Billions of dollars are spent on animal care, and ownership each year. When owners are presented with the vet bill, one often wonders, and perhaps contemplates the high economic costs of pet care and ownership-like Ouch. The explanation made by the veterinary society, in behalf of their members, is that essentially animal do not tell you what is wrong with them. Therefore, much time and expense goes into diagnostic tests and expensive equipment, which means the cost of these procedures and tests are deferred to the owner of the animal. Indeed, this is a struggle, when the cost of treatment for one animal at times is equivalent to the purchase price of a $3000/4000 used car! Below is an interesting take on this issue!
http://cats.about.com/od/responsibleowners.../care_costs.htm