Saving a pet strains budget, heart

Vets help owners decide when to let go and when to treat their ill companions

The news wasn't good.

Jello, our 9-year-old black cat, likely had a tumor behind her eye. Her Charlotte vet, Glenn Graves, would sedate her and try to determine what was wrong.

Like most families, my husband and I treasure our pets. Since we became empty nesters, we have enjoyed the company of two cats more than ever. I had a feeling we were headed for heartbreak.

How far should you go to save a beloved pet? When do heroic measures make sense? When is it time to consider euthanasia?

Because 63 percent of U.S. households include a pet, more people are facing these decisions. With greater availability of high-tech options for treating animals, it's sometimes hard to decide what's right. Pet owners should consider what they can afford and whether complex treatment will improve the pet's quality of life or just buy a little time.

U.S. pet owners spent $24 billion on veterinary care in 2006, up from the $19 billion spent in 2001, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The increase in spending reflects "the growth of the human-animal bond," says AVMA spokesman David Kirkpatrick. Pets have become more prized, particularly in the past two decades. More are living inside, eating better food, and getting preventive care. As a result, they're generally living longer.

Pet medical care now resembles human care, he says. It includes new treatments for heart, kidneys, cancer and even organ transplants.

Mark Green, a Mecklenburg veterinarian at Mallard Creek Animal Hospital, sees more people trying expensive diagnostic and treatment options to save pets. Some work, some don't.

"You can spend several thousand dollars real quick," he says. Few of his clients have pet insurance. Some end up setting aside a credit card for pet care, he notes.

One family has a "senior citizen cat" who's a diabetic. The cat requires insulin and twice-daily blood testing from its owners, he says. Green's own cat was successfully treated for hyperthyroidism.

He says he's a big supporter of advanced treatment for animals that "fixes something," like a broken leg.

But Green says he's more reluctant to recommend complicated, expensive treatment for a 15-year-old animal with cancer. The pet may not live long, and cancer treatment can run from hundreds of dollars to $20,000.

Even diagnostic tests can be expensive. A pet ultrasound starts at about $300 and MRI or CAT scans range from $700 to $900.

Quality of life

Joe Bonacquisti, a Mecklenburg vet with Providence Veterinary Associates, says he works with clients to reach the best decision.

"We talk about the pet's quality of life," he says. "If they just sit at people's feet and can't play any more, their existence is just their existence."

He says he asks owners to consider how many good days their pets are having.

"If the bad days are outweighing the good days, we don't want them to hit the bottom," he says.

A developing trend for pets is hospice care, Kirkpatrick says. Clients with seriously ill pets can work with specialists to keep the animal pain-free as long as possible. Pets can die at home, like humans in hospice care.

Tami Shearer, an Ohio vet, is moving to Western North Carolina in September to start a hospice practice. It will be in Dillsboro.

"Our emphasis will be to educate pet owners about all end-of- life options," she says. "Hospice is making sure when a pet is diagnosed with terminal illness, it receives quality care and its owner receives support."

Shearer says when pain management doesn't work, owners should consider euthanasia.

The decision

We got the answer we were dreading.

A mass with cells that appeared cancerous was pushing through one side of our cat's face and nose.

Graves said surgery in that area would be extremely difficult, at best, and her health was deteriorating fast.

Jello hadn't eaten in a week. Graves gently helped us reach the only decision that made sense. We would put her to sleep.

We went to St. Francis Hospital for Animals to say goodbye Monday. She was lethargic and didn't want Graves, her vet for six years, to touch her.

We stroked her, told her we loved her and stayed by her side. It was a painful decision, but the right one, we believe. It was a peaceful ending to a good life.