Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happens all the time when the vet thinks an animal has a very high likelihood of returning to full quality of life but the owner doesn't want to pay for the care.

What does the vet do with the animal?

Typically, the animal is used as a blood and/or organ donor animal, for which the vet charges other patients.

Do you honestly believe that animal transplants are being done in vet offices? They don't.

Come on - stop it. There are a few, isolated cases of vets who mistreat animals who have been entrusted to them.

By and large vets are vets because they love animals. So please stop scaring op for no reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happens all the time when the vet thinks an animal has a very high likelihood of returning to full quality of life but the owner doesn't want to pay for the care.

What does the vet do with the animal?

Typically, the animal is used as a blood and/or organ donor animal, for which the vet charges other patients.

Do you honestly believe that animal transplants are being done in vet offices? They don't.

Yes they do, regularly, there is no regulation in MD, DC, nor VA that prohibits office transplantation or other procedures, and there are vet clinics that even advertise organ and blood availability to other vet clinics as a commercial referral matter.

OP,

I would not agree to this. I find it bizarre that the vet would not allow you to know the final disposition of your pet. I also find it strange that she would do all these procedures without guarantee of payment -- as long as you give her up.

From what you described, your cat's quality of life is extremely low, and the conditions are not curable.

In that case, I would find a vet who would do euthanize in the home. I'd hold and kiss my kitty, and let her go while she's in my arms, feeling loved and cherished. I think it is so selfish to keep a suffering animal alive because we can't bear to say goodbye. Or because a vet believes that every possible life-sustaining measure should be taken. It's as cruel to do to animals as it is To our fellow human beings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happens all the time when the vet thinks an animal has a very high likelihood of returning to full quality of life but the owner doesn't want to pay for the care.

What does the vet do with the animal?

Typically, the animal is used as a blood and/or organ donor animal, for which the vet charges other patients.

Do you honestly believe that animal transplants are being done in vet offices? They don't.

I could not do this and skeep at night. Not because I think it is wrong if you do, but because I feel really deeply that it is my responsibility to know my cat's final disposition. I would be really scared of what would happen, how he would live in a cage, fear, etc. It almost makes me cry thinking of it.

We recently declined surgery for our cat for lung cancer (3-5k and a good chance it wouldn't cure it, and hard recovery). I am so grateful my vet didn't push. I would have lost my shit at the suggestion of surrendering him. Like, breaking shit losing it. I think that everyone has to have a limit of how much they are willing to spend, and peaceful euthanasia is not unkind. Cats are put down daily in shelters when they have no health issues.

It is getting harder to figure out where your line is on what you'll spend as more advanced (and expensive) technology becomes available. I'm so so so sorry. My heart breaks thinking of this situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did this with my kitty. It wasn't a great option; I would have rather put him down, but the vet refused. He had recurrent bladder/urinary tract blockages that were going to kill him without major surgery. I'm still sad wondering what happened to him

What was your cat's name? We adopted a cat in this situation and paid [heavily] for his surgery. I've always wondered where he came from.

Actually his name was boy cat. LOL that makes me sound like a terrible pet owner but I wasn't. I loved him. Did you pay $10,000 to have his urethra (and penis) removed and replaced by a (more feminine) opening. That's what we were staring down- after we had already done a $2500 surgery to attempt to clean his system out. I think the vet was extremely irresponsible in not putting him down.

Interesting. The cat we adopted had a two-name name, the second of which was Boy. Yes, we paid a large amount of money (less than you stated) to do the surgery you are talking about (a "PU"). The surgery was very successful but it took a long time for him to heal. He was a great cat.

NP here. wow you guys adopted each other's cat.

I am very creeped out by a vet refusing euthanasia of a cat who requires very expensive surgery with a long recovery. It sounds like a bit of a conflict of interest for him to have the power to make that decision. For what it's worth, the Humane Society would have taken care of that and been very humane, even to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happens all the time when the vet thinks an animal has a very high likelihood of returning to full quality of life but the owner doesn't want to pay for the care.

What does the vet do with the animal?

Typically, the animal is used as a blood and/or organ donor animal, for which the vet charges other patients.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happens all the time when the vet thinks an animal has a very high likelihood of returning to full quality of life but the owner doesn't want to pay for the care.

What does the vet do with the animal?

Posts a sign in the office waiting room that says something like "Beautiful Smoky is looking for a new home...please ask us about this gorgeous cat" With a big glossy photo. I was at the vet this week with my two dogs and my vet had such a sign with a gorgeous long haired cat...tugged at me because I'm a sucker for long-haired cats. But my dogs are not.

Anonymous wrote:This happens all the time when the vet thinks an animal has a very high likelihood of returning to full quality of life but the owner doesn't want to pay for the care.

What does the vet do with the animal?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did this with my kitty. It wasn't a great option; I would have rather put him down, but the vet refused. He had recurrent bladder/urinary tract blockages that were going to kill him without major surgery. I'm still sad wondering what happened to him

What was your cat's name? We adopted a cat in this situation and paid [heavily] for his surgery. I've always wondered where he came from.

Actually his name was boy cat. LOL that makes me sound like a terrible pet owner but I wasn't. I loved him. Did you pay $10,000 to have his urethra (and penis) removed and replaced by a (more feminine) opening. That's what we were staring down- after we had already done a $2500 surgery to attempt to clean his system out. I think the vet was extremely irresponsible in not putting him down.

Interesting. The cat we adopted had a two-name name, the second of which was Boy. Yes, we paid a large amount of money (less than you stated) to do the surgery you are talking about (a "PU"). The surgery was very successful but it took a long time for him to heal. He was a great cat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did this with my kitty. It wasn't a great option; I would have rather put him down, but the vet refused. He had recurrent bladder/urinary tract blockages that were going to kill him without major surgery. I'm still sad wondering what happened to him

What was your cat's name? We adopted a cat in this situation and paid [heavily] for his surgery. I've always wondered where he came from.

Actually his name was boy cat. LOL that makes me sound like a terrible pet owner but I wasn't. I loved him. Did you pay $10,000 to have his urethra (and penis) removed and replaced by a (more feminine) opening. That's what we were staring down- after we had already done a $2500 surgery to attempt to clean his system out. I think the vet was extremely irresponsible in not putting him down.

This happens all the time when the vet thinks an animal has a very high likelihood of returning to full quality of life but the owner doesn't want to pay for the care.

If you can't afford his care, why wouldn't you take the vet's offer? The cat is still young, and has a full life ahead of him/her. Go for it!

Anonymous wrote:I did this with my kitty. It wasn't a great option; I would have rather put him down, but the vet refused. He had recurrent bladder/urinary tract blockages that were going to kill him without major surgery. I'm still sad wondering what happened to him

What was your cat's name? We adopted a cat in this situation and paid [heavily] for his surgery. I've always wondered where he came from.

Medical researchers do NOT want sick animals. That is absolutely not standard practice for animal testing as any research findings would be suspect. They can get all the healthy cats they need out of high-kill shelters, unfortunately.