Lumps and bumps...sigh

[Marty]

I took Buffy in today for a dental, and will be taking her home tomorrow after surgery. In checking her over, he found a lump on her upper belly area which he missed last week at her heartworm check, so I mentioned another one on her back. Might as well get everything taken care of at one time!

I just called, and the one on her back was starting to come to a head and about to cause trouble, so that was the right thing to do. But my bill will probably be 3x what I thought it would be...

[k9Karen]

I feel your pain! I took Foxy and Allie in for their dentals a few months ago. Foxy had a gum issue - more $. Allie had a couple of 'lumps and bumps" - one on her side on one one her anus. The one on the side - the one I knew was a lipoma - was excised and surprise, surprise, was a lipoma. The one on her anus - had to send off for pathology (more $ - but needed) - fortunately, not malignant and not a problem (I forget what it was). Allie also needed one ear flushed because we could not get the yeast infection to clear up - more $. They were supposed to remove a large sebaceous cyst at the base of her tail - they didn't (I think they forgot - but got a half-resonable excuse as to why they didn't - at least no more $). Total bill - close to grand - OUCH!

[davet]

When I hear of the fees charged now days I suspect I retired way to early--but wouldn;t change a thing...but these lumps, it is far cheaper to get them removed or treated or drained or what ever when they are first discovered rather than let them grow and invade or metastesize...

[Marty]

I'm sure it is, Davet, but it surely didn't feel that way when I saw the bill today!

Now I have to keep her quiet and in the house until it heals up...oh joy! Even the tech noticed she wanted to run when taken out to do her business. Yes, Bassets do RUN!!!

[davet]

you are a typical dog owner and your vet is a typical vet...Hr advises and you try your best to follow his.her instruction but there is one problem with the entire scenaria and that is"the dog"
"The Dog" did not listen to the instrucftions and even if she did she would not follow them...you do the best you can in spite of what the dog thinks is right.....Re.. the Fees.....I have no idea what is right or what is not right cause when UI graduated I owed no money, tuition etc cause the GI bill paid for 5 years of college and the state of Fla. paid for vet school....I still had to sell sandwithes an milk to frat houses at night and Corinne had to work also...or other stuff to maintian for Corinne and my self...but now days very few vets would come out owing less than 100'000 minimum and then they have to set up a practice after they have learned what it is like while working as a "hey you" for a couple years..I know the fees now are high but vets and clients have to do som comprimising...tain;t easy....sorry for another discertation

[Marty]

LOL, Davet, you are right on the money with Buffy. She looks at me like..."What do you mean I have to go out on a leash to do my business? Mom, you are off your rocker!"

Well, I will try my best for a few days at least. She keeps staring at the closed doggie door, and so do the other two!

Re: fees...I just like to make noise about them at times. They always seem to strike when you are least prepared. I am working on having a reserve fund for the dogs medical care. The bite will hurt, but they are worth it!

[k9Karen]

When I looked at the itemized bill, nothing was unreasonably priced. In fact, if I had needed the same care, the price probably would have been 10 times higher. The biggest beef I had though was that the vet charged me an office visit for a re-check on Foxy's gums and for Allie's suture removal. He was afraid Foxy had a gum hyperplasia and spent all of 30 seconds checking her to make sure she didn't. I took her in at the same time I took in Allie for the suture removal - I'm sorry, but that visit should have been no-charge for both and included in the surgical fee.

[davet]

I agree wirth K9...I guess cause I was the cheepie on the block..Inever charged to take stitches out-heck I put them in I should take them out....I did one time charge and office call to remove stitches that anothe vet put in and did I get a lectures...the client even wrote a nasty letter to the other vet for referring to me...we both aggreed that the owner was somewhat of a kook...Corinne and I have good medical plans where we are charged 5 bucks a visit...course I don;t know what we have to pay a month but that little thrill of paying only five makes me a moment of happiness...I really don;t know what are fair prices,,,I know my office visit was 15 bucks...sometime if I can find one of my charge slip with fees on it I will publish it...might be surprising to me also.l

[Marty]

I've never been charged for suture removal, so we shall see this time. But then again, a fecal was always part of a general office visit, and the last couple times, he has charged $27. The times, they are a changing!

Davet, re human visits...I have never appreciated insurance as much as I did this year.... I honestly don't know what I would have done if I had to pay for 2 weeks of intensive care for DH...the thought is just incomprehensible.

[k9Karen]

I had never been charged for suture removal either - it was a bit of a shock. I've never been charged (or had my insurance billed) for suture removal, and I'm pretty sure it's included in the surgical fee still. But then again, I guess I should have expected it - they just built a gorgeous new building for their practice.