PLEASE HELP! How much for... [warning: kinda gross]

[kacaju]

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/

try here

 

[kimmar067]

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/

try here

...thank you.

 

[walden]

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/

try here

Unfortunately Friends of Animals only covers routine spays and the paperwork takes quite a while. This spay is not routine because she has a prediagnosed infection.

OP, this is difficult surgery because of the risk of peritonitis from the infected uterus. Were things like pain control and antibiotics included in the first estimate? You need to ask for an inclusive estimate from any vet you contact and give them the diagnosis too.

I hope you have good luck in finding an excellent vet who will do the surgery for less than $700. You could also look into Care Credit, but I don't know much about that.

 

[kimmar067]

Unfortunately Friends of Animals only covers routine spays and the paperwork takes quite a while. This spay is not routine because she has a prediagnosed infection.

OP, this is difficult surgery because of the risk of peritonitis from the infected uterus. Were things like pain control and antibiotics included in the first estimate? You need to ask for an inclusive estimate from any vet you contact and give them the diagnosis too.

I hope you have good luck in finding an excellent vet who will do the surgery for less than $700. You could also look into Care Credit, but I don't know much about that.

...thanks - what is Care Credit?

 

[Scott'sAuntJill]

...thanks - what is Care Credit?

CareCredit is a financing plan for healthcare related costs and they offer plans for veterinary care costs. If you've been seeing your vet for routine care throughout your dog's life, you might want to ask them about a payment arrangement.

I hope all goes well, pyometra is very serious and makes the spay a life-saving, but much more complicated procedure. You may also want to ask your vet what type of surgery they are performing for the spay. I'm not sure if there are option with pyometra but the vet we usually work with for the rescue dogs will give us the choice between a traditional and a laser neutering.

 

[tonilea]

A lot of it depends on where you live. Here in rural Arkansas, you are looking at about $125 for a dog of that size. Rural vets tend to be less expensive.

ETA: A vet in our area built a big new shiny facility. It was very nice, but it didn't take people long to figure out that they had raised the fees to pay for that fancy building. The vet I worked for was very good, but the facilities weren't new - clean and neat, but not fancy. And he didn't feel like he could even renovate after hearing people talk about the other place - he knew if he had to raise fees, it would be blamed on the fancy new building.

This tends to be a slower time of year for vets in our area. You might call some more rural vets, particularly mixed practices - where they do both large animal (farm animals) and small animal (pets).

 

[horseshowmom]

While I regularly use the low cost spay/neuter programs, it may not be an option in this case due to the complications.

Have you asked your vet about possibly making payments? Our vets are country vets, and they go out of their way to help us when they can (of course, we have numerous dogs, cats, and horses). There are 3 vets in the practice, and we see two of them regularly (have known them for years both professionally and as friends).

For example, my son-in-law recently found a cat whose eyes were almost completely shut. He had to have surgery. It was $319 (which was a bargain price I'm sure). Since they are living on one salary while she finishes pharmacy school, I told them to tell the vet to bill me (they also put the $100 my mother gave them for Christmas toward the bill).

The next week one of DD's cats came down with a bladder infection. Our vet saw the cat, did the UA, gave him a shot and medication, and then wouldn't let my daughter pay him anything. He knows that DD is still in school, and money is tight.

All this to say that you may find a better price at a rural vet. Of course, without an established relationship that may not be the case.

 

[kimmar067]

....long-story short, I called several other vets in the area and she is now in the hands of, what I consider, very caring people. They checked her from top to bottom and noticed a couple of other minor things that she will have taken car of while sedated. They called this morning [she spent the night there] and advised me that, because of her age and the possible serious complications that can arise from the pyrometra (sp?) they want to keep her a few days with intravenous, for observation and to watch for any infection or fever....it's costing a lot more than what I was quoted by the other vet, but I feel in my heart, that she is getting the best care possible... I never thought that I'd miss her so much, though.

 

[Agri]

....long-story short, I called several other vets in the area and she is now in the hands of, what I consider, very caring people. They checked her from top to bottom and noticed a couple of other minor things that she will have taken car of while sedated. They called this morning [she spent the night there] and advised me that, because of her age and the possible serious complications that can arise from the pyrometra (sp?) they want to keep her a few days with intravenous, for observation and to watch for any infection or fever....it's costing a lot more than what I was quoted by the other vet, but I feel in my heart, that she is getting the best care possible... I never thought that I'd miss her so much, though.

I'm glad you find another vet you feel more comfortable with. I really didn't like that the first one didn't explain everything as clearly to you as they should have. Our first vet was close to our house and probably killed my rabbit because they didn't really know what they were doing. We stopped seeing the vet when they asked if my rabbit had vomited - rabbits aren't capable of vomiting.

I'm thinking of looking for a new vet soon. Our current vet is a little too self-righteous for my taste. He wasn't always that way, but to tell me that a covered litter box for my cats that dig to China is cruel, I think its time for a change!

 

[walden]

I'm so glad you found a vet you like and trust.

Keeping her in for observation, hydration and possibly intravenous antibiotics makes a lot of sense for pyometra surgery. It looks as though you have found an excellent practice.

Good luck! I hope all goes well with the surgery, that she doesn't have any complications and that she is home with you soon. Please let us know how it goes.

 

[horseshowmom]

Hope everything goes well!

 

[kimmar067]

...vet just called - everything went well, but it took a little longer for her to come out of the anesthesia....keeping my fingers crosssed for a quick recovery!

 

[lakelandgal70]

Aww that is good she is at a place you feel is taking good care of her. Our pets give us so much joy and love don't they? I hope she will be home soon and feeling much better!

 

[walden]

Yay! Thanks for the update.

Wishing her a speedy and complete recovery!

 

[Meriweather]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your furbaby, Kim.

DS and DDIL had emergery surgery for their kitty the weekend before Christmas.....quite a bill, but he is doing well and they are part of the family, so how can we not do what is best for them.

 

[surfergirl602]

That price is insane. Call around to different vets. See if there's a spay and neuter clinic. As long as she's up to date on shots, pretty much any vet will do it for you. When we got ours done, I called around and just found the cheapest place.

ETA: I didn't notice the part about the infection until I read all the posts. Glad she is feeling better!!!

 

[kimmar067]

Aww that is good she is at a place you feel is taking good care of her. Our pets give us so much joy and love don't they? I hope she will be home soon and feeling much better!

...I get to pick her up tomorrow - the Dr. said that I could visit her today, and as much as I want to, I think it'd be too stressful for her, especially when I have to still leave her there for another day...

 

[lakelandgal70]

...I get to pick her up tomorrow - the Dr. said that I could visit her today, and as much as I want to, I think it'd be too stressful for her, especially when I have to still leave her there for another day...

That is great she gets to come home tomorrow. I never visited mine at the vet either. Was always afraid they would get upset so I understand. to you and your family.

 

[kimmar067]

...thanks for all the good wishes...

 

[horseshowmom]

...I get to pick her up tomorrow - the Dr. said that I could visit her today, and as much as I want to, I think it'd be too stressful for her, especially when I have to still leave her there for another day...

I agree completely. That's what I would do too. Glad she's improving!