Yes, basic vet care is not too expensive over here, but it's basic... That was no gas sedation, that was drugs administred through shots. That Euro 50 bought me 2 sedation intravenous shots, one antibiotic shot and 5 mins of vet time digging into the ear. Plus some kitchen paper tissue to clean up the vomit the first shot caused.. Oral antibiotic treatment will cost me another 10 Euro since those will be human (Augmentin) rather than vet antibiotics. If they were vet antibiotics they would cost much more...

I hope Lara is OK, that sounds like an uncomfortable experience.

When I moved here from the US I was so surprised to see the difference in vet costs. In the US they are so much, just walking into the vet in California would cost a minimum of $60, no medicines or anything. I'm not sure what they are doing in Europe to keep costs down, but they are doing something right. The Greeks are doing it even better because you can get antibiotics over the counter.

Basic human drugs are price controlled here (and I suppose in Germany too). If a vet charged that much in Greece, nobody would set foot in his practice.. It is a supply and demand thing I guess..

Drugs are very cheap here too but you always need a script for them

You do need one here too.. in theory... but in practice unless they are what is called 'controlled drugs' (e.g. new antibiotics, psychoactive drugs etc) you don't really...Which is NOT a good thing imo. Anyhow, any pharmacy will fulfill a vet's script for a human drug. A vet drug with the same drastic ingredient as a human drug may cost 10 times dearer.

Good to know for the next time I am there, so I am not the stupid American tourist at the pharmacy. It did help me last time I was there with a very obvious eye infection. I was quite thankful for that.

Yeap, visiting a vet is much cheaper than visiting a doctor.. A good idea as long as you can climb on that slippery stainless steel table.. lol lol

Poor Lara! I'm glad she is on the mend now, sounds like she didn't let it get her down at all lol.

I hope Lara is soon completely healed, so that she can get back to her job of barking with her full attention and enthusiasm. Our dog only rarely barks; she favors monkey noises.

I shudder to think how quickly the process of antibiotic resistance would escalate if antibiotics were available OTC here.

Virginia

Poor Lara! I've never had a dog get a "bee" in her ear, but walking our three with their hairy feet always raises the possibility of foxtails. Our vet is less-expensive than some around here ... but I never like having to take them in.

Lara get well soon! Ear infections are painful.

Sweet Lara! And to think you discovered the infection through touch. Hope your doggie is well on the mend and barking with strength.

Poor puppy! Hope the antibiotics have kicked in and she is feeling much better now.