Mountain is the poster child for a ball of energy and so when I found her in her crate Wednesday morning, having vomited up all her food and looking poorly, it was very unusual.
I took her outside and she drank a lot of water. A good sign, and I left her in the yard all day Wednesday to take some sun and relax, skipping her feeding.
That night, Mountain was still not eating and did not seem interested in water. I crated her overnight, and when I let her out Thursday morning, she was still not interested in eating and took only a single sip of water. Not good.
I took her inside and crated her for the day. That night, she was still not interested in eating, and took only a single sip of water.
The next day, Friday morning, I took her to the vet at 7:30 AM. A dog that will not drink is not a good thing, and I was worried. They said they wanted to keep her overnight. The next morning they called and said I could pick her up at 2 pm.
I picked her up Saturday at 2 pm, and the bill presented to me was for $921.75.
It seemed she only had an upset stomach. Here's the bill for that little diagnosis:
- Physical Exam - $68.25
- Radiography 1st film - $107.75
- Radiography Additional Films - $66.25
- IV Catheter Placement - $76.00
- Intravenous Fluids (1 qty) - $60.50
- Hospitalization Canine 0-20 lbs) - $53.25
- Health Profile Cbc - $144.50
- Famotidine Injection - $33.00
- Cerenia < 15 pounds - $32.00
- Fecal Cytology - $29.25
- Fecal and Giardia Elisa - $41.75
- Recheck Exam - $39.50
- Cerenia < 15 pounds - $32.00
- Famotidine Injection - $33.00
- Intrevenous Fluids (1 qty) - $60.50
- Partial Hosp. dof 0-20 -- $44.25
- TOTAL: $921.75
The instructions I was given as I was leaving: A printed sheet for a "Bland diet for Vomiting and Diarrhea":
- No food for 24 hours to let the gastrointestinal tract to rest.
- Imodium A-D or generic lopramide HCI (available at Target for less than $2) at the rate of 1 tablet per 50 pounds or 1/2 teaspoon per 15 pounds, three times daily.
- Pepcid AC (also generic over the counter available at Target for under $2) can be given once daily for vomiting, not eating, or stomach gurgling (< 10 pounds 2.5 mg, 11-25 lbs 5 mgs, 25-50 pounds 10 mg, 50-11 pounds 10 mg)
- A bland diet should be fed to your pet for three days after fasting. Make food from 2 parts cooked rice to one part skinless chicken, turkey or lean hamburger.
For the record, Famotidine is just an antacid, and you can order 170 tablets for less that $12 without prescription from Amazon. I was charged $66 for two tablets.
Cerenia is just an antivomiting medication not very different from dramamine, which is over the counter at a cost of 50 cents a dose. Cerenia cost $8 for four tabs from Drs Foster and Smith. I was charged $64 for two pills.
Intrevenous fluids is simply a bag of lactated ringers solution, which costs less than $6. I was charged $60.50 per unit (not including the catheter placement which was another $76.00).
And yes, I am in the market for a new vet.
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