mowgliandme Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Vet – is this thorough or excessive? (Treatment and costs) This isn’t for my dog but my friends dog who limps occasionally after exercise and is frequently itchy during summer. When she had mentioned his leg issues a year ago the vet had said there was no point doing xrays on his legs as the treatment plan would be the same. We went in a couple of months ago for a hotspot and got prescribed pred x which seemed to help both his itchiness and his leg issues. We went in again a few weeks with another hot spot and got more pred x. Basically every time he was off pred x he would get itchy again. So he was taken back in, they said because he had had pred x in the last couple of days we would need to come back in again in 4 days after he was completely off it. We go back in in 4 days and they did a quick feel around and said that they couldn’t figure out what the problem was so they would have to do xrays and skin scrapings under general anaesthetic. Xrays are $550 Blood test $140, skin scrape $40, urine sample $40, general anaesthetic $140 fluids IV $77 half day hospitalisation and other general drugs, $100 The x-ray result is that he has arthritis in his hocks/ankles At first we were told that the skin scrape would tell us what the itchiness was from, we wrongly assumed they meant similar to a skin panel, turns out it’s just a scrape for mites which he was just double checking he didn’t have. We get sent home with a $6 a day drug for itchiness - apoquel (20 tablets for $120) and then another for limping (metacam $48 for a 32ml bottle). Looking online these drugs are literally half the price and I have no idea how much general/blood tests/xrays of legs should cost at the vet, do these prices seem normal or excessive to you? We are located near Bentleigh VIC Every time we come in they basically say we’ll need to see you in a couple of weeks to see how its going, these visits aren’t exactly cheap and they wont prescribe the medication until “next time” we’ve been in twice now after the initial findings (he also managed to get a cut on his foot and needed antibioitics two weeks after all this) and we still don’t have a script. Today we were adamant that we leave with a script for Apoquel as it is a long term issue in summer and is less than half their price online – they said they don’t have time right now to write a script because they are running late but will call us during the week to discuss the script or getting cheaper aqoquel from them directly. Is this a normal vet being very thorough or just trying to get cash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papillon Kisses Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 No idea about the rest, but I've been told by a vet nurse that they usually can't purchase let alone sell medications for the sorts of prices found online. Tell your friend to purchase from an Australian pharmacy as they may otherwise accidentally break the law and/or get the medication confiscated. The vet may charge a script writing fee as there's some work involved. That's pretty standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 For an average vet that seems cheap . Changes in the vet industry last year meant doing refills isn't as easy as before . Mind you i would be more interested to know what there doing about minimizing hot spots ,what are the feeding or trying to do to minimize the risk ?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackiemad Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Personally I'd tell your friend to go to a different vet who is interested in diagnosing the limp rather than just seeing some changes. Not to mention that the dog is in pain and the vet dismissed it for a long time! As to the itch, a specialist dermatologist might be helpful, as might doing an elimination diet? The prices don't seem particularly expensive but you need to remember there is no Medicare or pbs for animals so it'll always be more than costs for humans. As PK says, they find it expensive to buy the drugs in too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Personally i think its high, charging for hospital stay during the day on top of the x rays etc, after all after everything is done and he comes around he will go home, its not an overnight stay in a 24hour vets. After my recent specialist saga i am of the opinion they just add stuff on assuming you have insurance and will just cough up. Zelda is on Metacam , my other 2 old dogs were on Mobic ,( human version ), for arthritis at my old vets suggestion as its way cheaper. I am going to ask my new vet if he will either give me a script for Mobic or a script to buy the generic Metacam online . I would look at diet for the hotspots first, although a friends belgian suffers from them on her legs during the summer when the grass is long and wet and just uses Pred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowgliandme Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 42 minutes ago, Papillon Kisses said: No idea about the rest, but I've been told by a vet nurse that they usually can't purchase let alone sell medications for the sorts of prices found online. Tell your friend to purchase from an Australian pharmacy as they may otherwise accidentally break the law and/or get the medication confiscated. The vet may charge a script writing fee as there's some work involved. That's pretty standard. Yep have only been looking at the Australian pharmacies and they have Apoquel for $250~ for 100 and will do so with a script (when we finally get it) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsmum Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Prices seem... reasonable to me. When we were in Sydney we alternated between two vets - our family vet in western sydney (parramatta area) and for a short time one in the inner west - the inner west one was considerably more expensive - even than prices listed here. I think it pays to shop around for drugs - and to know that you can. Again, we payed almost double for the same drug from the inner west vet. These days I get most of my drugs from my main vet, but I do get them to write a script for one product which they just can't / wont price match on. Even paying the $20 script fee I am saving. Papillon Kisses raises some good points about shopping around. As for the rest, well, I am currently unhappy with my vet - I wish I'd listened to my gut and swapped a lot sooner - so if your friend is unhappy I would encourage a second opinion. Sounds like it's probably warranted. Lots of other useful comments about looking for the reason for the hot spots too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowgliandme Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 Didn’t realise these were normal prices (they seemed excessive to me)… glad I have pet insurance for my pup ...I’m basically going to these appointments because she doesn’t have a car. The Apoquel is for the allergies, which cause him to itch/lick and get hot spots or moist dermatitis. We did discuss dietary causes but the vet thinks it is unlikely to be diet related because he is on grain free and fairly simple food without any of the typical allergens and because its mostly a summer issue. We have removed a wandering jew plant last year and havent seen any more, so its likely to be grass or pollens according to the vet - he also seems to think that dietery allergies are very rare...