vet bills up the wazoo... I am offended by vets that toss out outrageous sums for surgeries on tiny animals who only MIGHT survive the surgery, but probably not as if people SHOULD pay any sum asked without considering it at all... I'd pay whatever it cost to save my little Kali... and have, actually... But there's a good reason to... She's young, healthy, and has an excellent shot at a long, healthy life...

My German Shepherd, Jake, however, was 13 years old, crippled with arthritis that we gave him prednisone for the pain of and had been torn to shreds by a coyote and a few were going gangrenous... I loved Jake... Believe me I did... but WHY would I not only spend over $4K for surgery on his spine but force him to live like that and to spend MONTHS in a full body cast recovering in agony ?? What life was he going to have if he even survived it?? He was already old and so arthritic that without prednisone to relieve his pain, he couldn't walk a single step... and now, after the attack, he'd not even be able to do that... so, a 120lb dog would have to be CARRIED about after a long, happy life full of running, jumping, and complete freedom outside to spend the rest of his miserable existence in a large basket, granted a comfy one, but carried to and fro? and suffer for at least 8 weeks to recover?? I said NO... I couldn't do that to him... He deserved better than my desperate desire for him not to die forcing him to live in hell...

Little Charlie, OTOH, our tiny English Setter, when HE was attacked and ripped open, we did have them do the surgery to patch him up... he made a full recovery and suffered minimally, more in itchiness where all his stitches were... but went back to a healthy, happy existence very quickly... BIG DIFFERENCE...

So, yeah... I get it... I love my pets very much too... It's not 'the money'... it's the pet... and what their chances are... and our vets are NOT AHs... except that tiny animal/surgical specialist that we've never gone back to... HE was a prick...