Ok,
I just read a couple posts in another forum. Sorta lit a fire in me. Seems that when faced with a vet bill to correct a problem, the dollar signs designated that the snake was done for. This frosts my cakes beyond belief. You chose to get an animal and are responsible for it's health. Why, oh why don't people consider vet expenses when doing reseach on a animal they are considering as a purchase. To top it off, one of those folks was already looking for thier next victim, err I mean aquisition.

My question is, how many folks actually look at the life span of animals prior to purchase and whether any consideration is ever given to potential health expenses over the course of that life span, including emergencies?

Sorry for the rant.

Craig

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Gems of the Rainforest

That's ok Craig. We hear it all of the time. It doesn't make our lot any easier but we can only continue to stress the importance of doing complete research before acquiring any herp.

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Fran
January 9, 1940 - June 1, 2006 (R.I.P)

Thanks for bringing up a VERY important point, Craig!
With all the jokes going around about "herp addiction" I sometimes worry that new herpetoculturists just don't always think past the cost of the animal and perhaps it's housing. In addition to unexpected vet bills, there's the electricity and water bills to think of -- ours went through the roof.
And if you really take the time to consider that each of these aquisitions could be with you for 15 or more years, I just really think it's important to step well back and look at the bigger picture sometimes.

Thanks again for the reminder. Bummer for that snake... sadly probably happens more often than you'd ever hear about!

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Andrea

Hello,

Some people look at the cost and determine if the cost is worth it for the reptile. I personally can't say that all expenses are worth it.

Here is an example of when I wouldn't believe it was worth it:

You have an anole that cost you 6.99 and it becomes impacted and is dieing. You bring it to the vet and they say it will cost $350.00 for them to remove the impaction.

The cost wouldn't be worth it. especially for a reptile with a short lifespan compared to others.

Thats an extreme example, but I think you get the picture where I am going with it.

For me, my herps are part of the family. They all have names and they all get handled regularly. When/if one of my herps get ill, I do/would take them to the vet and thus far, have never had to make a judgement call on any of them.

I have been prepared for emergencies for some time now. When one of my puppies got ill (when I was breeding), I didn't have the funds to pay for what he needed done. ($2,000 for a surgery that may not even work). They gave me an application to fill out and I was approved for a credit card that the hospital accepted. Its called a "CareCredit" card.

I charged the operations to the card and the little guy died anyways but I paid it off and still have the card.

More info on this card can be found here:

http://www.carecredit.com

Its a great card to have in your wallet for those unexpected vet visits!

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ok, you have a point there craig.....BUT, let me also bring this to your attention.....

when I rescued my iguana from the fair...i knew that it was going to be very hard on my wallet to support such an animal. But, if I had not taken her from that aweful place...she would have surely died. (all of her cagemates are probably dead by now). Did I take into consideration the amount of money it was going to take to keep this iguana happy?..... no, i was thinking with my conscience and none of that mattered. All I cared about was saving at least one life.

i do agree that most people dont ever take into account that every captive reptile will eventually need to visit a vet at some point in their lifetimes, and buy on impulse. But, when it comes to rescues...most of us are thinking with our hearts instead of our wallets. We know that we may not be able to give the animal the very very best it can possibly get...but we are darn well going to try. ANYTHING is better that leaving the poor animal in filthy and stressful situations IMO.

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-Adam

"Help Protect our Planet from Overcollection, Purchase Aquacultured Livestock and Captive Bred Herps"

Some very interesting points of view raised here.. Craig I understand what you are saying completely. This is a very important issue that perhaps more people need to consider.

But I do agree with Rich to some extent.. I've had to take four of our rats to the vets this year (I know this is off-topic of reptiles but the point to be made remains the same). Two of the four had tumours, that may or may not have been malignant. We chose to have these rats put to sleep rather than put them through a big operation, for several reasons; the rats were two and a half years of age, which is around the average life span for many rodents - had the tumours been removed and the rats have survived the anaesthetic of the operation they may only have lived a month or two longer. To me that would be putting the rat through too much stress for an unjust reason. And yes, it would have also cost a lot of money.

Having said that, I don't think you can put a price on a life. Whether an animal be worth $10 or $1000 its life is still worth the same. Had my rats been much younger and had a chance at another year or two of life then I would have been willing to put my hand in my pocket for a lot more. I think you have to look at each individual case as it comes along, but the overall point that you make is a very valid and crucial point when it comes to owning any animal. The animal should always be put first, not the owner's desires.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Hey Rich,
If you step back and look at both of these situations, the anole actually "cost" something vs the puppy which can be said to have cost nothing as I assume you bred him. In either case, there was a third choice which would have been having the animal put down by the vet. That is what got my goat about the situation described in the post I read, the fact that the animal was left to die on it's own instead of being put down. Here is a quote:

In this situation, for what ever reason, not having the money or not wanting to spend the money, it should have been euthanized instead of just letting it die.

Hi Adam,
We are talking about two entirely different situations here. I have no problem with someone taking on a rescue from deplorable or lack of care conditions. You knew going in that you would probably be spending money for health issues and I'm sure that should the situation warrant, you would have had the iggy humanely euthanized. Some times, we have to look at "quality of life" for the animal vs "what we want to do in our heart".

Hi Bitis,
Exactly! No problem when the situation is thought out and a decission made to humanely have the animal put down. Letting the animal die on it's own is what got me irritated.

Craig

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Gems of the Rainforest

oh i'm sorry craig! i didnt realize exactly what the topic was I guess.(stupid me).....i should really start to focus when I read posts as oppose to just reading them.

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-Adam

"Help Protect our Planet from Overcollection, Purchase Aquacultured Livestock and Captive Bred Herps"

I understand what you are saying Dogboa, and I agree with you, If you someone dosnt have the money for surgery and they know that the critter is going to die without it rather then making it suffer that should just have it put to sleep..it's what I would do

You have a very valid point Craig. An animal shouldn't be left to suffer. I do agree with Rich about the anoles, I think that euthanizing an animal is better then letting it suffer. Sometimes you have to weigh the risk versus cost and other elements that are involved. If my Chinese Water Dragon needed surgery for something I would front the cost, to a reasonable extent. I'm not going to put myself in such debt to take food off my daughter's plate. If it came to that I'd euthanize the animal.
But in general I look at my reptiles as I would any other pet, people spend $100s on vet bills for a dog or cat or even a bird, people should see reptiles as any less of a pet. I'd spend more if I had to, my herps are family.

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0.1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa (Sakura)
1.1.0 Leopard geckos (Tasuki, Sango)
2.0.0 Ball pythons (Tsume, Kenshin)