Dogs are so expensive >__<

[Kinra]

I took my dog to the vet today for his annual wellness exam and rabies shot. The whole visit ended up costing me over $200. >_<

The reason it cost so much is because my dog has been a little sick since last week when I had to leave him at the kennel for a few days. Apparently it takes 4 different medications to cure a minor case of diarrhea... Why does it take 4 different meds to cure 1 thing?

I think my vet is just trying to get more money out of me, but since I don't know anything about medications I can't really argue with him... Am I the only who thinks this is a crazy amount of meds?

[Alexandra V]

It depends on what the cause of the diarrhea was. Unfortunately I've known of vets who would give a ton of treatments to milk you for your money (they don't all do that, but there are a few).

If it was something parasitic, then no, it's not that crazy. But if it was just that he ate something out of the ordinary or whatnot, then yes that it a bit crazy, considering usually just adding a bit of rice to the food will bind them and get them back to normal more often than not.

[Kinra]

They didn't do anything to test for a cause, they just gave me 4 different medications. I think they went with the try to cure everything method...

[rabernet]

When my dog gets the runs (from eating something she shouldn't), we simply don't give her food for 24 hours, and allow it to run its course (no pun intended).

[GoingPostal]

Honestly my dogs are a great deal in comparison to my ferrets, even with shots/heartworm stuff I usually end up below $300 for two dogs, and occasional skin or bladder or whatever issue is usually under $200. I walk in the door with a ferret and I'm leaving $250-$900 poorer every time.

You probably spent $40 on exam, $25 on shots and then cost of meds, they probably gave some metro, flagyl, wormer, don't know what else but hard to say if any is needed, probably just covering bases, did they do a fecal? The local vet where I live likes to gouge you on everything, way overpriced, no generics, pushing crap you don't need and not doing stuff they should so I stay pretty educated on my options. My other vet is out of town and not cheap either but they don't screw you over like that one.

[Kinra]

I have no idea what they gave me. They had one med that was a one time thing that they did there, then I have one that I give twice a day for 3 days, another that I give once a day for 12 days and one more that I give once a day until it's gone.

They didn't do a fecal but he's due for one soon. I really need to find a cheaper vet, I hate where I go but so far they are the most convenient. Usually they like to run very test under the sun so I guess I should count my self lucky that they just gave me meds this time.

[SilverDemon]

I'm lucky, Loki's vet is literally a mile away (right now the street) and they're pretty reasonable with prices. $120 for his heartworm bloodwork (negative thankfully), heartworm meds, checkup, vaccinations, fecal, etc. I just spent another $150 getting him fixed, plus pain meds.

Main thing though is that Loki ADORES the vet there. Loki isn't quick to warm up to people AT ALL, so imagine my surprise when the vet came in and Loki was greeting him like an old friend.

[dsirkle]

My vet is at the point where he seems to want to get a few hundred dollars anytime I bring a dog in there.
$200 isn't bad at all if he stayed there for a few days.

[Kinra]

My vet is at the point where he seems to want to get a few hundred dollars anytime I bring a dog in there.
$200 isn't bad at all if he stayed there for a few days.

I was there an hour tops. The 4 different meds they gave him ended up costing almost $70, so I guess other than that it wasn't actually too bad, but 4 meds to cure 1 problem still has me confused.

[ed4281]

Honestly vets really don't try to milk you for your money and as a veterinary professional it's pretty insulting to hear that people feel that way. 200 for an annual exam shots and boarding is a pretty good deal. Your vet probably when all was said and done only made about 60 in profit. People don't realize that your vet has to pay for the medications to dispense as well as pay a staff to help your dog. Believe me more people skip out on their bill than you could possibly imagine. Vets don't make anywhere near as much as people think. They do their job because they want to help animals.