Grrrr....took dog to the vet yesterday to the tune of $325.00. She was throwing up and had diarrea. During the drive to the vet BB and I discussed how our vet always gives such good care but charges a bundle for it. We decided that this time around our dog doesnt need exceptional care. She needs some antibiotics and that's the end of it.
Guess what? Once at the vet, he starts talking about all the possibilities that could be wrong with her, all the possible sources of her sickness. He says "I'm just going to run some blood tests to check her white cell count, check her pancreas, check this, this and that." I was prepared for the vet wanting to do bloodwork and had a response waiting "no. If you dont mind can we just try some antibiotics and see if that helps her? We are on a tight budget and don't think the tests are necessary yet."
But I held my tongue! I didn't say it! I don't know why. The vet gets so darn reactive to all the possible things that could be wrong with her I kind of feel like it would be animal abuse to not allow the tests to be run. As it is he was already telling us she was running a fever and how did we not notice she was sick earlier?
I guess I feel like she is our child and no good parent tells a Dr to "skip the tests just give the medicine."
Then of course once I looked up the receipt and the "tests and blood drawing" was $110 of the bill I had major buyers remorse.
So I'm still bitter about that one. Very very bitter.
spent $325.00 not on a house
January 27th, 2009 at 01:33 pm
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January 27th, 2009 at 05:39 pm 1233077985
Vets do know how to draw out your emotions and use it to their advantage (and the pets, I guess).
January 27th, 2009 at 06:34 pm 1233081254
My shih tzu has chronic ear infections. Last go around it cost $200 for two visits and medicated ear wash and the medication. For my 3 yo it is $59 at the Walgreen's clinic.
January 27th, 2009 at 06:40 pm 1233081654
My dog, later in her life, developed a thryroid condition. "Fortunately" the pills were *only* $18/month. Everytime I would go in for a refill, I was waiting for the time that I would be told that they needed to do bloodwork to see if/how the pills were working. I think in the 2 or so years she was (still) alive, they only did that once.
January 27th, 2009 at 09:25 pm 1233091551
January 27th, 2009 at 09:32 pm 1233091945
That said, I though many times a $.25 shotgun shell would do much more for my investing dollars than a dog that craps all over my yard and chews the molding on the laundry room door if we lock him in there. But then I realized....it's Moe. The son we will never have. A cross between snoopy and bill the cat.
The moral of the story, just as you only live once, so do our pets. Give them the love and chance to survive they would give you. Then, if all else fails, shoot em....just kidding....God bless.
January 28th, 2009 at 01:02 am 1233104528
It would really depend on how old the dog is I think. Give your dog a big hug from me though, poor guy, he probably ate something he shouldn't have.
By the way, did you find out anything? Keep us posted.
January 28th, 2009 at 01:34 am 1233106457
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February 1st, 2009 at 07:06 am 1233471993
Most vets won't make it to 85.