Last night at 9:45 the 84 yr old father of a woman who used to be my receptionist called my home. The father is caring for the daughter's mini daschschund -- the daughter has taken a short trip to Arizona.

The mini d is vomiting blood, and old dad doesn't know what to do. I ask a few questions and it sounds like mouse poison.

I call our local small animal person. They have a huge fancy clinic.Tech answers the phone. First question is who will pay the bill, 150$ just to see the dog. I say I will pay the bill. Questions about "right to treat" since the owner is in Arizona. Questions about "have we ever seen this dog?"

Finally, I say, " Look, this little dog sounds like he is dying. Have Mike (the veterinarian) call me. If he doesn't want to see it I will find someone who will. These are nice people and the dog needs help".

So, eventually the tech calls back grudgingly, they consent to see the dog.

The little fellow is in tough shape, I don't know if it will make the night. They give him Vitamin K . They send us home, tell us to come back in at 8:00 this morning for "blood tests".

Folks, there is no reason for blood tests. The dog needs more Vitamin K today and he needs
Vitamin K pills. He should have been kept in an oxygen cage and that vet should have sat there overnight. The dog may have needed a blood transfusion, but not "blood tests" as in the $200 panel. A hematocrit and clotting time is all we need. We have the empty box of mouse bait.

So I am mad today. I hope the little dog made it. The bill last night was $200 for 2 cc of Vitamin K which probably cost $2.00.

I hate money made off suffering. I hate people not trying their hardest. I hate
"who will pay this bill" before " how can I help you?"
I hate small animal medicine.

Sobering start to a monday morning, Betty.

I hope he's ok. I don't understand people. Don't you become a vet because you love animals?

Sorry to hear to hear this, it seems to be a common theme nowadays. I hope the little dog is ok.

I understand your frustration, Betty, and your story makes me feel the same way. I sure hope the little guy made it through the night and will be okay.

BTW, is the type of Vitamin K used for this purpose some special "veterinary grade" or in some other way unusual? I know of a dog who recently ate a lot of rat poison, and the vet made it sound like there was a shortage of the Vitamin K they needed to treat him (and, yes, that it was going to be very expensive). But I have seen that there are several different types of Vitamin K available online and in health food stores, at very modest prices. (The dog in question did survive, amazingly.)

You are fortunate he was using a mouse poison that is treatable.

The government has mandated use of neurotoxins in place of the warfarin-based poisons.

Once these are ingested, the dog can not be saved.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/05/24/bromethalin.aspx
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mice-and-rats/consumer-prod.html

'We are the government and we are here to help'

I hope he made it. Stories like this make me thank God for the vets we have.

duplicate (see post below)

Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/18/2013 10:10 AM)
Edit reason: delete duplicate

I do have to share a story. When my last dog had gone to the ER and they saw his spleen not looking right, they made an appt for an US with their speciality vet. I was given a quote arrived with the money in my pocket. The dog and I were brought to an exam room, and a vet tech comes in and says todays bill will be $900+ dollars please sign here, I asked why so high, he replied oh its for the US, xrays (that my dog had two days previously), lab work. I refused and said I only wanted the US. He stomped off, a few minutes later the vet came in the room, didn't greet my dog or me, demanding to know why I had refused to sign for the additional tests. I replied that I was agreeable to the US to see if it had spread to the liver, because if it had spread what was the purpose of going any further, he talked to me like a was a neanderthal with a first grade education. He told me he "knew" what the US would show, I told him I thought it was great he had psychic powers. I was actually concerned with his attitude he might be rough with my elderly frail dog. I said to him its obvious we have a personality conflict and walked out. Even on walking out I was virtually stunned that any professional clinic would present me with a bill like that before examining my dog and by a tech no less. I made arrangements to have my dog seen at a large clinic in the city, although it took several weeks for an appt. The vet there confirmed that the most important test was the US, the bloodwork etc could come later. It has really bothered me for three years now having a bill presented without a doctor coming and talking with me and the dog to present options etc. My local vets are good, they explain etc but some of these larger clinics the bottom line is money. Sorry for venting but I needed to get this off my chest.

duplicate (see post above)

Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/18/2013 10:11 AM)
Edit reason: delete duplicate

Hope he made it.
Unfortunately there are many vets who are only interested in making money. Most of them are also incompetent.