If you’re too poor to properly take care of a pet then I think for the sake of the pet it would be better not to get one. But some pets are pretty cheap. Mice are cheap and lovely buggers
Rodents require vet care like any other animal, and because of their relatively short lifespans, the vet expenses per year of life may be greater than that for cats or dogs.
I say “may”, because there are many modern, expensive treatments available for cats and dogs (like chemotherapy) which are not available for rodents, so the expense comparison is variable and complicated.
Where I live mice aren’t really taken to vet and especially put under a knife or something like that. They’re so small with weak hearts, combined with their short lifespan that it’s not worth it for the mice to do that. Especially something like surgery is just horrible for the mouse for very little care. And most common way to go is to get a cancer lump and there’s not much to do about that than take them to be put down.
So the expenses there aren’t big. You get most meds you’d need from apothecary or from people raising the mice (don’t buy mice from pet stores) and they also put them down when they get cancer or otherwise sick in a way that requires it.
They’re low cost buggers but their short lifespan does break my heart often.
Maybe it’s different for mice or in your country, but I’ve lived in several rural and urban areas in the US and was able to find an exotic vet for my rats (or a general vet willing to treat exotics) within an hour’s drive of each location, albeit after significant searching. I’ve also had a mass surgically removed from one of my older rats and he went on to have another year of quality life.
Edit: Euthanasia is important too. Mice and rats are prone to respiratory failure, which is a slow and agonizing way to go. I watched one of my rats die from pneumonia inside my oxygen chamber just two hours ago, and it was horrifying. I deeply regret not making the 90-minute drive to the emergency vet for a euthanasia last night, as I have done many times before. It usually costs me about $150-200 these days.
Rats are different to mice in that respect. They’re bigger and live longer so it makes sense to treat them. Mice are so tiny, pretty delicate and live for a fairly short time so from the perspective of giving the animal best possible life it doesn’t (in our opinion) make that much sense.
Not many vets are familiar with mice, there are those that are but it’s just often not thought of as good for the animal to necessary start intensive treatments or especially do surgery. Usually the issue is cancer anyway and surgery for that just puts the small bugger in stress and pain for very little gain.
If you’re too poor to properly take care of a pet then I think for the sake of the pet it would be better not to get one. But some pets are pretty cheap. Mice are cheap and lovely buggers
Rodents require vet care like any other animal, and because of their relatively short lifespans, the vet expenses per year of life may be greater than that for cats or dogs.
I say “may”, because there are many modern, expensive treatments available for cats and dogs (like chemotherapy) which are not available for rodents, so the expense comparison is variable and complicated.
Where I live mice aren’t really taken to vet and especially put under a knife or something like that. They’re so small with weak hearts, combined with their short lifespan that it’s not worth it for the mice to do that. Especially something like surgery is just horrible for the mouse for very little care. And most common way to go is to get a cancer lump and there’s not much to do about that than take them to be put down.
So the expenses there aren’t big. You get most meds you’d need from apothecary or from people raising the mice (don’t buy mice from pet stores) and they also put them down when they get cancer or otherwise sick in a way that requires it.
They’re low cost buggers but their short lifespan does break my heart often.
that’s me with possums they’re so cute but they only live like 2 years :'(
Maybe it’s different for mice or in your country, but I’ve lived in several rural and urban areas in the US and was able to find an exotic vet for my rats (or a general vet willing to treat exotics) within an hour’s drive of each location, albeit after significant searching. I’ve also had a mass surgically removed from one of my older rats and he went on to have another year of quality life.
Edit: Euthanasia is important too. Mice and rats are prone to respiratory failure, which is a slow and agonizing way to go. I watched one of my rats die from pneumonia inside my oxygen chamber just two hours ago, and it was horrifying. I deeply regret not making the 90-minute drive to the emergency vet for a euthanasia last night, as I have done many times before. It usually costs me about $150-200 these days.
Rats are different to mice in that respect. They’re bigger and live longer so it makes sense to treat them. Mice are so tiny, pretty delicate and live for a fairly short time so from the perspective of giving the animal best possible life it doesn’t (in our opinion) make that much sense.
Not many vets are familiar with mice, there are those that are but it’s just often not thought of as good for the animal to necessary start intensive treatments or especially do surgery. Usually the issue is cancer anyway and surgery for that just puts the small bugger in stress and pain for very little gain.
Same goes for budgies and guinea pigs, equally lovely buggers
Anyone can take care of a tarantula