DOG Cataract surgery - Pittsburgh or Columbus area?

[scottmel]

Hello hopefully a DIS'er can chime in with experience. My 3 year old dog was diagnosed at the AKC Dog show with cataracts in both eyes - one bad, one mild. Absolutely NO cataract history at all in family line. None. MILD MILD retina dysplasia in the line.
Bottom line, vet show vet recommended follow up/surgery wherever we take my dog. I have researched online and the Pittsburgh cost is around 5k for both eyes and the Columbus cost is 3800. Quite a savings. The Columbus (MEDVET) gets rave reviews on line just the pain of the drive, etc. but that is fine.

Anyone use either place in Columbus or Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is PVAC or something like that but it is the only game in town for this type of surgery.

Since getting the diagnosis at the dog show my breeder told me to get a simple eye check by another opholomogist and not rush into getting the retina checked etc. but I just like to have things done RIGHT and know what I am dealing with now instead of later.

Anyone have experience? Thank you!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Hello hopefully a DIS'er can chime in with experience. My 3 year old dog was diagnosed at the AKC Dog show with cataracts in both eyes - one bad, one mild. Absolutely NO cataract history at all in family line. None. MILD MILD retina dysplasia in the line.
Bottom line, vet show vet recommended follow up/surgery wherever we take my dog. I have researched online and the Pittsburgh cost is around 5k for both eyes and the Columbus cost is 3800. Quite a savings. The Columbus (MEDVET) gets rave reviews on line just the pain of the drive, etc. but that is fine.

Anyone use either place in Columbus or Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is PVAC or something like that but it is the only game in town for this type of surgery.

Since getting the diagnosis at the dog show my breeder told me to get a simple eye check by another opholomogist and not rush into getting the retina checked etc. but I just like to have things done RIGHT and know what I am dealing with now instead of later.

Anyone have experience? Thank you!

Funny you post this. My cousin just had her one year old Labs cataract operated on about a month ago.

She had it done at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialist in the North Hills. She told me it was a little under$3000 . Her pup only needed one eye done. The other one is ok.
She came through it just fine and is doing well.

The vets and employees at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialist are awesome. One of my collies had cancer years ago and I took her there for treatment. They are very caring and knowledgable but also expensive. There is nothing cheap about that place.


Ive had friends go to ohio state for treatment also. Mainly before Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialist existed or were able to treat everything they do now.
Nothing specifically for cataracts though.

If u have any other questions feel free to PM me.

 

[scottmel]

Funny you post this. My cousin just had her one year old Labs cataract operated on about a month ago.

She had it done at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialist in the North Hills. She told me it was a little under$3000 . Her pup only needed one eye done. The other one is ok.
She came through it just fine and is doing well.

The vets and employees at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialist are awesome. One of my collies had cancer years ago and I took her there for treatment. They are very caring and knowledgable but also expensive. There is nothing cheap about that place.


Ive had friends go to ohio state for treatment also. Mainly before Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialist existed or were able to treat everything they do now.
Nothing specifically for cataracts though.

If u have any other questions feel free to PM me.

Thanks so much for the reply. I looked up the Pgh place on line and seems mixed - happy and not so happy people. Columbus everyone seemed happy. A great retired dog opthomoloigst who lives in Michigan recommended Columbus to me and I was gravitating there but obviously with the difference in travel etc. Pgh was appealing. I was a little disappointed with Pgh though in the cost 2500 an eye. The expense is getting the dog under, etc. So that turned me off a little that it is 5k for the pair of eyes. KWIM? Where as Columbus, which is the place that seems heavily recommended for eyes, is a good bit less....but my guess is b/c there are 3 medvet clinics in Ohio and Pgh has the monopoly here....

 

[design_mom]

We have never used MEDVET in Columbus for eye-related issues, but we have used them for other things several times over the past 15 years. We have always been pleased with the quality of care and felt that they were "fair" when talking to us about cost vs. expected outcomes, etc.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Thanks so much for the reply. I looked up the Pgh place on line and seems mixed - happy and not so happy people. Columbus everyone seemed happy. A great retired dog opthomoloigst who lives in Michigan recommended Columbus to me and I was gravitating there but obviously with the difference in travel etc. Pgh was appealing. I was a little disappointed with Pgh though in the cost 2500 an eye. The expense is getting the dog under, etc. So that turned me off a little that it is 5k for the pair of eyes. KWIM? Where as Columbus, which is the place that seems heavily recommended for eyes, is a good bit less....but my guess is b/c there are 3 medvet clinics in Ohio and Pgh has the monopoly here....

Well Columbus is where the veterinarian school is so there is probably alot more competition there driving down the price.

Im not endorsing either place. U have to go where u feel comfortable , but I would assume a retired vet from Michigan would be more familar with Columbus due to the proximity also.

I used to show dogs in my younger days. One of my old show friends lives in Grove City right outside of Columbus and she constantly remarks on how many more options they have there for specialized vet care compared to here in Pittsburgh.

Good luck to you and your pup!

 

[scottmel]

We have never used MEDVET in Columbus for eye-related issues, but we have used them for other things several times over the past 15 years. We have always been pleased with the quality of care and felt that they were "fair" when talking to us about cost vs. expected outcomes, etc.

Thanks! HAve you ever used or heard of the OSU Vet program there? In my mind I associate that with "students" and honestly am not comfortable with that when talking about eyesight but have heard they are quite reasonable...

