Guess the vet bill

[PaulaO]

Two Saturdays ago Ariel had a swollen eye. The vet came out (after hours, emergency visit charges). He did an eye exam, found no injuries, did an IV shot of applied ointment, gave me the rest of the bottle of Banamine and the eye ointment. And 5 syringes and needles.

What was the total charge?????????

[khall]

I don't know but I would take it compared to my last one! Aaack it was a don't tell hubby one.

[PaulaO]

Do tell us what happened. Sharing the pain lessens it....

[silk]

Given your description, I'd suspect something ridiculously high.

My last vet bill was a surprisingly low amount, as they only charged for a "short" consult and didn't charge for the diagnostic ultrasound. To be fair, it confirmed no further treatment options and their subsequent visit was the final one (haven't got that bill yet).

[Rockabilly]

Given your description, I'd suspect something ridiculously high.

My last vet bill was a surprisingly low amount, as they only charged for a "short" consult and didn't charge for the diagnostic ultrasound. To be fair, it confirmed no further treatment options and their subsequent visit was the final one (haven't got that bill yet).

Does this mean what I think it means?

[zevida]

$475

Emergency visit $200
Farm call $75
Exam $50
IV shot $50
Medication $75
Supplies $25

[Josette]

Back in April during the major Covid-19 lock down in NJ - our older little dog coughed up blood. We had no clue why and rushed him to our local vet hospital. We were not allowed in the building and had to call from the parking lot for a vet tech to bring him inside. After much stress waiting outside we spoke to the vet via phone to do labs and scans on him - charge it to our credit card. Thankfully our buddy got the all clear and went home with us. The bill came to around $850 and we have no regrets knowing we acted immediately to get him checked out.

In July, my pony had a colic episode maybe due to heat stress with the change in weather. My wonderful vet provided me with her personal cell phone to call whenever I need her - it avoids going through the office service. The bill came to $450 to include emergency farm call, medications and labs. Again, I gladly hand over my credit card and pay for the peace of mind knowing that I am providing the best care I can for the animals I love.

Veterinarians are medical professionals just like human physicians and for them to provide the best available diagnosis and treatments - it is expensive. They have supplies/medications to purchase, vehicles to upkeep to travel in their practice, office space and staff to pay, insurance costs and probably a ton of other expenses that I can't even guess at. I gladly thank my vet(s) every time they care for my animals - the bill is the price I pay for being a responsible owner.

[Tarlo Farm]

I think you got punked for the combined Emergency Visit AND farm call. I get one or the other, but not both.

[tlkidding]

I get a farm call and emergency fee. They'll split the farm call if there's multiple customers at the facility, but in an emergency, it's probably always going to be the full amount. The emergency call is always the full amount for an after hours/weekend visit.

I will guess $330 for the appointment.

[Flight]

I'd guess around the $300 mark too

[Canyon]

Paula, whatever the bill was, just keep telling yourself that eyesight is priceless

[khall]

PaulaO I have 4 horses, normally they don't all need something at the same time. This time they did and I wanted to use my extra special vet who is not local so paid for trip fee $250 (which was better than earlier ones at $400) then scope, throat spray, allergy meds for my older mare apoquel at $500 a bottle and her blood test to make sure her prascend dose did not need adjusting (it did not) radiographs on both hocks of Joplin and US on one, lameness eval on Gaila and injections and legend and adequan prescribed. Let's just say it was more than our mortgage payment which is $2300. OUCH

[heddylamar]

In a normal year, my three (now two) mares average around $2k in vet bills. This year? They surpassed that by May And they still have a planned annual fall vet visit ...

[texsuze]

Trying to remember what my barn call, emergency call, IV pain meds, nasogastric oiling, syringe full of a controlled substance (don't tell), and an extra bottle of Banamine (to keep) cost back at the end of June when my oldster colicked....

