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02-27-2011, 05:10 AM | #46 |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas
Posts: 7,982
| Sorry to hear about your baby. The prices are so high because of the area you live in. Baltimore is a very expensive city. Maybe a 9 hour drive for you to Tennesee would be the way to go. Good luck to you and your baby! You will be in my prayers... |
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02-27-2011, 08:03 AM | #47 | |||
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
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Unfortunately, we do not have the funds to provide free or low-cost care to our clients. The UT Veterinary Medical Center is regulated by a state "fair competition" clause, and thus our fees are comparable to those of regional specialty private clinics. I think this means they've raised their prices.... anybody got a number that'll go through on the weekends? Quote:
I could cry. Everything, and I mean everything I've heard or read since I got Tink and joined here and started researching Liver Shunts, and what vets have said (third party info and my own) is that the U/S is done to see if there is a shunt, how many and the location, and to determine if the shunt was operable, and best done by the surgeon doing the surgery, as shunts can be difficult to find unless the person doing the U/S was very experienced in finding shunts. I was told I could manage her on diet and meds, and ABs when needed for UTIs. Nothing was ever mentioned about the kidneys, other than some dogs form kidney stones, but not all. Well, live and learn. I have also read that once the Liver Shunt is repaired, the kidney stones would resolve on their own, as the amonia will then be removed by the liver, hence changing the environment in the kidneys, making it less stone friendly and what was there would disolve on their own. Thoughts? (And I will be discussing this with the surgeon).
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity | |||
02-27-2011, 08:38 AM | #48 | |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
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I've always said (and this has not been too popular on here) that I'd go a first step with an ultrasound and took the view that an experienced reader (i.e. board certified radiologist) had a good chance and finding a shunt. I believe (and this is only my opinion and not based on data) that vets are not finding shunts on u/s because REGULAR vets are doing it and not highly skilled u/s readers or BC radiologists. I have stated over and over that u/s gave very detailed information on my Daisy's liver and last week again u/s gave us information on Barney's liver. Shunts CAN and ARE picked up by u/s depending on the reader and it is the very least expensive and invasive option. At worst you are $185 poorer (Northeast pricing of $150 u/s + $35 radiology consult) but at best you learn some detailed information. An ultrasound done in a specialty hospital will ALWAYS be an ABDOMINAL ultrasound and looks at EVERYTHING. I know all about all of Barney's organs from last week's ultrasound from his liver to his pancreas to his kidneys to his stomach to his adrenal glands. I am sorry your research led to this result. I think it is part of the danger on reading things in a vacuum and doing our own research without having the clinical training and education to back us up. But, it doesn't matter now what you read, what your research revealed, what your conclusions were, or any of that. You now have a diagnosis, a clear clinical picture, and a recommendation by a veterinarian. You are stepping up for the dog now and that is what counts in my book. You need to take this matter to completion, for the best interest of the dog, and one way or another she needs treatment. If you can't afford it, you have options and so does Tinkerbell. On the pricing on UT's site, I think they are saying their prices are in line with private clinics in their region, which may still be lower than your area. Oh and on the surgery, I'd get the kidney stones out at the same time if they were able to do so. I know this jacks the cost but I'd rather do that than risk that their may not be dissolution on their own or putting the dog through major invasive surgery twice. I wished your news was better for you and Tinkerbell. I will keep you both in my prayers.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy | |
02-27-2011, 08:53 AM | #49 |
♥Luv my Trixie Belle♥ Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,010
| I am sorry that your Tink needs surgery. I also know that any surgery can be very expensive. The only option I can suggest is Care Credit. At least you can pay off your balance without interest charges for a period of time. This is what we did when we had a huge vet hospital bill. Hugs to Tink and yourself...
__________________ RIP Biscuit My heart belongs to Trixie |
02-27-2011, 08:58 AM | #50 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Scintography is better for a definitive shunt dx, but I get reallllly nervous when I see people say not to do ultrasounds. The are particularly important if there are urinary symptoms present (and there were). This is why it's best to get under the care of an IMS asap when the high bile acids are discovered and follow their lead. We just aren't trained to know how to manage something like this and avery few people on YT have enough of a scientific background to be able to interpret studies effectively. So anyway, I'm not really sure why people are saying u/s isn't ever indicated in LS. I would guess UT is still much, much cheaper than the price above.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
02-27-2011, 09:23 AM | #51 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 664
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02-27-2011, 09:54 AM | #52 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ball Ground, GA
Posts: 1,262
| I'm just now reading this. I am so sorry to hear Tinkerbell has a shunt and will have to have surgery. I hate it when I have to have any kind of procedure done on my dogs and I can't imagine the worry you must be feeling. I hope everything goes well and that Tink is well very soon. Our prayers are with her.
__________________ Kristan Lizzy's mom |
02-27-2011, 10:32 AM | #53 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia
Posts: 4,566
| I'm so sorry to hear about Tinkerbell. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
__________________ Prince, rest in peace. We miss you and love you so much. |
02-27-2011, 11:43 AM | #54 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
| Prayers for Tinkerbell.
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02-27-2011, 11:55 AM | #55 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| Poor Tinkerbell. It sounds like you have some very tough decisions to make in order to get Tink the care that she needs. I'm very sorry that you are faced with all of this and you that you will find the funding to move forward with treatment for your little one.
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain |
02-27-2011, 01:36 PM | #56 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,451
| While it will not put a dent in this bill, another option to consider is to ask your vet if you might be eligible for a grant from AAHA. AAHA member veterinarians can apply for a grant for a client....I think they are about $500. I had read it on their website one day. Might be an avenue to consider for some assistance.
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02-27-2011, 02:57 PM | #57 | |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas
Posts: 7,982
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02-27-2011, 04:20 PM | #58 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,410
| Keeping Tinkerbell in my thoughts and prayers! |
02-27-2011, 07:48 PM | #59 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | I just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you and Tinkerbell. Lots of hugs...I can't imagine the stress and worry you're under.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
03-03-2011, 01:46 PM | #60 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| Thanks again to everyone for the thoughts, well wishes, prayers and suggestions.... I did call UT yesterday but I had to leave a message... they will call me back. Then I called Care Credit, as I have had a card with $2000. on it for about a year now, but I've never had to use it. Well, they closed the account! I went back online and filed for another one, which was approved for $1000. I just got off the phone with them and explained I needed to increase the credit to $4000. to cover my dog's surgery and they refused the increase. Oh yeah, love them credit card companies... makes total sense. Oh and UT did call back.... they did increase their prices by $500, and due 10% more at the end of the month. And for the good news... both my vet and UT said that the kidney stones do not need to be addressed, they don't touch them, only bladder stones are a concern... so that's a plus.... Let me see what else I can pull out of my hat.... I'll be back...
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
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