programs to help sick cat??

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Ensoul100 - 01 Oct 2004 21:02 GMT

Sam is 14 now

cost me $100 for the vet visit...mind you she's more than worth it, Sam is on
antinausea meds & antibitocs

vet calls w/results from bloodwork....thryoid problems
the meds are $1.00 a pill
and she needs weekly blood work for 2 weeks, then blood work once a month
plus the meds

Don't how we'll afford it...

We've been hit hard this month w/car needing transmission change at $100, needs
inspection and hubby has to see doctor once a week now (cancer) and it's 70
miles away w/the cost of gas...

ensoul

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether
the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy
name of liberty or democracy?
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rinn - 01 Oct 2004 21:19 GMT

have you checked the cost of the meds at drsfosterandsmith.com? They are
usually much cheaper than the vets. Your vet just needs to fax the
prescription there.
If it is a 'human' medicine, see how much it is at costco, or sams club, if
you have a membership.

> Sam is 14 now
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> name of liberty or democracy?
> ~Mahatma Gandhi

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Ensoul100 - 02 Oct 2004 03:30 GMT

>Subject: Re: programs to help sick cat??
>From: "rinn"

thanks much

yeah it is people meds she needs

so Sam has hyperthrodism

and I have hypothrodism

ensoul

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jamie - 02 Oct 2004 07:02 GMT

>>Subject: Re: programs to help sick cat??
>>From: "rinn"
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> so Sam has hyperthrodism
> and I have hypothrodism

Once she is stabilized, and kidneys evaluated on the Tapazole, I
suggest you try to save up for, or work out a payment plan for
thyroid surgery or radiation. In the long run, maintaining her
on medication and blood tests will be more costly.

Gideon's thyroid was extremely enlarged, which made it easier to
choose the less expensive surgery rather than radiation, because
there was a fairly good chance that at that size, it was cancerous
(fortunately, it wasn't cancer).

His thyroid surgery, along with teeth cleaning and a couple of
extracted teeth, plus about $50 for sending the thyroid tissue
to an outside lab only came to about $330.

He had his operation on August 31, and has recovered beautifully.

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MacCandace - 02 Oct 2004 18:30 GMT

<< His thyroid surgery, along with teeth cleaning and a couple of
extracted teeth, plus about $50 for sending the thyroid tissue
to an outside lab only came to about $330. >>

Wow, it sounds like you have a very fair vet. I can't imagine my vet charging
that little for all that. Several years ago, one of my cats had a dental with
2 extractions and that alone was $250...and this was probably 10 years ago, at
least.

Candace
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jamie - 02 Oct 2004 19:56 GMT

>> His thyroid surgery, along with teeth cleaning and a couple of
>> extracted teeth, plus about $50 for sending the thyroid tissue
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> 2 extractions and that alone was $250...and this was probably 10 years ago, at
> least.

Yeah, I think I paid around $300 to have his teeth cleaned with one
extraction about 10 years ago in Massachusetts, although he had some
gum disease going on at the time. (he's 17 now)

LeMieux's teeth cleaning with 2 extractions plus Gideon's follow-up
thyroid and kidney blood test the same day cost me $160.

Looking at the receipts, it seems as though my vet's office has
some kind of generic veterinary billing program for itemizing costs,
and then she starts marking items off as "discount" until the price
sounds fair to her, or comes close to her estimates. (Maybe the
prices in the program are NY/Boston prices, but this is semi-rural
Texas)

On the receipt for Gideon's surgery and dental, the total discounts
were $189, and on the receipt for LeMieux's dental and Gideon's blood
tests, the total discounts were $87.

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Mary - 02 Oct 2004 20:22 GMT

> << His thyroid surgery, along with teeth cleaning and a couple of
> extracted teeth, plus about $50 for sending the thyroid tissue
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> 2 extractions and that alone was $250...and this was probably 10 years ago, at
> least.

Yep. I was quote $600 just for the thyroid surgery.

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zuzu22@webtv.net - 02 Oct 2004 05:51 GMT

Ensoul wrote:

>vet calls w/results from
>bloodwork....thryoid problems
>the meds are $1.00 a pill

They might be if you buy them from the vet, but you can get tapazole
much cheaper. A quick google search revealed the same medication for
anywhere from $25-$44 for a bottle of 100 pills which is considerably
less. You can also call around to your local pharmacies and do some
price checking, find the cheapest price, then have your vet call in a
prescription.

>and she needs weekly blood work for 2
>weeks,

This is excessive. Commonly a vet will prescribe a lower dose to start
(2.5 mg) and check bloodwork after two weeks on the meds to see how the
thyroid levels are affected. If an increase in dose is needed that wiill
be done, then usually the cat will be checked in another two weeks and
any adjustment can be made at that time. Paying to test every week is
wasted money and I'm starting to suspect the vet is taking advantage of
you.

>then blood work once a month plus the
>meds

Once your cats numbers are stabilized you could get testing done every
3-6 months depending how your cat does. Testing every month is, again,
excessive for the long term.

>Don't how we'll afford it...

You have two options. Put your foot down with your current vet and tell
him that, for financial reasons, you will take a conservative approach
and that's the way it is going to be. Your other option is to find a new
vet that is reasonable (i.e. not so greedy), understands your financial
situation and will work to give you good care without taking you for
every penny.

Megan

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