wow, trip to vet was expensive!!

[pinkytoe]

Our little weiner dog started acting lethargic and looked very bloated so we took her to the vet just to be safe. He couldn't find any blockage or anything visibly wrong but with we walked out with a $225 bill for a physical exam, xray and 4 pain pills. Ouch!! Next time, we'll wait a bit longer to see if the problem resolves itself. I think she just ate too many pecans in the backyard.

[puglogic]

I would've done the same, pinkytoe.....and would've felt the same afterwards ! :) That seems very high, but I guess it's the x-ray that blew things up. I had to take one of our guys to the night vet and for an exam, xray, and a handful of pain pills (which turned out to almost kill him) it was over $500.00. But he was screaming in pain, so I didn't feel I could wait. The ultimate bill to finally heal him, weeks later, was over $4000.00. That was pretty depressing.

[jp1]

pinkytoe, hopefully it does resolve itself. I don't blame you for going to the vet. I'm sure we'd've done the same. Any rapid change like that should probably be investigated quickly in case it's a serious urgent problem. Personally, if we can afford it (and we can) I wouldn't hesitate to go to the vet in the same circumstance. The heartbreak of holding off and finding out that we were just a day or three too late would be just awful.

[boss mare]

I feel for you... I just spent under 600 to have my Grand Dame, Foxy a 25 year old appaloosa mare teeth to be floated, yearly vaccinations and to have her diagnosed with a suspected case ( and confirmed ) of Cushings and and additional costs for med Now she gets a special diet and meds for the rest of her life ( even more $$$$ )
Now tonight after taking take of critters, Cooper, my other Appaloosa has an odd, large lump under his jaw that was not there is morning and Snickers, my youngest Corgi jumped off the couch and landed funny and is slightly limping . So tomorrow I am sure that I see a vet visit is going to be in order for at least Cooper

[boss mare]

pinkytoe, hopefully it does resolve itself. I don't blame you for going to the vet. I'm sure we'd've done the same. Any rapid change like that should probably be investigated quickly in case it's a serious urgent problem. Personally, if we can afford it (and we can) I wouldn't hesitate to go to the vet in the same circumstance. The heartbreak of holding off and finding out that we were just a day or three too late would be just awful.

1+

[CathyA]

Is she not bloated and acting better now Pinkytoe? I think that breed of dog has urinary problems, right?
Its funny you mention maybe eating too many nuts.........our dog seemed sick once and all we could figure out is that we were letting her eat too many black walnuts that the squirrels buried in the back yard.
But later, she did end up being hypothyroid. If your doggie continues to be lethargic, you might run some thyroid levels.
Good luck! Our pets are so important to us!

[Rosemary]

Yes, we've done the same and would in future. One instance when I did not act quickly, I later regretted it.
Vet rates have increased a LOT in the past 10 years. Now a simple annual exam and vaccines for 1 cat runs about $100. That's more than doubled in 10 years.

[puglogic]

Yes, we've done the same and would in future. One instance when I did not act quickly, I later regretted it.
Vet rates have increased a LOT in the past 10 years. Now a simple annual exam and vaccines for 1 cat runs about $100. That's more than doubled in 10 years.

It's funny, but when I grouse about human health insurance, or the cost of this-or-that, the cost of vet care never even occurs to me to complain about. I'm sure there are some wealthy veterinarians out there, but the majority in my town (especially mine) live simply and frugally and just love their jobs. The cost of pharmaceuticals and advanced medical equipment has gone up like crazy, but they don't seem to be making any more money personally. Must be frustrating for them.

Looking around at my mostly-well gang this morning and I feel grateful to be able to afford to keep them comfortable through vet care.

[bunnys]

I have run the numbers of a couple different pet health insurance.

The premiums end up being so high that, ultimately the health insurance is more like a savings plan than actual insurance. Kind of like a Christmas club.

If you're disciplined, you're likely to be better off just setting up some savings account and depositing a fixed amount into it every single month. That way, at least you'll earn interest on it.

[pinkytoe]

That darned weiner dog is bounding around like her old self again...despite takiing painkillers. It is funny because dh and I were having the serious talk about decisions if they needed to be made, ie treatment, euthanasia, etc. because we thought something was dreadfully wrong.All is well for now...thankfully.
I did look up the painkiller they gave her - .90 cents on the web; vet charged us $5 a piece. Seems like quite a markup. But then they do that with people drugs too.

[Rosemary]

Most vets I've used have been very open about costs up-front. They know that veterinary care is costly and that we have to make decisions about it on many levels - even when we wish we didn't have to. Often you can get a prescription to get it filled elsewhere. The vet does not dispense as much medication as a large pharmacy and so he/she probably has to pay more for the meds too... plus, his/her labor cost/hour is higher than that of a pharmacy technician.

[pony mom]

I feel for you... I just spent under 600 to have my Grand Dame, Foxy a 25 year old appaloosa mare teeth to be floated, yearly vaccinations and to have her diagnosed with a suspected case ( and confirmed ) of Cushings and and additional costs for med Now she gets a special diet and meds for the rest of her life ( even more $$$$ )

Are you getting the FDA drug Prascend or the compounded Pergolide? Pergolide is much cheaper and you can get an rx for it if your vet prescribes anything other than 1mg.

Join the Yahoo! IR/Cushings list for loads and loads of information. I've learned so much since my 27 yr. old was diagnosed with Cushings. He's doing really well now--he's on 3.25mg for the winter but will taper down in the spring. The FDA drug would be totally unaffordable at that higher dose.

[boss mare]

Got her on the FDA Prascend .. I did discuss the compounded with 2 different vets and there seems to be and issue with unstability with them... she is on 1 mg right now. The stuff that is the $$$$ is the Purina Well Solve $ 30.00 for a 50 pound bag Luckliy she is an easy- keeper ... I am going to go join that Yahoo Group right now Thanks!!!!

[cattledog]

That darned weiner dog is bounding around like her old self again...despite takiing painkillers. It is funny because dh and I were having the serious talk about decisions if they needed to be made, ie treatment, euthanasia, etc. because we thought something was dreadfully wrong.All is well for now...thankfully.
I did look up the painkiller they gave her - .90 cents on the web; vet charged us $5 a piece. Seems like quite a markup. But then they do that with people drugs too.

That's good news! I had a cat who was bloated and lethargic also. I took her to the vet and it turns out she had kidney failure and was going to die. :( I had to put her down at the vet's office. I wasn't prepared at all.

My dog cut one of her tendons in her paws and I had to take her to the veterinary emergency hospital. She is fine, but the bill was over $1200! I had no idea it was going to be that much! This was about five years ago too.

[CeciliaW]

That darned weiner dog is bounding around like her old self again...despite takiing painkillers.
*grin* I'd be bounding around on painkillers too. Imagine it suddenly not hurting! Yay!

[pony mom]

Got her on the FDA Prascend .. I did discuss the compounded with 2 different vets and there seems to be and issue with unstability with them... she is on 1 mg right now. The stuff that is the $$$$ is the Purina Well Solve $ 30.00 for a 50 pound bag Luckliy she is an easy- keeper ... I am going to go join that Yahoo Group right now Thanks!!!!

When you join the group you may find that there are issues with the Prascend as well.

There are a lot of feed suggestions there as well. Good luck! My guy's on Triple Crown Sr., which is low in sugar/starch. You may get by with just soaking hay (YUCK!) or feeding hay cubes and beet pulp if your horse doesn't need feed. Or, just a ration balancer could be enough.