Reasonably priced vets?

longtimesloper

My cat is at the vet blocked for the 3rd time in his life, 2nd time just this year!

My vet has suggested we do perineal urethrostomy surgery on him which they claim will prevent this from happening again. But, the surgery with them is $3k!! and that is on top of the $1100 they want now for unblocking him!

Way out of my league! So, any suggestions and cheaper options? Thanks

peanuts

Wow - I go to Park Slope Vets (Dr. Madden) - but that's probably the price they charge - unfortunately vets are expensive. A less expensive alternative would be the ASPCA.

Good luck - I hope your cat is OK.

longtimesloper

That is the vet I go to also and I love them, it's just the prices. I called the ASPCA, they only do this surgery on an emergency as needed basis, and since he is already at the vet getting unblocked, they wouldn't do it (as it is not an emergency now), thanks though

veets

I am so sorry to hear that you have this situation.
It is possible that there are no bargains on this surgery.
Assuming that you are happy with Dr Madden (and he has an excellent reputation) you could get an itemized breakdown on the cost of the surgery and armed with specifics make some phone calls to other vets and even the Animal Medical Center and see what their price would be.

peanuts

LTS - perhaps you can make payment arrangments with Dr. Madden. At least you know your fur baby will be getting the best of care.

Let us know how it works out for you and I hope your cat is OK

dawnc

I'm not saying they're any cheaper, but if you are a member of The Brooklyn Botanical Garden ( about $40 tax deductable ), Hope Vets supposedly offer a 10% discount. Don't know if there are any restrictions.

domino

If you join Friends of Animals you can access their network of vets. If you call FoA's toll-free number (1-800-321-PETS). FoA mails an order form that contains program instructions, costs of procedures, and a list of local participating veterinarians. You might also check their website.

longtimesloper

I am looking at the friends of animals website and the only vet program I see are for spay/neuter, am I missing something?

Thanks to all for the well wishes for my cat, I am so tense over this.

peanuts

LTS, as far as I know Friends of Animals is only for spaying/neutering

Please keep us posted on your cat - I know how hard this is for you.

domino

Yes - it is primarily a spay/neuter organization but the vets who participate are usually lower priced across the board - - and because they are usually more motivated by their love of animals versus their lover of cash, they are usually more willing to work with pet people in regards to finances. There are two other Brooklyn based organizations, Muffins and BARC, which may also refer you to lower cost vet care. I can truly sympathize with the dilemma of trying to pay for the care your baby needs.

peanuts

and because they are usually more motivated by their love of animals versus their lover of cash, they are usually more willing to work with pet people in regards to finances.

Not quite true...while I think it's great that vets accept this certificate I know that Animal Kind takes it and they are very pricey (good vets yes but also very pricey).

But more important - LTS - how is your cat?

longtimesloper

Went to see him last night and he seems to be doing good, all his tests came back fine, no kidney damage or other issues, other than the fact that he gets blocked all the damned time, he is a really healthy cat. They were talking about pulling the catheter this morning, I just tried calling them and was on hold so long waiting for somebody to answer that I hung up. This vet visit is costing in the vicinity of $1100 to $1250 depending on just how long he ends up staying in the hospital.

As for the PU surgery, I still don't have a price on that (that is where they make his pee opening bigger, (basically in a way, transforming him into a girl cat) and that supposedly will help the issue of blocking, but, from googling it, the surgery seems to run in the 2400 to 3k range(on top of what we are paying now for him to get unblocked) and, I am sorry, we just don't have that to lay out.

That is why I was looking for cheaper vets. Even if they give me a payment plan, what sort of payment plan is there going to be for that much money? So, though he is better now, not sure what will happen in the future. He went for a stretch of 4 years without having a blockage and then he was blocked twice this year, the other time just 8 months ago, this sucks.

I appreciate everyone's concern though, thanks for asking

luke1230

Poor baby. Is this from crystals? If so, I am going through this with Jackson (see "Cats and Crystals" in the Pets forum). Already spent $1000 in 2 months on my boo. He's breaking my heart and my wallet at the same time.

I'm glad he's doing better now.....

longtimesloper

Finally got through to them, they said he is in good spirits and eating, etc.. They pulled the catheter about a half hour ago, now they are waiting to see if he can pee by himself. if he does, he can come home tonight, fingers crossed!!!

longtimesloper

Flexichick wrote: Poor baby. Is this from crystals? If so, I am going through this with Jackson (see "Cats and Crystals" in the Pets forum). Already spent $1000 in 2 months on my boo. He's breaking my heart and my wallet at the same time.

I'm glad he's doing better now.....

Yes, crystals, I have always had male cats and this is the first time I have ever gone through this with any of them. And, this guy ONLY eats special prescription food straight from the vet, ugh! Going to read your thread now.

veets

Years ago I fell in love with a Persian Cat and before I knew it I was breeding Persians. it was quite an adventure. One of the males (who was not neutered.. though this blockage problems happens in in tact and neutered males) had a problem with blockage. these episodes became too frequent and though he was on a low ash diet, meds and distilled water it reached a point where preventative treatment didn't help.Yes, I am pretty sure distilled water is still part of the treatment protocol. He was about 4 years old when we had this surgery done (more than 30 years ago) at the Animal medical Center and the bill was $800. After that all was fine and he lived till a nice old age and sired many a beautiful kitten.

