Vet Fees, Aaarrrgghh!

[movie zombie]

one of the issues is that cats are living longer and as they live longer they require more medical services.
more medical services means that there is more research being done on how to deal with their aging and related health issues.
all results in more costs related to the care of a cat...or dog for that matter.
one of the things that one should calculate when bringing a pet into the home is the cost of vet services.

 

[yssie]

::Gulp:: Laurie, been there done that and I completely understand! I don't mind paying for the big stuff but... some of the prices some clinics charge for some things just seem SO unreasonable. We found a little place right by the house that's very reasonably priced and I'm so relieved - Garett's scratch-on-the-eye-that-wasn't a couple of months ago was $250 just for the general checkup and the dye at the emergency clinic (we went during regular hours too)!

We have insurance on our cats - $20 a month per cat w/ $200 deductible. Only one has a history of health problems so it's really just to make us feel better.

I have noticed that both DH and I will argue about meds for us, and we'll ask for cheaper alternatives, but when it comes to the cats we'll just take whatever they send us home with and that's that. That's something we should change.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

We have spent over $45,000 on vet bills since October of 2010, but I have to say that (for us), it was worth every penny.

Please put this in context? How many pets, what were/ are their conditions, what has been the outcome/ prognosis?

Thanks!

One pet. Several conditions including an auto-immune disease for which there is no cure and a virus in his eyes that has left him blind (not related).

About half was due to treating his eyes and included having one surgery in Canada and one surgery in North Carolina in order to try to save his optic nerve and retina. There are only three surgeons in all of North America who could attempt the surgeries and we went to two of them, hence the high costs. Prognosis was always poor for him having vision, but we had to try. Like we would for any family member.

Remaining costs were due to his auto-immune disorder that left him paralyzed for a little over a year. MRIs, cost of monthly chemo-therapy (and other immuno-suppressant drugs), weeks spent in ICU due to minor infections becoming systemic (result of having no immune system), physical therapy sessions to keep his muscles developed in his paralyzed legs, etc. Prognosis for the paralysis is unknown. He's off all treatment (could not longer tolerate it), but his spinal cord has started to repair itself and he can walk independently. Prognosis for infections is poor due to the bacteria's growing tolerance of all antibiotics. I am stunned and feel incredibly fortunate that he's made it as long as he has.

 

[Imdanny]

I'm sorry. Dust for him and you and your DH.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Thanks, Danny.

Jewelfreak, it's the little charges, like that $58 microscope peek that are frustrating for me. The specialists' extra fees--whatever, it's annoying--but fine. But the extra charges for reading results? It just annoys me. We've been having several cultures done recently, so it costs to grow the culture. And we're still paying the extra fee for the specialist. And then we get slapped with extra fees to read results. Shouldn't that be included as part of the specialists fee?? Or at least part of the culture?

By the way, the $15 for extra scrapings is especially ridiculous. The little stuff really adds up. One of the ophthalmologists we saw charged $40 each time he used the ocular tenometer...which you'd think would just be rolled up as part of the eye exam costs. We even looked into buying our own tenometer even though they're $2K+...it would have paid for itself after a year of appts.

I'll have to go back and look at how much a full thyroid panel costs us. I think it's fairly reasonable through our regular vet. It's an arm and a leg through our specialists vet office, though. I don't understand how lab costs can vary so much.

 

[JewelFreak]

I don't think the labs charge that differently, NEL; the vets mark up the charge to us differently.

No choice for lower fees: this dermatologist is the only one in the city & so far, no diagnosis for all this stuff. She left a message Thurs. that thyroid outcome is normal. They don't work on Fri. or the weekend -- don't need to, at those prices -- so I left a voicemail asking for a call today to answer some questions. So far, no response. Not thrilled.

Every article I've read about pet insurance in the U.S. -- including in Consumer Reports -- says it costs more than you get from it, unless, of course, you go through a horrible experience like NEL's. I also agree with you -- the little incidental costs make me mad not because of the amount, but because they seem like cheesy ways to squeeze more from the client. I just HATE feeling like they think I'm a chump. (I must be, I paid them.)

She went over the bill with me at the end but it didn't make me any happier.

I would sacrifice whatever I had to to give my animals any treatment they needed. In the last decade, though, the incidence of "let's try this & see if it works" has increased by multiples. So it doesn't work & we try the next idea, then another. $$ each time & your pet is still sick. Yes, more techniques are available for animals, but no human dr. gets away with that; people-insurance won't pay for it. Should I become more firm?

