[r0ckah0l1c]

Okay I am a bit miffed... I don't mind spending money for my dogs health but last time we treated our dogs for coccidia the medicine cost us 17$...now 2 days ago we took them to the vet because it came back and the SAME MEDS cost 120$??? I don't get it...and normally I wouldn't care but 1) how did they add an extra 103$? And 2) now I can't afford groceries for the next 2 weeks because the entire bill was over 240$....is this common and a sign to get a new vet or am I missing something? I'm so miffed...

 

[jmejiaa]

Is it the same vet?

Did you ask them why it went up 100 dollars? there has to be an explanation, unless it's made of oil - then I can explain.

 

[r0ckah0l1c]

They tried to tell us its a different medicine...but its the same medicine just in a different container? I am trying to find the previous bill statements we received to bring it back to them and see if they'll give us a refund... its the same vet. And they told us we have to go back in 3 weeks to get more meds for 120? -sigh- idk if I can afford that...its a bit overwhelming. I feel like the pups are constantly at the vet...

 

[jmejiaa]

That sucks.. My suggestion is to find the receipt and get an explanation.

Why are they in so often? Maybe there is a cheaper alternative and someone will chime in.. My dog hasn't been in for a while, I need to bring her in soon for rabies.

 

[performanceknls]

You should have asked us, you can get the medication to treat coccida for under $20 online without a vet. That would be enough to treat 10 dogs. Happy to hear it was not a blockage but that really sucks they took you for your money.

 

[r0ckah0l1c]

Well we brought Lily in because we thought it was a blockage but turned out to be coccidia... and Leo we found had it too and started displaying symptoms... however, I would appreciate the link to the coccidia meds for next time lol it sure would help out!

 

[r0ckah0l1c]

And my dogs are to the vet a lot for shots, spay/neuter, anal gland issues, coccidia, uti, separation anxiety,...they had fleas,,, err... I know they've had more issues I just can't think of it lol ...uh staph infection but I got meds online... we have some issue every month it seems...

 

[k8nkane]

You could ask your vet for payment plans too. I'm on good terms with my vet, and she adores Kane, so she'll let me do payment plans when I need to. Like for Kane's heat stroke, that was 371 dollars, which I didn't have at the time because he'd just been to the vet for his annual check-up a few days before and that was another 300 dollars. So, she's been letting me pay it off over the past few paychecks.

 

[performanceknls]

You can use metronidazole or Albon, when you pmed me about the fish flex you can get the metronidazole from that same thread in the health section. It is called "must have meds". And don't let pushy vets bully you! Just because you took the dogs to them does not mean you have to walk out with meds from them. Coccidia can get pretty bad but you can get meds overnighted for much cheaper than you could get it from the vet. Metronidazole is great to have on hand anyway and treats a variety of conditions.

 

[Xiahko]

I feel ya. They couldn't even tell me what was wrong with bruno,but they sent him home with 3 different bottles of meds.
I shouldn't have paid for them :/
Vet boll was 260 $, lucky my vet takes payments.

 

[Sadie]

Dr's in any related field love to medicate they get paid big bucks by the drug companies to push medications even on patients who don't really need them. The drug companies make a ton of money every year Doctors /Vet's included. It helps going into the vet to know a bit about medicine and illnesses if they know you know your stuff they will be less likely to try and push drugs off on your pet unnecessarily with bogus diagnoses. I spend a lot of time researching and reading medical journals it never hurts to be educated even if your not actively practicing in medicine. Knowledge is Power!

 

[Xiahko]

They're telling me Beia and Bruno need another parvo shot in 2 weeks...This will make 4 for Bruno and 4 for Beia.

I think it's over kill,like you said before.

 

[r0ckah0l1c]

I looked on the "must have meds" thread and it said the medicine suggested was for diarrhea not specifically coccidia... the med they are taking now and need to refill in 3 weeks is albon...can albon be bought online? Cause hubbys saying we can't afford another 120$ in 3 weeks..

 

[performanceknls]

I sent you a pm you can use metronidazole instead of albon to treat Coccidia. Albon we normally give to puppies who need liquid smaller doses. Albon does come in tablet form but you can treat with metronidazole they are very similar. You can do a search on metronidazole and treating Coccidia and see it is a perfectly acceptable treatment for it.

 

[9361]

Dr's in any related field love to medicate they get paid big bucks by the drug companies to push medications even on patients who don't really need them. The drug companies make a ton of money every year Doctors /Vet's included. It helps going into the vet to know a bit about medicine and illnesses if they know you know your stuff they will be less likely to try and push drugs off on your pet unnecessarily with bogus diagnoses. I spend a lot of time researching and reading medical journals it never hurts to be educated even if your not actively practicing in medicine. Knowledge is Power!

:goodpost::goodpost::goodpost: So true! Reminds me of when I called to get Helena's dosage strength for ivermectin for HW preventative and the lady told me that it wouldn't work! I asked her what the active ingredient was in the pills they had, she said she didn't know! She was just the receptionist but they need someone in there who knows better!

 

[BullyDoc]

You can NOT use metronidazole to treat coccidia! That is COMPLETELY false information.

There have been alot of dogs that have been becoming resistant to the albon, so some veterinarians have started using either Marquis, a horse medication, or Baycox for piglets (which I use) The Baycox is cheaper than Marquis, but can only be purchased from Australia. The Marquis paste is super high.

As far as getting kick-backs from drug companies, that's a load. Veterinarians have super high overhead, no insurance or government subsidies, etc. Some of them are out to get money out of you, but most are like me; honest, hard-working and starving to death.

Would you complain about the price an attorney charges to keep you out of jail? Just a thought.

 

[BullyDoc]

We do use Metronidazole along with Albon/Marquis/Baycox to treat some bacteria associated with Coccidia, but it cannot be used in place of.

 

[9361]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around taking the dog to the vet for flea's...

 

[Sadie]

To treat coccida most vets will prescribe sulfadimethoxine (Albon) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen).

As far as the drug companies go they are some crooks and everyone knows this there is plenty of information FACTUAL information about the FDA and the drug companies and how Dr's of medicine are getting paid big bucks to push these drugs even when patients do not need them. I don't expect you to admit that to me Bull Doc when your paid to shut your mouth. I am not calling you dishonest but lets not pretend like we don't know how crooked the FDA and Drug companies really are. I could get so deep into this but the thread would go a totally different direction lol. What I said does not mean that their are not good doctors out there I know it's harder to get into Vet school than it is regular med school. I am just saying that people need to be educated and aware even if they are not actively practicing medicine.

 

[Sadie]

I question my doctors and vets all the time and I have that right. I don't just go in without asking questions because the person treating my pets or my kids went to school for a billion years. Doctors don't know everything and don't always have all the answers. Doctors make mistakes, they misdiagnose, sometimes they can't explain " Medically" explain why a patient is having certain problems and may have to experiment with different drugs before they find a treatment that works if one at all. Regardless of how much they are getting paid I know vets don't make anywhere near what a regular MD out of med school makes. Science has a lot of knowns and unknowns. Patients need to be educated and question their doctors no matter who they are or how long they have been in practice.