Two patients limp into two different hospitals with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement. The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week. The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment, then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for another week and finally has his surgery scheduled for a month from then. Why the different treatment for the two patients? The FIRST is a Golden Retriever. The SECOND is a Senior Citizen. Next time take me to a vet!
Oh my! This is so true. My cat's urine sample is read while I wait and I walk out with the antibiotic in hand. X-rays, blood work, diagnosis and treatment within the hour---
Conversation at the pool was about pets and pet insurance. 14.00 dollars a month, 20.00 if you want cancer coverage. Hmmmm, should I rent a dog suit????:th_heehee:
Funny one! And I'd rather deal with a veterinarian any day that an OS because surgeons always look at me the way my cat Yoshi does! (see photo above)
Well, I know for sure there are doggie orthopedic surgeons. My puppy had knee surgery when she was two years old to fix a loose patella!! It didn't cost anywhere near as much as my TKR. But.....I think I would be unhappy wearing the surgical collar afterwards.....
Yeah you would probably get some odd looks too. when my pups who has since gone on to the Rainbow Bridge had surgery to repair a torn acruciate tendon the whole treatment from initial visit through recovery cost less than $1500
Toodie's patella surgery was $2000. It's a HUGE amount to spend on a pet, and if she had been an older dog we probably wouldn't have done it. But, gosh....she was only 2 and had her whole life ahead. I'm really glad we did it now because she has been just fine. The surgeon thought her other knee might need it too, but once the bad one was fixed, it righted itself and hasn't been a problem either. (sounds like BoneSmart, doesn't it!)
