Pet owners pay big bucks for vet bills

[oneh2obabe]

Theresa Boyle
Health Reporter

Golden Doodle Finnigan has a 20-centimetre scar to show for his recent stay at the vet. His owner has a $4,500 bill and a sacrificed Florida vacation.

Big vet bills are not unusual as a list of the 10 most common, costly procedures, recently released by North America’s largest pet insurers, shows.

Finnigan’s emergency was the result of having a foreign object stuck in his intestines which, unfortunately for owner Liam Robertson, is the fifth most costly procedure.

But lucky for Finnigan, the bill came in at under $5,000 — Robertson’s cut-off point.

“We had a discussion about determining a cut-off point. Is it $10,000, is it $20,000? My threshold was $5,000. I’m sorry, any more than that, then he can be replaced,” Robertson jokes.

All kidding aside, pet owners are confronted with unbearable decisions when faced with circumstances like this and insurers obviously have a stake in making sure people know it.

“People are surprised (at the cost), especially if they have been to a vet in awhile,” acknowledges Curtis Steinhoff, spokesperson for the U.S.-based Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.

“Most things you can do for humans you can do for pets, too. That increase in sophistication comes with an increase in cost.”

Indeed, pets today are getting organ transplants and undergoing open-heart surgery. They see specialists like oncologists, neurologists and cardiologists.

While insurers quote an average price of $1,896 for removing a foreign object, Finnigan’s total bill was higher because the surgery was done after-hours, on a Sunday, by a specialist surgeon at an emergency veterinary hospital rather than at his usual vet’s office. As well, the final bill included multiple trips to the vet, medication, x-rays and other tests. Costs can also vary depending on how complicated the surgery is.

Weeks later, 3-year-old Finnigan is on the mend. His intestinal blockage had been caused by part of a rubber ball he had ingested.

Robertson grew up on farms where animals came and went and there was less attachment. His family went through about a dozen farm dogs, a couple of which were run over by cars.

An urban family pet is a different matter, says the Riverdale resident, though he admits it was his wife and two children who were more prepared to pay big bucks to fix Finnigan.

“I was looking at Finnigan and rubbing his head and said, ‘You know, if you were back on the farm, sorry, it would be curtains for you,’ ” he quips.

“My wife said he’s part of the family. He’s so young and healthy and he really is a good dog,” he adds.

But it meant a planned trip to Florida this fall is now off the table.

The Robertsons paid their vet bill out of pocket, as do most North Americans. According to VPI and its Canadian affiliate, Petsecure, only 2 per cent of pet owners carry insurance.

Whether pet insurance is worth it is a topic of hot debate. Consumer Reports describes it as a crapshoot. It’s not worth it for a generally healthy animal, the online version of the magazine stated last year. If you’re unlucky enough to have a pet with a costly chronic condition or a young animal in need of major care, insurance could work in your favour. But then, that’s only if your pet develops a condition while covered, as insurers typically exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage.

While the list of the 10 most common, costly procedures is an eye-opener, Lynn Webster, chief veterinary officer at Petsecure, says pet owners can pay higher bills for chronic conditions, like diabetes or cancer.

Toronto resident Meghan Case knows this all too well. She and her partner Michael forked out $13,000 on their dog Ryder, a Rhodesian Ridgeback late last year. His owners thought he had a piece of a rawhide treat stuck in his nose. Turned out he had an aggressive nasal tumour and in less than two months Ryder was dead.

The vet bill included multiple biopsies, surgery, medication and euthanization. Michael had to sell his motorcycle to pay it. But he and Meghan have no regrets.

“It was worth every penny to find out what it was and to try to keep him alive. He was our boy,” she says. “We would have spent even more if it meant he’d still be here.” she says.

