Message Number: YG12666 | New FHL Archives Search
From: cuteusbelleus
Date: 2002-04-21 14:49:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Bob C: Vets and Veterinary Costs

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Church, Robert Ray (UMC-Student)"
<rrc961@m...> wrote:and support of internet health lists, but
when my ferrets are ill, I see a vet IMMEDIATELY, then discuss
the problem with my vet friends at a later time. And while I may
>
> Just my opinion.
>
> Bob C
Very wise and to the point response in addressing personal
responsibility in pet ownership instead of falling in the ill blame
somebody else mode that plagues the US! This personal
responsibility involves arming yourself with Knowledge before
an emergency occurs, because there are some questionable
practices out there that do try to take advantage of your ignorance
and frantic emotions during a crisis. Last year I found out the
expensive way. I took an ill ferret to a so called Emergency clinic
which cost me almost half overnight, of what it cost me to get
surgery and overnight stay at the subsequent facility found
through a local ferret club. The first clinic put her on iv fluids
(with a human size fluid bag) for $25 plus the iv catheter ($32.). I
know because they gave me the bag to take home. It's still in my
car trunk. The hospitalization was $84. for icu/24 hours but they
leave at 12midnight! They were insisting on an exploratory for a
quote of $800 to $1000, but would not remove a diseased
adrenal gland if found. (She had adrenal disease since 1996
with no surgeries). That meant another surgery for
adrenalectomy. They also wanted to do a sonogram for $500
because it was Sunday. It was $200 on Monday.
Arm yourself before hand, call fellow ferret owners and local
ferret clubs, and find a reputable vet and clinic, thank your lucky
stars when you find him/her and pay them what they are worth,
for the sake of your loved one. Thank you dr. B. for helping Belle
and David for sending me there.

p.s. total treatment, including surgery, at the new clinic was less
than $800. I paid almost half of that in the ER clinic for just
fluids, overnight stay and xray.