OP: You did the right thing when you noticed blood mixed in with the waste. The only wrong thing was in taking your dog to a new vet, but I do understand that you had no other option.

You are a responsible pet parent.

People also get sticker shock at the overall price.

For humans, we pay into / participate in a larger scheme* that makes it look like $10, $90, $200 bills are “what things cost.”

Scheme is not being said pejoratively. Scheme, plan, system, structure.

For pets, outside of small coverage pet insurance that almost no one has, you’re seeing the real cost of medicine. It’s not like the wild Wild West like someone put it. It’s like the old town doctor in 1900.

Anonymous wrote:They just called me and offered to take $300 off the ICU bill

I don't know how hard it is to find a vet in your area. Mine just retired and I have been having a heck of a time finding one. So for me, I'd pay the bill. Thing is this. The error was discharging. The end result would have been the same - the need for additional care due to the reaction to the anesthesia. Had they done everything right, you still would have additional bills to pay because of the bad reaction to the anesthesia.

Also, as far as relying on google for information, you need to realize that there is virtually nothing you will google relating to health issues with a dog that the recommendation is not a vet appointment. You will go broke as a dog owner if you run to the vet for everything google tells you to run to the vet for.

The xray is to rule out foreign body objects.

Yes? Surgery (or possibly wait to pass, depending on what is seen)
No? Treat for diarrhea.

Anonymous wrote:I've come to the conclusion that veterinary medicine is a lot of guess and test and a ton is unknown. There aren't rigorous FDA approved trials like there are for humans, there's a huge range in the biology of even just dogs let alone other species, and there's been far less money spent on research. It's the wild wild west of medicine. You can expect human-like outcomes.

This isn’t true.

I think the scammy part is recommending an X-ray for an elderly dog with diarrhea and a tiny bit of blood in it. My last dog would get that whenever he ate food off the ground (like a stray chicken bone he found) and they always just gave us antibiotics.

Anonymous wrote:You got off easy.

I’ve been charged 3x they for X-ray and bloodwork that led to nothing.
I don’t understand how sedation can lead to a fever, that indicates infection.

I've come to the conclusion that veterinary medicine is a lot of guess and test and a ton is unknown. There aren't rigorous FDA approved trials like there are for humans, there's a huge range in the biology of even just dogs let alone other species, and there's been far less money spent on research. It's the wild wild west of medicine. You can expect human-like outcomes.

Anonymous wrote:They just called me and offered to take $300 off the ICU bill

Just don't pay the other $1000 of the ICU portion. Pay for the X-ray and sedation, and tell them that you are not paying for the ICU cost since it was their fault. No need to do anything else. I guarantee that they will not follow up with you.

They just called me and offered to take $300 off the ICU bill

It can't be said often enough: Avoid PE owned businesses for medical care whenever possible. It's not always possible, of course-- like a lot of physician groups are PE owned, including ER.

Healthcare and profit are an evil combo.

Anonymous wrote:They admitted they messed up? Yeah, I'd ask for all follow up care to be covered.

I'm sorry, OP. That really sucks.

+1

I'm sorry for your dog and agree with you that modern Vets are scammers.

Op again. The vet also admitted they screwed up. Said hindsight was 20/20, she gave the wrong sedative, and the other doc said they should never have discharged him in that state and they would make sure it never happens again etc etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People bring their dog to the vet just because they have diarrhea?

Now OP knows. Doesn't excuse the vet doing unnecessary work.

Op here I was trying to be responsible. I saw a drop of blood in it and googled what to do and it said go to vet. I really was trying to do right by him and give him the best care.

Anonymous wrote:People bring their dog to the vet just because they have diarrhea?

Now OP knows. Doesn't excuse the vet doing unnecessary work.