Top 10 most common, costly vet procedures

1. Intervertebral Disc Disease: $3,163
2. Stomach Torsion/Bloat: $2,418
3. Ruptured Bile Duct: $2,164
4. Laryngeal Paralysis: $1,968
5. Intestinal — Foreign Object: $1,896
6. Tumour of the Throat: $1,616
7. Broken Leg (Plate): $1,529
8. Torn Knee Ligament/Cartilage: $1,521
9. Stomach — Foreign Object: $1,448
10. Ear Canal Surgery — Ablation: $1,238

Source: Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. Dollars converted from U.S. to Canadian. Prices quoted are average.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/102 ... bills?bn=1

[Triple 6]

I wish the torn knee was the price shown on your post!

[oneh2obabe]

Trip, I think that's an industry average based on the basic for each type of operation. When I had to have blood work, x-rays, ultrasound, etc. for my pooch in another province it was close to $1,800.00.

[Triple 6]

Trip, I think that's an industry average based on the basic for each type of operation. When I had to have blood work, x-rays, ultrasound, etc. for my pooch in another province it was close to $1,800.00.

Try 2300 per knee for Piper.... Worth every penny!

[ILBT uh-huh]

If, and I say "if" we can afford it, then it is a small price to pay for something that contributes so much to our emotional well-being. Much cheaper than a psychologists' couch. And, pets are open 24 hrs. a day, no waiting, and no forms to fill out. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

[oneh2obabe]

Trip, I think that's an industry average based on the basic for each type of operation. When I had to have blood work, x-rays, ultrasound, etc. for my pooch in another province it was close to $1,800.00.

Try 2300 per knee for Piper.... Worth every penny!

That they are. The $1,800 covered the 1st round of tests ... think it was close to $4,000 by the time they finished all the tests and prescribed heart medication which was $99/month - small price to pay and worth every penny.

[Triple 6]

That they are. The $1,800 covered the 1st round of tests ... think it was close to $4,000 by the time they finished all the tests and prescribed heart medication which was $99/month - small price to pay and worth every penny.

I get Piper's meds @ London Drugs. Are the heart meds available that way for you?

[ILBT uh-huh]

Dog looks like it has a nice coat!

[Triple 6]

Dog looks like it has a nice coat!

She does! She's well looked after... errr spoiled!

[oneh2obabe]

That they are. The $1,800 covered the 1st round of tests ... think it was close to $4,000 by the time they finished all the tests and prescribed heart medication which was $99/month - small price to pay and worth every penny.

I get Piper's meds @ London Drugs. Are the heart meds available that way for you?

Got mine at the Wal-Mart pharmacy just up the road from the vet ... $99 at Wal-Mart, $165 from the vet. Mom's dog had epilepsy and we'd get a 6 month supply of phenobarbital for $11.99 at Wal-Mart, vet was about $78 for a 3 month supply. The pharmacy technician had epilepsy and said maybe she should consider getting her prescription from thr vet using her dog as the patient ... had to fight with her family doctor to get a prescription for a months supply.

[strwbrrydvl]

Wow, that's cheap for the phenobarbital - small dog or small dose? Towards the end of my rottie gals life at the pharmacy it was roughly $80 per month (mind you, at that point it was 9+ pills per day).

[oneh2obabe]

Samson was a 25 lb. Boston Terrier and got 3 pills a day when they finally settled on the proper daily dosage. Vet made the prescription out in his name with dog clearly shown on the RX so it a lower price because it wasn't for a human.

[western_star]

My Toy Poodle is on Fortekor heart/kidney pills. The pills are half the price in Armstrong at the vet than they were in the Mission in Kelowna.

[Triple 6]

My Toy Poodle is on Fortekor heart/kidney pills. The pills are half the price in Armstrong at the vet than they were in the Mission in Kelowna.

I wonder why that is? You would think that vets would all have the same pricing on meds and such.

[western_star]

My Toy Poodle is on Fortekor heart/kidney pills. The pills are half the price in Armstrong at the vet than they were in the Mission in Kelowna.

I wonder why that is? You would think that vets would all have the same pricing on meds and such.

I watched a show on marketplace one time that was about how different vets charge different prices for medication. Vets make up their own pricing so it pays to shop around.