$130 Dollars Later...
 

I find out that Stewie doesn't have an ear infection -- just a little irritation What the heck is up with vets and their prices lately?

I hear ya! Isn't it crazy?

But I'm so glad Stewart doesn't have an ear infection :)

Good grief! That stinks! I mean, not about Stewie not having an ear infection, I'm glad to know it's not that, LOL.....but geez talk about robbery. Taking advantage of us just because we care for our pets. Pffhh. LOL. I hope Stewie gets to feeling better asap! Did they Rx anything for his irritation?

Yes, he got 3 days worth of stuff for irritation. I think it was $38.50.

I think they figured out that we're willing to pay whatever they tell us we have to just to ensure our babies lead healthy, happy lives!

Wow, $130?? Did they do some tests or something?!

I love my visits when they are under $130. Unfortunately, they rarely are in my case. I hear that California has high vet prices, but I like Lola's vet so I have no choice. By the way since November, I think we have spent about $10,000 in vet bills. Thank God for VPI.

I'm in California
a ridiculously annoyingly expensive part
so I go somewhere else for Tila's vet, it isn't too far
but I love the prices
A lot of the time he just charges the pet store for stuff ha ha
He's like "oh I think we'll just charge the pet store"
ha ha ha ha ha
But ya most of our visits are cheap
even when she was on the nebulizer and other medications
The only thing he ever really charges for are any meds she needs

It's all been really cheap
we're lucky :p

btw, they do the SAME THING with kids.
Charge an arm and a leg for ANYTHING
just like they do for our dogs
I guess they just know we'll pay

it's driving me nuts though!
at this point I'm going to have to work like 5 jobs just to pay for a puppy and taking care of my cousins

130 dollars:eek: to find out that your yorkie:aimeeyork is healthy:mad: :thumbdown

:eek: that's alot of $$$. i have a wellness plan from banfield that would have covered it. the plan is good , but the nurses stink. it's a shame vets are so expensive. i feel bad for the dogs that don't go when they are sick because their owners can't afford vet bills. it makes me sad.:(

I hear ya just for the boy's shot in 3 weeks they wanted $170.00 or i could puchase a puppy pack and pay $240.00 and $15.00 a month to get a dicount when i take them each time! It's excactly right they know we will pay anything to keep our babies safe! I mean if you were to go get bloodwork for yourself it would be mabey $50.00 $60.00 with no ins but for a dog it's like $100.00 and more so sad!:mad:

Its nuts.... Kids and dogs!!!! Its totally out of control!!!

In order to send my 10 year old to summer camp she had to have a physical form signed... Her Blue Cross PPO would NOT pay for the Physical. can you belive that!!! We have paid the premium every month for 7 years, she has NEVER had the occasion to use her insurance... not once!!! And I go to use it for the first time and I was told no! Its not covered! She's not sick! :eek: I almost burst into flames I was so pissed! :mad: I thought... "You have got to be kidding me!!!" :mad:

But its just as bad with the vet visits.... I spent over 200 for a well puppy visit to meet a new vet when I moved down here... And that guy was a total waste of money!! He recommended I take my dogs off of heartworm prevention... right before it gets humid down here??? Is he crazy????

I'm so glad your baby is ok though... sorry it cost so much to find that out!!! Yikes!

It is great that Stewie is OK!!
 

But MAN, it's stupid the costs we have to pay!! My vet is incredibly reasonable compared to most. My friend Cindy in Greensboro paid $130 yesterday for a colitis diagnosis, and she was shocked at the vet cost as well.:(

I know the vets have major overhead, but you would think that they could be a bit more reasonable. Like mine!:p

My Vet just opened up a new office in another town,it is HUGE and includes stalls and outside pens for all farm animals.He is the best around but I don't like paying for his new building!! They charged $11.00 to trim toe nails on my dog !!!! :mad: I pay $50.00 a month year round just for everyday meds ( Frontline,heartworm med.and rabies shots) if anything comes up out of the ordinary I end up paying a whole lot more.What a rip off,they look at Yorkies as Exotics around this part of the country and charge accordingly!!:aimeeyork

They charged $11.00 to trim toe nails on my dog !!! ( the quote didn't show in blue, how do you do it ?)

Haha....Two weeks ago I went to the vet to pick up a second dose of Revolution. I asked them to trim his toe nails as well. Then I looked at a computer screen and saw a bill for over $50. The price of toe nails was $30 !!!
I almost died. I was thinking of repoting them but don't know where. It's time to change vets for me.

That's good to hear that it's not an infection.

What made you think that he did?

