NickKad
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When a family spotted a lump on their 20-year-old goldfish’s fin, they took it to Dr Faye Bethell
The well-known doctor saved the day by performing a 30 minute surgery on Bob the fish that cost $250
“The option was to remove the lump or put him to sleep and now he is doing brilliantly”
“Bob’s owners were really pleased because… he’s very much considered part of the family”
The vet fed the fish anaesthetics and used a miniature heart-rate monitor and micro-surgical equipment
“It’s pretty complicated because everything is so small”
“Bob’s now back home and enjoying swimming properly for the first time in weeks”
“We are definitely seeing pets living longer… It’s really nice when you get an owner who wants to save them”
When a family spotted a lump on their 20-year-old goldfish’s fin, they took it to Dr Faye Bethell, a well-known vet. The doctor saved the day by performing a surgery on Bob the fish. It took the vet based in Norfolk, England 30 minutes to remove the tumor. The surgery cost around $250. “The option was to remove the lump or put him to sleep and now he is doing brilliantly,” Dr Bethell commented. “Bob’s owners were really pleased because the goldfish is older than their children and he’s very much considered part of the family.”
The vet used a miniature heart-rate monitor, fed the fish anaesthetics, and carried out the operation with micro-surgical equipment. “It’s pretty complicated because everything is so small.” She added: “This one was the oldest fish we’ve operated on… Bob’s now back home and enjoying swimming properly for the first time in weeks.”
“We are definitely seeing pets living longer,” stressed Dr Bethell. “It’s really nice when you get an owner who wants to save them and great to help.”
More info: Toll Barn Veterinary Centre | Facebook (h/t)
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/20-year-old-goldfish-tumor-surgery/?_t=1&_f=featured
redheadsaremykryptonite
I didnt think this was a thing..
anitabieror6
we had a goldfish who got really big and old. he kept jumping out of the tank after like 10 years. we'd throw him back. one day he succeeded
shelbyonfire
I went to a fair and won a gold fish, this drunk guy walked up to me and was like "I bet I can drink this gold fish" & actually did
76Tromboners
The things I would do to save a member of my family. Good for the them!
LaughingCowWearingAMumu
Absolutely amazing what vets can accomplish. Great story!
working30hoursADay
This is extremely dumb
BubbleGumLips
20 years of exchanging goldish with the same name.
Iamanusdestroyer
I wonder if they have any friends.
nothebees
NANODOCTOR! nanodoctor! NANOSCALPEL! nanoscalpel!
Booooopppp
JamsE
That intubation though!
CorneliusCornwall
From one Bob to another. *secret Bob nod*
imasnorlaxIRL
Goldfish live to 30 years and grow to about a foot. The reason most goldfish die young is people putting them in tiny bowls.
hiphopbookshop
What about Bob?
winifrit
-I got so excited I forgot to take you with me. -Oh! The FISH!
Bearricane
Fish are friends, too! But for real I was devastated when my 7-year-old black moor passed.
Sy52
Fish are friends... ...not food.
Kumab
Foundation3
So you could say the surgery went... Swimmingly?
Uzernaime
My parents did surgery on our bird growing up, it healed up really well and the bird went on living for years afterward. 1/2
Uzernaime
My family grew up on a farm and we don't really believe in paying that amount to keep an animal alive, when we were already so poor. 2/2
livehuman
Must be nice to have money.
TehMightyEngineer
$250 is hardly "having money".
Naturally90
Don't know why you got down voted. It's true...
ZombieZooZombieZoo
Its a good fish, Bront.
mindfunkie
lol i get it
Tarlon
That's one lucky fish.
SuchRelevantMuchRelate
When a gold fish has better health care than muricans
fistermatic5000
I still stand by the fact that a much further expanditure of medicaid would make a proper health care plan.
unclestankstank
I've killed too many fish for this to be touching.
haroldleedoes
dontcallmeplath
Oh man.. I want to believe..
cattownxkay
TheFredBaron
Saving Nemo!
