Veterinary Costs
@Tigerize72 (58)
United States
April 11, 2017 4:42pm CST
I have a 7 year old cat that has been having diarrhea & losing weight. He's strictly an indoor cat so I know he didn't get into anything outside. I took him to the vet & after the office visit & running a blood work, urine & fecal test it was $375. They found nothing wrong except bacteria in his urine which was another $75 for an antibiotic shot. After 2 weeks, he was not getting any better. They suggested I should do a thyroid blood test as his symptoms could be Hypothyroidism. I've had a cat with this in the past & he didn't have diarrhea but I agreed. It had now been almost a month & I was told no office visit would be charged as they would just be drawing blood. Well, this all changed once I got there. A different Dr. was there from the last time & because it had been almost a month, they had to look at him again. We left this time with a bill of $360. They graciously reduced the office visit to $60 from $75, made me get a $35 rabies shot, meds for the diarrhea & the thyroid test which came back negative. Now they want to do another test that is $360, just for the test. I love my cat but I'm not made of money. We've ruled out quite a few things that it's not. So what the heck is wrong with him? Her suggestion is to try changing his food & add fiber to his diet. Why is it that all they want to do is run test after expensive test without even giving you the suggestion of something that may help? I'm very frustrated & now have been adding Benefiber & probiotics to his canned food which has helped a bit.
11 people like this
9 responses
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Apr 17
Poor kitty! They run so many tests because the animals can't tell them what's wrong and that's the only way they can guess.
I had a beautiful Boston Terrier, Gus, that began bleeding from his nose and lost his appetite. The doc said we could test him but he'd seen this before and chances were almost positive that he had cancer. His only future was chemotherapy, misery, and an eventual painful end. Gus was 13 and I loved him so much that I said let's put him down. I took him home so everyone could say goodbye and the next day I was with him when he crossed over to the other side to wait for me.
You have already spent over $800. How is your furbaby's quality of life? Is he enjoying himself except for the diarrhea? I've heard that giving them olive oil in their food or coconut oil will make the skin healthier and may stop hair loss. I hope he feels better very soon!
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Apr 17
@Tigerize72 Yes, it's awful for us! If he's enjoying his life, just do what you can and he'll do the rest. Are you feeding him the same or a new food lately? Be sure the food is not from China! I'm glad he's feeling okay so far. Patience may be your best bet right now!
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
11 Apr 17
@dragon54u I've been giving him the sample that the vet gave me to try, Hills Science Diet W/D. But it's $67 for a 17lb bag. I have 2 cats so there is no way I can afford to keep feeding this. He normally eats Purina One sensitive stomach which she said is a decent food.
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
11 Apr 17
Besides the diarrhea & weight loss, he's his normal self. Eating, drinking, playing, cuddling. It's frustrating to not know how to help them.
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
11 Apr 17
The last visit I signed up for Care Credit.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33393)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
12 Apr 17
@Tigerize72 Good for you Betsy. 
1 person likes this
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
12 Apr 17
Wow, that is a lot and they haven't found anything? no worms? I have 15 cats and 4 dogs.. I know vet bills can add up.. I am thankful for CareCredit because I at least get 6 months to pay for it if it is over $200.. sometimes I have gone in and it was like $180 and I was like okay what can I throw on? lol I usually get flea meds for the dogs. but they were like you can just add it the $20 and and have a credit.. and I might do that next time.
I have one cat now who after tests.. bloodwork, they thought she might have cancer.. but she has not changed in months since. so it probably isn't cancer.. she does have bad teeth. so maybe everything is stemming from that.. and some days she doesn't want to eat... I asked about dental work and was quoted a price of about $1200 could be more or less.... . wth?
1 person likes this
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
13 Apr 17
@Tigerize72 aw, I'm so sorry.. I had 2 that passed over the years from cancer. it is very sad.
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
13 Apr 17
It's crazy how much they charge. I'm glad your cat doesn't have cancer, I went through that with one of my cats years ago. Poor little guy had stomach cancer.
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
13 Apr 17
@minx267 Yes, it is very sad when our pets get sick. To me, they are family.
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
13 Apr 17
If I had an answer, I'd feel a bit better about the money spent. They love sleeping in front of the sliding glass door or just watching the yard for birds & squirrels.
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
15 Apr 17
Unfortunately, that's how it goes for those of us with pets. My cat is 14 and thankfully, she's been very healthy all of her life. But she's not doing too well now and I'm trying to find a vet to come to my apartment since my cat completely freaks out at the vet's office and I have no car to get around. I hate to think what all that will cost me. My only hope is that someone will check her out and then allow me to pay their bill over time. If not, I don't know what I'll do. Is your cat doing any better?
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
15 Apr 17
@Tigerize72 We're headed to a vet in a little while. A friend is coming by to drive us there. I can't wait any longer to get her checked out. Apparently, there are quite a few visiting vets in my area, but according to the one I spoke with last night, they are expensive. So, we'll see what the vet says. And I hope we can come up with a food that my cat will eat because right now, she's turning her nose up at everything!
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
15 Apr 17
I don't know of any vets where I live that come out to the house. He's still doing about the same. The Benefiber seems to help some. I read online that some people have had good luck with Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach. It's about $36 for a 15 lb bag but better than the $67 for their prescription formula. Hope you find someone to come out & check your cat.
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
16 Apr 17
@CRK109 I hope everything worked out . Glad that your friend could drive you.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
12 Apr 17
They're just like human doctors. Charge you so much but barely help half the time.. hope you get answers too
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Apr 17
Good gosh that's a lot of money! They charge that much because they can unfortunately, and all the tests are making them money.
I hope your cat feels better really soon. =(
1 person likes this
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
13 Apr 17
I guess they have to pay off all those years of schooling..lol Thank you, I hope he gets better soon too!
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
16 Apr 17
It is terrible what this cost you, yet we are at the mercy of those in charge at the veterinarian's office.
We pay $12 for rabies shot here, and there is no office fee when it is just rabies.
@Tigerize72 (58)
• United States
16 Apr 17
That s really cheap. Our local Petco does rabie shots for $19 every other weekend but it's first come, first served. No appointments.
