Over $250 Vet Bill!

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Call me an irresponsible pet owner but I only take my dog to the vet if there is a problem. Otherwise we do all shots, heartworm, flea stuff through our low cost mobile pet clinic that comes around. It is SO much cheaper. If I take her in just for shots they will charge me the $40 office visit fee whether they really looked at anything or not.

 

[CookieGVB]

You can still order Frontline through PetMeds or wherever. You don't need a prescription from the vet for flea & tick prevention.

 

[samshane]

Feel your pain... I have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Just dropped over $1300 today on my dog to have her anal glands removed as she has problems with them abscessing. I think she hates me right now

 

[angwill]

Count me in to the spent way too much at the vet club. I currently have two dogs one is 8 years old and never had to go to the vet for anything other than routine shots, heartworm etc. We got DS a dog 2 years ago for Christmas so he could learn responsibility and that dog go bladder stones at 2 years old this past February. $1200 for surgery and meds. Another $50 for a simple urine culture that the tech misread causing us to have to get a more invasive test sent away for a reading for another $120. Thank goodness she doesn't need special food but will need urine tests done every few months now.

What I learned is to call around and ask for costs with different vet offices. I found a place 1/2 hour closer to me that does the urine culture for half the price at $25. I am also looking into using urine strips for humans so I can do the testing myself but want to talk to the vet first to make sure it is ok.

 

[ShannonMB]

You can still order Frontline through PetMeds or wherever. You don't need a prescription from the vet for flea & tick prevention.

Are you sure? I feel like I tried it a couple years ago and got shut down when I called the vet to ask them for the script. Maybe it was just the heartworm med? Hmmm, maybe I'll try it again. I stocked up last time and have tons of Interceptor left, but running out of Frontline.

 

[DISdreamin']

Are you sure? I feel like I tried it a couple years ago and got shut down when I called the vet to ask them for the script. Maybe it was just the heartworm med? Hmmm, maybe I'll try it again. I stocked up last time and have tons of Interceptor left, but running out of Frontline.

Actually, PetSmart just started carrying Frontline Plus right in the store - they had a display set up the last time we went! I was shocked, as I had the same experience you did with need a script last time I tried to buy it over the web.

 

[auralia]

we get to use the military vet, the doctors fee is 2$ and the rest is about 5% above cost for 60 bucks i get my cat all his shots for the year, a deworming, and a dose of flee treatment too bad the true cost is that hubby will be in iraq when i give birth to my next child

 

[Luvchefmic]

Don't know where you live but when we lived on Long Island, NY & the prices started to become too much I called the ASPCA and asked if they could recommend a low cost vet. They did & we saved a bundle as the vet gave us mulitple dog discounts (we have 8) I would schedule the appts. 2 by 2 like Noahs Ark and schedule them for the same day..after 4 round trips I was done but had saved a fortune. Is your vet charging an "office visit" fee for both dogs? Maybe this can be negotiated to one fee....all in all though I don't think the charge was too bad for what was done.

 

[ShannonMB]

Actually, PetSmart just started carrying Frontline Plus right in the store - they had a display set up the last time we went! I was shocked, as I had the same experience you did with need a script last time I tried to buy it over the web.

Woohoo! That's awesome! I swear, the stuff you can learn on these boards!! Thanks for the info.

 

[ShannonMB]

That sounds cheap! I spent about $80 to get my rat's tumor looked at (and $700 for 2 surgeries).

Okay, I have been thinking about this for the last couple days since I read it. I totally understand loving your pet, and to be honest, before I got my dogs I never thought I'd be one who would spend hundreds and thousands on a surgery for an animal (which I have now done). But what is the life expectancy of a rat, and how old is he? I'm definitely not one to judge, but I find this hard to wrap my brain around. Do the kids really love this rat? Are rats really good companions? Please take this in the spirit intended! Just really curious!

 

[aceys_h0ney]

I don't even want to know what my pets have cost me over the years. I feel your pain OP.

To the poster saying someone can't afford them don't get them there would be a lot of homeless pets if we all had to wait to have thousands on hand for a sudden injury or illness and lets face it that happens with animals. I can afford my pets but if one suddently needs thousands for testing and surgery we could be in trouble.

 

[Kriii]

I wouldn't want to guess what I've spent on my pets over the years. The 1,500 cat colonoscopy and the chemo treatments at 200.00 a pop stand out in my mind! I'm very grateful that vets can do some much for out pets though...they earn every dime!

 

[OregonGirl]

Hi Honey -

See, I knew someone would misinterpret what I was saying, which is why I hesitated even saying it. I wasn't suggesting that an individual should only own a pet if they have thousands in disposable income in which to drop on it, but rather simply offering the thought that owning a pet does inevitably cost money and in comparison to what human medical bills costs, I personally have never had an issue with veterinary charges nor do I ever let it bother me. It costs what it costs to own and care for a pet, and anyone who wishes to own/care for one should be aware and accepting of this. Or, alternatively, NOT own a pet. I have no doubts that the vase majority (if not all) of the posters on this thread thus far are caring, responsible pet owners. And certainly I share in the pain a sudden, unexpected financial burden can bestow upon a pet owner and how that could cause turmoil. It just surprises me a little bit when people are aghast at a vet bill (especially when it’s usually only a yearly or quarterly thing) that runs a few hundred dollars. How much money do we spend on ourselves in a given month or year and what do we truly get out of those dollars spent, whereas a pet will offer unconditional love in return for some food, shelter, and care of their wellbeing. That’s all. Also, I would like to humbly point out that not owning a pet and pet homelessness are two different issues.