My guess for Ms. A's bill: $385

[texsuze]

And I think we should have an end of the year DDBB "Money Pit" award (or some such catchy name) for the highest cumulative total amount paid for 2020 for veterinary services on a single equine! We'll have to make currency conversions for DDBBers around the world. Dig out those invoices and credit card summaries and start keeping your tallies!

[silk]

Given your description, I'd suspect something ridiculously high.

My last vet bill was a surprisingly low amount, as they only charged for a "short" consult and didn't charge for the diagnostic ultrasound. To be fair, it confirmed no further treatment options and their subsequent visit was the final one (haven't got that bill yet).

Does this mean what I think it means?

Sadly, Rockabilly, it does. I had to say goodbye a month ago today. It still hurts. If you check one of my recent posts on FB you can share our last ride, bridleless. We rode right up until the end. She didn't even get any grey hairs... I would have put money on another decade.

[Josette]

Silk - I'm so sorry for your loss.

[PaulaO]

$328.25. I like the $.25. That’s from the syringe charge $3.25. The urgent care fee was $70 and the after hours fee was $105. Not sure what differentiates them but I’m not going to argue.

[Ryeissa]

its worth it. Eye stuff is scary and I never take chances. It get go bad really quicky. glad its all ok

[PaulaO]

Not complaining about the bill. Just thought we needed a new game!

[StraightForward]

$328 was honestly the exact number I had in my head. Guess I've had a little too much experience with vet bills the past few years.

[Benatus]

Not bad. Mine charged me $125 to give a shot. I talked him down bc he charged me for an”exam” which was little more than a glance and a weight tape.

Sigh.

[silk]

Vets charge consult fees to put horses down ($105, plus travel, plus drugs). Who knew - not I.

I queried it as I wasn't sure it was correct. When the office manager rang back to tell me it was, she was quite indignant about the charge, as the normal charge is higher again ($150!) and the vet did me a favour only charging me the consult fee. I had to say... I have never had a horse put down before, I did not know that, I was just checking it was correct. She stopped being indignant and I quickly ended the call... where's the broken heart emoji :'(

[PaulaO]

{{{silk}}}

[Flight]

Oh so sorry silk

[Chancellor]

So sorry Silk.

And PaulaO, Like the other poster said....eyesight is precious!

[silk]

Ok here's a good one. I missed the mark with my guess so wondering if anyone else has a better idea...

Pony had an altercation with a gate gudgeon early Monday morning (a week ago now), and the pony lost. Similar to DJD's recent one. Shoulder ripped open. Vet called and was there for ?1.5 hours I think (no one was watching the clock) to stitch everything up. Various painkillers, sedatives, antibiotics and a tetanus booster were given. Wound, other than being stitched and stapled (79 in total, plus two drains), was not dressed or bandaged.

Owner chose to take pony (on day 9 of pony ownership, typical huh) to the clinic for the first 5 days of care (antibiotics, wound cleaning, etc) BUT due to month end, the bill is ONLY for Monday's visit in the paddock.

Virtual choccy fish for the closest guess (can't afford a real one, LOL)

[StraightForward]

$742.

[Flight]

I'd say around the $750 as well.

[PaulaO]

$550

[silk]

Any further guesses?

FWIW, I said 250-350.

[demi]

Ok, I’m guessing $900 for the virtual choccy fish

[silk]

Demi has it with her late run.... $853! interesting that this is similar on different sides of the globe.

Ouch! (pony doing well, although was playing with one of the drains overnight and ripped the skin further... The vet was scheduled to remove stitches today anyway so has instead trimmed the skin flap completely off. There was a good layer of granulation tissue underneath and pony is sporting an anti rub vest to keep the wound covered)

[Moutaineer]

Ugh.

I just got my bill for xray guided hock injections (4 total injections,) for one horse, lameness exam with 2 x-rays and meds for the other.. try that one.

Still, I can't even begin to imagine what the human alternative would be in this country.