 

[scottmel]

Well Columbus is where the veterinarian school is so there is probably alot more competition there driving down the price.

Im not endorsing either place. U have to go where u feel comfortable , but I would assume a retired vet from Michigan would be more familar with Columbus due to the proximity also.

I used to show dogs in my younger days. One of my old show friends lives in Grove City right outside of Columbus and she constantly remarks on how many more options they have there for specialized vet care compared to here in Pittsburgh.

Good luck to you and your pup!

AH!!! You hit the nail on the head I think. My breeder mentioned the OSU vet program there, In my mind I picture vet students operating but I could be dead wrong. I bet that drives down the price at the other places...And honestly if all things were equal/cost I would use Pittsburgh. I am 15 minutes from Camp Horn Road! But for 1200 savings....Columbus is drawing me near! Unless of course I hear otherwise...

 

[design_mom]

Thanks! HAve you ever used or heard of the OSU Vet program there? In my mind I associate that with "students" and honestly am not comfortable with that when talking about eyesight but have heard they are quite reasonable...

I have heard of them. I have not used them because our vet (whom we love) recommended the oncologist at MEDVET, which is the first time we used MEDVET. We were happy with the care so we've gone back to MEDVET when we've needed specialists.

My parents' neighbor used to be in charge of the lab at the OSU vet clinic (he's retired now), and one of the dads on my son's soccer team is a veterinary neurosurgeon at the OSU clinic. They are both experienced veterinarians and professors, not students. I do not think they have students operating on the animals (at least, not without major supervision). If anything, I'd think it's a teaching hospital sort of environment, not a "give the poodle to the new guy" thing.

I would definitely consider taking our pets to OSU... but we've been happy with MEDVET, so we'd probably go back there first.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would get a second opinion, also, from an unbiased veterinary ophthalmologist.

 

[scottmel]

I have heard of them. I have not used them because our vet (whom we love) recommended the oncologist at MEDVET, which is the first time we used MEDVET. We were happy with the care so we've gone back to MEDVET when we've needed specialists.

My parents' neighbor used to be in charge of the lab at the OSU vet clinic (he's retired now), and one of the dads on my son's soccer team is a veterinary neurosurgeon at the OSU clinic. They are both experienced veterinarians and professors, not students. I do not think they have students operating on the animals (at least, not without major supervision). If anything, I'd think it's a teaching hospital sort of environment, not a "give the poodle to the new guy" thing.

I would definitely consider taking our pets to OSU... but we've been happy with MEDVET, so we'd probably go back there first.

The poodle remark was LOL funny. Thanks! Good advice. Thanks for sharing your Columbus experience. Our consult is right when we get home from Disney at end of June

 

[design_mom]

The poodle remark was LOL funny. Thanks! Good advice. Thanks for sharing your Columbus experience. Our consult is right when we get home from Disney at end of June

To make you feel a little better, this is from the OSU clinic page under "what to expect from your visit." Sounds like the students are "assisting" the ophthalmologists, but the ophthalmologists are checking their work and performing any actual tests or procedures.

One of our senior veterinary students will take a complete patient history and give your pet an initial ophthalmic examination under the supervision of a staff ophthalmologist. As a matter of policy, you will be asked to return to the lobby during the examination. One of our staff ophthalmologists will then examine your pet and perform any additional tests required. It is often necessary to administer eye drops to dilate your pet’s pupils and allow better visualization of the inner structures of the eye. It takes 15 minutes for these drops to work and their effect lasts 3-4 hours hours. Please allow 1-2 hours for an initial examination if your pet is a new patient to our hospital. After the examination, the ophthalmologist will speak to you about diagnosis and treatment options.

MedVet has non-veterinarians collect patient history, too, so that wouldn't bother me at all. I don't like that OSU asks you to leave your pet during the examination. We've never had to leave during a basic exam at MedVet (it looks like that's standard policy across all the specialties at OSU, not just ophthalmology.) But, if our vet felt that the OSU doctor was the best and/or if the difference in price was critical, I might be willing to do it. (I don't know how OSU vs. MedVet's prices compare, nor who has the better ophthalmologist.)

 

[scottmel]

To make you feel a little better, this is from the OSU clinic page under "what to expect from your visit." Sounds like the students are "assisting" the ophthalmologists, but the ophthalmologists are checking their work and performing any actual tests or procedures.

Can you share that link with me? All I could find today was APPLYING to the school to become a vet, not their outpatient info

 

[design_mom]

Here's OSU Clinic's Ophthalmology page: http://vet.osu.edu/vmc/ophthalmology There are various other interesting links (preparing for your visit, etc.) under the "Pet Owners" tab at the top.

Here's MEDVET's home page: http://www.medvet-cves.com

 

[scottmel]

Here's OSU Clinic's Ophthalmology page: http://vet.osu.edu/vmc/ophthalmology There are various other interesting links (preparing for your visit, etc.) under the "Pet Owners" tab at the top.

Here's MEDVET's home page: http://www.medvet-cves.com

THanks! I just called the OSU clinic...no great shakes on price which I am glad for..Maybe 800 less than Columbus? And they have the pet stay 3 nights! I don't like that ....Columbus is take pet home same day...Seems like for what I need Columbus Medvet makes most sense....Kicking myself that I discontinued insurance.....But honestly it is making me realize there is no cost I would put on this dog and I will get insurance going forward in case another ailment comes up. I don't ever want price to dictate if my animal gets a surgery or not....