Pug Owners!! Vet budget question!!??

[Leshaface]

So I have a 14 week old pug named Percy.

He just got his 4th set of vaccs done this morning and was speaking to the dr. and she suggested getting him neutured along with getting a 'nose' surgery done?

I know that this breed of dog has respiratory issues, but has one ever had this done on their pug? Do you find that the surgery has helped with their breathing??

The reason I ask is because they gave me an 'estimation' sheet of the prices of the surgery plus the additional things that they suggest should have done during the surgery...the Low price would be $458 (w/neuter) and the High Price would be $762.52 (w/neuter)!!

I know that prices vary from vet to vet but am wondering if these prices are normal? Plus are the additional items they suggest really necessary? Ex. limited pre anes blood screen (62.00), fluid therapy (86.61), additional 1/2 hour fluid after surgery (40.50)??

Thanks for any info!

Here's my little boy just cuz he's so darn cute!

 

[princessmom29]

I am not a pug owner, but have a minidoxie who was recently spayed. I go two estimates just like you. One included fluids, bloodwork and post surgery pain managment. One did not. The bloodwork is done to look for any potential problems before surgery like low platlets that could be problematic. The fluids are in case of blood loss during surgery. If it were me, I would swing for both, especially with a small dog. A little blood loss can be a big deal in a small dog, especially if they do not get fluid support.

 

[kirstenb1]

I'm no help. Just wanted to say how crazy cute he is!!!

 

[Dax]

Ok, I have to ask...as a owner of pugs(I have 4)...why are they recommending the nose surgery?

Is he weezy? Does he have trouble breathing? Is he mouth breathing?

If none of these things, then I would not do it. When my Wario was born, I was told he needed it. Granted he was 4WEEKS old at that time. I told the vet I would wait...He is now 8yrs old, and no issues with him...Sure they all snort, they all have issues in the heat or when getting to strenious, but otherwise, nothing..

The only thing they all do, is called a reverse sneeze...very hard to explain, but it passes within a min or 2, no adverse affects..

That is one CUTIE PIE! Be forwarned...Pugs are like potato chips...you can never have just one!

 

[Leshaface]

Ok, I have to ask...as a owner of pugs(I have 4)...why are they recommending the nose surgery?

Is he weezy? Does he have trouble breathing? Is he mouth breathing?

If none of these things, then I would not do it. When my Wario was born, I was told he needed it. Granted he was 4WEEKS old at that time. I told the vet I would wait...He is now 8yrs old, and no issues with him...Sure they all snort, they all have issues in the heat or when getting to strenious, but otherwise, nothing..

The only thing they all do, is called a reverse sneeze...very hard to explain, but it passes within a min or 2, no adverse affects..

That is one CUTIE PIE! Be forwarned...Pugs are like potato chips...you can never have just one!

Hi!

Well I have to say this: this is his fourth vet visit and this has been the ONLY time that the nose surgery has been brought up. But everytime I've gone (except the first 2 times) have all been different doctors and the first two docs didn't say anything.

The dr. this morning said, he sounds weezy (like a little whistling noise coming from his nose which I hear very often but figured all pugs did that..do yours??) and was worried about breathing issues when he gets older.

He only mouth breathes when he gets excited and runs around a lot...but when he sleeps he only breathes through his nose so I had assumed he wouldn't need the surgery since he sleeps just fine through his nose? And to be honest, i've never heard him snort yet..can that maybe be a good indication of him not needing the surgery?

Since you've had pugs for a while, do you mind if I show you a pic of what his nose looks like?? I know such a weird question, but the Dr. said his nostrils were extremely small and all the pug pictures I see online, all look the same.

If he needs the surgery, I of COURSE want to get it done for him, since he's our family now, but if he really doesn't need it, I don't want him to go through with it...

ETA: Wario is such a FANTASTIC name for a pug!!! Also, I've heard this (bolded part) I've noticed that pug owners almost NEVER have one! They usually have an entourage around them!

 

[Dax]

Hi!