LadyWidebottom
As much as I love this gif, I feel like the cat was trying for a low hanging fruit, and then thought "Oh, fuck it" when it dropped the fish.
TheFredBaron
Saving Nemo!
brianclementsvatua
Save da fishy...
classybitch23
Honest question: how did the thing not die being out of water for that period of time?
Lilnaugrim
They flush water over the fish periodically. Fish can typically live out of the water for about half n hour roughly (depending on area).
elbdms
Looks like there is a tube stuck in its mouth.
Lilnaugrim
They flush water over the fish periodically. Fish can typically live out of the water for about half n hour roughly (depending on area).
Lilnaugrim
Anabantoid fish (Betta and gourami) can breathe natural air and so they can survive longer and then drying out kills them. Regular fish 2/3
Lilnaugrim
without a Labyrinth organ, will die from not being able to breathe before they dry out. 3/3
TheRealKevinSpacey
Yeah I woulda flushed that bitch, I got bills
BondageBurrito
Yea you're not a real pet owner then. Don't get an animal.
thebluebox69
20 year old fish he is ancient, lived a good life, you honestly sound like a prick I love animals but I agree with the other guy
Drek258
& he's got gills.
LukeWarmIgnition
Underrated comment of the year award. You have it now. It comes with a small cash prize. PM me for details
magicaldaddy
My wife is a vet nurse and she has the best fucking story about Euthanising a carp
kermie92
Are you going to share? I didn't even know fish could get euthanized until this. I just figured they got flushed/dumped unfortunately.
magicaldaddy
I was going to, but then the character limit was too much of a hassle & then she wanted me to do something and I forgot.
Lilnaugrim
Anything can be euthanized. Flushing is so bad since if the fish was diseased, the disease could spread through the system and hurt the 1/2
Lilnaugrim
environment. Euthanasia and then burn or throw into trash is best way to do it even if it isn't "personable", it's the safest 2/2
kermie92
We buried our fish. Wrapped them in tissue, put in plastic pb jars, and put them at the base of the big pine tree in our yard.
Lilnaugrim
Yeah, that works too. I've buried some of my smaller ones in some of the house plants I have :-)
jsktrogdor
Honestly $250 aint bad. You think I could pass for a goldfish next time I need medical care?
TylerTheAnarchist
I had my dermatologist give me a shot for my tumor a few years ago for about $250. It never really went away but it stopped growing.
whatupmyknitters
sure, if you only need $250 worth of anesthesia
Imza
Would have been 25k in the US.
TylerTheAnarchist
I had my dermatologist give me a shot for my tumor a few years ago for about $250. It never really went away but it stopped growing.
jsktrogdor
Well... what'd you name it, then?
TylerTheAnarchist
Sid. He lives on my left elbow. I pet him in front of my friends to freak them out.
bunnyrut
only if you get a tumor on your fin
jsktrogdor
Fins, arms, "vets," "doctors," it's all the same. $250 is $250.
pleasedontcallmeDAN
20 years!
Apache275
Back when the Walmarts here sold fish, my mom bought one and he lived for over 9 years. She named them Wally and Marty (Wal-Mart) /1
AliElkie
We have a 13 year old goldfish. She's pretty cool
ThatMomentWhenTheUsernamesPerfectlyDescribeWhatYouNeed
The oldest recorded goldfish was 43.
derpalopithecus
metric or imperial?
Fappablefavorites
Couric's
DracidWasTaken
my aunts goldfish was 25 last i heard. she tried to kill it by not feeding it, draining the tank so its belly was on the bottom and 1/
Vantango84
Your aunt sounds like a psycho
DracidWasTaken
eh not really. all the kids moved out who the fish was for. Just didn't want to take care of it anymore. He lived a good life
livingthathoelife
Sounds like that cruel person tormented that poor fishy
OneCraftyHooker
I think it's the financial aspect and not the desire that is holding many pet owners back from saving their pets.
flapperfemmefatale
this is why i have pet insurance.
madcore
I'd lost some of my cats because I can't pay the vet. Also, I hope the people who poison animals for fun burn in hell.
