$50 vet charge for chicken diagnosis?

[elmo]

I have to take issue with the idea of going with a "younger vet." Of course I don't know the particular individuals involved here, but my own experience is that younger vets have no sense of perspective. They've been trained with all the new therapies, techniques and doo dads, but how many of them stop to explain to the customer what the options are? These new ways are $$$$$$$, so I guess that's why. We had a very bad experience at the end of our dog's life with one of these vets; we ended up making our dog undergo medical procedures that didn't prolong his life or his comfort. We shouldn't have listened to the vet and should have trusted our own instincts, instead.

We now use an experienced "old school" vet. He won't make you feel guilty if you decide not to put your chicken on life support. And he's seen plenty of chickens in his day, so he knows what works and what doesn't.

 

[joebryant]

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I hear you. I had one who robbed me of thousands of dollars trying to save my dog from aplastic anemia with bone marrow transfusions, blood transfusion, and opeations that I can't remember. Turned out that aplastic anemia cannot be cured in humans, let alone dogs. What my dog went through because of that sadistic, mercenary parasite was inhumane. We finally had her put down.
He and his "pet hospital" ended up on the front page of the Indianapolis Star for more than a week. He was being sued by all kinds of victims for all sorts of stuff. He's in a new location now.
The same dog went through hell with another vet/corgi breeder in South Bend who forced her into going into heat so that she could take off for Florida on time. My dog gave birth to three hydrocephalic pups by caesarean section; they died shortly afterwards. I've often wondered if what that vet gave her was the cause/start of her getting aplastic anemia.

 

[Rozzie]

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I really like our "old school" vet. It's even a walk in clinic. He's pretty honest about what he can and can't help and even advised AGAINST surgical proceedings for our old dog's tumors. (She was adopted as a senior dog and we don't know how long she's had the tumors.) He said that if it were his dog he would not put her through it at this age given the number of tumors she has. We're on a wait/watch basis with them. She's actually substantially healthier now than when we got her 4 months ago, though one tumor may have grown a bit. She has a ton more energy and her hip injury has healed.

Good 'ol Science Diet for Large Breed senior dogs, plus a couple of kinds of supplements (Sr Dog vitamins and also special supplements for joints). I spend more on her vitamins than my own, ROFL.

 

[aukuma]

I thought our girl was doing better yesterday. I let her out to free range with the others and she was fine, a little shaky but better. Well, today I went to give her medicine and she had died through the night. I'm very sad

She started to shake her head constantly. I think she had something neurological, which caused her to lose balance. I doubt any medicine would have helped. But I'm glad I tried to save her, at least she knows she was loved.

 

[cindy99]

So sorry She didn't die with the others picking on her and it sounds like she went in her sleep. You did ALL that you could.

 

[joebryant]

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Sorry! You did your best to help her.

 

[Jarsheart]

Sorry to hear of her death. My hospitalized hen had to be put down yesterday. I feel your pain. My vet bill is is excess of $700 BTW. So call me completely insane.

 

[aukuma]

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Ouch on the bill! I'm sorry to hear of your hens death too...

At least we tried to save them!

I am hoping to have some eggs to hatch here in a week... I'll have to raise myself a new chickie friend. My other three girls (very small flock!) are just to "snotty" to be my friend, they think they are better than me!