Audry is at the emergency hospital as we speak--UPDATE 7:28 pm

[MissMillie]

Last edited Sat Nov 26, 2022, 08:29 PM - Edit history (1)

Undergoing her "emergency spay." She will probably need to be there all weeked, according to the vet.

They took a "deposit" of $3200 (!!!!!) and told us it could be more but shouldn't be more than $4500. I have no idea how we'll make that up and still keep the house warm this winter. Had to be done. Our "lil Sweet" (that's often what we call her) didn't ask for this. We want her safely back home and on the mend.

Update: Doctor called about an hour ago. Audry is out of surgery and doing well. She's on antibiotics and pain meds. Unless something changes, they expect to let us take her home tomorrow.

[tblue37]

1. Set up a GoFundMe and link it here.

[SheltieLover]

2. Absolutely!

Healing vibes on the way to her & you.

[MissMillie]

3. I have done that here before, and have been blessed by DU's generosity

on more than on occasion.

I sure don't want you all to think I'm taking advantage of you.

[tblue37]

4. We feel deeply about pets around here!

[irisblue]

9. You are not taking advantage.

[onecaliberal]

7. 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[Polly Hennessey]

18. Yes. I'll gladly help

So many times I have had humongous vet bills. Your baby is lucky to have you.

[tblue37]

5. Do you have a picture of her for us?

[MissMillie]

10. The only one I could find

[Ligyron]

6. Good gawd, that's a lot of money for that procedure!

Emergency or otherwise.

Why so much?

[MissMillie]

11. I thought so too... especially since we already had a diagnosis from the local vet

I wonder if this figure includes tests that have already been done.

There did seem to be some issue about whether or not the emergency hospital received the medical recards (including x-rays) that were done JUST YESTERDAY.

[bamagal62]

12. The emergency vets charge outrageous

amounts because they know they can. It's criminal.

[Tree-Hugger]

15. No. They are not criminal

Attitudes like this are why there is currently a mental health crisis in veterinary medicine. Do you have knowledge of the cost of schooling, supplies, and overhead in a veterinary clinic? I do. These are people doing a silly surgery in the back room of a nightclub with fisher price surgical instruments. The typical "markup" in a veterinary hospital is criminal.....criminally low. Because people won't pay it. So, support staff remain underpaid. Veterinarians are doctors. Vet techs, mostly credentials and licensed, are like nurses (and so much more). A pet undergoing an emergency spay is having major abdominal surgery. They are hooked up to the same monitors used in human hospitals. They are under the same anesthesia agents you'd find in human hospitals. The medicine is the same. The IV fluids are the same. The laboratory procedures and radiography are the same. And it's all it one hell of a fraction of the price as human medicine. Where in human medicine are we having an ovariohysterectomy for $3200 without insurance? If this is an emergency spay then there is a complicating factor at play and, yes, that will raise pricee because the amount of time/medicine/anesthesia/lab work/etc is increasee.

I understand how daunting it is. I currently can't afford my kids' Christmas or my own emergency dental care let alone some of the extra vet care my two cats need. I understand why it is distressing. No one wants thousands of dollars of bills. But to say that veterinarians are criminal for doing their job is just not right. If you were to break down the supplies in this surgery side by side with that of what a human hospital would charge it would be infuriating (because the human markup is extreme).

I'm not pulling this out of my butt, either. I have decades of experience in veterinary medicine, especially emergency medicine, and have a lotnof experience with inventory and pricing. We're not in this to fleece people or take advantage of people. And before we get anecdotal - I know there are shitty vets out there. We all have experience with them. Like many industries they are the exception to the norm.

[bamagal62]

17. Sorry. I stand corrected.

[niyad]

21. Thank you for this important reminder.

[Tree-Hugger]

14. Depends

If it's a pyometra (infected uterus) it can be very expensive because the surgery is more invasive and the risk of complications is greater. Once you have additional factors, whether the dog is in heat, pregnant, there is cancer, or there is a pyometra then prices increase. Remember these are doctors. They have a team of trained staff (not allowed to call vet techs nurses, but they are that and beyond). They are using human grade anesthesia, medications, and lab procedures at a very tiny fraction of the cost as you'd find in a human hospital.

[Polly Hennessey]

19. Unfortunately, emergency or specialized

Vet hospitals are more expensive.

[CrispyQ]

8. That seems like an insane amount for a spay procedure, even under urgent circumstances!

[Trueblue1968]

13. i would donate

[Tree-Hugger]

16. I hope all is well

Don't feel bad if you need a GoFundMe. There are people who are willing to help.

I hope she is safely back home with you soon.

[niyad]

20. Sending vibes for a speedy and complete recovery. Your DU family is here

for you and your precious furgirl.