It's occurred to me too that general vets must get a referral fee from specialists; they're so quick to recommend them. Maybe it's where I live, but for anything more than run-of-the-mill complaints, regular vets seem stumped awfully easily. In Conn. I had 2 superb ones who sent me to specialists only for complex stuff such as neurology.

Some people are always suspicious of drs. & the medical profession -- I am not, have them in my family & worked in the field myself. But I've started to feel taken for a ride by veterinarians. It's unpleasant for me & for my animals.

--- laurie

 

[minousbijoux]

Wow. A few take aways for me - I have to get insurance for my dogs.

Next: NEL: what a true blue, loyal person you are! I too send you dust and hope that if your little one can feel the power of good thoughts then maybe he'll have some loved and untroubled time with you left.

Laurie: Its hard and I'm truly sorry for your expenses. I kind of feel like the expense should be in proportion to the seriousness of the problem. My teenage son brought home an adolescent puppy recently (story for another thread) for a "few weeks." Well, he recently got sick, and watching how my son cared for him, and recent vet bills have made me realize the new dog is now a member of the family.
His shots, and treatment for worms (ewww, totally disgusting) was $435. My vet (a one vet office, wife as receptionist) is dirt cheap and as my son says "they look so poor that we should pay them more." Now once I wouldn't have blinked at that cost, but now that I'm unemployed, I think "$435 for worms? what if it was life threatening?!!"

 

[Fed]

Actually, that sounds exceptionally cheap.

I recently paid $2100 for dental work on one of my cats from a Veterinary Dentist. I have paid $3000 for a TPLO for my GoldenDoodle from a Veterinary Surgeon, $550 for rehab from a Veterinary Physical Therapist, another $3100 for the same GoldenDoodle's other TPLO, and another $500 for more physical therapy from the same therapist.

Personally, (this isn't aimed at you) I think that if you are not willing to pay the associated veterinary costs of pets, you shouldn't have them.

 

[Pandora II]

Good grief, vets are all private here, but much, much cheaper.

It costs about £40 GBP for annual vaccinations for cats and dogs. Neutering a male cat is £50 GBP, a female £60, dogs are around £120.

Occasionally I need a Pancur worming tablet for my snakes (one tablet does quite a few snakes) - my local vet charges me £2GBP.

You guys are getting seriously ripped off.

 

[amc80]

I would be shocked as well.I'm gonna be honest,even if this might shock someone,but there is a limit on the amount of money I would spend on my pets.We spent about 450 for our birman surgery once,and we were able to give the vet the money in two times,otherwise we wouldn't have been able to pay.I think that is about the max I would spend (400/500).

Yep. I love my cats. But there's a max to what I'd spend to keep them alive. My male needed surgery about 6 months after I got him, and that was around $500. That was my max. As much as I love my cats, I can love a different cat just as much. They aren't people, they are pets.

 

[TooPatient]

My limit for treatment is less a matter of price and more quality of life. As long as I am sure that they are enjoying their life and not just suffering, I will do everything I can to get them the best care I can manage (including payment arrangements if it came to that). I do have treatments that I would not consider for my animals because the discomfort from the treatment and little possible benefit are just not right for them. (For example, I would not do any treatments for cancer in my 18 yr old dog, but I would consider it an option for my 2 yr old dog.)

I can not imagine having to choose between feeding my family and getting a treatment for my animal. I know there are people out there who are in that situation (who weren't when they brought the animal home) and it just makes me so sad.

Anyway, sorry for funny formatting and typos. I'm typing on my phone about to go pick up some medication at the vet.

 

[justginger]

My limit for vet bills is only a function of quality of life/delaying the inevitable. I would pay, quite literally, any amount necessary to end pain or suffering in my pets. One dog especially is my animal soulmate - I'd remortgage my house for her.

That being said, my husband would not do the same. To him, the pets are pets, and easily replaced. Working in animal rescue, with dozens of wonderful animals through our door every year, I can understand. There are always more good ones out there (unfortunately). But mine are mine, thus they are my priority.

Vet bills in small amounts ARE frustrating though. It bothers me a lesser amount to drop 4k on surgery, than the 220 I just spent on 2 injections and three days of antibiotics. Such is life.

 

[Asu]

I can not imagine having to choose between feeding my family and getting a treatment for my animal. I know there are people out there who are in that situation (who weren't when they brought the animal home) and it just makes me so sad.