Well I have to say this: this is his fourth vet visit and this has been the ONLY time that the nose surgery has been brought up. But everytime I've gone (except the first 2 times) have all been different doctors and the first two docs didn't say anything.

The dr. this morning said, he sounds weezy (like a little whistling noise coming from his nose which I hear very often but figured all pugs did that..do yours??) and was worried about breathing issues when he gets older.

He only mouth breathes when he gets excited and runs around a lot...but when he sleeps he only breathes through his nose so I had assumed he wouldn't need the surgery since he sleeps just fine through his nose? And to be honest, i've never heard him snort yet..can that maybe be a good indication of him not needing the surgery?

Since you've had pugs for a while, do you mind if I show you a pic of what his nose looks like?? I know such a weird question, but the Dr. said his nostrils were extremely small and all the pug pictures I see online, all look the same.

If he needs the surgery, I of COURSE want to get it done for him, since he's our family now, but if he really doesn't need it, I don't want him to go through with it...

ETA: Wario is such a FANTASTIC name for a pug!!! Also, I've heard this (bolded part) I've noticed that pug owners almost NEVER have one! They usually have an entourage around them!

OK, I would not do it...yes mine do occasionally sound weezy..and one of mine has small nostrils too, but there are HOLES..I just find that to be a traumatic surgery for such a small dog, and I want there time under the knife to be short...Just get the neuter, and tell them to hold off on the nose surgery. I swear some times I think I have a hose full of pigs not pugs...some are just noisy..oh yea...they gassy too...thats your warning..LOL..

Post away...Pug pics are the best...

LOL, Wario was named by niece, he was the fattest and roundest of my litter by far, so she named him. I also have an Austin, Draco, and a Miracle. I just lost one of my pugs a month ago, she was Zelda...

 

[java]

Not a pug but we've had an English Bulldog and now a French Bulldog. The French bulldog had a nasal surgery before we got her. She still snorts. (she has a very smooshed up nose- But the doctor has not mentioned doing anything additional.
And on my English- I did nothing ever like that.

I wouldn't be doing that surgery until I got a second and probably a third opinon.

He is ADORABLE!! We wanted a pug but the local breeeder wasn't comfortable with putting him into a house with a Labrador- one of his dogs was killed by one at some point.
So we went Frenchie instead. She is a princess and love her funny little face.
Good luck.

 

[Leshaface]

OK, I would not do it...yes mine do occasionally sound weezy..and one of mine has small nostrils too, but there are HOLES..I just find that to be a traumatic surgery for such a small dog, and I want there time under the knife to be short...Just get the neuter, and tell them to hold off on the nose surgery. I swear some times I think I have a hose full of pigs not pugs...some are just noisy..oh yea...they gassy too...thats your warning..LOL..

Post away...Pug pics are the best...

LOL, Wario was named by niece, he was the fattest and roundest of my litter by far, so she named him. I also have an Austin, Draco, and a Miracle. I just lost one of my pugs a month ago, she was Zelda...

Haha well, he's cute, but this pic isn't the cutest! I was trying to take pics of him outside and he got a little too curious, so I have a great nose shot!

ETA: the pic is a little blurry so it makes his right nostril look like a small hole, but if you look at the third pic in my original post, you can see that he has the same size nostril as his left one.

Do you think his nostrils are too small??

Thank you so much for your info! It's invaluable to me! I hope i'm not sounding selfish by not wanting him to get the surgery, but i'd rather not put him through extra stress if it's not needed...I was researching on some other sites about the surgery, some loved it, some noticed no difference, some (like you) were suggested with it & didn't go through with it and they are still happy and healthy.

This sounds horrible, and I know I shouldn't care, but what exactly do I tell the vet when I say I don't want him to get the nostril surgery? Do I just tell them I want to wait for a while? I don't want them to think i'm a bad 'parent'..

Oh no...so sorry about your Zelda...a good reason right there for me to not get more pugs...I get way too attached and couldn't BEAR to lose them...Draco is another fabulous name! From Harry Potter?? Also Miracle...a story behind that name I imagine!

