Family Spends $250 To Remove Tumor From Their 20 Year Old Goldfish

Feb 9, 2017 4:52 PM

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

I didnt think this was a thing..

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The things I would do to save a member of my family. Good for the them!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Absolutely amazing what vets can accomplish. Great story!

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

This is extremely dumb

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

20 years of exchanging goldish with the same name.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

I wonder if they have any friends.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

NANODOCTOR! nanodoctor! NANOSCALPEL! nanoscalpel!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That intubation though!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

From one Bob to another. *secret Bob nod*

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Goldfish live to 30 years and grow to about a foot. The reason most goldfish die young is people putting them in tiny bowls.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

What about Bob?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

-I got so excited I forgot to take you with me. -Oh! The FISH!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Fish are friends, too! But for real I was devastated when my 7-year-old black moor passed.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Fish are friends... ...not food.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

So you could say the surgery went... Swimmingly?

9 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Must be nice to have money.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

$250 is hardly "having money".

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 2

Don't know why you got down voted. It's true...

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Its a good fish, Bront.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

lol i get it

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That's one lucky fish.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

When a gold fish has better health care than muricans

9 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 5

I still stand by the fact that a much further expanditure of medicaid would make a proper health care plan.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I've killed too many fish for this to be touching.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 107 Dislikes 0

Oh man.. I want to believe..

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

v

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Saving Nemo!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

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.

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

Saving Nemo!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Save da fishy...

9 years ago | Likes 30 Dislikes 0

Honest question: how did the thing not die being out of water for that period of time?

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

They flush water over the fish periodically. Fish can typically live out of the water for about half n hour roughly (depending on area).

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Looks like there is a tube stuck in its mouth.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They flush water over the fish periodically. Fish can typically live out of the water for about half n hour roughly (depending on area).

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

without a Labyrinth organ, will die from not being able to breathe before they dry out. 3/3

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah I woulda flushed that bitch, I got bills

9 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 10

Yea you're not a real pet owner then. Don't get an animal.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 11

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

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

& he's got gills.

9 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 2

Underrated comment of the year award. You have it now. It comes with a small cash prize. PM me for details

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

My wife is a vet nurse and she has the best fucking story about Euthanising a carp

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Are you going to share? I didn't even know fish could get euthanized until this. I just figured they got flushed/dumped unfortunately.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah, that works too. I've buried some of my smaller ones in some of the house plants I have :-)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Honestly $250 aint bad. You think I could pass for a goldfish next time I need medical care?

9 years ago | Likes 47 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

sure, if you only need $250 worth of anesthesia

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Would have been 25k in the US.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Well... what'd you name it, then?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Sid. He lives on my left elbow. I pet him in front of my friends to freak them out.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

only if you get a tumor on your fin

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Fins, arms, "vets," "doctors," it's all the same. $250 is $250.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

20 years!

9 years ago | Likes 306 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

We have a 13 year old goldfish. She's pretty cool

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The oldest recorded goldfish was 43.

9 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 1

metric or imperial?

9 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 1

Couric's

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

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/

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 3

Your aunt sounds like a psycho

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 7

Sounds like that cruel person tormented that poor fishy

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I think it's the financial aspect and not the desire that is holding many pet owners back from saving their pets.

9 years ago | Likes 304 Dislikes 1

this is why i have pet insurance.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

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.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I am sorry for your loss.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

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)

9 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 2

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.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

$250 for I'd be hesitant to do. $250 for my dog sure let's do it.

9 years ago | Likes 80 Dislikes 4

Can I get $250 for me if I get cancer? Seems like a steal.

9 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 0

Pet Insurance is a reality and I encourage every one of my patients to get it.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

CareCredit is also nice... prevents you from using the card on anything other then medical/pets!

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

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.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Exactly. Sometimes even if we have the money to save them, it may not be the best thing for them.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That's more than a dollar for every day the average rat lives...

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yet the vets are poorly paid for the education they have, we essentially go through the same course as physicians

9 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 2

I'm in vet school and we always joke about how much easier human doctors have it. But people are nasty! :P

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah except for multiple species. That shits crazy. I have so much respect for vets

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Not only do vets have to operate, but also diagnose AND administer medicine / anesthetics. I can't thank them enough for saving my GSD.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

You'd think vets would be paid more they need to remember stuff about multiple different species.

9 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

Different anatomy, physiology, and an entire spectrum of disease all pertaining to 10+ species. Glad you appreciate the struggle!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Except the money has to come from somewhere, so to make more they'd have to charge more.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 0

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

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

i`d sell my car if i was ever in that position.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

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

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

diagnostics, and then very possibly heart surgery. The second one would have needed diagnostics and then almost certainly brain surgery. 2/2

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

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

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

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.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

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

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

who did you have? i have PetPlan and they've been great so far.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Truepanion in Canada

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0