Loving Their Pets to Debt

Over the past decade, the cost of veterinary care in the U.S. has skyrocketed, as health care for pets has come to look more like health care for people.
Katie Thomas, an investigative health care reporter for The Times, discusses how pet care became a multi-billion-dollar industry, and the fraught emotional and financial landscape that has created for pet owners.
Guest: Katie Thomas (www.nytimes.co...) , an investigative health care reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
• Why you’re paying your veterinarian so much (www.nytimes.co...) .
• From 2021: A pandemic-era pet boom spurred veterinary companies to open new, upscale clinics (www.nytimes.co...) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (nytimes.com/the...) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

[@mhz90718]

This and funeral home chains, big businesses knows how easy it is to rob you blind when you are most emotionally vulnerable.

[@amygirl9534]

Having a pet is a luxury item now. Just like a house, an education, and having kids

[@Agtsmirnoff]

Really? How much does it cost to own a cat?

[@lindadeal3344]

​@@Agtsmirnoffcat food is outrageous in costs...I buy canned mackerel at $2.00 a can...that is a 15 Oz. can and better protein for your cat and you will need some dry food as well. My feed bill runs about $125.00 for the food...litter has increased from $6.00 to $18.00.

[@Agtsmirnoff]

@@lindadeal3344 get canned tuna from the dollar store. Your cat will love it.

[@Random_Handle_]

Financially speaking, in today's economy having a house plant is akin to having a pet; having a pet akin to having a kid; and having a kid is akin to having exotic animals that only wealthy people can afford.

[@ashley3471]

To many of us, especially the elderly, our pets are like our children within reason we will do whatever it takes.

[@Agtsmirnoff]

Yeah, you all are a little bit strange with your whole pet obsession

[@donniemoder1466]

Within reason.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Spent my 401k on my sheltie for cancer operations at Cornell Small Animal ....not the best financial decision but my heart couldnt let him go.

[@howigotover798]

I am the guardian of two adopted abandoned shelties and I totally get you.I just went through a nightmare with vets and thousands of dollars for my 16 year old but she is still with me and stable.I don't regret it at all but pretty much all vets are animal exploiters.I hate them.If they really cared about animals they would be vegan and against breeding but 99.9999 % are not!! PS: I replaced the potentially toxic drugs they prescribed with natural treatments that are 100% safe and they work!!

[@user-nq8vm2iv9v]

What is sad many pets will not be adopted because of the high Vet bill. People cannot afford the medical care for the pet so they don't adopt. SAD.

[@ellefaye448]

it also pays to study up on basic animal medical problems. I had a wee dog that was attacked by hawks. His chest was spit open. He was pretty much a little terror on a good day, but he was stuck under the porch and it took me several hours to get him out, and take him around to vets until I could find one that would put him down. I was post covid and beyond exhausted but had to debate the vet to make this happen. The vet wanted to prescribe antibiotics and send him home with me. He said his chest would magically heal and all would be fine....it would involve lots of vet visits etc....but. I pointed out that the poor thing had been spewing blood for hours now which would likely result in renal failure and the quality of life would suffer. After further exploration of my theory...the vet agreed. The difficulty in finding a vet despite there being numerous facilities in our county, the fact I had to debate the vet despite my being obviously very disabled and ill and the dog extremely damaged, just crazy.

[@nicolaxoxo1]

Avoid the corporate owned practices if at all possible!

[@anzolomyer4584]

UMMM i think you posted this a day early. but i'm going to listen to it before it gets taken down >:)!!!!! nananananana

[@Cassius3745]

Why's a 'Friday' episode being released on Thursday morning?

[@lisettegarcia]

Just like when NYT reported Biden was fit as a fiddle. They lie even when the truth will do.

[@Agtsmirnoff]

The culture of pet worship, especially with regards to dogs, is a very strange development, and I believe masks a deeper pathology in society as a whole

[@paulboileau3758]

Precisely: ego-driven selfishness.

[@frankie9953]

awww, sounds like you've never experienced the love of a pet. I feel sorry for you.

[@KnoneOfficial]

Found the sane comment. It's mostly dog worship though if we're being honest.

[@user-ky6fi2jm9r]

Ahhhhhhh, there always has to be one troll, and you are that one.

[@howigotover798]

@@paulboileau3758 I TOTALLY agree if you are referring to breeders and people who buy dogs etc but not when it comes to abandoned animals.I've done lots of rescue and it is just heartbreaking.Anyone who says they love animals but buy them is a psychopath.As if females were pet machines.

[@MetaPhysStore0770]

This is funny, i live in kinmundy illinois, where the culture is fine with most dogs chained to a tree, when they die after a while, the people chain another puppy to the tree. They bark and bark and bark and it doesnt seem to disturb anybody (but me).

[@user-nq8vm2iv9v]

Still Neanderthals out there.