Again, just my opinions.

 

[OregonGirl]

Ugh. You know what, ya'll - nevermind. I stand by what I said but mostly I am fighting the flu and I don't like to think about animals who are treated poorly, which isn't what this thread is about and is clearly NOT how any posters here are towards their critters, so take what I said (wrote?) with a grain of salt. I don't want to start any arguments or issues - disboards is my fun place.

 

[hipchickie]

i brought my 2 dogs and 1 cat for a routine check up last week - you think you bill was bad? $860. For a ROUTINE check up!

Just a few years ago we had 3 dogs and 2 cats, and it was never over $600.
So I am looking for a new vet. Where they are going now is corporate owned, is that generally more expensive? Plus, the turnover is amazing (I think we are on our 5 or 6th vet in 10 years)

 

[winniedapooh]

Okay, I have been thinking about this for the last couple days since I read it. I totally understand loving your pet, and to be honest, before I got my dogs I never thought I'd be one who would spend hundreds and thousands on a surgery for an animal (which I have now done). But what is the life expectancy of a rat, and how old is he? I'm definitely not one to judge, but I find this hard to wrap my brain around. Do the kids really love this rat? Are rats really good companions? Please take this in the spirit intended! Just really curious!

Don't feel bad I thought the same thing and I HAVE a rat! Rats make wonderful pets. They are very intelligent and just really cool. My first one Big Guy, I will let your imagination tell you why I named him that, I saved him at college. He was a little over a year old when we brought him home and lived to be 4+ years old, which is ancient for a rat. Next we had Wendal who only lived about 2 years. We are onto Rocket now and he is almost 2.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't want to guess what I've spent on my pets over the years. The 1,500 cat colonoscopy and the chemo treatments at 200.00 a pop stand out in my mind! I'm very grateful that vets can do some much for out pets though...they earn every dime!

I agree with you. When my much beloved German Shepard was still alive, I was paying over $300 a month just in meds. She had asthma and arthritis, along with a whole host of medical problems. But I am greatful that I was able to afford the meds, and keep her quality of life high for as long as I was able to.

To this day, $250 a visit doesn't seem high to me. But I just had one dog have surgery on an abcess ($450) and my other dog waiting to go back for shots and her Spring check-up. After you add in the cost of Sentinal, that will be over $250 just for one dog.

I don't blame anyone for spending what they can afford to spend on their pets, not matter what it is. And I am very greatful that we have such fabulous vets in my hometown that take awesome care of my fur-babies.

 

[doggydoc]

What I learned is to call around and ask for costs with different vet offices. I found a place 1/2 hour closer to me that does the urine culture for half the price at $25. I am also looking into using urine strips for humans so I can do the testing myself but want to talk to the vet first to make sure it is ok.

I hope you are mistaken and mean that you can get a urinalysis for $25 and not a urine culture. I can assure you there is no way that anyone can do a proper urine culture for $25 unless they are doing it below cost. As for the $25 urinalysis or doing it at home by strip, that type of urinalysis does nothing for you if your concern is crystals forming in the urine. To check for crystals the urine has to be spun by a high speed centrifuge, the sediment taken and specially stained, then looked at under a microscope by a properly trained techinician.

Honestly people I understand this is the budget board but what you don't understand is that you aren't comparing prices on the same service. Unfortunately there is a great deal of variance in the level of service given in the Veterinary profession. I promise you that very few Veterinarians are out ther jacking up prices just to rip you off. Typically it is just the opposite, the low cost vet is cutting corners and giving low rate service to attract as many bargain seeking customers as possible. The bottom feeders don't care if they don't get results every time because there are plenty of other price shoppers out there to take your place when you finally get upset. The old cliche most definitely applies here "You get what you pay for."

 

[doggydoc]

Don't feel bad I thought the same thing and I HAVE a rat! Rats make wonderful pets. They are very intelligent and just really cool. My first one Big Guy, I will let your imagination tell you why I named him that, I saved him at college. He was a little over a year old when we brought him home and lived to be 4+ years old, which is ancient for a rat. Next we had Wendal who only lived about 2 years. We are onto Rocket now and he is almost 2.

Rats do indeed make wonderful pets, far better than hamsters or gerbils. My daughter loves hers.

 

[tonilea]

Another thing to consider when looking for a vet is LOCATION. I spent ten years in a rural small and large animal practice. Our vet didn't have a new facility, but it was clean and well cared for. Location was in a less expensive area, so he could charge less than say someone in a strip mall or expensive new facility.