It's kinda like this for us now.We had a totally different income when we got our last two cats (I've had the oldest one since high school,so it was totally different ),and we could've easily payed for surgeries or vet bills pretty much in any case.But right now,taking even just as much as 1000 out of the bank account is a huge problem.So I just hope and pray it never gets to that point.Our oldest is 8,but so far so good,and I hope it stay this way for a long time.
Edited to add that we do put away 50 every month,in case something happens and we need to pay the vet a big amount,so that we can make a choice based on the health,age and quality of life of our pet,and it's not an obligated one because we can't pay anything.
Also vets here are cheaper than what it seems to be in the US,and as I said earlier,our vet know us and loves our cats too,and often doesn't even ask us to pay for smaller things.

 

[missy]

Much dust to your darling dog NEL!
I share the opinion of those that feel that their animals are family members and therefore would do anything I possibly could to lengthen their quality of life just as I would with any beloved family member.

I also do not think veterinarians (in general) earn nearly as much as medical doctors but I really do not know the facts regarding veterinarian specialists so cannot comment as to that issue. I know my internist and various medical doctors earn way more than my sister (who is a veterinarian in the Northeast). I know for all the education/money and hard work she put into her profession she doesn't earn much at all. However, I also know she went into this profession because of her love of animals not money so she doesn't regret it at all.

Of course I am sure this varies quite a lot depending on where you practice and in what type of setting you practice. Much like many professions. My advice to you Laurie is to find a veterinarian you like and trust and whose fees you feel are reasonable.

Just want to add that the few times we had to bring our animals to emergency veterinarian hospitals/clinics were incredibly expensive but the same is true for people and even more so. (The difference being we do not have pet insurance to cover much of the cost as many people do when they are in the hospital- and from what I understand pet insurance here would not cover many procedures so that is why we chose not to get it for our cats).
I chalked it up to the fact that we were fortunate to find veterinary care in the middle of the night and were paying for that privilege. Something I was grateful for otherwise our darling pet might have died. It was a small fortune though.

 

[Amys Bling]

Dust!!

 

[Laughinggravy0]

My sweetie is a vet in Brussels and there's no pet insurance here, unlike the UK. On the other hand, it couldn't be less litigious so the idea of legal insurance is unheard of so that's not factored in. It is tough sometimes when you get someone who isn't earning, elderly or out of work, with an animal they love which needs professional care. He treats for free sometimes or lets people pay fraction by fraction over months. One of the reasons I love him ; )

Ed to add, whaaaaaagh, Fed! $ 2 100 for dental treatment!! Gosh! My partner charges max €200 for complete teeth treatment for a dog under sedation. My word, with bills that enormous you'd definitely have to have insurance, or no animals.

 

[Haven]

Oh, those vet bills really do add up quickly, don't they?

We've found that you really have to do your research when choosing vets, and especially when visiting a specialist. We're lucky to live just outside of a large city, so we have a lot of options, and we've found a vet that we really trust.

We've spent thousands on our pets, but we knew that was part of the commitment before we adopted them, and we were ready for it. My DH learned to choose your vet wisely when he first adopted our little Geddy, you can see him in my avatar. He almost died after a vet in the city failed to identify that he had a blocked prepuce during THREE or FOUR different visits and physical exams. DH adopted Geddy, we immediately recognized there was something wrong, and had him to this particular vet multiple times in one week. Finally, I insisted we take him elsewhere, and sure enough--the answer was immediately obvious to the new vet, and he had to have emergency $1,500 surgery that very minute. (Hence the cone of shame he's been wearing in my avatar ever since.) (Urine wasn't escaping his body, it was all staying inside of him, the poor baby.)

The vets who missed the blocked prepuce ran up nearly $1,000 in bills during those multiple visits. DH eventually got a refund, but that was only after multiple phone calls, visits, and letters. They were grossly negligent, and should not be in business. The sad thing is that I bet there are A LOT of other negligent vets around.

We use a couple of different vets, actually. One has top-of-the-line everything, and the big bills to prove it. The other reminds me of a very old world vet, he has his little office and only the basics, and he charges accordingly. We take our babies to the low-cost vet for the most basic things, and to the fancy shmancy vet for the more serious issues. They're both reliable and great vets, of course.

Anyway, loads of dust for all of the sick furbabies out there.

NEL--I've thought of you and Byron often over the last year. (Or has it been years?) Dust dust dust to you and your boy.