We all know that pets are family members. However when their health histories are identical to our own, it gives pause – or paws – for thought. Randy, my geriatric orange tabby, has the following issues: allergies, heart murmur, gulping of food, decaying teeth, urinary blockages, weak ankles, arthritis, and resistance to change. These happen to be the same maladies that my father have, with the addition of diabetes and the subtraction of vomiting grass and peeing on the bed when anxious (I hope, I don’t really know). Now let’s do the comparative math for their medical care* over the last month:
* Randy: routine exam, lab work, drugs = $255 total, paid with my AmEx card.
* Dad: routine exam ($250), lab work ($720), drugs ($350) = $1320, mostly paid by Medicare.
Who do you think gets better overall quality of care? Do you think my father would mind if I took him to the local vet at our next visit?
In the meantime, I’m starting to show my own signs of mid-life deterioration and I mostly ignore it. My health insurance has a whopping deductible, and I prefer to be in active denial. Just like a cat.
