What is average cost for surgical and drain for aural haematomas procedure done on my dog ear?

Question

My 12 years old dog is getting old and he is having some health problem. His ear has balloon up and I bought it to the vet and they told me it will cost $900 for this procedure. Is this a reasonable price? Can anyone recommend a good vet for a reasonable fee in the SF, CA area? He also has this little blood bubble near his butt. Can this be cancer? I know it is a lot of question but I want to make the right decision to help my dog feel better. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I don't know what to tell you. What is normal in CA may not be normal anyplace else. If the dog is getting many kinds of tumor type growths it may well be some kind of cancer or just the aging process. My Baby I had put down 6 mos. ago had many growths and her lymph nodes were swollen. Sometimes up and then down,. I had had several removed, tumor type growths over the years and it wasn't cheap. What I did was try to make her comfortable, she had arthritis. so, I put her on half an asprin in Am and again in PM three times a week to keep her tummy from getting upset I gave with can food. She drank and ate ok so, I left everything else alone. When she got to the point where she seemed to just not be joyful, It's hard to explain but if you know your dog you will know when that happens,. I just thought she was in pain. Dogs don't talk about pain, they don't cry, it shows weakness and in the wild that would be the end of them, weakness was not good. So, when I knew the joy was gone, no pleasure in chasing her ball, or seeing people she really enjoyed seeing, not barking like ususal. I decided she deserved peace. She was at least 14 yrs. old and she may have been older. I gave her up to God. So, if this condition isn't cancer and it going to cost that mush I would ask the vet, does he expect this to continue? Go to another vet maybe, one in a more rural area. Ask everyone, maybe a vet's assistant would be willing to reffer you someplace else. It really is up to you, have you tried hot packs, I did that with Baby, hot packs all day and night to get a boil to soften and drain. It works sometimes if we just do the work. The blood bubble sounds like a cyst too. Try the hot packs there too. Use washcloths or hand towels and heat in micro in plastic baggies then remove and place on the area. Keep the bags and reuse....be sure to bleach the towels and keep just for this purpose. The asprin may help any pain also. So, use your own judgement and remember you love the dog and spending a fortune you can't afford doesn't mean you love the dog any less. Don't listen to anyone that tells you that. God knows your heart and so do I. I wish you luck. God bless this dog and this dog lover and heal this dog and help this dog lover know what to do and when to do it please Amen. Also, salt water packs are best.

Answer 2

It does sound a little expensive for the procedure $450 AUD. Your dollar is worth more than ours so it should be cheaper. You would spend more if it included removal of the lump and preanaesthetic bloods. I would ring around and ask a few clinics for approximate cost of an aural haematoma repair and a minor lump removal. Tell them you dont have insurance. Aural haematomas do not necessarily need repair. Your dogs ear canal should have been looked in at the initial consult as these haematomas are caused by your dog shaking its head vigorously. This is usually due to grass seed or allergies in Australia. Your vet would be an ace on what are your local causes. The head shaking ruptures the aurical (ear) vessels and a haematoma forms. Because there is not much soft tissue the haematoma is poorly absorbed and the ear gets a characteristic balloon shape. Untreated the ear will become somewhat 'cauliflowered' or misshapen. You can get the ear drained with just a needle but often the haematoma will return. Surgery involves anaesthetic cost, surgical drainage and bandage to help stop the haematoma reforming and to help the ear retain its shape. It requires a few post surgical visits. It is possible that your estimate including preanaesthetic blood profiling or screening which is strongly recommended in all countries for dogs over 8 years old. You can request that this is not done if you are concerned about cost. As long as your dog is generally well, the procedure is generally quick enough that any blood changes should not affect the outcome. The 'blood bubble' could be anything. Have it removed and sent for histopathology if at all concerned when you have the ear repaired. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The blood bubble on his but is not likely to be cancerous. I will see what i can find for the ear surgery. that does sound mighty steep! It sure wouldn't cost that much here..
This organization may be of help> http://www.sfspca.org/hospital/index.shtml
Links on the left sidebar> http://sf.urbanhound.com/houndHealth/lowCostCare.asp
If you can't get a good referral from one of those sources, you might try for the Care Credit card.. It is no-interest card to be used for veterinary care, and it allows up to 18 months to repay.. all of the vets in my state accept this card..
You can apply on-line, and know within minutes if you have been approved.. All it requires is a steady source of income.
http://carecredit.com/patients/whatis.htm
For veterinary care, go to this page, and click on "professions', and scroll down to 'veterinary'.
http://carecredit.com/providerloc/

In my area, that proceedure would run about $250.

Answer 4

relies upon on how undesirable that's... whether that's standard or minor they could often do it decrease than sedation which expenses much less. whether that's somewhat undesirable then standard anesthetic could be required, making it extra costly. 3 hundred-4 hundred is declared to the standard the place Im from for the sedation way, one extra 150ish in the event that they do anesthetic.