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[Harleys Mom]

Hi Louise,

Interesting that your cost for medication is higher in Canada. I'm getting Harley's Itra through a Canadian pharmacy because the name brand is A LOT cheaper that way than anywhere near me. Of course I'd still treat him even if I did have to pay US prices for his medication. Next year's trip to Europe would have to be put off for another year but Harley would still be here & that matters more to me.

[Louise]

My vet does a lot of work in other countries - neuter and spade programs.  She said, that in her travels, she could not believe the differences in costs of medicines from place to place, country to country and even within regions.  If the medicines all come from the same place, why does what we pay for them depend on where we live?  She mentioned specifically a drug that here, costs about $35 for a small glass vile.  She was in South American working in a clinic and someone dropped a full vile - she almost pitched a fit and they looked at her like she lost her mind - there it was only pennies.  I went to the pharmacy in town to get one days dose - 4x100mg tablets of fluconazole for Ish - it was $34.89 ($10.49 dispensing fee).  At that rate, Ish's treatment would cost $2236.99, for 3 months, had I bought is there.  I called the Victoria Compouding Pharmacy in BC and got a 3 month supply of 2x210mg capsules of compounded fluconazole for $500 (no shipping charges as it went straight to my vet).  That is a huge difference.

When it comes to the costs, of treatment, is not everyone feeling some pressure?  I live in a modest house, in a rural Ontario area.  There is no big bucks here.  I would say that I am middle class.  There is no money for vacations to start with.  It is not like I can forgo a luxury item for a while while the dog is sick.  I have to look at the everyday bills - cutting those back.  My husband got paid yesterday - I spent almost 1/2 his paycheque at the vet this morning, alone - over 2 weeks of his pay since Monday.  We still need to eat, pay bills. 

I cannot imagine how difficult it has been for many of you who have gone through this for a year, or had relapses, or who have been dealing with a sick animal and have found yourself ill as well.  This is an expensive (financially, emotionally) life or death illness.  I have not spoken to anyone, besides those of you here, that get that. 

I jokingly said to my kids "Merry Christmas, Ish might live" because in reality, any money that I though I might have for Christmas is now gone.  They love their dog, but they are teenagers - need I say more.

[gunner]

Yes, we do understand completely! 

I had to take Gunner to the vet yesterday as she had broken a toe nail right off at the hairline and it looked like it was getting infected.  I almost jokingly called Gunner "my little money pit" and said we don't have retirement anymore, but we have Gunner.  The vet said that if I had my retirement money in the markets, that I wouldn't have it anyway, so with it all sunk into Gunner, we are really money ahead.  ha ha ha    That made perfect sense to me. 

I really feel for you and your teen-agers at Christmas.  Teens seem to ever so much mark their self worth by how many designer lables and name brands they can cram onto their bodies and into their pockets.  Time to get really creative to make a fantastic Christmas without all of the consumer pressures.  Far easier said than done having been there myself more Christmas's than I care to count. 
Joyce

[mhitesman]

Agreed.  Vet expenses for blasto can be awful.  It is not uncommon for people to euthanize rather than treat due to expected expenses associated with treatment.  My non-blasto dog is in vet rehab 3 hours away after nasty surgery, and that bill makes my blasto bills look small.  I have advised my daughter to never consider getting a dog until she has thousands of dollars in the bank of truly disposable income -- because she will need it.  Some people get lucky, but I don't know too many of those it seems.

It is a huge commitment -- one I certainly did not realize (financially) until relatively recently.  But one that will shape my decisions in the future for sure.  But, it is a commitment I made, and as long as I can give up something to give my dogs a good life, that is what I will do without reservation.  Fortunately, while this is a sacrifice we make, it does not mean house payments, utility bills, and food are at risk.  It does mean there is no vacation this year or next.  It also means we have to try to rebuild savings as fast as possible (once this cash outflow ends if it ever does) to get ready for the next "wave".

If it truly meant that my house, bills, or food were at risk, I would try to find a rescue organization to help me or to take my dog.  CareCredit offers low cost financing for vet procedures.  I have not had good luck with pet insurance, but some larger cities offer good plans.  Banfield has a decent policy, I guess, but Banfield also has some of the worse vets in America.

I plan to investigate that Walgreens plan that someone mentioned.... it includes fluconazole.  Did you catch that, Louise?  ...and pets qualify for the discount.   IF you could get fluconazole for $30/month, how great would that be?  Anyway, I have to research it ...someone please jump in here and tell us again?

[Harleys Mom]

Hi all,

I was the one who mentioned WalGreens drug plan. I don't know if all WalGreens are the same but the one near me has a sign at the front door that says pets are eligible & Fluconozole is on the list. They have like a $30 membership fee & then the medication is around $10 a week. It's definitely worth checking into. Wal-Mart & other pharmacies have their own prescription plans so if you don't have a WalGreens, maybe one of the others takes pets & has Flucon.