[silk]

Well well well... Amber must like being fussed over. I missed yesterday's "fun", but it involved cleaning and debriding the wound then stitching on a piece of placenta to act as an interim skin. There is a piece of gamgee stitched to her shoulder over the open wound, which needs to be wet 3x a day to stop it drying out. Review/reassess progress in 6 days.

Commonly, pig skin is used for procedures like this. After use of placenta tissue previously, these vets decided to harvest it, cut it into pieces and freeze it themselves. It is somewhat experimental to be used in a field setting like this.

[zevida]

I was going to guess $950 - $750 for the visit to clean and stitch and then $200 per night to stay at the clinic but this bill just has one night. I wasn’t off by much it seems!

[AmityBee]

Anyone care for a guess at vet bills around the globe? I've got a nice stack of bills here for something similar to Mountaineers (which I would put at a total of around $600-$650 ($400-$450 for the first and around $200 for the second)).

I have 3 visits (well, four including the blood draw):
-lameness exam plus 4 x-rays,
-Hock inections (steroids) both legs,
-IRAP blood draw and preparation of the plasma and IRAP injections (again both legs).

You can add another two visits for IRAP injections, one was two days ago, one in two weeks. *sigh*

[demi]

Where’s my virtual choccy fish!!!!

[StraightForward]

Still, I can't even begin to imagine what the human alternative would be in this country.

Right? When my dog landed in the hospital this spring, he was there for I think 3 nights, had blood panels, x-rays and ultrasounds of his gut, treatments in the hospital to move the blockage, and then a few meds sent home, and it was I think $1250. For a human, I'm guessing you add two zeros?

For yours, and knowing you're in an expensive area, I'm going to say $1100.

[zevida]

My turn! Took my cat to the emergency vet today due to wobbly hind end. He is 18. They gave me an estimate for:

Emergency fee just to show up
Exam fee
Xrays of everything
Geriatric bloodwork in house
Urinalysis to lab
Thyroid check to lab
Fluids
Meds
Placeholder for some take home meds

I’m in the SF Bay area

[khall]

Zevida I would guess around $800. Emergency vet anything is not cheap.

I have a new one along with a psa. Joplin has a sarcoid removed last week and it’s being sent off to make a vaccine which will protect her from having issues with sarcoid again. Same technology is according to my vet able to be used for melanomas.

[zevida]

Zevida I would guess around $800. Emergency vet anything is not cheap.

I wish!

The estimate was $1500. The actual ended up about $1250. Probably would have been $800 at my regular vet.

[Moutaineer]

Amitybee for the win... $660 total. $80 for Walker (my vet is rather fond of the old fart and probably "forgot" the x-rays.) The rest for Laddiie. Apparently Hyvisc has gone up in price rather dramatically recently.

My vet is really very reasonable as well as being rather cute and very good.

Zevida, im always amazed by how reasonable my large animal vs small vet bills are. (And I'm not complaining about either.)

[AmityBee]

Amitybee for the win... $660 total. $80 for Walker (my vet is rather fond of the old fart and probably "forgot" the x-rays.) The rest for Laddiie. Apparently Hyvisc has gone up in price rather dramatically recently.

My vet is really very reasonable as well as being rather cute and very good.

Zevida, im always amazed by how reasonable my large animal vs small vet bills are. (And I'm not complaining about either.)

Feels a bit bit like cheating on my part, since I did get them wrong individually (Btw. lamness exam plus 4 x-rays (both hocks, two angles) is about $250 where I am).

As for small animal vets, I just had to have a guinea pig spayed because of a very large ovarian cyst and was surprised how incredible cheap that was!!! (Vet specializes in GPs.) About $150 Plus another $100 because the stupid thing decided to gnaw on the stiches and I had to go back for a couple of antibiotic shots and some ulcer meds since she got those from the pain meds.

[silk]

I'm highly amused that we are all amused by this game, unfortunate as it is!

I'm also feeling blessed that we can all laugh about the hard aspects of animal ownership.

[AmityBee]

I'm also feeling blessed that we can all laugh about the hard aspects of animal ownership.

Honestly, what else can you do?