Holy Vet Bills!

[winnie]

DH and I took all three of our girls to the vets office yesterday for their annual exam and routine vaccinations. During the exam, the vet determined that Bonny and Darcy both need dentals. It's the first time any of our greys have needed dentals since we adopted them, so we're OK with that. Celeste doesn't need one. So, the vet drew blood for the two that need the dentals and gave us the meds we need to give them prior to the procedures. Total vet bill from yesterday... $826.50. We also got the quotes for Bonny and Darcy's dentals scheduled for March 12... both are going to run about $650-700 (this is AFTER the 10% "dental health month" discount too). :eek

[Guest Greytluv]

[Guest madredhare]

I can totally relate to that one! When Sadie dislocated her toe in October, the first go round of bills was about $300.00. Then infection set in, surgery $700.00. Then daily splint/bandage changes for 6 weeks, $800.00. Now they find 2 mast cell tumors and their removal and lab fees and bloodwork $650.00. Not to mention she is on Vetmedin for her heart which is $74.00 per month. This all since October. Holy Vet Bills! But I wouldn't trade her for all the money in the world. My vet tells me everytime they work on her "she is the most wonderful dog". I just smile and say I know!

[winnie]

No kidding... that was my reaction too.

 

My horse is due for her exam and spring shots on March 8. I usually never pay more than $200 for that appointment - and that includes my vet driving nearly 30 miles out to the barn. My horse's annual dental runs about $125 which includes the farm call AND sedation. Equine dentals are hard work for the vet too.

 

I used to think small animal vets were more expensive than the equine vets since they had more overhead (office, office staff, etc.). However, my equine vet built a large new clinic a few years ago (clicky). The clinic has state-of-the art equipment to handle x-rays, surgeries, etc. and is fully staffed with office staff, vet techs and assistants. Yet, their prices didn't go up when their clinic opened.

 

I'm baffled now why my dogs vet visits cost so much more than my horse.

Edited February 23, 2010 by winnie

[CaliforniaGreys]

Depending on where you are, dentals can really differ in price. Here, they are ridiculous and very seldom will a dental be under 1000.00 per dog.

[Guest shanesmom]

Wow! That seems really expensive for dentals to me. Elton has not needed a dental but Shane had quite a few. I paid around 150.00 for each of his dentals.

 

edited to add that the dentals were a few years ago.

Edited February 23, 2010 by shanesmom

[BootsyCollins]

The only time I paid that much for a dental was when Argos had 4 teeth pulled. His other two dentals were about $250 each. Bootsy hasn't had a dental yet, but needs one I think.

 

Time to start eating peanut butter and jelly!

[winnie]

The only time I paid that much for a dental was when Argos had 4 teeth pulled. His other two dentals were about $250 each. Bootsy hasn't had a dental yet, but needs one I think.

 

Time to start eating peanut butter and jelly!

 

The vet said that Bonny will likely need 2-3 extractions. She can see the root on one of her teeth already. Darcy has a growth on her gum that will need to be removed and biopsied. So, they are not just "routine" cleanings.

 

As for the expense... lets just say I'm very happy I sold a saddle and some other tack on eBay last week. I wasn't planning on using my eBay proceeds towards vet bills, but that is life...

[Guest my3greys]

I can totally relate to the shock of vet bills! Second after the shock of retirement and now paying full price for my health insurance now.

[sdisto]

This is the exact reason that I have two vets. My best friend's sister works at a clinic that's about 1 1/2 miles from my house. She does vaccines and routine medical care. For dentals, I cannot afford 600$ X 3 dogs. For dentals I rely on another vet who is 30 minutes aways and charges about 200$ for a routine dental. He is very greyound savvy, has several greyhounds of his own and is the go-to guy for our adoption group.

 

I guess my point is that it can't hurt to shop around if you live in an area where you can find another vet you trust.

[Guest K9Cookies]

Your annual exam bill and estimate for the dentals sounds right about in line with what our vet's office charges. Very expensive. We are happy with the vet's office though, so we haven't changed. We just recently got pet insurance through Trupanion, but they don't pay for annual exams, vaccines or routine dentals. They might cover your dentals though because something else medically is going on. The insurance just gives us peace of mind.

 

I'm sorry! Those pesky "unexpected bills"!

[Guest eaglflyt]

WOW!!! We have more than one vet, too. Price is a big factor, but we also want a back up vet that knows our dogs & cats in case our regular vet is out of town. We also use the E vet more often than we ever suspected we would. Our pet insurance on Ady Bea has been our best investment. We'll always have insurance on all our future pets. Otherwise, our love of pets may financially sink us.

 

Our equine vet is also much less expensive than our small animal vet. Go figure.

[Guest Energy11]

I know what you mean! In January alone, Goldie and Curfew's visits and bloowork, etc. was in excess of $600. Yes, I have pet insurance, but, then, I had a $100/deductible per pet. NO MORE! Alas, I know have ZERO deductibles on all five!

 

IF you dont' work for a vet, like I used to ... don't now, I feel pet insurance IS the way to go! Goldie's visit, x-rays and meds yesterday, totalled $267. It is TOTALLY reimbursable!

 

I totally recommend getting pet insurance, as ONE ER visit could wipe you out.

 

Good luck with their dentals, too!

