Money isnt an issue when it comes to a family member..

I would, and have, spent quite a bit but for me the biggest decision is always "If I spend this money, what will their quality of life be?" An example would be an older dog who develops cancer for the second time. Is it right to put the dog through treatment again?

As long as Belle would have a high likelihood of full recovery, I would spend as much as i possibly could to keep belle alive, even if it included selling my favorite guns. If I was not in law school I'd pick up another job to take care of her. I have the luxury of being a single guy and am 23. If I had a wife or family it would make such a decision much more difficult to make and probably severly restrict my options. I think any good owner of a gun dog would answer, "as much as I could."

I have always said that i would not spend that much money on a dog bill - But after i got my wife a Bassett mix puppy and found that i would spend that much money not for the dog but for her -it had parvo the vet bill was the smallest of the things i had to do. i was the one that had to care for the pup which we named Tana. i took her to the vet each and every day for ten days to get it shots i had to clean up the little room we kept her in each morning with bleach water . the pup kept in there and was still fighting after 6 days and was under 3.5 lbs she shook all time so i started to let her sleep in my chair next to my leg she got so small you could not see her when she was in the chair with me. Now she is up to 27 lbs happy and a new mom herself this summer with 6 pups still my wife's dog but she spends her time asleep at the foot of my chair now so the $600.00 vet bill and all the trips to the vets was worth it my wife is happy and is now trying to get me to let her keep the pups - i have to take a bunch of sprays and pills for her to have the one dog- What we won't do to keep the better half happy - lol

First of all I do not work for or have any financial interest in this company...

Check out Pet Best Insurance ( www.petsbest.com or call 1-877-738-7237) Covers your dog for around $25 bucks a month and pays 80% of your bill.

This was an easy decision for me - it's not when your dog is going to gets ill or injured, but when. They are good people to work with. I highly recommend - tell them CatFishBirdDog sent you.

DDiB ~ For me, although it seems a bit simplistic, I find it hard calling Tank a dog. Goes for every German Shepherd (European Lineage, not American Breed), ESP, GSP and Black Labrador Retriever I've ever had as a hunting family member.

Birthdays are celebrated. Physicals are annual. Food choices are researched for nutritionsl wellness. Sounds just like what you'd do for a sister, brother or child. We had a Dalmation we once referred to as our "spotted child."

The cost of surgeries and sickness is nominal to me in comparison to the companionship I SHARE with Tank, and he with me. His father was torn up by a Washington Bear on a hunt. The Vet's bill, medications and PT came to 6700USD. I would have paid whatever the good doc charged and will do it again, if need be.

Black Max lived to hunt again, treeing bear and playing "go get it" well up into his old age.

our last dog tore his ACL getting out of the car at the age of 13 and we did everything we could to help him even though two months later when he died we had to carry his hind legs in a sling to walk or go to the bathroom. I dont know if you guys do but i think about him almost everyday i took his dog tag and put it on a necklace and i haven't taken it off in 6 months. So when it comes to a dog in the family money will be spent no matter what

Sidewinder: haha I agree and I know she did take a bunch of them away but it was 2 teenage girls so they don't have a history of listening to well. She was a softy too.
so not sure how long the no thongs rule lasted. All i can say is it wouldn't happen to me twice. To each there own. i found it rediculous too

yamfan: I hear you on that one. It's hard to say no to a daughter. My younger brother was Dad to a daughter before I was; he told me once that having a daughter was "God's revenge on you for being a guy." I think he was right.

i spent over 2 grand on Chaos when he split his paw open near the begining of bird season this past year and would do it again and then some. he's only 3 so no amount is really too much.

Srlarson- With your opinion its obvious you have never put enough time and effort into a dog to make it anymore than disposeable. I have lived on the farm my whole life, and put down alot of animals, horses and dogs included. When I have to put down an old friend I guarantee, its a last resort after the quality of life is gone.I dont even want to try to add up how much I have spent over the years, but if they bounce back, what ever it took is worth it.

Less than a nickle for a .22 shell. My dad was a veterinarian and I have seen so many farm animals put down it is impossible to count. Farming is a business.

My dog is a different story. It is a part of my family. I can see spending 5 grand if it meant the dog would return to its previous condition, but if the dog is going to be maimed or crippled or never the same the amount drops considerably. Every situation would have to be judged separately.

I have a buddy that grew up on a farm and he is just like SRLarson. I told my friend one day that a GSR pup he had did not look to me like he would ever hunt (I was training the dog). Without telling me he shot the dog the next day. Heck, he could have made someone a nice pet. My friend said farm dogs got to earn their chow. My Jill is a great bird dog. I would hate to draw the line anywhere on $ to save her life.

Interesting survey, and i would spend whatever it cost for my dog to be happy and comfortable

Erlyriser, Fear of cars prompted me to train my Jill not to cross roads without permission. I posted the how to in a contest this site had last year. It won me $50 worth of training gear.

Over the decades, we've had a couple big cat bills, but nothing we couldn't handle for dogs. If you care for your animals, a treatment now and then isn't an issue.

One lucky thing for us though; on the occasions where animal treatment was going to get pricey, we have always had some kind of windfall to help. Since all of our critters have been rescues, maybe someone is watching out for us to help.

As a veterinarian it's nice to see most people are willing to take care of their dogs (or the other animals they are responsible to for taking care of). Yep, it does cost money for medical care. Once overhead an older and much wiser vet at a party while I was in training say to a guy complaining about his vet bill "I wouldn't talk too loud or everyone will think you're just a cheap, uncaring SOB." I don't have those cajones, but the point was taken. Take care of your investment, even if it is a farm dog whose supposed to be looking after your herd or property.

Pet insurance sounds ridiculous to some, but it does offset costs, just read the fine print and know what you are buying. Prevention is definitely less expensive then treatment. Accidents happen, that's why they're called accidents.

For srlarson - you know what's cheaper than a $.50 shell, not owning a dog! 6 dogs in 1 year hit by cars, not something to really brag about! Do us all a favor, quit buying/breeding etc something you have no intention of taking care of.

$100 bucks. I like my dogs but if they die its not tragic and i can get a new one.