Budget Buster : Dog Surgery

[rszdtrvl]

My Beagle, Miss Daisy, needs surgery to remove a tumor from her eyelid. I told the vet that while she was under anesthesia that he might as well clean her teeth too.

Total UNPLANNED amount (estimate) = $700.


But she is our baby girl, so right now we are busting our rears getting stuff on ebay to pay for her surgery.

 

[marie1203]

I hope everything goes well in her surgery. We put money aside each month for vet expenses maybe this will help you be prepare for next time.

 

[edk35]

I hope everything goes well in her surgery. We put money aside each month for vet expenses maybe this will help you be prepare for next time.

That is SMART. I need to do the same. We had two budget busters this past year with emergency vet bills....in the 1200 buck range for both. One was in June 2010 and another in Jan. of this year.

 

[carrie1626]

I know the $$ thing is hard, but you have your dog!!
I lost mine to cancer 6 months ago. I'll always miss him

Prayers to your Miss Daisy- a beautiful dog!

 

[Hootiss]

This is the best reason for living in Costa Rica, my GSD just had major surgery to remove a massive ulcerated fatty tumor that was infected. She has a scar over 10 inches if that gives you and idea how big it was. I LOVE my vet to pieces, she is a brilliant well educated young women. Total bill for surgery all meds, anesthesia, 3 follow up appointments $180


I wish you and you beautiful beagle the best of luck, I was scared to death for my dog because she is almost 10, but she did fabulous.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Have you checked with other vets in the area? Last year was "the year of the dogs" for us, both girls needed 2 surgeries. Several years ago I found out about a wonderful vet, he's about 40 min drive away, but he cares for the animals and is just great. I had a surgery done on my oldest, also removing a tumor above her eye. Total cost (no dental or extras) about $100. Friends of ours happened to have the same thing with their dog about 2 weeks later, used a nearby vet and it was over $300! We are very blessed to have found this great vet and never would have if we didn't look around and stretch our search area! Just a suggestion... sometimes we don't realize the difference in something like that between vets.

Good luck with your baby, I hope it all goes well.

 

[cvjw]

A few years back, my black lab had a tumor removed from over his eye, and one removed from the inside of his cheek. The bill for both was about half of what your vet is charging. Maybe you should get a second opinion - that seems really high.

 

[sydneysmom]

I totally can appreciate your pain !! we had a budget buster last week w/ our Basset. she had to have oral surgery and wound up having 3 teeth extracted. she's still in a good deal of pain, but getting better each day. her surgery was $ 1100. yeah, that was unplanned.

but, she's my girl and I'd do anything for her. I love her more than chocolate!

I hope your dog is doing well though ! she's a sweetie !!!

 

[MYD714]

I am so sorry to hear this. I hope everything goes well.

Two years ago (weeks before Christmas), my dog needed surgery on her back left leg and had to have a cancerous tumor removed from her front left leg. It cost a fortune. After the surgery, she was having trouble walking and we had to have a special leg brace made for her. It was a financial nightmare when all was said and done.

My husband and I were emotionally (and financially) drained. On Christmas, family members told us we were insane and that they would have told the vet to put the dog down. They went on and on about it, trying to explain how she wasn't worth it. I was hurt and disgusted. We don't have kids, so she is everything to us and they just didn't get that.

 

[singastory]

Trust me, I feel your pain right now. I am a vet student, but that doesn't mean we don't have to face the facts too. My cat that I adopted last year is currently having kidney problems, and in a week or so when he goes in for his recheck I will have spent over $500 so far for a multitude of tests, antibiotics, special food, etc. Makes ME ill just thinking about it, but what can I say. Although I did think it was amusing that my dog's neuter (anesthesia, surgery, everything) cost less than one visit for my cat... I guess I'm still learning the ins and outs of the economic side of my profession!! In school we focus so much more on the actual science and medicine side of things, but once I start seeing patients my care will be limited by how much my clients can afford. It's going to be an interesting learning curve!

 

[disneyfor3]

We have a 2 year old lab that lost an eye to glaucoma last year -$1,500.00. Then the glaucoma showed up in his good eye and he had glaucoma surgery (laser surgery and lens replacement) in February with the eye specialist in hopes of saving his good eye - $2,500.00. Follow up visits every two weeks $100 since. One of the eye meds (he's currently on 3 drops and 1 pill) is $139 each month. Worth it because his sight is returning!

Then we have a 14 year old lab who had to have teeth cleaned special because of her age and an ear infection - $600. I just had to take her back because she apparently is now getting senile - $315. Luckily we have savings. Oh, and then there were there annual visits recently - yikes. They are our furry children - just wish I could get our insurance to cover them.

 

[rszdtrvl]

It seems high, but the majority of it is the teeth cleaning. I know it has to be done again because her teeth are not so hot (I think it is from eating poo - cat poo from the stray cats) and I know at least one will need to be pulled.

To me, it does not make any sense to put her under twice - once for the tumor and once for the dental - so I just told the vet to do both at the same time.

I like our vet. His office can always get us in. And they take payments if necessary (which for the first time IS necessary in our case) and area friendly and nice.