Insane Veterinarian bills

G

gfh77665

Joined
Sep 1, 2008
Messages
6,600
Location
Southeast Texas
Everybody moans about inflation but Vet costs are just crazy. Took our 15 year old dog to the vet for annual check up and vaxxs. Found a small growth between the toes on hind foot. Vet tells us "its probably nothing but defintely needs to be removed". Agreed to do this. Vet works on computer terminal for over 5 min. and presents us a bill for $1575. What?

Vet tells us to do the removal it requires whole body ultrasound, whole body X-rays, extensive blood work, lab fees, sedation, canine EKG, and on and on and on. Whole body? It was itemized 3/4 of a page. Even charged $35 for a small tube of ointment. It turns out its just neosporin. Here is the kicker, this very week I had a malignant skin cancer removed in dermatologists office. I gestured to the bandage on my arm and told the vet about it. I told her it cost me less than this "really nothing" removal on my dogs foot. She smiled and told me "yes, but we know you want the best care for your pet".

I do give my pets great care, always have, but this is a racket. Its pricing people out of pet ownership, or pricing people out of pet care. I am not interested in pet health insurance.
 
Yeah, been there, done that. Sorry about your bill. I had a choice to amputate my cat's paw due to joint/tendon problem. Amputate or fuse the joint. I was at a point in my life where I could choose the expensive option; I felt like they were cutting my leg off. I couldn't let that happen.

Your dog is lucky to have you.
 
Too true. We have a cat with an enlarged heart. Been this way for years, cat is one happy guy and has no clue that he may have an issue. No symptoms whatsoever. Vet wanted to x ray him the last time he was in. I asked what we would do if the expensive x ray showed anything. Nothing was the answer. I asked them "why bother then?" They had no answer. Irritating that they were trying to pad the bill. Cat is still great.
 
Time to find a "far out in the country" away from cities and suburbs Vet, so you are not paying for a Mercedes, cabin payment. In an 8 hour period at an "emergency vet hospital" we paid $5,000 to find out our dog had stomach stones and she was 13 so we put her out of her misery the next day. A couple of X-rays and lab work and a nights stay was $5,000. THEN, 5 years later this vet built a 4 story LONG office building that is all theirs and kept their newish/old huge vet building accross the street. Needless to say, I told the wife we need to find a small pet hospital outside of the Minneapolis suburbs where the price gouging is less.
 
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There's a guy from VINwiki who negotiated on his friend's behalf in order to reduce his medical bills to a fraction of what he originally owed. You might want to give him a call.
 
My Bernedoodle suffered a severe vomiting attack when she was just two. Scans showed nothing but inflammation of her entire chest cavity (thinking cancer). She was fading fast and we opted for exploratory surgery. They got in there and found that her gallbladder was black and basically rotting in place from a severe E. coli infection. Vet called and asked if I wanted them to try and remove it or just put her down. I was devastated and figured if we were this far along go ahead and try. She gave Ivy a twenty five percent chance of making it. She survived the surgery and was in and out of intensive care for almost two months during the holidays.
Well she was on human gallbladder medication for a year and for the past few years she has been her normal self. In my opinion it was worth every penny of the 10k plus vet bill.

Revisit of my original post of this still gives me chills.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/prayers-or-positive-vibes-for-my-pupper.348586/
 
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Opelman said:
Too true. We have a cat with an enlarged heart. Been this way for years, cat is one happy guy and has no clue that he may have an issue. No symptoms whatsoever. Vet wanted to x ray him the last time he was in. I asked what we would do if the expensive x ray showed anything. Nothing was the answer. I asked them "why bother then?" They had no answer. Irritating that they were trying to pad the bill. Cat is still great.
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Yes, I asked the vet about the pathology on the removal. I told her I would not put my dog through canine chemo at 15+ years of age. He totally happy and very energetic as is. I won't rob him of that for anything. I told her I don't want the pathology, especially "if its probably nothing" as she said.
 
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Chris142 said:
$800 to cremate my favorite cat.
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Very rural southern Missouri had 2 dogs cremated 4 & 5 years ago. 52 & 57 lbs cost $1 a pound. Have had dogs cremated in Saint Louis County 10 years ago from a emergency vet $120. In a nice cardboard box, ashes in a plastic baggie. Country in a cloth bag and I'm sure there were no EPA smoke controls. 13 Years ago just before i retired i install cremator next to a working one at a large cemetery.
 
gfh77665 said:
Everybody moans about inflation but Vet costs are just crazy. Took our 15 year old dog to the vet for annual check up and vaxxs. Found a small growth between the toes on hind foot. Vet tells us "its probably nothing but defintely needs to be removed". Agreed to do this. Vet works on computer terminal for over 5 min. and presents us a bill for $1575. What?

Vet tells us to do the removal it requires whole body ultrasound, whole body X-rays, extensive blood work, lab fees, sedation, canine EKG, and on and on and on. Whole body? It was itemized 3/4 of a page. Even charged $35 for a small tube of ointment. It turns out its just neosporin. Here is the kicker, this very week I had a malignant skin cancer removed in dermatologists office. I gestured to the bandage on my arm and told the vet about it. I told her it cost me less than this "really nothing" removal on my dogs foot. She smiled and told me "yes, but we know you want the best care for your pet".

I do give my pets great care, always have, but this is a racket. Its pricing people out of pet ownership, or pricing people out of pet care. I am not interested in pet health insurance.
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You can say no to most of that. We decline all of it except the basics required for the actual job, young animals don't need all the extra stuff they offer when they put them under. And old animals, well, are old, if your dog isn't limping or feeling pain when you manipulate the lump, then leave it, check once in a while, and it may never be a problem.
In the good old days, they probably would've used local anesthetic, maybe muzzled the dog, and had the owner or an assistant hold it still for the 15 seconds it takes to freeze or cut it off...
 
Chris142 said:
$800 to cremate my favorite cat.
Click to expand...
Wow! We cremated our little cat. I didn't remember, so I went and found the bill. $170.

The vet charged me $15.00 to euphonize him. He said he refuses to profit from death, but has to charge for the drug because its controlled and its use must be documented.

Benefits of a small town vet.

Our Shih-Tzu got a chicken bone once - I wasn't home. Stuck in her throat. Had to go to a special place - at night. $2800.00. Worth it.
 
I have Nationwide pet insurance for my Shih Tzu. It has a $250 deductible and reimburses me for 70% of vet expenses after that. Thankfully my Lucy hasn't needed any major vet care other than regular shots and flea/tick preventative.

The groomer, though? Geez, I might have to take out a loan...
 
IndyIan said:
You can say no to most of that. We decline all of it except the basics required for the actual job, young animals don't need all the extra stuff they offer when they put them under. And old animals, well, are old, if your dog isn't limping or feeling pain when you manipulate the lump, then leave it, check once in a while, and it may never be a problem.
In the good old days, they probably would've used local anesthetic, maybe muzzled the dog, and had the owner or an assistant hold it still for the 15 seconds it takes to freeze or cut it off...
Click to expand...
Exactly. A local and muzzle for 5 min. is all thats needed. Or freeze it off.

We did negoatiate it down to $1125. I told her we will not be doing the overnight stay.
 
We had a vet that decided they would start to suck at cost control and give us that same line about "the best care for" our pets, both with chronic conditions and way past their life expectancies. They also decided to start sucking at communication during covid times.

We found a new vet. Problem solved.
 
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