Hello, I just introduced myself in a previous thread. I have a situation I want some advice on that I am sure you may easily have experience with or an opinion on...
I took my very healthy rat, Dahlia (1 and 1/2 years old) to the vet today to have a gumball-sized lump on her side examined that I just noticed 2 days ago. I already knew it was a tumor before going to the vet but I don't have experience with this situation. I figured the vet would recommend surgery and he did. He said that her lump is in a good area for removal and the surgery will be no problem for her. He also explained that tumors often come back and that I should be aware of that and that he does not recommend surgery more than once for tumors (if it looks like they'll just keep cropping up). I appreciated his honesty. He also told me that many people elect not to do surgery and that it's a personal choice for me to make on the rat's behalf. I told him I would be interested in doing surgery and so he drew up a quote for me. When the receptionist went over the quote with me I was AMAZED by how expensive the surgery would be. It was quoted at just under $500 before taxes and not including post-op meds I might need to take home. I am SHOCKED. I read in other places online that this kind of surgery for small tumors is around $200. Is this because I live in Toronto? I am dealing with Dr. Luckwaldt at Amherst vet clinic in Scarborough where I have taken a different rat for various minor things. I like this clinic but am I paying too much? Any good vets in Toronto that offer a better pricing or is this a normal Toronto price? Also, I can only afford to do the surgery if I work a bunch of extra hours at my job...my boyfriend, who LOVES our rats too thinks I should just let Dahlia be and leave her tumor alone. So, what do you think about my quotation and about tumor surgery in general?
~Thank you for your comments.
I took my very healthy rat, Dahlia (1 and 1/2 years old) to the vet today to have a gumball-sized lump on her side examined that I just noticed 2 days ago. I already knew it was a tumor before going to the vet but I don't have experience with this situation. I figured the vet would recommend surgery and he did. He said that her lump is in a good area for removal and the surgery will be no problem for her. He also explained that tumors often come back and that I should be aware of that and that he does not recommend surgery more than once for tumors (if it looks like they'll just keep cropping up). I appreciated his honesty. He also told me that many people elect not to do surgery and that it's a personal choice for me to make on the rat's behalf. I told him I would be interested in doing surgery and so he drew up a quote for me. When the receptionist went over the quote with me I was AMAZED by how expensive the surgery would be. It was quoted at just under $500 before taxes and not including post-op meds I might need to take home. I am SHOCKED. I read in other places online that this kind of surgery for small tumors is around $200. Is this because I live in Toronto? I am dealing with Dr. Luckwaldt at Amherst vet clinic in Scarborough where I have taken a different rat for various minor things. I like this clinic but am I paying too much? Any good vets in Toronto that offer a better pricing or is this a normal Toronto price? Also, I can only afford to do the surgery if I work a bunch of extra hours at my job...my boyfriend, who LOVES our rats too thinks I should just let Dahlia be and leave her tumor alone. So, what do you think about my quotation and about tumor surgery in general?
~Thank you for your comments.
I've told a couple of friends about the situation and they think that I shouldn't do the surgery partly because of the price but also because the tumor could easily come back...I feel torn. I really want to do the surgery but I'd have to find a way to work more to pay for it and I already am working full time.
