Of course, I am wondering this after spending a whopping $976.30 at the vet when I found Baby sleeping in her own feces, lethargic and just generally looking (and smelling!!) miserable. Here are how the costs broke down:
JANUARY 28TH
- Initial consultation: $51.00 - 1/2 day hospitalization: $27.30
(They did not have enough staff on hand to run the tests while I was there, so I had to pay to have them "hospitalize" her - i.e. stick her in a cage - until they take some blood)
- X-rays (top and side views): $89.00
- Blood tests, general: $104.00
- Duplocilline injection: $19.22
- Rectal swab: $37.50
- Fecal analysis: $26.00
- Lab analysis of cultures: $80.60
(Yes, you read this correctly, I have to pay for the vet do to the fecal analysis and then pay AGAIN for them to send it out to the lab for a second opinion)
- Fluroscene test: $15.00
(This is actually something I asked for, because the 3rd membrane in her eyes looked wonky and based on all her vision problems I wanted to catch any issues early - sure enough, she has ulcers again!)
- Taxes: $57.89
(They did not have enough staff on hand to run the tests while I was there, so I had to pay to have them "hospitalize" her - i.e. stick her in a cage - until they take some blood)
- X-rays (top and side views): $89.00
- Blood tests, general: $104.00
- Duplocilline injection: $19.22
- Rectal swab: $37.50
- Fecal analysis: $26.00
- Lab analysis of cultures: $80.60
(Yes, you read this correctly, I have to pay for the vet do to the fecal analysis and then pay AGAIN for them to send it out to the lab for a second opinion)
- Fluroscene test: $15.00
(This is actually something I asked for, because the 3rd membrane in her eyes looked wonky and based on all her vision problems I wanted to catch any issues early - sure enough, she has ulcers again!)
- Taxes: $57.89
SUB-TOTAL $507.51
JANUARY 29TH
- Intraveinous fluids: $93.50 - Intraveinous fluids, maintenance: $37.00
(Because this is not covered in the above cost!?!?)
- FIV/FLV test: $75.22
(Every time I go to the vet, they always insist I have this test done, but since I screen all my cats before bringing them in the house, there is like a 0.0000001% chance they could possibly have lukemia or aids, but they always sucker me into doing the test, and as usual it came out negative!)
- Administration of oral medication: $7.50
(This is apparently the fee for the 5 seconds it takes to make a cat swallow a pill... which works out to $90/minute or $5,400/hr.!!!)
- Ampicilline 500mg injection: $15.04
- 1 can of food: $1.72
- 1 day hospitalization: $47.25
(There are some motels around here that are cheaper!!)
- Administration of oral medication: $7.50
(Blows me away that I have to pay $7.50 every time they shove a pill down her throat!!)
- Taxes: $45.84
(Because this is not covered in the above cost!?!?)
- FIV/FLV test: $75.22
(Every time I go to the vet, they always insist I have this test done, but since I screen all my cats before bringing them in the house, there is like a 0.0000001% chance they could possibly have lukemia or aids, but they always sucker me into doing the test, and as usual it came out negative!)
- Administration of oral medication: $7.50
(This is apparently the fee for the 5 seconds it takes to make a cat swallow a pill... which works out to $90/minute or $5,400/hr.!!!)
- Ampicilline 500mg injection: $15.04
- 1 can of food: $1.72
- 1 day hospitalization: $47.25
(There are some motels around here that are cheaper!!)
- Administration of oral medication: $7.50
(Blows me away that I have to pay $7.50 every time they shove a pill down her throat!!)
- Taxes: $45.84
SUB-TOTAL $330.57
JANUARY 30TH
- New "special" food (2.72 kg): $28.28 (This is $10.39/kg, which is cheaper than fresh salmon)
- Safe-guard (Antibiotic): $12.23
- Cypro-heptadine (appetite stimulant): $14.95
- Florentero (Activia for cats): $22.00
- Gancyclovir (eye drops): $45.00
(The drops are not even in stock, but I have to pay for them before they will place the order, like I am some kind of deadbeat!)
- Taxes: $15.77
- Cypro-heptadine (appetite stimulant): $14.95
- Florentero (Activia for cats): $22.00
- Gancyclovir (eye drops): $45.00
(The drops are not even in stock, but I have to pay for them before they will place the order, like I am some kind of deadbeat!)
- Taxes: $15.77
SUB-TOTAL $138.23
This is Baby at the vet. She is clearly not pleased about her circumstances - but at least SHE didn't have to pay the bill!! A friend suggested that I am the "America's Most Wanted" of the veterinary world: They all have photos of me in their offices and when I walk through the door, they suggest every test under the sun, because they know I will do whatever I can to help animals in need. Sometimes I wonder if they ARE just taking advantage of me, or if all this "medicine" is really necessary... Next time I may just crush up an Imodium and put it in the food.
On a side note, would you believe that on the Imodium website, they actually have a Bathroom Finder? Like someone who has it so bad is going to log onto the Imodium site to find the nearest bathroom as opposed to... I dunno... OPENING THEIR EYES??? Only in America!!
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