfort at the end. He passed away Christmas morning. My two teenage kids at the time were devastated. We had scheduled to have him euthanized, but he didn’t make it to that date with the vet.
Maybe a bit….unless there is something actively wrong, no need to keep bringing to the vets.
I think the type of treatments matters greatly.
I wouldn’t put an elderly dog through chemotherapy, but I would treat arthritis for example.
Your dear friend’s elderly so you know her time to cross the Rainbow Bridge is coming. How you choose to spend this season with her is nobody else’s business as long as she’s comfortable.
vacation? why not take her somewhere with you? most people are cooked when it comes to animals and cant even take care of themselves.
I think they’re looking after you about spending all your savings on doggo. The truth is they doggos won’t live forever. Focus on comfort care. A yearly EKG $$$$ won’t fix doggos heart. So focus on pain meds $$.
Maybe that’s what they’re trying to say. 14 is a good long life for a doggo. It really is the longer side too.
It is entirely your decision.
My 60 pound guy finally made his final ride in February. He was 17.5 and the survivor a gunshot, three cancers one of which was hemangiosarcoma and was 4 years post op when he died, and chronic pancreatitis. I don’t regret a single penny I spent on his care for every single second he was still low pain and in good spirits. And I spent enough pennys to make most people blush. Tell your husband and sister to pound sand.
Edit: and as a vet tech I can whole heartedly assure you that not a single person who is a medical provider in the field is in it for the money. Of which people seem to think we make bank. We don’t. People who think that and treat us as such are the reason we have one of the worst suicide rates of any profession. These people can also pound sand. Hard.
I’m so sorry you’re in this situation. Don’t listen to the outside noise. Take care of your furbaby and don’t let others influence your choices. If you feel like your vet might be high balling you, shop around for a comparison quote – it’s free and doesn’t hurt.
My pup passed back in April but I had her for the last 15 years and I did everything for her. Her breed life span is usually 11-12 so she got some extra years outta life as I truly did everything to give her the best life. I’m wishing you and your pup all the best ♥️ ps I’ve seen chihuahuas live until 18 from living a good life so I hope the same for yours 🙏🏼
The only thing I’ll suggest is that you should get a 2nd opinion just like you would on your own health issues. A lot of vets recommend a lot of expensive tests when they already pretty much know what’s going on. With my own dog I took him to one vet who wanted to do thousands in tests and I took him to another one fora 2nd opinion and he took one look at the dog and told me he had congestive heart failure and gave me a prescription that gave us two more years for the cost of a regular visit twice a year.
It’s OK to be realistic. Some things that you might feel you want to do for a senior dog in the end will be unnecessary because yes, that dog will pass sooner than later and no amount of treatment will change it, so sometimes it absolutely makes sense to back off. BUT of course you can make them comfortable. What you choose to do to make that happen for your friend is entirely up to you. Just don’t let your dog suffer because you’re too selfish to admit they will leave you.
My best girl got cancer. She was 8 and already at the age of expected demise for her large breed. It was very aggressive, with less than a 5 percent chance of treatment getting her in remission for $5,000 minimum.
She was given two weeks or less by the oncology vet with no treatment, but with treatment maybe 3-6 months. She was definitely failing. Weight loss, lack of appetite, diarrhea- obviously just not feeling well. I couldn’t justify spending thousands on aggressive treatments that would make her feel much worse. I couldn’t let her go like the way she was either though. I felt like we were both being robbed. I called my regular vet with the update, he gave me B12 injections to use at home for her appetite, advice on homemade food and a steady course of Benadryl. Just comfort measures. In the first two weeks instead of dying she gained weight, the loose stools stopped, she ate the hell out of her new diet, wagged her tail, played with our kids and other dogs as if she wasn’t sick at all, and pranced around for a whole 6 more months. Then, one day she decided she didn’t want to pick up her head get out of bed – she was just done, and that was the day we said goodbye. I was at peace with it and I think she was too. I spent thousands on her even without chemo and she was worth every penny. I regret nothing.
Your sister (and her husband) need to mind their own business. You’re doing right by your pup, don’t let them make you think differently. They have no say on how you choose to spend your own money.
Vacation money is a discretionary budget item. It’s absolutely fine to spend it on whatever. You’re not going into debt over your pet. You’re not failing to pay your rent or going without basic necessities. So you really don’t need a financial intervention (with relatives telling you how to spend your money.) Do I think it’s unrealistic? It doesn’t matter. My priorities are right for my life; yours are right for yours.