$500 Vet Bill, $60 Parking Ticket!!!!!

Just for a bit of perspective:

Monroe had a puncture injury just a few weeks ago.  It was two days old when the daycare staff found it while grooming him and it was infected by then.  They took him to their local vet and I met them there.  He ended up having a general anasthesia, debradement of the area, 9 stitches, prescribed pain killers and anti-biotics.  He did not stay overnight but came home.

The total cost was $315.00.  (Price-shock in a good way)

  A week later we had to visit his regular vet because he had diarrhea due to the anti-biotics.  They checked his anal glands and bloodwork and we had to get some pro-biotics to balance him out.  His Giarddia (sp?) count was high so we got meds for that too.

Total cost was $168.00 (meds included)

Needless to say, from the way your receptionist has a ready, slick way of dealing with price-shock, your vet is probably over-charging.  Time to go shopping.

I agree with VM. When the dogs had their coyote incident we rushed them to emergency animal hospital on a sunday.

Staples, rabies booster and 3 different meds each were about $500, I was pleasantly surprised!

I guess I just expected it to be more since it was the hospital and on a sunday

janet_rose

2shelties

What irritated me this last appointment was being charged for a HW test before she would prescribe interceptor for the year, even though I use the stuff year round and there's no way they have heart worms....and yeah, I expect them to take my word for it.

Sorry, but no "preventative" is foolproof.  It is not a matter of the vet not trusting you.  She very wisely does not completely trust the pesticide.

Possible problems with the pesticide: 

• It doesn't happen often, but a larvae could to get into a position of low blood flow and not get enough pesticide to kill it. 
• A dog can spit out a tablet behind the owner's back and another dog can scarf it up. 
• A dog can throw up the tablet in the yard unnoticed.

I didn't think of the preventative failing, but it still surprises me. I don't remember ever having to retest for HW with my previous dog and I wasn't expecting them to refuse to sell me the interceptor without retesting.....

I buy the HW preventive every six months (Nov. & April) but before I can get it in November, I have to bring Max in for HW testing in October. In that particular instance I'd really rather be safe than sorry.

Joyce

2shelties

I didn't think of the preventative failing, but it still surprises me. I don't remember ever having to retest for HW with my previous dog and I wasn't expecting them to refuse to sell me the interceptor without retesting..... 

Your vet is following the current recommendations of the American Heartworm Society.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1621&articleid=743

The American Heartworm Society advises all adult dogs being started on a heartworm preventive for the first time should be tested. In addition, all dogs should be tested annually for heartworm infection. In the past, if a dog had been on preventive methods routinely, it was not considered necessary to test every year, perhaps only every two to three years. Because of concerns with breaks regarding animals on preventives that still contracted heartworms, the AHS recommends a more conservative testing routine. It may be too difficult to document when an animal hasn't been checked in three years, and therefore, annual testing will ensure that an infection is caught in plenty of time to effectively manage it.

AuroraLove

Wow for that price you might as well be going to a holistic vet!

Not sure what you mean there?

I hope you mean that since a holistic vet should usually be a secondary vet not that they are more 'expensive'?  Going to our holistic vet is actually cheaper than the regular vet -- it includes treatment as well as the 'exam' and prevents more stuff from happening.  For $60 my holistic vet spends 40 -60 minutes with the dog, most regular vets charge $40 or more for a 3 minute 'office visit' plus any tests.

calliecritturs

AuroraLove

Wow for that price you might as well be going to a holistic vet!

Not sure what you mean there?

I hope you mean that since a holistic vet should usually be a secondary vet not that they are more 'expensive'?  Going to our holistic vet is actually cheaper than the regular vet -- it includes treatment as well as the 'exam' and prevents more stuff from happening.  For $60 my holistic vet spends 40 -60 minutes with the dog, most regular vets charge $40 or more for a 3 minute 'office visit' plus any tests.

Wow.  Callie, that's good to know.  I always thought they'd be more since they seem more "specialized."  I hope it's the same in CA.  I've never been to one, but I was really surprised to see how many TCVM practitioners there are in Davis  since we're not really a very large town. That was a good thing to find out, since I never know when I might need to look for one.

Joyce

the actual amount of the visit will change -- the *first* visit is ALWAYS more expensive, but typically you spend like an hour to an hour and a half or more with the holistic practitioner.  The type of exam is far different, and they'll usually teach you about food, etc. as well.  But it usually will include 'treatment' of whatever modality that vet uses.  That first exam for Dr. D is $125 I think.  But what doctor/vet can you spend 90 minutes with for about $1.30 a minute?

The guy I go to for ME who is a homeopath is also a DOM (doctor of Oriental medicine) and usually beside the auto-sanguis treatment he does, I also get acupuncture and I'm never ever out of there in less than 80 minutes.  My acupuncturist is a bit less expensive but it's always 40 minutes and usually 30 of that she's 'with' me. 

Most holistic practitioners consider the "mind" part of the whole body, so getting to know your clients, how they feel and think, how things are generally 'going' for them, being concerned about "stuff" -- it's part of the term "Holisitc" (whole being)  Seems to be both for humans and animals. 

I wasn't trying to be ratty up there -- Yeah, I spend a bundle at the vet because we use both regular AND holistic vets.  BUT ... if you take the cost of most pharmaceutical meds, the tests, etc. PLUS the office visit -- it can make two visits without a ton of meds more practical.  It *sounds* expensive to take your dogs to two different kinds of vets (particularly when most people are loathe to pay that annual vet visit) -- but when you have the kind of dogs that David and I rescue ... "saving money at the vet" takes on a whole new dimension.

(*mentally calculating what Lulu's treatment will cost AGAIN*)

 <<"Well just think of it over a year. It's less than $20 a month.">>

Ummmm...$60.00 X12=$500.00...this person is handling BILLING?  Maybe THAT'S part of the problem!

I spent about $500.00 on Gypsy this month.  Here's the breakdown:

Office call, low grade sedation (to relax her so we could express anal gland), light anesthesia (since she was too sore to allow us to express it the "regular" way)--$138.00.

Spay, removal or mole, removal of cancerous growth PLUS two days of kennel stay (we were gone to the beach)--$318.00. 

Having my best friend back on her feet? Priceless. Having a vet I can trust? Doubly wonderful!

 I forgot to add--the second bill INCLUDED the biopsy fee!  WHAT a guy!!!

lorib

Ummmm...$60.00 X12=$500.00...this person is handling BILLING?  Maybe THAT'S part of the problem!

Hehehe..hopefully YOU don't handle any billing! cause 60 x 12 is 720.

$$$559.30???  EEEK! Sorry to hear that your pocket book was so deeply gouged...

With the rising cost of veterinary medicine, I swear the only way that people can have pet's is either to be mega rich, or have pet insurance.  When we eventually get our puppy, the day it's picked up is the day that we start our insurance policy!!! 

Thank gosh that Kobi isn't a giant breed... You could have added an additional $100-200 to your bill...

Not that long ago we were looking at old invoices from the late 80's from our Airedales.  It's a joke.. The cost to have our one female spayed, and boarded for 3 days, plus post op care cost us... (drum roll please...)  $75.85!!!  Oh how I wish those prices were still in effect!!

 Umm... wow! I need to start charging more for anal glands, LOL. I'd bathe your dog, brush him out, remove a LOT of undercoat, trim his nails, clean his ears, AND express his anal glands for $35. I'm running a special this month, so neem or oatmeal shampoo is no extra charge.

If I charged $42 for anal glands ALONE.... Hehe, I could make a killing!