A Fair Deal?

Question
Dear Jessica,

Thank you very much for that valuable piece of information. After the total costs were tallied, I suppose I was in total shock because I originally came in thinking that I'd be paying perhaps no more than $100. Not so apparently. But if I'm not being cheated out of my money as you suggest (and your word is certainly better than mine) and my little one pulls through just fine, then I think I could definately look past the costs, especially since I really do care about her that much.

Once again, thank you,
Ron
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Followup To

Question -
Dear Jessica,

Today was the very first time that I have ever brought my bearded dragon to a vet. You see, she was neither eating nor moving around much (and when she did, it seemed to be a struggle). And so I brought her to this veterinarian who treats exotic animals. He told me that he'd keep her at the veterinary for four days and that the total cost would be an astronomical $241.60.

As I've previously mentioned, this is the very first time that I've brought my little one to the vet and so I have no clue as to whether the total cost of treatment was appropiate. That said, I was just wondering if you could please tell me whether or not it was. I just don't want to be cheated in the future.   

Here's how it tallied:

1 exotic exam/consultation: 52.00
4 day hospitalization: 26.40/day (105.60 total)
4 tri-med injection: 21.00/day (84.00 total)

Thank you so much,
Ron


Answer -
Ron,

I don't think that's a bad deal at all in exchange for the life of a pet that should live well into her 20's.  If she had to be hospitalized for four days she was definately in extremely bad shape, and since she wasn't eating and was struggling to move that only confirms just how severe her circumstances were.  

The prices on the meds were right on and the exam price was about right as well (they'll typically range from $40 to $70).  As far as the hospitalization cost goes, I don't know what the average is as I've never been unfortunate enough to need to hospitalize one of my animals.  However, that's about what you'd pay for boarding cost most places so I can't imagine it being unreasonable.  

Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't end up paying a good deal more as most offices charge for the battery of tests they no doubt ran to determine what kind of treatment to pursue.  

That said, more often than not if you have a sick reptile the problem stems from a husbandry issue.  You might want to take a careful look at the tempratures and humidity levels you're providing for your pet as well as her calcium intake and your lighting.  You might also consider getting a fecal done to ensure that you don't have a parasite problem.  If you have any questions at all about husbandry, please don't hesitate to ask as I'd be more than happy to answer them.  

I commend you on being willing to take your sick pet to the vet as that suggests that you not only care about her but are willing to take the steps necessary to ensure that she lives a long and healthy life.  You absolutely did the right thing for your animal and I'm sure you'll be glad you did later on, once the sticker shock wears off.  Best of luck with your little baby, and please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Cheers!
-Jessica

Answer
Vet visits often do get surprisingly expensive surprisingly fast and it's only logical to shop around to make sure you're getting a fair deal when you're spending a lot of money on a service.  Take care of your baby and enjoy her!  I'm sure she appreciates you.