Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ok everyone, we're going to get personal here, but this topic does fall into our mission to provide support and resources for pawrents, so we hope you guys are alright with this.
When pawrents ask "What's amputation/chemotherapy cost?" we always respond with "it depends…." We realize this isn't a clear answer, and feel like we should have some more concrete info for them. It's terrible that we have to put a dollar cost on treatments for our best friends, but that's just the way it is I suppose.
So we are kicking off the following discussion, so people can see what others have paid in their part of the world, for amputation and chemotherapy.
Here are the questions we would love for pawrents to answer as best they can, in as few words as possible.
Please copy and paste the questions into your Reply, followed by your brief answers.
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation?
- Total cost of surgery?
- Private practice or teaching hospital?
Chemotherapy Costs
- What kind of cancer does your dog have?
- What size is your dog?
- Type of chemo given?
- # of sessions?
- Total cost of treatments?
- Private practice or teaching hospital?
Knowing that there are so many variables like pre-op costs, complications, supplements, etc., there's no way to give an exact number. Ballpark estimates are fine. If you'd like to provide more information, feel free to start a new topic and link to this. We just want basic info here.
Soon we will conduct our first in-depth Tripawds survey which will cover more territory. For now, we think this is a good start to help pawrents out when they are faced with the amputation and chemo decision.
Thank you so much for any input you wish to share!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry's Experience
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? Davis, California, U.S., 2006
- Total cost of surgery? $1,800 (high estimate, includes immediate pre/post-op costs).
- Private practice or teaching hospital? University of CA Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 75 pounds
- Type of chemo given? Metronomic (low dose oral) chemotherapy
- # of sessions? Daily dose, 7 months total
- Total cost of treatments? Approx $1,000
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country did your Tripawd have the amputation? Grand Rapids, MI, US, 2009
- Total cost of surgery? $1,300
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private Practice (Cascade Hospital for Animals)
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 40 pounds
- Type of chemo given? Adriamycin
- # of sessions? 4
- Total cost of treatments? $2000 ($500 every 3 weeks)
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private Practice (Michigan Veterinary Specialists)
Max's Experience:
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country did your Tripawd have the amputation? Fountain Valley/CA/USA
- Total cost of surgery? $1,400 (this is surgery only, not counting his boarding or medicines)
- Date of Surgery: November 23, 2008
- Private practice or teaching hospital? VCA All Care Animal Referral Center
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 65 lbs
- Type of chemo given? carboplatin/then metronomic protocol
- # of sessions? 6 carbo/6 months metronomics
- Total cost of treatments? $6,000 (carbo; 6 sessions at $1000 per session)/sorry, didn't keep the receipts from metronomics pills
- Date of treatments: carbo 12/6/08 - 3/21/09/metronomics 4/25/09 - 11/2/09
- Private practice or teaching hospital? VCA All Care Animal Referral Center
I want to add that Max's chemo was so expensive because carboplatin has a very small percentage for side effects; at least that's the reason the hospital gave us for its higher cost than other chemo agents. Also, most of Max's metronomics pills were not too expensive, just the actual chemo pill.
Diane
Trouble's Experience:
Amputation Costs - Amputation date Nov 26, 2008
- What city/state/country did your Tripawd have the amputation? Beaumont/TX/USA
- Total cost of surgery? $1,000 (includes boarding & medicines, rounded up just a few $$)
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice – Beaumont West Animall Care
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 63 lbs start – 55 lbs end (Trouble was overweight and had to loose some tonage)
- Type of chemo given? carboplatin
- # of sessions? 5 - every three weeks beginning 2 weeks post amputation.
- Total cost of treatments? $600/ea (carbo, bloodwork, anti-nausea meds) If I recall correctly another $100+ for bloodwork 1 week after each treatment
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice – Beaumont West Animall Care /consulting with Texas A&M University
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? Cadillac, MI, USA, 8/14/09
- Total cost of surgery? $840.00 (surgery and meds)
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice – Meyer Veterinary Clinic
Chemotherapy Costs - N/A
Michelle
Thanks sooo much everyone! Keep 'em coming!
And Rocky, thanks for putting the N/A for chemo, I forgot to mention that even if you didn't have chemo you can still participate in the amputation info part.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? Davis, CA
- Total cost of surgery? $1800
- Private practice or teaching hospital? UCDavis Teaching Hospital
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 40-44 pounds
- Type of chemo given? Gemzar Study-inhalation chemo
- # of sessions? 2 times a week for 5.5 months......
- Total cost of treatments? $0. did not pay for labwork. Only paid for Xrays every other month.