Longtime..hope the cat pees, this blockage is dealt with and he is home with you tonight. You already have a great Vet in place and hopefully now you will have time to do some research and make a plan into the future if things go sour again. Hopefully this last, expensive episode will not continue to be the pattern.

peanuts

I've been lucky with my male cats - none of them have ever had the crystals.
Glad to hear your baby is doing better - hope he pees soon and can come home

longtimesloper

veets wrote: Years ago I fell in love with a Persian Cat and before I knew it I was breeding Persians. it was quite an adventure. One of the males (who was not neutered.. though this blockage problems happens in in tact and neutered males) had a problem with blockage. these episodes became too frequent and though he was on a low ash diet, meds and distilled water it reached a point where preventative treatment didn't help.Yes, I am pretty sure distilled water is still part of the treatment protocol. He was about 4 years old when we had this surgery done (more than 30 years ago) at the Animal medical Center and the bill was $800. After that all was fine and he lived till a nice old age and sired many a beautiful kitten.

Longtime..hope the cat pees, this blockage is dealt with and he is home with you tonight. You already have a great Vet in place and hopefully now you will have time to do some research and make a plan into the future if things go sour again. Hopefully this last, expensive episode will not continue to be the pattern.

OMG, it was $800 30 years ago?? ((faints))

Thanks for the tips though

longtimesloper

I am also going to pay a visit to Mike over on 9th Street and see what natural remedies he knows of or what food supplements he thinks should be added to his food to help prevent this in the future.

peanuts

Mike is great but I think he's only there on Tuesday & Saturday- and he will probably refer you to Whiskers in Manhattan - they're an holistic pet food store - he sent me there when my cat was first diagnosed with kidney failure.

And a comment - if this surgery was $800 30 years ago; $3000 almost seems like a bargain (just kidding but 800 was VERY high that long ago).

veets

LongTime Sloper.. It is worth a "faint" but THEN it was considered unusual surgery.. a last resort and that is why it was done at the Animal Medical Center, the premier facility in animal care.. then and now. Thirty years ago the cat would ahve died from blockages and pursuant infections that happened as often as they were happening.

What shocks me is that the price is so high now because my understanding of this surgery is that it is really not so complex. Of course it is more complicated than a neuter, for instance but it is not brain surgery for cats. But, what do I know!

let us know is Kitty is home with you by now.

fitzroy sq

You may want to look into pet insurance. That could help cover some of the costs.

longtimesloper

Years ago we had pet insurance and I found it a bit of a joke. I paid for 2 years straight and then when it came time to use it, they told me how much they thought things should cost, for example, hip surgery, here in NY cost $1k, they think it should only cost $500 and then they give you onlya percentage of that $500, in the end, you come out with very little. I remember submitting vet bills in the amount of $2500 or so when my dog died 15 years ago and in the end we got about $400 back. Maybe things are better now, I will look into it again.

Anyway, as of 4:30, he still hadn't peed, but they said his bladder was empty. So, he is not coming home tonight, they said even he had peed, the vet who is there tonight won't let any animal go home until 24 hours after pulling a catheter, so, the vet who was there last night gave me incorrect information. I was pretty disturbed by it. Going to call again before they close hoping to hear he peed tonight, then he can come home tomorrow.

andriy

Did they tell you what type of crystals they were? Also did they give you prescription food? Apparently, Jackson will need to be on maintenance foods (low ash/magnesium) for a while...maybe forever

longtimesloper

My guy has been on special prescription food for the last 4 years and it still happened, twice! now they are going to change his food to a different prescription food. And, no, I forgot to ask what type of crystals, I will next time I speak to them

veets

I sent you a pm.. hope you got it..
Veets

longtimesloper

Veets, got your message and replied.


Just called the vet's office now and HE HAS PEED !! Yay! The vet himself/herself is not in yet, but when they get there, they will do an evaluation and he will probably be coming home today,

veets

That is good new!

longtimesloper

Just a quick update. My guy is home with a ton of meds and a new special food. This time they have him on Royal Canin SO diet, wet and dry.

and, yes, the crystals are struvite crystals.

peanuts

Glad he's home! My fur baby is on royal canin for kidney disease...it's a good brand. Hope he stays unblocked - I'm sure he's happy to be home

southslopeslugger

LongTimeSloper wrote: Just a quick update. My guy is home with a ton of meds and a new special food. This time they have him on Royal Canin SO diet, wet and dry.

and, yes, the crystals are struvite crystals.

Yay! Jackson loves the Royal Canin SO dry food, but wouldn't touch the wet stuff. Replaced it with another brand (I'll look if you need the info)