Chris Wilson Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 It's not nice to admit, but out of our ten dogs I do have favourites. Boris being one of them, so it was inevitable he would be the one to fall ill last Friday. Swollen eye (horrible to behold, quite startling in fact) and a total reluctance to allow me to look inside his mouth, which he pawed occasionally. Local vets saw him Saturday last, diagnosed Cherry Eye, an operable condition where apparently a gland near the tear duct enlarges and becomes pushed outwards. Antibiotics were the verdict, the hope it would recede and right itself under the magic of penicillin my staff . Sunday morning dawns and I am truly alarmed to see his other eye covered virtually entirely by his third eyelid, and him salivating like an old Mastiff on heat. Bit the bullet, checked my bank account and took him to the emergency vets in Nantwich, who are very expensive, but have facilities and cleanliness that would shame the average NHS hospital, IMHO. The receptionists are model like, the floor gleams, the place has air con and extraction, in case Grannies Peke farts in the waiting room, you know, the full Monte. The duty vet suggested awaiting their eye consultant who is a senior partner (and who, of course, doesn't need to work Sundays) the following day, but she of course suggest prescribing something more exotic, and doubtlessly more expensive, in the interim. A tiny vial of elixir changes hands, I decline to "settle now", I am hoping to negotiate some sort of deal, I've been watching Dominic Little on the TV, but inwardly I know I'll get snubbed and my wife will die of embarrassment again, like the other week in the high class ladies clothes shop... Monday, and this "consultant" guy is obviously on the ball. He immediately suspects masticatory muscle myositis (Google it if you want the gory details). Sounded nasty, sounded expensive, sounded long term, and I was right on all counts, but he cloaks it all with pacification, clucking, motherly reassurance and a bedside manner a Harley Street quack would be proud of. The expensive suit, and the waft of a cologne I just know I couldn't afford or pronounce warns me of the need to move money around accounts as soon as possible .... Blood test will confirm his diagnosis, he says, no problem, but the test will take 10 days, and treatment if he is right, needs to start immediately, otherwise he'll starve to death, or dehydrate. There are other tests available, if I feel they can be financed, he's a young dog, rare breed, nice specimen. The bedside manner is on one hundred percent now, he's going for the "he won't want to admit poverty, but just in case this guy's an impecunious wanker I'll also go for the you owe it the dog routine". Then comes the decisions that will make me wince, financially and morally. An MRI scan will show any tumour or growth, and it will almost certainly confirm or discredit this MMM thing. Just happens the MRI scanner unit visits once a month, and it is there tomorrow, be a shame to miss the chance, it's something few vets have the use of, blah blah.. Today. Tuesday. His ear infection is noted (it's been on and off for 2 years, they can be a nightmare to sort out in some dogs). The scan shows how far it has pervaded the middle ear, so an added bonus, for "free". We can discuss treatment of this later, once the MMM treatment is ongoing. Nice. The MMM is (almost) confirmed, but not 100%, we still have to await the blood test for total confirmation. Not quite the all seeing magic box i was expecting, but hell, too late now is the cry. No tumours or house re mortgaging surprises found though, thank God. How much for an MRI scan and anaesthesia for a big dog? A cool £1000, plus VAT of course. Plus the overnighting until at least this coming weekend, plus pills, potions, drips, blah blah. Up to £2000 now, plus VAT. Add on sundries (all we businessmen like sundries, so what can I say...), whatever else they find, plus danger money, as I warned them he'd just LOVE to get a grip of anyone who was less than 100% vigilant, before I realised he couldn't open his damned mouth. My betting we make £2.5K before he's back home. Thank heavens they don't work in Guineas any more. No, he's not insured. So anyone out there with kids who like animals, get their heads into the veterinary books and their psyche lined up for the long haul to finish the study course, it'll be their making, and us poor mutt owners undoing. Do I mind? Hell, no, but the pitiful thing is, the *astard KNEW I was a pushover from the minute we started talking, I could just TELL... Why are we such a nation of animal lovers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 OMG so sorry to hear this!!! Too late now, but why no insurance? It's horrible when they are ill and you can't do anything to help. I hope it works out ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraAyf Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 What a story Chris (and an expensive one too mate). I wished I had gone on to become a vet after my visit to the animal docs the other day. A drop of liquid in the nose and two quick injections for our Rotti came to 100 quid. It took all of 2 minutes and I didn't even get a cup of tea - B@$t@rd$!! It just goes to show that we are in the wrong jobs:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Took our little dog for an x-ray and scan on his bladder, along with overnight stay and pills. £250. No tumours just looks like signs of arthritis. Strange old world!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Insurance on 10 dogs would be very expensive, I take the attitude that if I keep something by in an emergency fund, rather than paying Petplan, I should hopefully come out on top. It's worked well for 20 years, but that's not to say it's infallible If you keep livestock you have to expect deadstock, and the odd big bill, I am trying to be pragmatic, but the upper echelons of the veterinary world have become a LOT more costly since the last visit for anything more than a booster was made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraAyf Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Took our little dog for an x-ray and scan on his bladder, along with overnight stay and pills. £250. No tumours just looks like signs of arthritis. Strange old world!! But you should be happy knowing that you've paid for the 1st-round of their Xmas party drinks in a top London joint:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Get well soon Boris! but just in case this guy's an impecunious wanker You've met him before then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcol Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Chris, sorry to here that but seriously insurance is a must i know its expensive but i use these http://www.eandl.co.uk/pet-insurance/ for my shar-pei and its £12 a month and boy is it worth it, they do "multi-dog" discounts