My older lab Pearl just came out of surgery. I elected to have a large fast-growing lump on her lower flank removed. It is app

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

My older lab Pearl just came out of surgery. I elected to have a large fast-growing lump on her lower flank removed. It is apparently a fatty tumor but as fast as it's growing it would need to come off sooner or later. And for a dog who's about to turn nine, later is probably not a good plan. Anyway, getting the tumor removed and her teeth cleaned is just under a thousand bucks! Ugh! Does that sound about right for you guys? I know the vet care in Eastern Montana that she received two years ago was a fraction of that. I'm off to pick up the old sweetheart.

[jhjimbo]

Two standard poodles teeth cleaned, $1000. He insists on lab work first before he will put them under.

[PigHunter]

Having pets cost more than most people realize. Haven't had to deal with pets in 9 years and I don't miss them... But to each their own.

[Grassroots89]

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[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


The amount quoted SEEMS overly high, but probably isn't. It cost my daughter around that for some lifesaving work on one of her cats...!!

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

And spend the thousand bucks on what, Dallas? A new gun? So you can stick it in the closet and look at it most of the year. Or maybe make a couple of payments on a new truck so your friends can think you're a big shot. That truck and gun will give you a lot of loving won't it? This gal is not just a pet, she's my hunting partner. She's part of my life and my soul.

Dallas, for your info I have spent almost seven grand on Pearl in the last year alone. Consequently, she recovered 100% from terminal brain cancer. Specialist has never seen another dog do that. It was supposedly more than a long shot but here she is still chasing the ball like a pup (well, not right now). Is she worth it? When my son and wife died who came and found me in the house any time I broke down? Old Pearl. And she'd herd me to a chair or couch and get all over me frantically licking away the tears. That dog is worth more to me than any other person in the world. And she deserves that respect. No other person I know of is as good at being what a human being is supposed to be. I'm lucky I have the money to cover it. But if I didn't I'd get it somehow. On the other hand, if you needed a thousand dollar life-saving surgery ... well my bank account wouldn't be getting depleted.

[Safado]

OH,
Some people just don't get it!

[Dcast]

Happy to here all is going well! I haven't hit that much on vet bills but I'm in a few grand. Dogs do have that instinct to know when to comfort and Howie has done the same for me. There are a few things in life that make you feel truly good inside and for me it's walking in my house and my 2 young children coming running to give me welcome home hug and kiss, and my dumb lab barking at me then suddenly realizes it's me and starts bouncing off the walls trying to get me to rub his belly sometimes pushing the kids out of the way! There is a reason behind the saying "Dogs are a mans best friend", they live to please you.

[Grassroots89]

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[Ontario Honker Hunter]

Damned digital communication. Too easy to read things the wrong way.

[99explorer]

A little over a year ago, my dog's teeth cleaning cost $89.
I guess my vet must want to encourage the procedure.

[chuckles]

All the best to Pearl for a swift recovery. Same to your bank account.
Any sign of spring in Canada yet? Another 6" of snow expected here tonight. D'oh!

[WA Mtnhunter]

OHH, sounds like Canadian socialized medicine has spread to the doggy docs! Your vet and mine must be in cahoots.

[allegnmtn]

The cost sounds about right since teeth cleaning alone is about $300. It depends on how involved the fatty tumor removal was. As a note, my vet doesn't generally do teeth cleaning for large dogs and doesn't recommend it. His opinion is that the risk of anesthesia is far greater than any health benefit given their life span. (He's also very to the point and says it's a money making thing). He does clean teeth for cats, small dogs, and large dogs if there's significant gum disease by age 7-8.

He recommends quality dry food and treats like greenies instead. He also recommends uncooked poultry bones (never cooked!) as on of the best teeth cleaners.

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

She's doing fine today. She had some gum disease starting a bit so since she had to be knocked out anyway to get rid of the tumor it made sense to go ahead and clean her teeth. The dogs only get dry dog food. However, like humans, some dogs are just more prone than others to teeth problems. They also get to chew on rawhide treats every couple of weeks BUT ONLY WHILE I'M WATCHING THEM. Be aware that sometimes a piece can come off and get stuck to the roof of their mouth or partway down the throat so never leave a dog alone with one of those!