Dingdingturkeysdone
When my 9 yo and 3 yo cats got sick I had no other option than to give them up. Cried the entire week afterward
OneCraftyHooker
I am sorry for your loss.
flover
I'll be honest, if the fat cat took a long walk off a short pier, I'd be OK with it. He's an asshole.
katieisawizard
That and sometimes the animal is in pain. (I believe in assisted suicide so please don't think I hate animals for some weird reason)
flover
I'll be honest, if the fat cat took a long walk off a short pier, I'd be OK with it. He's an asshole.
brianclementsvatua
$250 for I'd be hesitant to do. $250 for my dog sure let's do it.
SnarkyScience
Can I get $250 for me if I get cancer? Seems like a steal.
Imadethisaccounttoreplytoacomment
Pet Insurance is a reality and I encourage every one of my patients to get it.
regnant
CareCredit is also nice... prevents you from using the card on anything other then medical/pets!
someofthebacon
We might have to put our 14 year old cat down. She's being assessed for quality of life. Too old and too expensive to fix everything. Sad.
msjonesy
Exactly. Sometimes even if we have the money to save them, it may not be the best thing for them.
crossedstitches
Cost me twice this much just for an inconclusive test on my rat who then had to be put down two weeks later. Pet care is crazy expensive.
pixarpizza
That's more than a dollar for every day the average rat lives...
crossedstitches
Well, 2.5-3 years is average to my knowledge, so not exactly. Still a high price to pay for a such a short life though.
Barkinsons
Yet the vets are poorly paid for the education they have, we essentially go through the same course as physicians
mckenna310
I'm in vet school and we always joke about how much easier human doctors have it. But people are nasty! :P
Imanengineersowordsarehardvv
Yeah except for multiple species. That shits crazy. I have so much respect for vets
SgtMichaelCross
Not only do vets have to operate, but also diagnose AND administer medicine / anesthetics. I can't thank them enough for saving my GSD.
pixarpizza
And my Chow. We ruled out a brain tumor two years ago thanks to an amazing vet. He saved my cat's life from an infection too.
strugglesnuggler
You'd think vets would be paid more they need to remember stuff about multiple different species.
mckenna310
Different anatomy, physiology, and an entire spectrum of disease all pertaining to 10+ species. Glad you appreciate the struggle!
Xkalnar
Except the money has to come from somewhere, so to make more they'd have to charge more.
lurkvoter
If I were rich, I would've saved my cats, but I didn't have $1000s for diagnostics & treatment. It's def. the money, not the desire.
OneCraftyHooker
For us too, our dog was attacked by another dog and it was gonna be $8K. Unfortunately our dog was out w/o leash and friendly so our fault
cleverusernameistaken
i`d sell my car if i was ever in that position.
lurkvoter
I don't think with car would have been worth enough to save either cat. (I have an old car.) The first one would have needed tons of 1/2
lurkvoter
diagnostics, and then very possibly heart surgery. The second one would have needed diagnostics and then almost certainly brain surgery. 2/2
lurkvoter
2nd one had all the symptoms of a brain tumor and other possibilities had been ruled out. 1st cat had heart failure, and we're not sure why.
Mango03
I've had my puppy for 10 months, we've just begun our journey. I will gladly miss a rent payment to have as much time with him as possible.
dankknight
Rent payment? My dog had cancer all over and I could have prolonged his life 3-4 months for around ~5,000. Quality of life. Raining in here
vreshin92
Had our puppy for 10 months too - upwards of 5k in vet bills in spite of having the best pet insurance around. I hate insurance providers.
HandsomeJackWilshere
Insurance in a majority of aspects is usually. Life insurance, home, car fine. But most seem to cost a ton relative and barely ever pay out
flapperfemmefatale
who did you have? i have PetPlan and they've been great so far.
vreshin92
Truepanion in Canada