It can be emotionally exhausting to go through the process of getting a diagnosis and treatment when a loved one suddenly exhibits symptoms of severe ill health.
When that loved one is a pet, it can be even more emotionally challenging because of the added challenge of communication.
At least a person who is suddenly dizzy or short of breath can tell us what is wrong.
Severe symptoms such as seizures in dogs can be both terrifying and mystifying.
Many people who have never owned a pet trivialize the emotional bond that pet owners forge with the pets in their care.
While most pet owners would certainly be more traumatized by a sudden illness in a human, the bond with a pet is still very real and still highly emotionally compelling.
They become a part of our families and our lives; we love them with a purity of emotion uncomplicated by the realities of relating to another person.
It is traumatic to lose a beloved pet.
This is especially true for older pet owners, for whom the pet might be their most constant companion.
The fear of that loss can cause us to panic when we see a pet in sudden need, and even when we don't panic, we have a tendency to overreact simply because we cannot communicate with the pet to determine what is wrong.
While it's true that most people who run animal hospitals are there to help in a time of need, and while it's true that most veterinarians are animal lovers who have a deep and profound commitment to the care of pets, there are exceptions to every rule.
When a pet is experiencing severe symptoms, their owners are often willing to spend whatever it takes to get them well again.
That can lead a some veterinarians to pursue a medical course that racks up the bills.
For example, seizures can result from a wide range of causes.
On one end of that spectrum are severe neurological and cardiovascular disorders that require intensive and expensive medical care.
On the other end of the spectrum is a wheat allergy that is treated by changing dog food.
A veterinarian can begin with tests for the most conditions, or he can rule out allergies with a simple test first.
A vet who starts with the least threatening conditions runs the risk that a life-threatening condition will worsen while he's wasting time with allergy tests.
One who starts with the most severe conditions quickly increases the bill total with expensive and complicated diagnostic procedures.
Some pet owners just want their pet to be well and don't care about the cost, but most of us would rather avoid spending money we don't have to.
Many veterinarians offer credit applications right in their offices, providing distraught pet owners a way to pay a huge bill, but when an unscrupulous doctor starts with the most expensive tests and a pet owner can't or won't apply for credit to pay for it, the doctor's visit can end with a pet that is really no healthier than he was at the beginning.
Many pets suffer needlessly because their owners can't pay the price of a complete diagnosis.
This is especially tragic when the problem is that a vet started the diagnostic process with expensive tests for neurological and cardiovascular problems when the vast majority of seizures in dogs are caused by dietary issues.
Not knowing this, an owner might go right on feeding his pet a brand of food he's allergic to.