Seeing how you decided to go ahead with the procedure some of this isn't relevant.

But I would've asked who was requiring the IV and the bloodwork. Was it office policy? If it was office policy, you probably could have found another vet that doesn't have those requirements OR one that offered a payment plan.

Its common for many vets to offer a payment plan. Our vet will allow patients to break up the cost over several months, by leaving them three or four checks, post dated a month apart.

But its also easier for a vet to offer payment plans for established customers, rather than new customers, such as yourself.

I probably would contact the humane society also, telling them of situation also.

Sweetchastity,
Vet's bills do add up quickly!!! and YET.. IV fluids (not expensive) and bloodwork (the more expensive item) are excellent precautions, although of course they should have been more outfront about it. Strange that should become mandatory that day!! I personally would feel much safer with these additional precautions.

This said, the staff can't discuss these things with you because they can't make any decisions. You need to bring it up with the vet directly-they are the ones who make all billing decisions. Just be assured that what they are doing (bloodwork and fluids) are GOOD for Dustin!

Still, as I had mentioned in a previous post, I am surprised Dustin would not have been vaccinated for rabies at the shelter--although this is too late. I hope you got all written records for them. Maybe shelters operate differently in Canada. Here, this is one of the first things they do, and they don't release a cat unless it has been spayed/neutered.

Well, I do hope your vet provides you with some paying relief..
Have to go,
keep us posted
Anne-Marie

I'd call before you pick up Dustin and ask to speak to who is in charge of billing. If they use an outside billing service, then say you need to speak to the vet either before or when you pick up Dustin.

Try to be tactful and tell them there seems to have been some miscommunication during your discussions about the total expected charges. Let him (whoever) know that you have a limited income each month and could have budgeted for the extra charges if you had known about them ahead of time. Now, because of the sudden change in policy, you are going to find it difficult to to pay the full amount. Ask if you can pay a portion today and then the rest over a period of time.

I spoke with a lady on the phone and she spoke with their clinic manager and in my circumstance they will make an exception. Allowing me to pay 1/3 debit today and leave 2 post-dated cheques. Normally they don't allow payment arrangements but they made an exception due to my financial situation and the poor timing.

I too am surprised that Dustin wasn't given rabies shots from the shelter, he got some others and was tested for FIV and such. Since the certificate would run out soon and I wasn't sure if another vet would accept the examination of the first and just go straight for the neutering I figured I'd probably pay as much at another clinic for another exam and for IV/Bloodwork should they be needed. I wanted to also get this over with for Dustin and bring him home. Its just that I would have held off on some purchases and made smaller bill payments if I knew there would be a cost. I could have budgeted accordingly.

The most important thing is that Dustin's finished with the surgery (they called to let me know) and they are willing to work out a payment plan that I can manage so things are not as grim as they were this morning (sadly its been one of those days). The cost for the IV and bloodwork is around 70 dollars each! Another vet I called for comparison said they charged 75 for both. For me its spilled milk but it does make me weary about going back. I'll see how Dustin is and how his recovery goes.

Now another worry is that the vet found a "muffin" (?) on Dustin's inner thigh and said white fluid came out of it so she thinks its just a cyst but I'll have to keep an eye on that. Things have been rougher than I thought but I wouldn't go back and change my decision to get him if I could. He is a wonderful companion and my life is richer with him (even if my wallet is poorer).

Sweetchastity,
Sorry I got interrupted before I could finish. Please, ask for a copy of the bloodwork. This is very important for you so that you can familiarize yourself with all the elements and so that you have it for further references.

I certainly hope this 'muffin' (no idea what this refers to) is nothing to worry about. Make sure they do explain to you what this is, and in clear terms.

By the way, if Dustin stays an indoor cat, you don't have to worry about more vaccinations...

Glad the vet made some financial arrangements for you. They all do in spite of what they post, if you just insist.

However, I would understand you would try to find another vet. It's so important you have someone you trust and feel comfortable with.

Take care of your brave boy... he will need your TLC when you get him home!!! and I know he'll get plenty!!!!

Keep us posted, Anne-Marie

Dustin's home!!!

Poor thing had to ride home with a dog in the backseat. Mom takes her dog everywhere but I thought she'd leave Misty home for this trip, lol. Oh well, they seemed interested in each other, peaking but neither was terribly upset with the other.

I saw the vet as I was paying and she said he was a doll. He has such a wonderful disposition even in a stressful situation. I'll call tomorrow and ask about the "muffin" (? not sure what she means by that or maybe I heard her wrong on the cell message) as she was bringing in a box while I was paying.