Not a pug but we've had an English Bulldog and now a French Bulldog. The French bulldog had a nasal surgery before we got her. She still snorts. (she has a very smooshed up nose- But the doctor has not mentioned doing anything additional.
And on my English- I did nothing ever like that.

I wouldn't be doing that surgery until I got a second and probably a third opinon.

He is ADORABLE!! We wanted a pug but the local breeeder wasn't comfortable with putting him into a house with a Labrador- one of his dogs was killed by one at some point.
So we went Frenchie instead. She is a princess and love her funny little face.
Good luck.

You know what, I thought about getting a second opinion too, especially since the first two doctors never mentioned the nose surgery. I just called another vet in town, and for the Dr. to even look at him it would be $50!!! That's a vaccination right there!!

Thanks for your input!

 

[Dax]

Hmmmm....looks like a perfect pug mug to me...I have actually seen MUCH MUCH worse...he is fine.

As for your vet, just tell him that at this time you would like to wait. Nothing more needed. Sounds like he is trying to get money out of you!

 

[Leshaface]

Hmmmm....looks like a perfect pug mug to me...I have actually seen MUCH MUCH worse...he is fine.

As for your vet, just tell him that at this time you would like to wait. Nothing more needed. Sounds like he is trying to get money out of you!

Thank you sooo much for helping me! I'm not anxious and nervous now...I couldn't imagine seeing smaller nostrils than his...

That's what I was wondering too...especially since if his breathing was as bad as she was making it out to be, I would have heard it from the first two doctors?!

Again, thanks so much!

 

[acomasdiaz]

I, too, just wanted to let you know how cute he is...

I did see an article in Dog Fancy just this past month about this surgery. So, it seems to be more commom now a days.

 

[RachaelA]

We have a pug mix. There are organizations that you can buy low cost vouchers for spay/neuters. We bought a voucher for our dog's spay through Friends of Animals. Our vet at the time took it. It was less than $100 when a spay through our vet would be close to $300. I paid extra for the blood screening and it was around $20. The voucher covered everything else including all follow up care/visits (we had to go back for some antibiotics).

We didn't do any breathing surgery for our dog. We figured if it became an issue then we'd deal with it. I have 3 or 4 friends with pugs (not mixes) and none of them have done it either and said they'd wait and see as well.

Your puppy is adorable!!! Congrats!

 

[Leshaface]

I, too, just wanted to let you know how cute he is...

I did see an article in Dog Fancy just this past month about this surgery. So, it seems to be more commom now a days.

Thank you! I love him!

I call him my little celery stalk confused3 ) because his breath smells like celery all the time!!

We have a pug mix. There are organizations that you can buy low cost vouchers for spay/neuters. We bought a voucher for our dog's spay through Friends of Animals. Our vet at the time took it. It was less than $100 when a spay through our vet would be close to $300. I paid extra for the blood screening and it was around $20. The voucher covered everything else including all follow up care/visits (we had to go back for some antibiotics).

We didn't do any breathing surgery for our dog. We figured if it became an issue then we'd deal with it. I have 3 or 4 friends with pugs (not mixes) and none of them have done it either and said they'd wait and see as well.

Your puppy is adorable!!! Congrats!

Uggh I was debating about taking him to the Low Cost Clinic (ran by the SPCA) for $55 or taking him through our vet for $100.00 not including some of the additional suggestive add-ons.

I took our cat to the low cost clinic and he was in and out that day for 30 bucks which was great! I'm just wondering about the 'quality' of the clinic...I mean of course, the vet I take my pug to is very nice and was just newly remodeled, and the low cost clinic was very....not nice looking in appearance...guess I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover right?

 

[princessmom29]

Thank you! I love him!

I call him my little celery stalk confused3 ) because his breath smells like celery all the time!!




Uggh I was debating about taking him to the Low Cost Clinic (ran by the SPCA) for $55 or taking him through our vet for $100.00 not including some of the additional suggestive add-ons.

I took our cat to the low cost clinic and he was in and out that day for 30 bucks which was great! I'm just wondering about the 'quality' of the clinic...I mean of course, the vet I take my pug to is very nice and was just newly remodeled, and the low cost clinic was very....not nice looking in appearance...guess I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover right?

