My vet is bleeding me dry!!!

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I used to be a vet tech, and I don't recall ever having to sedate an animal for an x-ray. If your vet is doing that, I'd be suspicious.

Regarding the heartworm stuff, you don't actually have to use the ivermectin (heartguard) marketed for dogs. You can get the exact same stuff marketed for horses or cows at any farm store. Here is dosing information . Many large kennels do this, and we do it with our three dogs as well. It is way, way cheaper.

Can you use the ivermection 1% for cattle? Is it the same as Ivermectin for horses?

The amount of ivermectin in heartguard is WAY less than in the horse or cattle products. You CAN purchase heartguard online.

 

[tazcat70]

I love how my vet treats my animals. I have been going to him for years. And yes, the prices have gone up, but his haven't gone up as much as other cities (we were given a dog while on vacation and took him to a vet in Arlington TX for a very serious ear infection. $350 about 6 years ago) Recently the same dog got another ear infection here in Kansas and it cost us about $180. While he charges us $125 to spay or neuter (I can't remember who it was at the time) another vet in town wanted $75 additional for the exact same animal. My vet is pretty much a dog, cat, and the occasional guinea pig vet; and so when I had a chicken problem he suggested an exotic vet.

We all know that the initial purchase and feed of an animal is usually the cheapest part of animal care. I am lucky that if an emergency does pop up that my vet will allow me to have a check deposited at a later date. And to me that is worth having to take them in for every little thing because the vet will not offer suggestions over the phone.

Plus every year at the state fair I get to see his beautiful Belgians and know where my money is going....somehow it helps.

 

[Beekissed]

My vet is incredibly cheap and a good vet...but then, I only see him for neuterings/injuries/euthanasia.

He did a C-section on my sis's sheep for $150!

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
That's crazy expensive, even though a blocked cat is a HUGE deal. When they can't pee the toxins build up in their kidneys causing renal failure (reversible at this point) if it is left too long, their blood becomes toxic and they will die. They have to be put on fluids for usually several days to clear the toxicity, with a urinary catheter in place until the bladder flushes all the crystals and grit out. It does get very expensive, but not $2300 expensive...

Yeah I know it is not a simple fix but I think it came down to location. Meaning the neighborhood and the tax bracket.

Not sure if the Vet Board in the USA puts a cap on fees or can they charge what the public will bear?

We pay bewteen $450=$550 for a simple, straight forward on the farm gelding. Two and a half hour drive from me, they pay $200-$250.
I paid $450 to have my puppy spayed, a hour drive and a 45 minute Ferry ride to a smaller island and you would pay $100

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Can you use the ivermection 1% for cattle? Is it the same as Ivermectin for horses?

The amount of ivermectin in heartguard is WAY less than in the horse or cattle products. You CAN purchase heartguard online.

Where?? Thanks!

 

[goldenluver]

heartgard
http://www.crittercures.com/product.aspx?drugname=Heartgard Plus Chewables Blue&affiliate=1221

 

[newfoundland]

I agree that the prices that vets charge, particularly in big cities is exhorbitant! People who rescue animals are always on the tightest of budgets , I know. We have many animals, most have come our way by default. We have all the basic stuff done such as vaccinations, but we treat as much as we can ourselves. A trusted old vet that I went to years ago told me that it is not necessary to have an older dog vaccinated every year if you have kept up the vaccinations in the earlier years. Our dogs don't leave the grounds as we have a few acres, and I must admit, as they have got older I have dropped the vaccination programme.

 

[justuschickens59]

I understand the cost of inflation, but geez !! I took my dog to the vet a couple of weeks ago. He has been having some issues that I wasn't comfortable with, so I took him in for a check-up (I take all 3 of my dogs to the vet at least yearly for check-ups and shots and heartworm test). My vet did a basic exam and then she did a basic blood panel to check lab values, and also a UA. Total bill: $332.50. At my vet's referral, a few days later I took my dog to a Veterinary Clinic to see an Internal Medicine Specialist that is 2 hours from me. Another exam(if you can actually call it that, since she never even touched my dog, she just visually looked at him while she was standing up and he was sitting by my chair )and a PTH blood panel - $278. The IM Vet wanted to do ultrasound and x-ray for an additional $800 plus, even though what she thought my dog had could be diagnosed with a PTH blood panel. I told her to skip the x-rays and ultrasounds until after the PTH panel results came back and we could then do the ultrasound and x-rays if needed. She seemed very surprised that I didn't have an $1000 plus just laying around waiting to be forked over to her. The blood work came back with the results that my dog has primary hyperparathyroidism and needs surgery. So my boy will be having surgery on 11/30 to the tune of around $3000. I honestly don't mind to pay for veterinary care - my dogs are my kids - but $332 and $278 for drawing some blood and sticking a thermometer up his butt? As for the UA, I took him outside and collected the urine myself for that test. It's frustrating, but at this point I'm just thankful that there is a surgery that can "fix" my dog.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I wouldn't mind the exorbitant rates so much IF the freakin' guy knew what the heck he was doing!!! Had him out THREE times to castrate a colt (who is STILL entire BTW). When he did one of my dogs, the poor little guy swelled up so bad he could barely walk. Then the "empty spot" turned deep purple (internal bleeding I'm thinking) but the vet said that was "normal"?!? He did recover eventually but that had to HURT!! I lost a mare this summer to colic because he disconnected his phone over the holiday (as did every other vet in town). Now I have a filly with problems. After hearing his nonsense, I hauled her to the university and got COMPLETELY different answers. I will never know if she could have recovered and had a normal life IF I had hauled her sooner. I blame myself for that one. By now I should have known better!!! But it is a hard decision to haul an animal in pain 3 hours to the university. I just wish I had made it sooner.

Now I have a new vet. He's good but often not available in emergencies. Around here when it comes to vet care, you're pretty much $hit outta luck.

Rusty

 

[Raen]

Quote:
Can you use the ivermection 1% for cattle? Is it the same as Ivermectin for horses?

The amount of ivermectin in heartguard is WAY less than in the horse or cattle products. You CAN purchase heartguard online.

Yes, it is, that's why you use just a tiny amount of it. It's still the exact same medicine for a lot less money, which matters if you have several dogs (or if you're just cheap!)