Gallina Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I thought how daft, and then I looked at her picture and thought how lovely she is. I don't think I would be able to afford it for my hens, however; and I don't think that I would get away with taking my hen to work. This article gives details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 chickens are pets, but most of us don't have those kind of resources. I wonder what the man at More Than would have made of a request for pet insurance on my girls when he quoted for my moggies last month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Wow If they can afford to do that, good on them. I guess it's up to the individuals and what makes them and their pets happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 This story has just been on the main ITV news at 6.30pm. I'm sure they do love her very much but I don't think it is something I would contemplate doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Hmm, I'm probably on my own here, but I would have to think what must be going through that poor hens mind. She must be terrified of the different environment at the vet's surgery, the treatment will make her ill, and may well kill her anyway, and she may not be able to walk (or hop) at all I assume whilst she is undergoing the treatment. Not sure if it cruel to keep treating her or kind. Who is benefitting the most from these treatments, the pet or the owners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Who is benefitting the most from these treatments, the pet or the owners? I suspect the owner unfortunately! I adore all my pets and would be devastated if anything happened to any of them but you have to be realistic about their quality of life. When it showed "Eve" on the news she was sitting down constantly as her one remaining leg is bandaged up. The trips back and forth from Worcestershire to East Anglia must be taking their toll on her too. Mine were stressed enough arriving from Banbury after a 2 hour journey in cat carriers nevermind probably 4hours plus there and back everytime she needs radiotherapy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Oooops, well, quite clearly I'm hard hearted, but it wouldn't be my choice. Good luck to them though, and I hope that Eve pulls through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emu Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Ah well as long as its for medical treatment purposes then each to their own devices when it comes to their pets chicken or otherwise. As long as it doesn't get silly and we end up hearing of cosmetic surgery,ivf,pedicures,wattle reductions and comb enhancements blah blah blah on chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I think that is one of the unfortunate things about having pets, most have a shorter life span than us. After seeing my beloved pet rat shake uncontrollably when placed on a vet's table (and simultaneously empty her bowels and bladder of their contents, whilst trying to bury herself in my clothing) I decided to never prolong an illness of any future pet. If the vet says it's the end, then I will just have to go with it, no matter how hard it will be for me to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 As long as it doesn't get silly and we end up hearing of cosmetic surgery,ivf,pedicures,wattle reductions and comb enhancements blah blah blah on chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 As long as it doesn't get silly and we end up hearing of cosmetic surgery,ivf,pedicures,wattle reductions and comb enhancements blah blah blah on chickens hee hee mmm, well my maran could do with a comb reduction (its HUGE) and a wattle enhancement!! is that ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emu Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Our cuckoo is smashing- eats like a horse and is the scrawniest lightweight of the whole flock.Greedy as anything,she's got a tiny comb and not much in the wattles dept.... mmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Our cuckoo is smashing- eats like a horse and is the scrawniest lightweight of the whole flock.Greedy as anything,she's got a tiny comb too....mmm Same here, Marans are supposed to be fat and lazy - not in this house! Greedy, busy, nosey, the smallest hen we have but her comb is mahoosive but small wattles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 How long before it dies from infected wounds an pressure sores do you reckon? Just think about all that poo in close proximity to the wound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Query how this chicken can scratch about as they love to do anyway with one leg, or indeed have much normal life. Afraid I definitely feel this is for the owners' benefit more than the chicken. I agree with most of the other posts on here - good luck to them, but it wouldn't be my choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 seeing that poor chicken last night really upset me, I know the owners love her but watching her hopping & falling down, what on earth will she be like when they treat the other leg. I'm sorry if she was mine I would not have put her through any of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 I couldn't be that selfish which is what they are to put any animal through all of this I love all of my pets but when the time comes no matter how upset you are it is just not fair to the animal to prolongue things I had to do this with my last ferret he was knackered but the vet wanted to put him through a new raft of (expensive) treatment but poor Toby hated the vet so I took him to a friend who is also a vet just not a small animal specialist or in practice and he looked him over and agreed with me so did the necessary for me and to be honest I wasn't actually upset more relieved because I had done the right thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 I had a similar experiance with a very elderly cat, sumudge lived to be 19 with an over active thyroid but in the last few weeks f her life went into heart failure, I took her to the vet one evening because she was struggling to breathe & I expected the vet to put her to sleep but he was very upbeat & said that he could make her more comfortable. She was dmitted & lots of fluid was drained off her lungs, she was much brighter for about a week & then went back into failure again, it was heart breaking to see, I found her at the bottom of my garden gasping. She died a few hours later in her basket. I felt so guilty I should have not gone along with that vet the week before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Another "Heart of stone" here. It's tough taking the decision to euthanise an animal but it's all part of keeping pets and being responsible for them. Charlotte, where's axl rose gone? I didn't recognise you. (It was him right?!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Well I'll be completely blunt. Are they mad? Yes they say its a pet as much as a cat or a dog but I'm not sure I would put a dog through it. I know when our beloved boy had cancer we chose not to wake him up after the investigative surgery as it would have been cruel. Not because we don't love our pets but because we do love them (oh my goodness I'm crying again) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Same here - I wouldn't put any animal through major treatment that wouldn't substantially improve its lifespan and quality of life. They're not sentient, so they can't rationalise away pain and distress like we can. Remember how scary even the most daft of nightmares are? It's because your rational mind is asleep and can't reason the silly fears away. That's what it's like to be a scared animal. Our old cat had an op for thyroid cancer a couple of years back and she's as good as new (well, as good as a grumpy old cat will ever be!), so we don't regret the several hundred pounds it cost. On the other hand I removed my Burmese girl's spay stitches myself at home, as I know how much she hates the vets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Charlotte, where's axl rose gone? I didn't recognise you. (It was him right?!) Ooops, I knew I should've said I'd changed my avatar I don't recognise myself either these days Axl (you are right!) has been retired as I found a pic of recently departed Snooty on my computer. She wasn't a pretty girl, big boned and more Neanderthal than a normal hen, with a heavy brow and quizzical look on her face, and a John Wayne walk, but a gentle girl, and I quite liked the pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Charlotte, where's axl rose gone? I didn't recognise you. (It was him right?!) Ooops, I knew I should've said I'd changed my avatar I don't recognise myself either these days I knew there was something odd....I just couldn't put my finger on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 She was a lovely looking chook. It does confuse me greatly though, when people switch avatars - doesn't take much these days!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...