He seems preoccupied with his carrier which I've left on the kitchen floor for him and goes to his food dish but seems so indecisive. Its his normal dry food which he eats frequently during the day/night and I gave him a new moist food that he usually loves to lick the juices up from. I left some of his favorite snacks between the bowls and he doesn't seem to want to eat. In fact I saw him digging the food out of the bowl onto the floor.

I know to watch for loss of appetite and the paperwork that came home said he might be groggy for 12-24 hours after the anesthetic but does anyone have an idea of when I should see him eating? He's never scooped his food out onto the floor but I'm going to let him play with it if that's what he wants tonight. Can I expect to see more regular eating habits tomorrow? I hated leaving him without food for 12 hours so I want to see him eat.

He might still be a bit groggy and out-of-sorts from his big day--just being at the vet and then surgery plus anesthesia on top of that might have thrown him off a bit. If he's not eating by tomorrow, let the vet know when you call about the "muffin." It never hursts to ask (better to find out something you've questioned is nothing than not questioning something that turns out to be a big deal).

I'm so sorry you had that unpleasant surprise re: billing/procedures when you dropped Dustin off this morning; as if it wasn't a stressful enough day for you (even the routine stuff is still heartstring-tugging for animal lovers like us!). They dropped the ball there but it seems like they are willing to make it up to you with regards to payments.

Unfortunately, owning a pet can be expensive at times. About 5 years ago we racked up some pretty high vet bills with our two cats and then our kitten. It's pretty unsettling to realize how difficult it can be to come up with the money for catastrophic illness in pets. Luckily we had taken out pet insurance when we got the kitten. We were reimbursed a percentage of the vets' bills (and they sent us a prorated check for the premium when she passed away a few months later).

The insurance doesn't cover everything (and the benefit max for some things seems way too low) but it's still worth every penny for the peace of mind it gives us. Granted, the premium(s) aren't cheap, and could be out-of-reach for those on a fixed income, but it certainly doesn't hurt to look into it.

You are welcome to contact me via GW if you have any questions about the plan we use (VPI here in the states). I don't know how much the premiums jump once the cats get older, but we figure we'll deal with that at that time.

In any event, I'm so glad Dustin came through his surgery well and that he is safe and sound at home with you. You two are so lucky to have found each other!

I am glad things worked out, even if the financial end was not as expected. We just spent about $6000 (yes, that is three zeros behind the six!) on our kitty who was diagnosed with renal failure. Pets can get expensive, but for all the kitties I have had in my lifetime I wouldn't pay a penny less.

As for Dustin, he may or may not have an appetite tonight, that differs with each cat. Just look for odd behavior, like if he is in pain. Every kitty, like every kitty parent, is different, and will respond to stress in different ways. You are doing a great job with Dustin, relax, it sounds like he came through just fine!

My vet always has me withhold food for the rest of the day and night following surgery, then offer food again the day after surgery. The sedative and anesthesia used for surgery can leave them feeling pretty nauseous, so it's not surprising that Dustin isn't hungry tonight. It's actually probably better that he doesn't eat until tomorrow, because the strain of possible vomiting wound't do his surgical site any good.

Just try to keep him reasonably quiet for the next few days, and do let your vet know if he still doesn't have any interest in food tomorrow.

I'm sure he'll be fine.

Laurie

He acts a certain way when I go into the kitchen and its breakfast/dinner time and I get his bowl ready and give him canned food. He mostly licks the juices up but will eat a bit of the meat. I gave him a half can now because he was behaving the way he does when he expects canned food. He doesn't pester but follows and moves about with an extra bounce in his step to show he's excited. He licked up the juices and seems happy now.

One thing I've noticed is that the pupils of his eyes don't seem to be changing. A lot of times they are big and black and round but sometimes they are smaller, typical slit eye look. I assumed that, like a human, it was due to the amount of light in the room and if i shone a flashlight in them they would dilate. His aren't doing so. I called the after hours number of a clinic on my paperwork and the lady I spoke with said it was probably due to the anesthetic. Should a cat's eyes respond the way ours do when a flash light is shone in them?

Also his tone of voice has changed. He used to meow softly, very mellow but now its higher and louder. He's also making his squeaking noises more often and at a higher pitch. I figure he's probably uncomfortable or in pain :( He's always been soft spoken and even when he meowed it was a soft, mellow sound I enjoyed. I hope it goes back that way though I'll love him even if he is now a soprano. Has anyone else noticed a change in their pets voice after a spay/neuter? Was it permanent?