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackiemad Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 It may not be dietary related but it is relatively easy to figure that out through elimination diets and only slowly adding stuff back in. Fwiw my dog has a contact grass allergy and the right diet helps his immune system cope, along with walking only on concrete in high times and using various shampoos/washes etc. Haven't had him on steroids etc for years now, so a multifaceted approach to environmental allergens can be of benefit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowgliandme Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 43 minutes ago, mackiemad said: Personally I'd tell your friend to go to a different vet who is interested in diagnosing the limp rather than just seeing some changes. Not to mention that the dog is in pain and the vet dismissed it for a long time! The xrays showed the limp to be from serious arthritis in his back ankles. It is very different on each side, the left side is worse and quite swollen (thats the leg with the limp) and its located at the top and outside of the ankle, but on the right side the arthritis is at the bottom inner side of the ankle. He is quite a hyper dog so its really hard to tell that he's in pain and often when we go to the vet he gets even more excited and doesnt limp at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowgliandme Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 I dont think she'd be opposed to trying the elimination diet for him and figuring out what works, do you normally do that in consultation with your vet or on your own? This vet briefly mentioned it but said it takes over 3 months and can be ineffective. I am also happy to know of any vet recommendations near SE Melbourne, I take my puppy to the same vet at the moment but she's mostly gone for simple things like gastro as a puppy~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karen15 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 the prices you've noted for metacam, the vet is much cheaper $48 for 32ml =$1.50/ml $250 for 100ml =$2.50/ml so Vet is significantly cheaper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowgliandme Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 6 minutes ago, karen15 said: the prices you've noted for metacam, the vet is much cheaper $48 for 32ml =$1.50/ml $250 for 100ml =$2.50/ml so Vet is significantly cheaper! I was comparing to online pharmacies like this https://www.theanimalpharmacy.com.au/metacam-oral-dog-180ml.html#.WONP2xKGPBI Naturally the bigger bottles are cheaper anyways, so we are less concerned about the metacam and more about Apoquel, where are you getting $250 for 100ml from - that is indeed much pricier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackiemad Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Sorry Mowgli, I more meant I wouldn't like a vet who dismissed a client who said their dog was limping on and off. If the dog is showing pain sometimes it's a fair bet it's in pain a lot more often and the vet should've taken that seriously from the start IMHO. I mean, the dog could've been on injections or supplements to help alleviate pain since initial presentation but instead it's been in pain. Not your friend's fault, I'd move vets after not being taken seriously. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rascalmyshadow Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 (edited) The price sounds excessive to me and they don't sound like they are trying to solve the problem. If your friend is in Bentleigh, I would highly recommend going to Black Rock vet, I know the owner well, worked with her before she bought the practice, they are exceptional, I would still be going there if I didn't move so far away. If the itch is persistant I would get a referral to the allergy clinic well worth the money, will save your friend a lot in the long run. Edited April 4, 2017 by Rascalmyshadow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I got Meloxicam (same thing as Metacam, just different manufacturer) from a vet for $70 for 100ml - last year. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowgliandme Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 1 hour ago, mackiemad said: Sorry Mowgli, I more meant I wouldn't like a vet who dismissed a client who said their dog was limping on and off. If the dog is showing pain sometimes it's a fair bet it's in pain a lot more often and the vet should've taken that seriously from the start IMHO. I mean, the dog could've been on injections or supplements to help alleviate pain since initial presentation but instead it's been in pain. Not your friend's fault, I'd move vets after not being taken seriously. ah sorry I misunderstood! yes that is true, would have to ask her what happened back then - but this one didnt seem to recommend any supplements or dietery things so i think we should at least try somewhere else 1 hour ago, Rascalmyshadow said: The price sounds excessive to me and they don't sound like they are trying to solve the problem. If your friend is in Bentleigh, I would highly recommend going to Black Rock vet, I know the owner well, worked with her before she bought the practice, they are exceptional, I would still be going there if I didn't move so far away. If the itch is persistant I would get a referral to the allergy clinic well worth the money, will save your friend a lot in the long run. Funnily enough the locum vet who we saw for the cut paw often works at Black Rock vet and we were considering following him there anyways!- he mentioned diet changes and supplements and we really liked him 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Yes , meloxicam is cheaper than metacam , only found out when receptionist told me . Although online it seems to be almost half the price I just noticed . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rascalmyshadow Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 34 minutes ago, mowgliandme said: ah sorry I misunderstood! yes that is true, would have to ask her what happened back then - but this one didnt seem to recommend any supplements or dietery things so i think we should at least try somewhere else Funnily enough the locum vet who we saw for the cut paw often works at Black Rock vet and we were considering following him there anyways!- he mentioned diet changes and supplements and we really liked him What was the locums name? Was he an english guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rascalmyshadow Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 11 minutes ago, juice said: Yes , meloxicam is cheaper than metacam , only found out when receptionist told me . Although online it seems to be almost half the price I just noticed . Look for Meloxicam or Meloxidyl both are a lot cheaper than Metacam. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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