Vet treatment estimate
Discussion
Hi all, I'm not mean and if our dog needs anything he'll get it but this seems expensive to me.
Our dog (2.5 yr 15kg terrier cross) since a puppy he often lifts his left rear leg when trotting, fine at full pelt and okay when walking or pulling hard on the lead.
He never seems to be in any pain, you can manipulate the joint without fuss and it's never stopped him from running, playing or being generally exuberant. The main suspect is a luxating patella or maybe a hip problem, Vet said he felt a "thickening of the knee"
He also has some plaque which we know needs doing, so the sensible thing would be carry out xrays and a full examination whilst under GA. This took my breath away.
Dental therapy 45 mins inc GA £194
Radiographic interp+ 1 view £103
Radiography addiional view £88
Additional 15min Anaesthesia £62
Total £447
I'm not the type to shop around for this type of thing but does this seem expensive or about right?
Our dog (2.5 yr 15kg terrier cross) since a puppy he often lifts his left rear leg when trotting, fine at full pelt and okay when walking or pulling hard on the lead.
He never seems to be in any pain, you can manipulate the joint without fuss and it's never stopped him from running, playing or being generally exuberant. The main suspect is a luxating patella or maybe a hip problem, Vet said he felt a "thickening of the knee"
He also has some plaque which we know needs doing, so the sensible thing would be carry out xrays and a full examination whilst under GA. This took my breath away.
Dental therapy 45 mins inc GA £194
Radiographic interp+ 1 view £103
Radiography addiional view £88
Additional 15min Anaesthesia £62
Total £447
I'm not the type to shop around for this type of thing but does this seem expensive or about right?
Edited by PositronicRay on Friday 1st May 15:03
Thevet said:
PositronicRay said:
Hi all, I'm not mean and if our dog needs anything he'll get it but this seems expensive to me.
Our dog (2.5 yr 15kg terrier cross) since a puppy he often lifts his left rear leg when trotting, fine at full pelt and okay when walking or pulling hard on the lead.
He never seems to be in any pain, you can manipulate the joint without fuss and it's never stopped him from running, playing or being generally exuberant. The main suspect is a luxating patella or maybe a hip problem, Vet said he felt a "thickening of the knee"
He also has some plaque which we know needs doing, so the sensible thing would be carry out xrays and a full examination whilst under GA. This took my breath away.
Dental therapy 45 mins inc GA £194
Radiographic interp+ 1 view £103
Radiography addiional view £88
Additional 15min Anaesthesia £62
Total £447
I'm not the type to shop around for this type of thing but does this seem expensive or about right?
Dental fee is probably ok but 45 mins suggests either teeth awful or vet too slow!Our dog (2.5 yr 15kg terrier cross) since a puppy he often lifts his left rear leg when trotting, fine at full pelt and okay when walking or pulling hard on the lead.
He never seems to be in any pain, you can manipulate the joint without fuss and it's never stopped him from running, playing or being generally exuberant. The main suspect is a luxating patella or maybe a hip problem, Vet said he felt a "thickening of the knee"
He also has some plaque which we know needs doing, so the sensible thing would be carry out xrays and a full examination whilst under GA. This took my breath away.
Dental therapy 45 mins inc GA £194
Radiographic interp+ 1 view £103
Radiography addiional view £88
Additional 15min Anaesthesia £62
Total £447
I'm not the type to shop around for this type of thing but does this seem expensive or about right?
Edited by PositronicRay on Friday 1st May 15:03
Xray fee is high, we spent £40k on a new digital xray machine 5 years ago and it has to be paid for but not to the extent that people can't afford xrays. £88 for a second plate is rubbish.
Additional 15 mins is fine but the hourly rate is too high.
I have this sort of argument all the time with my small animal department, they estimate high so that clients don't turn round and say "you said it would only be £x and now you saying it is £x plus y"
So, I would say it's a bit expensive but worth querying with the practice manager, as it could be just a worst case scenario.
CaptainMorgan said:
Urgh, Luxating Patella, Vinnie my boy has had 3 of these ops. The vet diagnosed it in a matter of seconds feeling his knee, he did say he does a lot of them but being a common issue most vets should be able to diagnose it without the need for xrays etc I'd have thought?
3 opps? How come? As a matter of interest how much were the opps? My Vet was estimating £1100+Edited by PositronicRay on Friday 1st May 22:40
bexVN said:
A lot of luxating patellas don't need surgery. If surgery is to be considered xrays should be done just to ensure no other issues aswell.
This was my thought. The Vet says "lifting his leg is his way of telling us he's in pain"
But, no sign of pain to me. Running, playing, rough and tumble, manipulation, always keen, never squeals or winces. But if a twig gets caught in his fur he'll go mental till it's off though.
bexVN said:
Sorry I don't completely buy that, it may feel odd hence the hopping but they rarely exhibit pain as such unless chronic changes etc. If limping after back in place then that's different.(or if yelping when happens, or if more than just luxating patellas) vets can sometimes pop the patella out and back in and the dogs barely react.
If we did surgery on all hopping dogs (I mean those with luxating patellas so most yorker and jrt's!) it'd be an op a day!
Thanks Bex, I've lost confidence with this VS. We've had another one recommended so we'll get another opinion. If we did surgery on all hopping dogs (I mean those with luxating patellas so most yorker and jrt's!) it'd be an op a day!
Edited by bexVN on Saturday 2nd May 10:16
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