Age has a lot to do with the treatment you get for your pets. We once spend over $1K for surgery on a dog, but he was otherwise young and active and lived another 5-6 years afterwards. I was still working and we had the money. The dog we have now is older, at least 13. The vet wants to do blood work looking for a diagnosis because he has a "rat tail." His tail doesn't bother him, he's eating, doing his business, normal weight, and we just don't have the money as retirees to be putting money into a pet who is not going to be here much longer, anyway. This will be our last pet, simply because we cannot afford to give a pet the medical care they so often need.