Bailey the Poodle
So last month, I took all 3 dogs for their annual check-ups, to get flea and heart-worm medication and vaccinations. For a measly $530, they all got a clean bill of health!
All 3 dogs
Not so fast! Did you think I'd get away with no extra vet bills this year? Let's go big, shall we?
Leo, the Shih-tzu (Looking rather innocent, wouldn't you say?)
On Sunday evening, May 29th, 2011 less than a week after his check-up, we notice Leo is hopping around the living room. I see that there is a small puncture in the back of his leg. I clean the blood, apply antibiotic ointment and within 4-5 days it has essentially completely healed.... however, Leo is still not using his hind right leg!
I wait about a week then see my DVM on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. He says that his Achilles tendon is torn and that he'd need to refer to a specialist in order to examine further and/or fix it. If it were a simple $800 ACL surgery, he'd do it no problem. Instead, this is a rare injury where the tendon is torn, cut or otherwise hindered from use. Leo does put weight on that foot but it drops to the elbow. Basically the tendon in his calf is cut.
I wait a couple more weeks to see how it plays out since the adhoc quote for surgeries ended up being $3-4000! Yes, I should probably wait a week or two to ponder this. So I do. The leg is no worse, but no better and it's extremely sad to see him quieter than usual (although it hasn't seem to stop him from running at high speeds. He can still keep up with the poodle!).
A couple of days ago I called my DVM friend Dr. Regan Morris, who has her own veterinary clinic now Bayview Wellington Veterinary Clinic, to ask for her professional opinion. She basically explains what my DVM said and told me what the specialist will probably say. Thanks to her, I have more knowledge and the confidence to go see a specialist.
I called the Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital (TVEH) that both she and my DVM Dr. Luc Lavoie at Cedarbrae Veterinary Clinic had recommended. There are not a whole lot of specialists in the GTA! In fact, once I got there, it occurred to me that I didn't even realize that there were specialists for veterinary medicine yet it makes a whole lot of sense. I just have never needed one. :)
American College of Veterinary Surgeons This fascinates me. I'll have to share with Brittany. I told Dr. Carl D. Porter, DVM, MVSc, DACVS, that my daughter is just beginning her B.Sc this fall and wants to become a veterinarian. The "DACVS" refers to being a "Diplomate" of the ACVS.
This requires 4-8 years of specialized veterinary education including at least 3 years of surgery residency on top of the veterinary college degree! After reading the information on the wall, I told the DACVS that that is a lot of school! I then calculated in my head that it is about 16 years of POST-secondary education. For instance, if Brittany were to go that route, starting her B.Sc this fall somebody could also be starting grade 1 at the same time then complete their high school and Baccalaureate degrees to finish at the same time she would be a DACVS! WOW! Obviously, a person would be in the mid-30s before practicing outside of academia. Awesome. :)
One little perk that I like about requiring a specialist (and having to pay outrageous fees for surgery) is that the doctor gives me his business card. :) I don't know about you, but I don't often get business cards of somebody with so much education and expertise. He also called me personally to set up what will happen going forward.
Leo's Appointments
Drop off Leo by 08:00am Monday, June 27th for day surgery Temporary cast will be applied at no additional charge. Whew! This is because the prosthetic person prefers to wait until the swelling from surgery goes down.
Pick-up Leo Tuesday, June 28th
Return to TVEH at 17:30 Thursday, June 30th so the canine prosthetic specialist can take a mold of his leg for a custom prosthetic device (brace). This should take only half an hour.
Tuesday, July 5 go to Paws Ability to get the custom brace put on.
Estimate for Calcanean tendon repair
Here's the fun part! I'm glad my DVM gave me a heads up. I was prepared to hear and see these numbers by the time I saw the specialist.
There is a complete 20+ line item break-down but basically the low-end price estimate (for surgery only) is $2405 and the high-end price estimate is $3175. I just paid $186.45 for the consultation to find this out. I should get a business card!
The custom brace will be $500-700.
I'll post an update of Leo's surgical recovery....
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