 

 

[MP_the4pack]

Since Oct, I've spent close to $10,000 on vet bills. Dima has OS, Pearl had Fibrosarcoma. Luckily, Pearl had double cancer ins. coverage, so I recooped most of that bill.

 

But yeah, these guys can get very expensive!! (which is why I'm trying really hard not to adopt again for a little while)

[Guest Spencers_Greyt]

WOW! And I thought my vet bills were high!

[Guest greykat]

I am in serious pain over our latest- Max just had recurrent neck pain, worse than in the past (when it normally goes away on its own). My vet put him on a muscle relaxer, but when it didn't work, he sent me to a neurologist. Suddenly, the whirlwind started- he wanted to do a CT (sure it was a disc problem), and then immediately to surgery after the CT confirmed two discs were actually causing problems (one that had been causing the chronic pain that used to come and go, and a new one that was causing partial lameness in his left leg and constant pain). So we agreed to everything (don't want to keep him in pain, and the vet made us feel very confident that this was the best way to cure him permanently), and last night we picked him up and paid $8000. And now he isn't doing well, and they may want to run other tests andsee what else may be wrong with him. He's 10 1/2. And my wallet isn't a bottomless pit. This is really starting to hurt, but I want Max to be okay and not in pain.

[Guest zoolaine]

I agree that pet insurance is very helpful - especially for the big unexpected bills. I currently have a $2500 per incident and am well over that with Sunny - with another $3000-$5000 in future treatments. I am going to switch insurance companies so I can get a higher limit - the $2500 just isn't enough for anything major (up until a month ago I thought it was plenty). My three choices are Embrace, Trupanion, and PetPlan - all have their good and bad points.

[MP_the4pack]

Let us know who you go with. I'll be curious. Since my Pearl is gone now, I really don't need VPI anymore.

[winnie]

We got VPI insurance for our greys when we first adopted them. Honestly, for the amount of money we got back on claims, it just wasn't worth it. I guess I'm spoiled by my equine insurance which is EXCELLENT! I did research some other companies after deciding to drop VPI. That was a couple of years ago. We never did wind up insuring our greys again. Plus, now that 2 of our 3 grey girls are officially "seniors," they might not even qualify for insurance.

 

ETA... our most recent bills are things that our old basic VPI plan wouldn't cover - routine wellness exam, vaccinations and dentals.

Edited February 23, 2010 by winnie

[inugrey]

Doesn't that bill just suck! You are at Pender right?

 

I think this year will be our dental year and that's right around our estimates. Since Inu's nickname is "trainwreck" we never got rid of our VPI and it's been very useful for him. Of course he's other nickname should be "Dr. Collin's Mortgage"

[Wendie]

Is that both dentals together or the cost per dental? Because if it's both, I don't think that's too bad (especially compared to our last dental bill!)

[winnie]

Doesn't that bill just suck! You are at Pender right?

 

Nope... we go to Dr. Amy Dillon at Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Centreville, VA.

 

Is that both dentals together or the cost per dental? Because if it's both, I don't think that's too bad (especially compared to our last dental bill!)

 

Nope... we're looking at about $700 EACH. Neither is a "routine" dental. Bonny will likely need 2-3 extractions. She already has a root showing. Darcy has a growth on her gums - vet plans to remove and do a biopsy.

[Anne]

Not going to be long before the average person won't be able to afford to have pets, then only the rich will have pets. I think it's kind of sad, I know it's not cheap to become a vet nor to set up a practice, but just like human health care, it's going to become out of reach for many of us.

[Guest kydie]

I agree with where you live, when my grey had a dental last March, total for everything was $147.00 with post-op and pre-op meds, now the more rural you are the less it costs, average vet office visit here with meds,(if needed) exam, and a booster vaccine is about $60.00 P.S. just had surgery done on the GSP last December with labs, meds, and surgery total was $250.00

Edited February 23, 2010 by kydie

[Guest Fasave]

Not going to be long before the average person won't be able to afford to have pets, then only the rich will have pets. I think it's kind of sad, I know it's not cheap to become a vet nor to set up a practice, but just like human health care, it's going to become out of reach for many of us.

 

My biggest fear and I feel the same way. It is beginning to feel like veterinary school is now teaching their students how to diagnose with these expensive tests because they are more readily available and a more practical approach is being lost. I lost a hound last year after 18 months of seeing specialists, diagnostic tests, ICU stays and vet visits at one of the top veterinary hospitals in the country. We never really figured out what was wrong with him but for most of this time he was happy, stable and not suffering or in pain. I estimate I spent between $10,000 - $12,000 during that time. I had VPI insurance with him and because they require a diagnosis for payment, I saw only about $2,000 in reimbursements. I worry that pets will pay the ultimate price because people just don't have this type of disposable income to spend on their pets.

 

I now have a new pup and I've elected to cover him with Embrace. I have not had to use the insurance yet but it better fits my needs. I've elected a $200 annual deductible, a 10% co-pay and $10,000 annual allowance. I pay about $42/month. My senior is still on VPI with the cancer endorsement, He is 10 years old and I pay about the same monthly. He has had three different surgeries for two different soft tissue sarcomas and VPI has actually reimbursed pretty well for these incidents. The way I look at it is that the cost of insuring my pups is half what I pay in car insurance every year. I haven't had a claim with my car insurance in over 15 years but I've certainly had plenty of vet bills. For me, having insurance is worth the peace of mind and helps to take some of the variables out of making a decision on how to best medically treat my pups.