Vet cost are ridiculous!!!

[Jodi Edsall]

Murphy, my 1 1/2 year old goldendoodle, has had an ear infection since the summer. This is the third trip to the vet, and it has cost me hundreds of dollars and the poor thing still has the ear infection. The vet said it is probably allergies and continue with flushing the ears out daily to get all the debri out. I am suppose to go back in two weeks for a check up, and of course that will be another vet bill. I wouldn't mind paying all these bills if Murphy was getting better. Sorry, about complaining but I needed to vent.....

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Hi Jodi,
I have just had the same problem with Hannah, for the last week it's been H..l with this ear infection. She has been so sick, not eating, not playing, just totally miserable. I got her into the Vet and she is on Pharmaseb Ear Flush once a day for 14 days....Gentocin Otic Solution ...4 drops once a day after flushing her ear out....and Cephalexin 500mg...1 capsule twice a day. Hannah's infection is not a Yeast infection or I could have used the Myconsol. If Murphy is not on this, you may want to see if your Vet can prescribe it, or call me and will give you my Vets name and number. Hope Murphy is feeling better soon....Denise HannahNHoney

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

I totally understand. Timbow had some muscle damage when he was 6 months old from playing too hard with another dog. After all 5 xrays and antibiotics our bill was around $600. Plus we had to go back a few times after for check ups. I am so thankful that they are able to help, but it is super expensive. We are now getting pet insurance.

[shelly]

Here Here! We learned our lesson - the hard way... never thought that the cost of insurance in the long run would be worth it... Hmmm TWO hospital stays, within the last 8 months, both of which were $1,000 - $1,300 each! Well we did the math and left the emergency vet with brochures - again. But this time we will look at it more seriously

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Our Murphy has had chronic ear infections since he was about 4 months old. (10.5 months now)
I have probably spent as much on vet bills for his ears as I had to purchase him in the first place. Would've rather have bought another doodle!!!!
He had been swimming all summer, but hasn;t since Sept and the infection hasn't cleared up. I have more flushes and meds than the local pharmacy.
Pet insurance wouldn't help now as it's pre-existing, I was told. I just spent $450 last week and he still needs gentocin solution, He is on amoxicillin, 2 x a day for 4 weeks already, but there was so much swelling in one ear the vet couldn't verify that the ear drum was intact which is absolutely necessary before prescribing the gentocin. So back we go on fri. after a week of steriod drops every day for one week.

So in short...I feel your pain!!!! And you are not alone. But I can't complain, I knew there were expenses with any dog.

[Jodi Edsall]

I asked vet about pet insurance and he said that because Murphy's ear infections would not be covered because it is pre-existing. I read an article about pet insurance and it said that you shouldn't get insurance till the dog is 7 years old.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Ears!! My last dog had allergies, too. There are steps to be taken if the vet feels it is allergies. I feel like you need to pin him or her down a little bit. Either get a referral to allergist or get another vet's opinion if the vet doesn't have further suggestions gor you.

[Karen & Lucy]

I personally think everyone should get pet ins. from the get go when you get a puppy or new dog. You are right, the ins. does not cover pre-existing conditions. I pay $16/mon. for Lucy and I feel it is well worth it. Thank God I have not had to use it and never want to, but it gives me peace of mind. After all they are dogs and curious at that. Any freak accident can happen at any time. I went through the ear infection too, but Lucy's cleared up rather quickly with just home remedies. I bought Peace & Kindness spray from Chris Christensen. It is used for multiple conditions including ear infections. Anytime I see her scratching her ears or shaking I start spraying it in her ears and they clear right up. It says it is a natural alternative to anitbiotics and steroids. Try it and see if it works. It did for Lucy. Good Luck

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

If my Murphy hadn't cultured for Pseudomonas and enterococcus then I would try a more natural OTC approach as well, We had cleared up yeast infections quite well with the alcohol and vinager mixture, but the bacteria he has been cooking in his ears will not repsond to such simple home remedies. But the good news is he doesn't have yeast.
Murphy would rub his wet ears in the sand after getting out of the ocean which just packed in the sand and debris it contained, into his wet ears, making a perfect medium for bacteria to grow. The shore line has a lot of decaying things along it and I'm sure that's where this all started. He otherwise only swam in our pool and I knew that was safe. Once this clears up for a few months I will get pet insurance if ears will be covered should this reoccur. I will have to look into it then. I just feel so bad for him., He probably thinks ear problems are normal as he's had them most of his life. Poor baby. I'm not feeling like it's allergies. There are no other symptoms, and his diet is very clean and homecooked with a little Origen during the week. I'm just ready to have him healthy and be able to enjoy life without having to shake his ears all the time, or back away from me when he see me get out the cotton balls and q-tips.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I could make most of you feel better about your vet bills by itemizing mine; let's just say that Jackdoodle's vet bills ran about $3800 last year; they may be a little better this year, since we've only had one major emergency level crisis, he's made it through the whole year without any major drugs, and of course we didn't have to do any more testing. But I just picked up a new vial of antigens today at $170, and we had minor surgery for a growth, so we'll see what it adds up to at the end of the year.
Before I knew about his allergies, I looked into insurance, mainly because I was worried (rightly) about his genetics; but the kind that was available 4 years ago didn't cover any genetic issues, so it wouldn't have been all that much good. Although between the surgery and the $650 worth of paw pad injuries... :-(

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

bless your heart Karen. Does that even include the amount you spend at his specialist? One things for sure though..these doodles are worth every penny. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes; and the annual check-up, which runs about $200 because we titer instead of automatically giving vaccines.
Jackdoodle is definitely worth every penny...and then some. :-D

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

In reading all of these posts I was just a little surprised about one thing...and that's obviously not the cost of vet visits. I'm just curious about having to pay for each follow-up visit related to the same issue. Our vet does not charge us for the follow up visit itself, just any additional meds that may be needed. Is our vet unusual in this regard?