I would check out the low cost clinic thoughly before taking him. Make SURE they are going to do bloodwork, fluids, pain managment ect and check out thier doctors to see if any complaints have been filed agianst them.

 

[eeyore81]

I have english bulldogs and my parents have a frenchie and a pug. None of our dogs have ever had the "nose surgery". My mom's pug does do the reverse sneeze that another poster commented about. Our vet said that if it got worse or she had them more often then we should look into having the surgery. She is 3 and is doing fine. My suggestion would be to have your dog neutered and then go from there. If your dog has breathing problems then you could have the surgery. Also, I would suggest that you develop a relationship with your vet. Although you could save a few bucks by going to the low cost clinic, I would want my regular vet to do the surgery. Would you go to a low cost doctor for your surgery? Dogs like pugs and bulldogs can have complications with anesthesia. I would want to make sure that my regular vet was there just in case. This is just my opinion and as my husband says... I spare no expense on my dogs. One of my guys had to have a complicated lung surgery at an animal specialty hospital which was 3 hours away. Although it was expensive, it was comforting to know that he was getting the best care I could get for him (not the cheapest care). Your baby is very cute and although I don't have a pug, my mom would definitely have 10 if she could (I would have 10 english bulldogs if I could )

 

[livndisney]

We are a pug family-started with my Grandpa(many many pugs over the years). Not one has had "nose" surgery. I would not do it based on it "may" cause problems later. IF there is a problem adress it then. I would not put a Pug under unless it was NECESSARY!


BTW you got a cutie!

 

[Disneychix]

We were recommended that our pug might need the nose surgery when he was a baby, BUT they just said they would watch him as he grew. It never really affected him so we never got the surgery.
He did have many other surgeries (lol, he was a VIP at his Vet) but never the nose job!

Sadly we lost our Seamus (Mooser) at only 5yrs young. We still miss him and it's been 6 months. Kiss your little angel for me! He looks a lot like our Seamus!

 

[Gr8dan2]

I wouldn't assume that just because its low cost it's lesser quality. From what I understand, most of the low cost/high volume spay/neuter clinics have pretty impressive surgeons. (i asked lots of questions, because i couldn't figure out how they could do it so much cheaper) I mean think about it, they do literally hundreds if not thousands of spay/neuter surgeries every year. We took our first dog to our local veterinarian for the spay, spent almost $400, the vet said it took more than an hour to do the surgery, and she had an incision that was about 4 1/2- 5 1/2 inches long that got infected after she came home. We adopted our second dog, the shelter uses the low cost clinic for their surgeries, and this one's spay incision was about 1 1/2-2 inches only, they used dissolveable stitches and some kind of glue stuff. No infection, healed up really quickly and she never acted painful like the other dog. oh and i asked how long the surgery would take before scheduling-- for a dog her size (pretty big) they estimated about 20 minutes for the surgery itself. good heavens, no wonder their is such a price differential! i think ask lots of questions, especially since you have a dog that might have respiratory issues-- it might even need a different kind of anesthetic or process or something (however you spell that) that the low cost can't do.

 

[badblackpug]

<--------- Pug! My guy grunts and snorts all the time. He snores when he sleeps. He will wheeze if he is overheated, and because he is black, and has a VERY flat face, he does overheat easily. My vet has never suggested any type of nose surgery. I know that sometimes they are born with abnormal palates and trachea that sometimes requires surgical repair. Your vet should definitely check the palate before surgery because it could be an anesthesia risk.

My boy is 13 almost 14 now, and the vet has never suggested surgery.

...BTW... don't put a collar on him, only walk him with a harness. Because they are prone to breathing problems you should never risk occluding their airway.

 

[marie1203]

The estimate seems right. I would never let anyone do surgery in my dogs without fluids. If you are not sure about your vet find one you trust because it will be a major part of the well being of your dog. Just keep in mind low cost spay/neutered clinics are just for that if there is any complications they can't deal with them (they don't have the equipment) it is a major risk if you think your dog might have some respiratory issues. Personally we have never used it for that reason.