too:d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSoop Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Not nice chris but pets are worth it mate and i was heartbroken when i couldnt do anything for my cat and we had to put him down... I hope your dog gets better soon Chris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Ouch. Still, could have ended up being a lot more I expect! Get well soon Boris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Insurance on 10 dogs would be very expensive, I take the attitude that if I keep something by in an emergency fund, rather than paying Petplan, I should hopefully come out on top. It's worked well for 20 years, but that's not to say it's infallible If you keep livestock you have to expect deadstock, and the odd big bill, I am trying to be pragmatic, but the upper echelons of the veterinary world have become a LOT more costly since the last visit for anything more than a booster was made. That is a fair point, it's not like you haven't considered it. If you've got away with it for 20 years then you're probably still quids in even with this event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I've got to take my parrot to the vets this afternoon. Poor old fella's been suffering from some sort of fitting for the last 4 months. I took him when they first happened and the vet said there's not a lot can be done without a lot of testing so we should just monitor him and see how he goes. "Here, have some powder to add to his water to calm him down and stop him getting stressed." On Sunday he had another fit, followed 3 hours later by another, more serious one. Poor old fella is over 50 and the fits are very distressing to both him and us. So we're going back to see Tom the vet. He'll probably want to keep him in for monitoring and testing. I've never bothered with pet insurance - I mean, he's only a little parrot, how expensive can it get? I know what you mean about the clean surgery Chris. You could just about eat your dinner off the floor in this place. There must be money in it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Nightmare Chris, but also good you can get him sorted. Bet you'd be in pieces if he had to be sent to the big kennel in the sky But also you're lucky where youre in a position to be able to afford a bill that large, alot of owners might have a very tough choice to make. Took my old boxer in for his annual MOT and service lol, a quick weigh, booster and a couple of claws clipped, 80 quid. Worst thing is cos he's age unknown, i.e. old, I cant get insurance so if something serious rears up Im gonna be in your boat Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Chris, aren't you one of those who doesn't give jabs to new pups? Or doesn't do booster shots every year or 6 months or whatever they recommend? Or do I just remember you saying you socialise them even before their last jab because the pros outweigh the risks? Not that I'm suggesting anything about this poor little guy, just interested to know about experienced owners and the way they 'run' their packs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sxysup Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I've got to take my parrot to the vets this afternoon. Poor old fella's been suffering from some sort of fitting for the last 4 months. I took him when they first happened and the vet said there's not a lot can be done without a lot of testing so we should just monitor him and see how he goes. "Here, have some powder to add to his water to calm him down and stop him getting stressed." On Sunday he had another fit, followed 3 hours later by another, more serious one. Poor old fella is over 50 and the fits are very distressing to both him and us. So we're going back to see Tom the vet. He'll probably want to keep him in for monitoring and testing. I've never bothered with pet insurance - I mean, he's only a little parrot, how expensive can it get? I know what you mean about the clean surgery Chris. You could just about eat your dinner off the floor in this place. There must be money in it... awh:( i have an african grey and ive insured her since she was 11 weeks old, thinks its £9 a month..... shes 10 now but vet bills are getting more expensive, dread the day she will need to go mind, insured or not. Pets eh:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 I risk socialising pups of certain breeds before their jabs take effect, the breeds are those that can become overly protective if not socialised early, and I have found they benefit from meeting people, animals and situations form as early an age as possible. I just avoid letting them meet dogs i don't know, or taking them to parks or places where large numbers of dogs gather ad lib. MMM has no link at all to this though. Funnily enough one of the senior partners at this practice doesn't inoculate his own dogs at all, I am told, as he believes they get enough antibodies from their mothers milk, assuming THEY are inoculated. The jury is always out on annual boosters. If it weren't for the fact our dogs encounter rats regularly I wouldn't give a booster, but the inoculation against one of the rat carried diseases has a short lifespan, so they all get done annually for all the major diseases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Hope Boris gets well soon (and doesn't cost too much more in the process!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 He ate last night apparently, the vet wants to know what his favourite food is, so I am sending one of next door's cats over. If the steroids kick in he could be home soon, albeit to a house with no furniture and the bailiffs at the door. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Glad there is a hint of good news and that you are keeping your sense of humour Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 He ate last night apparently, the vet wants to know what his favourite food is, so I am sending one of next door's cats over. Get well soon Boris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 He ate last night apparently, the vet wants to know what his favourite food is, so I am sending one of next door's cats over. Vets and dentists are bastards aren't they. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Well, I've just got back from the vets, £90 lighter of pocket. They took a blood sample from my parrot - results should be back late next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 Good luck with the parrot, it's been a good week for vets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcol Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 and george my shar-pei gets his eye tacks out tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damientt Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I understand, but if any of our cats, dogs or fish(!) are likely to incur vetinary bills of more than £200 I've decided they'll have to meet Mr Benelli. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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