Tell me about it. We have spent about $1500 over the past couple of weeks trying to treat Zeus' pancreatitis. In all, I know we have spent well over $5000! :eek:

I guess in Ohio we are very lucky. Cooper went for his 6 months checkup and he got 2 shots and a very good check up. It was $34.00. Also they clipped his nails once and didnt charge me anything. And the girls in the office are awesome . They cant wait to get ahold of him . The are all so sweet. I think i will stick with our vet.

you are so right - my cocker Tessa has ongoing ear problems - that's on the LOW end of the charges I pay AND she always gets the SAME prescription - I got sick of it and told them - IF I have to pay full Office charges just to get a prescription renewed - then I'd just go somewhere else - they now have me on a 2 office visit per year thing if it's her ears.....

Vet fees are going thru the roof - just like regular Doctors.

Glad he didn't have an ear infection - they hurt.

my vet will trim nails if I ask them to for free. that was just part of the exams when they were getting shots.
Just think what it would have been had he really had an ear infection. that is just terrible. It makes owners wait too long before taking their pets in to be looked at.

My vet charges $43 for a VISIT!!! And that is for 1 dog!!! When I go with my 2 boys, its $86 just for them to tell me they are healthy! :(

We have you beat celtus1. Our vet charges $60CAD (~$54USD) for a visit :eek: :( But it's worth it knowing that they are very close-by.

We have a little over $300.00 into Piper's Vet, and we have only had her 3 weeks. I think the Vet is higher than my Doctor. Is pet insurance worth getting?

Four years of college; four years of veterinary medicine; internships if they want to specialize in something; clinic rent/mortgage, good staff, good equipment, continuing education requirements, malpractice insurance, etc.

It ain't cheap.

I love my vet. She could have chosen to be a regular MD or Dentist and earned a helluvalot more than she earns at her little practice now. And she loves my dogs, and my dogs love her right back.

I feel blessed! I took Scout in today because he was shaking his head and scratching his ear...sure enough he has an ear infection. Dr. Woody gave him a Depo medrol shot for inflammation and 7 days antibiotic/steroid drop to put in his ear and office visit. Grand total $68.00. AND his staff is wonderful and accomodating!

I know how you guys feel - it's no different with our doctors.

I work in medicine and understand a little better where all the $$$ go.
and what they pay .....

1) Vet - entitled to a reasonably good salary (of course he is.....)
2) Employees - salaries - insurance - social security - unemployment -
other benefits
3) Rent - (costs an arm and a leg)
4) Equipment (another arm and a leg - a pair of phy. scissors can be $60).
5) X-ray machines - film - upkeep and maintenance. We just paid
6) Lights
7) Electricity
8) Bldg Maintenance and repairs
9) Accountant
10) Malpractice and other insurances
11) Fees, licenses, dues
12) Medical supplies
13) Office supplies - computer system - new software - keeping up to date
14) Continuing education courses - (sometimes have to travel....)

And, I'm sure I have forgotten more expenses than I have written down.

Sometimes when we pay the vet $150 - we have this vision of him putting $150 in his pocket and going home. I just doesn't work this way.

My doctors (cardiologists) have to bring $10 into the office for every dollar they earn for themselves. So - with a $150 office visit - the doctor earns
$15.

In an OB GYN office, a high-quality ultrasound machine costs at least $20,000, but the expense does not end there. The salary for a nurse manager/ultrasound technician runs $20,000 to $60,000 per year, depending on whether the individual is part-time or full-time. Supplies and supporting equipment typically cost $10,000 per year.

Just thought I'd point out why some of our and our pets medical bills are so high.

But - still - it is a bummer that medical bills are so high. My doctors don't like this either.


Carol Jean

I never thought of it that way. Thanks :)

Darn, I think I'm in the wrong profession, $60,000/year??? And since I'm in Canada, that's even more :eek: :D

$10000.00 WHAT!!!!!!! OMG:eek: :2omg: :eyeballpc :shocked7q :2omg:

Yikes, $130 to find out he's healthy, $30 for toenails...it is unbelievable.

I call the vet a the drop of a hat and they've started giving me advice over the phone :rolleyes: I must be being a pest...but, it saves me a little money. (and they see me whenever it's necessary).

Oh yeah, I have Kirby's toenails cut at a boarding facility that's nearby. He's got one of those lovely low maintenance coats and has never needed a professional grooming. I just need new vacuum cleaners every year. :) Anyway, at the boarders, they do it while I stand there and only charge me $3. Ginger get's hers done at the groomers (or I do it, but then they are never short enough) and it costs about $10. I can't see taking her two different places though.