BIG Budget buster, VET :(

[LilyWDW]

We also have a 2 year old black lab and know all too well how much trouble they can get themselves into...

I'm glad she's doing better

I swear black labs are insane dogs. I used to have one (she now lives at dad's). SO much different then the 2 yellow labs we had. We nicknamed her devil dog. She would get into anything and everything. She even ate through the dry wall of my dad's house!

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

Our yellow lab has eaten some many things - he ate the top off a bottle of cold medicine and licked it clean, he ate fertilizer, a plastic spoon, many polly pockets... the list could go on and on. He is crazy!

 

[gules]

My friend has a lab who ate a small carton of instant coffee. A lot of hyperactivity, then she vomited and... er... messed... all over the floors, but she was fine 24 hours later. He stayed up to watch her but he lives so far away from any kind of vet that it was pretty scary. Labs are usually pretty large, though, so luckily they have more mass to offset the weird stuff they'll eat!

Good luck with the cost offset. It's responsible, loving owners like you who continue to give me hope that not all people think pets are things to be used and thrown out.

 

[Chris]

My vet will allow payment plans for large amounts such as this. Did you look into that?

We did ask, but they have a policy of payment before you can take the dog home. It's an emergency vet which is open 24 hours; of course they take every kind of credit card though!!!

 

[Chris]

She is home now! Her blood work was all ok so after 14 hours of IV fluid, a few rounds of blood test and induced vomitting she's back home!

I was at work so dh & the kids went to pick her up! They said she went running to them, then around them and waited at the door to leave!! Her right front leg is all shaved though from the IV and she keeps licking it!

Thank you all so much for the wishes and nice words! Dogs sure can get into things and she is a climber but I'm SO glad she's back home with us!!!

 

[Chris]

I also meant to add, I know exactly what you're all talking about, the people I spoke to at work (some, not all) were saying stupid things like, 250.00 to put her down and get a new one or over 1000.00 to fix her??! Morons!!!!

 

[Friendly Frog]

I am so glad your dog is ok.

I have a Shih-tzu that will eat anything. We have trained and trained the "drop it" command but if she really wants it, she will not drop it.

We have tried to dog proof the house the best we can, but we still have to keep her under watch at all times. I think I have aged 10 years since we got her two years ago.

 

[MoniqueU]

I have labs now that don't cause any trouble other then one of them attacks the other if they aren't kept seperated. Not good but hasnt cost that much for stiches.


My favorite dog scooter was a golden retriever. He got in the trash and got a corn cob and ate it and it lodged in his intestine. It took us 2 trips to the vet to get it figured out. He had to have major surgery. This was 14 years ago and we were poorer then poor. Luckily the vet lest us make payments and I had to write out each check individually before I left. It was 1200 dollars. I called him my walking big screen. The sad part is he was never the same after. He gained a ton of weight and his coat was no longer shiny. I thought I was making the best choice at the time but in hindsight it wasnt. But they are the loves of your life so what can you do?

 

[a1tinkfans]

Vet bills are just wonderful surprises. One month before our last Disney trip, our rescued mini-poodle got his pee-pee part stuck in the out position. A little minor surgery and $600 later, it was fixed. Then 2 weeks later, he apparently became quite anemic suddenly, had a seizure, went for a blood transfusion and died, less than 2 weeks before our dream all out trip to Disney leaving us a $1400 vet bill. During the 18 months we owned him, we spent over $7600 in vet care.
I feel your pain!

and

I had no idea dogs were "into" paint balls...you KNOW what I am doing first thing tomorrow............having my ds get that stuff Xtra secure!....But considering what that little hobby costs, it does not surprise me one bit the associated expenses are just as awfully over priced.

OP: hope your pup is doing better, OUCH to you both!

 

[Pakey]

My little 12 lb Chinese crested ate a toothpick last month (in his defense, the toothpick was inside a bacon wrapped appetizer that was just too tempting when my husband left his chair to sneeze).

It required almost $4000 to retrieve the toothpick (and it was still in one piece when they removed it during surgery) but it probably would have killed him had we not authorized the emergency surgery.

OP, I'm so glad your dog is going to be okay.

 

[MomtoGKC]

Oh my - you are making me nervous! We are getting our first dog this fall- I guess I better start a savings account for her soon!!

 

[Alexander]

I guess it is just too hard for people who don't have animals to understand the bond and love. If someone doesn't have a pet, they just can't understand those huge expenses to save their lives.

 

[crisi]

Our cat has been opened up twice for "something she ate" - we call her "zipper belly." And one lump removal. The vet calls her the million dollar kitty.

 

[marie1203]

Vet bills are expensive! We have a different savings for the dog vet bills. I spend $1200 last month on vet bills. One dog we rescue in Dec started having nose bleeds. Over $5,000 so far this year.

 

[Alexander]

My sister has 2 dobermans less than 2 years old. One just ate the blanket in the other dog's crate and wracked up a $1400 vet bill to have it removed! What is it with dogs and eathing things?

 

[mrsklamc]

When you get prescriptions for your animals, find out if they can be filled at a regular pharmacy. DH took our ferrets to the vet and was sent home with a tiny $18 vial labeled 'bismuth sulfate." We were going to need more, so I called and asked:

"Isn't this pepto bismol?"
"Yes."
"Any reason I can't buy the $2 generic at Target?"
"No, just get the cherry. They tend to like it better than the mint."

Had the same experience with amoxicillin. Much cheaper at Walgreens, than through the vet.

 

[anna08]

So sorry about the bills but happy your pup is doing well! Our dachshund once ingested a bottle of Afrin (he thought it was a chew toy!) Poison control was very helpful and gave good free advice - animal reactions can be different but it serious enough in humans for me to take him to the vet. We are very blessed to find a vet office that does all their own emergency care 24/7/365 - and at normal prices! It is something to ask about when you are looking for one.

 

[gules]

Oh my - you are making me nervous! We are getting our first dog this fall- I guess I better start a savings account for her soon!!

Congrats! A savings account is a pretty good idea, though! Boarding alone can cost a lot of money, depending on where you live. When we moved the dog boarding rates were just about doubled in the new city. I almost had a heart attack the first time we went on a trip where we couldn't take the dog!

 

[cm8]

She is home now! Her blood work was all ok so after 14 hours of IV fluid, a few rounds of blood test and induced vomitting she's back home!

I was at work so dh & the kids went to pick her up! They said she went running to them, then around them and waited at the door to leave!! Her right front leg is all shaved though from the IV and she keeps licking it!

Thank you all so much for the wishes and nice words! Dogs sure can get into things and she is a climber but I'm SO glad she's back home with us!!!

I am glad to read that your DD has made it home. It sounds as if you have your own little keepsake of "Marley and me".,,

 

[Friendly Frog]

When you get prescriptions for your animals, find out if they can be filled at a regular pharmacy. DH took our ferrets to the vet and was sent home with a tiny $18 vial labeled 'bismuth sulfate." We were going to need more, so I called and asked:

"Isn't this pepto bismol?"
"Yes."
"Any reason I can't buy the $2 generic at Target?"
"No, just get the cherry. They tend to like it better than the mint."

Had the same experience with amoxicillin. Much cheaper at Walgreens, than through the vet.

That is so true and great advice! Unfortunately most of the vets in my area insist on you using their drugs only. ( at a huge mark-up.) One vet I no longer use got pretty rude when I asked if I could just use the pharmacy.