- Private practice or teaching hospital? UCDavis Teaching Hospital
May 2001-Jan 21, 2010.....I'm a dog and I'm AWESOME!..... Always.
What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? - Austin, Texas
Total cost of surgery? - $3000, surgery and medication
Private practice or teaching hospital? - private practice
What size is your dog? - 30lbs
For Stas. October/November 2009 Very happy with total treatment. Highly recommend.
Amputation Costs
* What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? Milwaukee, WI
* Total cost of surgery?
1. Needle biopsy at regular vet: $300.00
2. Consult with Doggie Oncologist: $100.00
3. Biopsy of tumor and needle biopsies on 2 fatty tumors: $800.00
4. Amputation of right front leg from shoulder: $2500. No additional costs on follow ups or meds
* Private practice or teaching hospital? Private Practice. The Animal Emergency and Oncology Center
Chemotherapy Costs N/A
* What size is your dog? 65 Pounds
* Type of chemo given?
* # of sessions?
* Total cost of treatments?
* Private practice or teaching hospital?
Emily's Experience:
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did you Tripawd have the amputation? Columbus, Ohio, USA, 2009
- Total cost of surgery? $1751 & $516 for pre-op tests totaling $2267
- Private Practice or Teaching Hospital? The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 65 pounds
- Type of chemo given? Combined study of Carboplatin/Gemcitabine
- # of sessions? 4
- Total cost of treatments? $1230 total (Gemcitabine was at no cost)
- Private practice or teaching hospital? OSU Vet. Teaching Hospital
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? Canton, MI, US
- Total cost of surgery? Approx $2500
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice, Animal Cancer Center in Canton, MI, Dr. Joyce Obradovich was the oncologist and Dr. Richard Walshaw was the surgeon.... highly recommended!
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 128 at time of surgery, 148 now! (Great Dane)
- Type of chemo given? Carboplatin and metronomic chemotherapy
- # of sessions? 4 rounds of carboplatin then daily piroxicam after (cytoxan for a month but had some problems with it)
- Total cost of treatments? Approx $2500
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
Amputation Costs
What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? Clarendon Hills, IL (Chicago suburb)
Total cost of surgery? ~$2500 including meds and overnight stay
Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice
Chemotherapy Costs ~$400/treatment not including anti-nausea meds or bloodwork
What size is your dog? 30 pounds
Type of chemo given? Carboplatin
# of sessions? 6
Total cost of treatments? (just finished 1st of 6 - so don't have total cost yet)
Private practice or teaching hospital? private practice
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Dad said that you just wanted to demonstrate that he was a little soft in the head, but we do have details. After the initial diagnosis by my local vet, Dr. Rensink of Del Valle Pet Hospital, dad interacted with a single facility which coordinated all activities of Veterinary Medical Specialists, Veterinary Surgical Associates, and Tri-Valley Animal Emergency Center. My oncologist, Dr Rankin of VMS, was dad's single point of contact and I have added the expenses of initial diagnosis and consultation. As you can see these costs were not trivial but reflect the complete testing and diagnosis that was done, which allowed for quick diagnosis. Note: from first visit at my local vet to the surgery was only five days which included a weekend.
Initial Diagnosis & Consultation
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have this initial diagnosis & pre-treatment consulation/tests? – Livermore, CA & Dublin, CA – November 14, 2008 & November 17, 2008
- Total cost? – $1400.00
- Private practice or teaching hospital? – Private practice
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? – Dublin, California – November 19, 2008
- Total cost of surgery? – $3600.00
- Private practice or teaching hospital? – Private Practice
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? – 43lb post amputation
- Type of chemo given? - Carboplatin
- # of sessions? – 4 starting just hours after surgery then every three weeks
- Total cost of treatments? $6000.00 (approx $1500.00 each)
- Private practice or teaching hospital? – Private Practice
Just hope that this does not scare anyone considering options from a diagnosis of Osteosarcoma for a more senior dog. I may have turned eleven the day before surgery, and did have some slight difficulties with the chemotherapy, I had a wonderful life afterward. Thanks to all my TriPawd friends who help dad during this time.
Spirit Cherry
Amputation Costs
- What city/state/country/date did your Tripawd have the amputation? Montreal area (Chambly)/Canada/ Jully 30th 2009
- Total cost of surgery? approx 2700$ ( 3-night stay at the clinic)
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private practice
Chemotherapy Costs
- What size is your dog? 138 lbs prior amputation / 125 lbs now
- Type of chemo given? Carboplatin
- # of sessions? 4
- Total cost of treatments? 3000$ (750$ each, blood tests included)
- Private practice or teaching hospital? Private Practice
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