Interesting about the change of voice, I guess that might be a natural reaction! I have always had my cats come to me neutered or had them neutered as kittens, so I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't worry about it.

As for his pupils, give it a few days, he has drugs in his system that will affect a lot of different actions and reactions, don't worry yourself. If he ever seems in pain, then I would be worried, but give him a few days to come out of his drug haze. If you have ever had surgery, you know that you don't feel right mentally or physically for a few days, it is part of the healing process.

You are a great kitty mom, and I know you will always worry about your furbaby, but it sounds like he is doing just fine, don't stress yourself out!

Michelle is right. Everything you're noticing now is most likely drug-related and will resolve within the next day or two. The pre-anesthetic sedative is a hallucinogen, from what my vet has told me, and can leave them pretty loopy for a while. And yes, it can affect how the eyes react (or don't react) to light until it wears off.

As far as Dustin's voice is concerned, he probably vocalized a lot at the vet's and just strained his voice. It happens. He'll go back to normal voice after a while.

Relax. Dustin's fine. In another day or two you won't even be able to tell that he was at the vet's this week.

Laurie

Thanks for the support!

Dustin's eyes are dilating this morning so I'm relieved about that. He's eating both wet and dry food and using his litter box (though he was clawing at my closet door to get in before he did and I think he wanted to use it instead, lol). He's quieter now, not making his squeaky noises as much, is sharpening his claws on his new post (and the mattress but I'll let him get away with that for a couple of days) and seems more like himself.

Except for the billing issue, which they were kind enough to help me out with, I've been very happy with the service there. Their treatment of Dustin and the attitudes seem great. I feel comfortable with them and will probably continue to go there. It was a stressful day but I felt comfortable leaving him in their care and seeing how they interact with him it seems that they have a genuine love of animals. My mother's vet and office staff are a bit more professional, don't talk as much to the animals (vet barely spoke to me) so I'll likely go back. I'm not quite sure the signs of a good vet/clinic but I think the way they interact with the pets is a sign of how he'll be treated when I'm not around and I watch how the vet handles Dustin and how she talks to him and this, I think, helps to calm Dustin and establish a connection with him. I plan to start putting money aside for rainy days/unexpected vet bills but my mother was with me when Dustin and I found each other and said she would help if any emergency vet trips were needed (she loves animals too) so even in my financial situation I know that I'll have some help caring for him if he ever got sick.

Thanks again for the tips and reassurances that Dustin's recovering normally. Its one thing to read about how he might react in a general pamphlet they send you home with but each pet will respond differently and its great that people can share their experiences to help ease the minds of others. I'm very happy to have found this site!

My boy was neutered at the Humane Society - it was very reasonable but they also tried to talk me into (or should I say "offered") bloodwork and some other procedures. I said no thanks (he had already completed all his shots).

He is strictly indoor and hasn't been back to the vet since!

Thank God things worked out for you, I completely understand your concerns about finances. Now - words of wisdom - coming from someone on a severely limted income and a past with this current pup of vet bills totalling eight thousand dollars in 4 years. Start a savings account. Dont touch the money no matter what. Put in a couple of bucks any time you can. Make it your emergence vet bills fund. You will need it in the future. - guaranteed. Now there are a couple of organizations which can help out in times of stress and surgery, but they are not guaranteed. Save save save - You can round up the money you have paid out, instead of putting 18.62 in your chcek register, put the amount of the check in one area and then for balancing, put in 19.00 - take all those cents left over and at the end of the month, put the money in the vet account.
PS - I also suggest going out and getting premium cat food, alsthough it may seem you are spending more money - you are not, in fact your cat will eat less, because it is better food, it will potty less, since there will be less waste to process, and your cat will probably be healthier throughout its life. Avoid Friskies, etc. Trader Joes has great cat food, very affordable. Natural Balance, same thing. Good luck

I'm assuming Dustin is a young and otherwise healthy cat. If so, insisting on pre-surgery bloodwork and an IV drip for a neuter is a rip off pure and simple. Neutering a cat is a simple, non invasive procedure that only takes a few minutes. Unless the cat was old or had other health problems the only reason for the bloodwork and IV was to jack up the vet's bill. I'd be outraged and would start shopping for another vet. This one may be nice but it sounds like they'd also try to guilt you in to other expensive treatments and procedures. I get bloodwork on my older animals as part of their annual checkups and if one of my pets is going in for major surgery or is older, then I request an IV but for a neuter on a young, healthy animal, ridiculous, especially if you told them you had limited means.