Miles - Tonight's Update

[Guest lauri]

Jacklyn picked Miles up from the vet this evening. He was sent home with 24 cans of 'Hill's I.D.' which is good for tummy troubles. I am to feed him this as part of a bland diet for now. He did not eat anything this morning, but when I got home was ALMOST himself! He greeted me at the door and was hanging in the kitchen. Asked him if he wanted dinner and he did his usual 'bow'. Opened a can and he ate a whole can and then some of the rice mixture I made for him.

 

He is also to take pills three times a day for about a week - Sucralfate. I guess it's used for ulcers and the such. I guess until all results are back we're treating the symptoms.

 

This is what she wrote on the bottom of the instructions -

"We are sending out the urinalysis to our outside lab. We will call you with the results of that along wiht the tick titre when they are in. We ran an activated clotting time on Miles which was normal and nothing abnormal was seen on the radiographs at this time.

We will treat Miles symptomatically pending the results of the labwork."

 

Seems they may have someone else check the x-rays. (?)

 

Thanks to the GTer that brought up checking for tick borne disease. I did my research and YES they can stay dormant in the blood for many years! Called today and suggested they test for that.

 

All I can tell you tonight that his gums were more pink than they were yesterday. I suppose if a pup has an ulcer or IBS and has bleeding, a few bland meals along with fasting probably helps it heal.

 

"Yep Lauri...keep that thought!"

 

 

 

And just being curious - how much would you expect to pay your vet for these kinds of tests? Not necessarily a breakdown, or even a definite, but just a 'close to' figure.

 

fecal occult blood

radiograph 14x17

radiograph 14x17 additional

activated clotting time

venipuncture blood draw

tick panel w/lyme #2356

ultrasound abdomen/cysto

cystocentisis

urinalysis

 

I've always heard, and believe it to be true, that our vet clinic charges a good amount more than other vet clinics. It has WAY more to offer than the usual vet clinic. The wife who runs the joint, her hubby is a horse vet and they have both clinics with labs and surgery 'suites' on premisis. They can perform many lab procedures here. They are also open 7 days weekly so no extra fees for weekends. There are 4 vets, and Miles sees the homeopath, Dr. Diana, who lives in Wyoming now, but comes every few weeks for about 2 weeks. He saw Dr. Lexi on Saturday, but Diana was here today so she could work with him. I don't plan on changing vets any time soon. I'd rather pay more for GREAT care than find a bargain.

 

But I'm just wondering how much more they charge than the usual. Let's face it also - we're in a very costly part of California, so ANY vet care can be more than in a lot of states.

 

Here's their website:http://www.buelltonvet.com/index.php

Edited April 9, 2008 by lauri

[macoduck]

Here's some cookies for Miles until his tummy feels better :dogcookie

[Batmom]

$15 ...... (full fecal analysis) fecal occult blood

$35 ...... radiograph 14x17

$15 ...... radiograph 14x17 additional

$100 .... activated clotting time

$0 ........ (full CBC w/accurate platelet count in special tube = $85) venipuncture blood draw

$150 .... tick panel w/lyme #2356

$60 ...... ultrasound abdomen/cysto

$0 ........ (included in above) cystocentisis

$0 ........ (included in above; includes culture) urinalysis

 

But I'm just wondering how much more they charge than the usual. Let's face it also - we're in a very costly part of California, so ANY vet care can be more than in a lot of states.

 

Sounds like your vet is being thorough, which is good!

 

Joseph ate canned I/D for a couple weeks after his abdominal surgery. He liked it, and it went through very nicely. Hope Miles continues to like it, too!

 

Above $ are estimates, I don't recall everything offhand. For comparison's sake, here I pay @ $180 for a dental with all monitoring but NOT including prelim bloodwork; the bloodwork will be $35-$85 depending on how thorough we want at that time. Really guessing about the clotting time -- I recall that Joseph had two bleeding-related tests that had to be sent to an outside lab; the bill for both was @ $200.

Edited April 9, 2008 by Batmom

[Guest lauri]

$486 and some change altogether this visit.

 

$50.05 fecal occult blood

$103 radiograph 14x17

$58 radiograph 14x17 additional

$21 activated clotting time

$14.50 venipuncture blood draw

$154.55 tick panel w/lyme #2356

$25.00 ultrasound abdomen/cysto

$24.00 cystocentisis

$36.00 urinalysis

 

Already spent $192 on his visit Sunday.

 

$52 physical exam

$101 chem/electrolytes/cbc/t4

$14.50 venipuncture/blood draw

$24.50 fecal flotation test

 

So...as far as the prices go, our vet is just over $100 more for the above tests than yours. I guess that's not that bad for bieng thorough. Also the extra we pay makes up for the fact they're open 7 days a week.

 

Glad they have a payment plan!

[turbotaina]

Sounds about like what it is at my vets, but a cystocentisis is much higher and not done with ultrasound (as far as I know, anyway). At another clinic where they do ultrasound guided cystocentisis, they charge about $90 (they have an amazing facility, however, so they've got to be able to pay all their specialists somehow). Everything else looks in line with DC area costs.

Edited April 9, 2008 by turbotaina

[Batmom]

Sounds like your prices are pretty good, really. It does add up when pupper needs lots of diagnostics. I hope he turns out to be 110% OK and just having a little tummy virus or some such.

[CaliforniaGreys]

Hoping that Miles feels better soon.As for what the vet charges, it would have been much much higher here, and judging by your post, you have great vets.

Edited April 10, 2008 by cbudshome

[iluvgreys]

Glad to hear your boy is looking better and acting more himself. Those prices are in line with what I'd be paying at my vet in Yorba Linda... yours may actually be a little less. Keeping Miles in my prayers for complete healing of his troubles.

[Guest lauri]

Today the vet called my daughter while I was at work. Dr. Lexi told Jack that the bleeding was coming from his stomach, so to stick with what we're doing - the pills and a bland diet. As long as he seems to be doing well, fine for now, and I'm to make a follow-up appointment in about a week or so.

 

He would not take a pill from Jacklyn this evening, nor would he eat.

 

I came home, Miles was happy to see me! Cut off a small chunk of tri-tip, stuck the pill in it. He took it. Took his dinner out of his dish, put it on anothere plate and hand-fed it to him. He ate it.

 

Frikkin frakkin dog is milking it!

 

'Oh!!! Mama is home! Feed poor little 'ol me!'

 

 

BUT...he ate and took a pill. THAT'S my boy!!!

 

 

As far as prices, I figured the clinic wasn't totally over the top in prices. But I can also understand that it is a bit more than the average small vet buisness. Thanks for the comparisons. Doesn't make me feel 'ripped-off'! Although I'd still pay for their great services!

[Guest greycious_gal]

Your bill is higher than mine for similar testing. But, we didn't opt for the ultrasound.

 

Hey, I hadn't read this before I PM'ed you. I see the testing included the same line as everything we did or thought about. Good for you!

[Guest MomofSweetPotatoes]

If he won't take the pill, sulcrafate can be made into a slurry and given by oral syringe. Sometimes that's easier (sometimes)

 

Your vet will be able to supply the syringe for you.

 

Hoping Miles continues to heal.