From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2011-03-04 19:56:36 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] adrenal surgery costs and just some of the reasons why they can vary
To: FML List <ferret-l@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG>, fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
This was a discussion on the FML (Ferret Mailing List) and I will copy it to the FHL (Ferret Health List) where it may also help people.
Many things affect costs, but here are some:
1. A complicated adrenal surgery is going to cost more than a simple one.
This is pretty straight forward. A right adrenal surgery is almost always harder than a left one, but either side can wind up very involved with blood vessels and be extra difficult or otherwise be harder than a simple and clean one.
2. The amount of pre-surgical testing needed will affect cost.
Pre-surgical testing is important. Sure, skipping it saves money but it really increases risks. Blood work beforehand can tell if the animal should avoid the knife right now, and sometimes indicates that the ferret might have something that would not be responsive to surgery in which case the strain of surgery might reduce lifespan. An example of this is when pre-surgical blood work (a full CBC AND Chem Panel) showed that Ashling was not dealing with just insulinoma. Instead she had a carcinoma in her pancreas. A urine concentration test will tell if the kidneys are up to the stresses of surgery. Not all vets have added this test to their pre-surgical routine but is really makes sense and is very affordable. After a certain age or if possible indicators exist then the heart should be imaged before considering surgery. Just late last year we had early dilative cardiomyopathy found in a ferret that way and decided to use Suprelorin and Ferretonin instead of surgery.
3. Post-surgical testing affects costs.
Not all vets do pathology on tissues unless a client requests it. Knowing what is wrong allows for best care, but pathology adds to costs, and if the case is hard to diagnose may cost more than otherwise. Always make sure the lab is one where the staff is familiar with ferrets. We always have pathology done. It shapes the post-surgical care.
4. The amount of post-surgical care affects costs.
Some cases are harder than others or the ferrets themselves are not as strong. They need more or longer hospital care after surgery.
5. Unexpected complications raise costs.
6. Some types of anesthesia are more expensive than others but are safer. Other medication needs can vary among cases.
7. Location, location, location...
Seriously. Land around here costs about 10 times as much as where Steve's parents live and our property taxes are about 5 times higher than they would pay of their place were as small as ours is (and with them having a larger place on more land they pay 1/4 what we pay. With higher land cost all the basics cost more. Stores have higher base costs so their products cost more. Employees have higher living costs so their salaries need to be higher. You get the idea.
Utilities also vary by location and the difference can really add up.
8. Some vets do not charge for euthanasia for established clients and then fold that into raised costs for other things.
9. Teaching raises costs but reduces the chances of people accidentally raising the risk that their ferrets will die after surgery. For example, knowing how to maintain a safe post-surgical environment with no climbing and no frolicking for the first 10 days to 2 weeks after serious surgery, knowing how to hydrate and feed well after surgery, knowing about temperature control, knowing wound examination, and many other factors of at home care make a big difference in survival but not all vets teach those things or write down complete enough instructions decreed by the specific needs of ferrets as well as the general instructions for after surgeries. There is a lot in archives on post-op care.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump off the cliff."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
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