Irresponsible pet owner or not?

Have you thought about working for a vet part-time? I know someone who does, and gets 50% off on veterinary services (she owns 3 cats) in addition to her wages. Also, if you have more than one animal, you can get a "multiple animal" discount.

Here in my area of rural West Virginia I recently paid $98 for spaying. Just FYI. I believe in neuter/spay and take the pets to the low cost clinic days every spring where the vet administers all the shots (basics plus Lyme disease, rabies and others) for less than ordering them would cost me.

A friend of mine once questioned a vet about the real necessity of vaccinating our pets every year (after all, we don't vaccinate children every year, and the biological principles are the same no matter what species we're talking about). The response was, "Then how would we get people to bring their pets in every year?"

I don't take my pets to the vet unless they are really sick and I can't fix it myself. Granted, I have a medical background, which helps. I give vaccinations myself. I can get penicillin at the feed store and use it when appropriate. I can get lidocaine from work (no, I don't steal it - we use only a tiny bit of a 10cc bottle and throw it away, so I use what we'd normally pitch), and so I stitch up any wound that needs it myself. I worm when appropriate. I have spaying and neutering done through a low cost clinic.

In short, it's possible for your animals to receive excellent medical care without a huge expense if you are willing to learn to do a lot of it yourself. Obviously there are limitations, and you should know yours and consult the vet when appropriate.

Cindy

If you are a true animal lover you will find a way to give the animal the care it deserves.

Nostalgia,

We just took in a stray cat and had to deal with similar issues. I would argue that taking the animal to the vet for a checkup is important for your own health as well as any other animals around. For example, if the dog had ringworm, you would risk getting it as well as any other cats or dogs around (It happened to us a few years back, now we won't take a cat or dog without getting it tested with a woods lamp).

The cat we took in had round worms. Why would I want to risk our other animals by not dealing with it? Why would I want to risk us getting them? Understand, originally I told DW not another cat. She had it in the (unheated) garage and when I checked on Friday it was in there shivering. It was malnurished and in bad shape. I was the one who brought it in the house... it wouldn't have survived the night. To date we have spent $300 (it needed an IV to be rehydrated and a number of other things). The bottom line is that a person has an obligation to take care of the animals that person has chosen to take care of. Maybe not to the extent that we did but more than just food and water.

As usual, just my 2 cents.

Mike

i agree w/ the majority give the 8 way shot (about$5-7 at the southern states store) yourself but shell out for the rabies & tag. as for cheap alternatives, do you have a large military base nearby w/ friends there? the base vet (they're for the MPs working dogs) will see dogs belonging to service members, retirees & (depending on the base & the work load) civilian employees. since the vet & his techs are US Army, the costs are pretty low for services & meds.

So what did you name it?

nostalgia - you have a tender heart, and good sense. I say, follow your heart, and good luck!

Nostalgia,

I think if you really want to keep the dog you will find a way to see to it's needs with all the suggestionss you have been given!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong BUT, isn't giving Ivermectin toxic to border collies and English sheep dogs? Be sure it it has neither of those breed lines before you administer Ivermectin.

We have alot of problems here with people that dont fix there animals and never tie them up! It is a must to spay/nueter in my book!!! If you take in one animal that is taxing on your budget then you real dont want the problem to multiply! Some times I think it is less cruel to put a suffering animal down then to let it multiply and have that many more animals suffering. It is also very unfair to make your nieghbors suffer with a population explosion that you start. We have all seen the figures of how fast stray animals can reproduce. we have all seen the sadness of neglected animals in our yards, barns, on roads, wrapped in blankets in or kitchens etc. The only way to reduce the horror of animal suffering is to reduce the number of animals through spaying/neutering! I dont mean to preach but it really upsets me to see animals suffer needlesly. And please keep your animals secured to your property. Ferral animals do alot of damage to livestock and wild life. they pose a threat to humans and to property.
If a person can truely be a responsable owner then go for it but if you can not then I say it is more humane to put them down and not spread the problem.
Ask for help tho. there are many ways to cut cost without slacking on care!
And dont expect any one to support your pets!

Good luck
Cody