They're worth it. My Rott got tagged by a car one rainy night in WA. Fucker snuck out while I was working in the garage. I only looked away for a few minutes, and he was gone - usually sitting right by my side. I walked out back and called for him, nothing. I noticed him going around the other side of the house. I get back in the garage, and he's sitting there. I called him, and he wouldn't come to me. I thought that was odd. I walked over to him to pat his side, and he winced. He coughed a little, and some blood came up.
Off to the vet we go, late at night emergency visit. Couple x-rays and an MRI later, and we get a bottle of antibiotics handed to us. Nothing broken, bruised ribs and lung, and blood seeping from the lung.
That was 2 grand.
He was worth every penny. <thumbsup>
Rob, I was seriously thinking birdshot for awhile, but didn't want to say it...