♪♫LMBC♫♪ Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 My mum's dog is having some problems with his back. The vet has said it is likely a slipped disk but he needs to do some xrays to confirm. He gave them an estimate which seems ridiculous to me. Apparently in the quote they have included a general anesthetic and some blood tests beforehand. I have never heard of putting a dog under full general anesthetic just for an xray. I asked them why not just sedate him and they said 9 times out of 10 the dog won't lay still enough with just IV sedation. Now, I think this is BS because I have seen the worlds naughtiest border collie lie perfectly still under sedation and mum's dog is a perfectly well behaved, very placid old boy so I can't imagine him being a problem. Also, none of us is really keen to put him under as he is 13 years old and not in the best of health as it is. So can anyone tell me what they would expect to pay for xrays and would you expect the dog to be put under a general beforehand? The price we've been given is a lot more than expected and we want to make sure it is right before we do it. We might take him somewhere else for a second opinion but he doesn't like going in the car so if the price we've been given sounds right to everyone else we might just have to go with it. Ooops almost forgot to say we were quoted $669, more than what it cost to have him desexed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Podengo Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) I was quoted $240 to have my dogs hips, knees and elbows Xrayed at my vet (in CHCH, NZ) ETA: that is for sedation & radiographs on a 10kg pup Edited August 14, 2012 by DiscoDobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I have just done hips and elbows for health clearances, full general included $180. Under 10kg dog but not that much more for larger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I have often doen general x-rays without any form of sedation. It really depends on the dog. Mots times they let me come ina nd hold them as long as I suit up. Much easier on the dog and it helps keep the cost down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) I have done x-rays both with and without GA or sedation. You do have to be confident that the dog will stay still. If they are doing a GA on an older dog, bloodtests are always recommended first before decided whether or not to put them under. The blood tests will provide info on how his organs are working to give an indication of any potential problems. They may also be charging for IV fluids which with an older dog will help recovery. These two things will often not be included for younger fitter dogs undergoing a GA. Cost will also depend on the size of the dog. Larger dogs will cost more. Edited August 14, 2012 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayla1 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 My older dogs have had back xrays with sedation, without sedation, and also with GA. The xrays with GA cost around $750 which included a dental, and fluids of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) Depends if they have to put your dog under or not. With GA is more expensive (need more care, fluid, etc). Charlie's xrays cost me from $160 to $230 (it depends on where he gets the xray done). He doesn't need to go under, he knows the drill. Edited August 14, 2012 by W Sibs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I would be worried about putting an older dog under anaesthetic, that always freaks me out. I don't think the price is that bad but I would also be questioning whether the general is needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappie Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 There are several factors that will influence cost including the type of blood tests (full profile or in house pre-anaesthetic panel), fluids, cost of radiographs and the number of plates being taken, possibly specialist interpretation of the films as well. It sounds about right for a spinal series (the whole spine, not just 2 views), blood work, fluids, hospital and general anaesthetic on prices around our clinic (Western Sydney). The majority of x-rays I take are under a general anaesthetic, but not all of them. Some are under sedation, some are conscious - this decision depends on both the patient and the region being examined. I don't hold dogs for xrays, nor do I permit the support staff to manually restrain animals unless there is no other option. If the animal can't be adequately positioned with support equipment (tape, sandbags, lead sheets etc) or with sedation then it will get a general anaesthetic. IMHO, in many cases a light, short general anaesthetic is safer than a heavy sedation. Spinal radiographs are best done under anaesthetic because they require specific positioning, must be straight, need support in various areas and if there is a suspicion of a spinal injury then the risk of causing further injury with a dog getting startled and jumping off the table must be minimised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 There are several factors that will influence cost including the type of blood tests (full profile or in house pre-anaesthetic panel), fluids, cost of radiographs and the number of plates being taken, possibly specialist interpretation of the films as well. It sounds about right for a spinal series (the whole spine, not just 2 views), blood work, fluids, hospital and general anaesthetic on prices around our clinic (Western Sydney). The majority of x-rays I take are under a general anaesthetic, but not all of them. Some are under sedation, some are conscious - this decision depends on both the patient and the region being examined. I don't hold dogs for xrays, nor do I permit the support staff to manually restrain animals unless there is no other option. If the animal can't be adequately positioned with support equipment (tape, sandbags, lead sheets etc) or with sedation then it will get a general anaesthetic. IMHO, in many cases a light, short general anaesthetic is safer than a heavy sedation. Spinal radiographs are best done under anaesthetic because they require specific positioning, must be straight, need support in various areas and if there is a suspicion of a spinal injury then the risk of causing further injury with a dog getting startled and jumping off the table must be minimised. ^^^ This!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winterpaws Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Sounds about what we paid to have Henry done recently, and also Pepe last year. Both of them had about 3 snaps each and bills were around $600 ++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♪♫LMBC♫♪ Posted August 15, 2012 Author Share Posted August 15, 2012 Thanks everyone. It just shocked me a bit because it seemed so much more expensive than normal xrays but I've only ever had them done under sedation, not general. I'm still worried about putting him under due to his age so I was hoping we wouldn't have to. Thanks Rappie for the more detailed explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayly Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 What Rappie said! Also, many clinics perform desexings at a loss or close to it, and he may well be under GA longer for the spine x-rays than a castrate anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*kirty* Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Most modern anaesthetics are very safe and if his bloods are normal, I wouldn't worry. We knock out old dogs every day with no problems. We even recently did surgery on a 17yo dog with a heart murmur. He had a perfect anaesthetic and recovery. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Z had his hips/back xrayed about 18 months ago when he was 6.5 years old. Cost me $660 all up which included the blood panel, xrays, GA and fluids. Sounds expensive but so worth it! My old vet had misdiagnosed him but now he's on the right treatment and fighting fit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♪♫LMBC♫♪ Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 I meant to update this before but I totally forgot. I took Sam for his x-rays the other day. It was pretty much the most depressing day of my life. For one thing, he used to come running at the sound of someone picking up his collar and leash, because he loved going for walks. He's not allowed to go for walks anymore and I realised the other day that he now associates the sound of his leash with going to the vet, so when he saw me coming with it he tried to run away and hide Then when we got to the vet he couldn't even get out of the car on his own. And when they tried to lead him away to the other room he kept trying to come back to me, and after they took him away I could hear him crying He's never done that before, he's always been pretty good when he's had to stay at the vet's. Good news is that he didn't need the GA, he was ok with the sedative. We found out that the reason he is having trouble walking is because he has some growths on his spine, they don't look like they are cancerous apparently but even if they were, they are not in a place that they can be operated on and it wouldn't be worth putting him through chemo at this point. So, he's now on painkillers every day. And its just a matter of time. I'm so sad right now. But he still seems pretty happy so I am hoping we won't have to say goodbye too soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 LMBC that sounds a sad day indeed ..but now you know , and can work around it , at least :) I hope he gets good pain relief, and can enjoy car rides, extra treats & watching the world go by . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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