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Original poster

£563 vet bill estimation for an x-Ray?

36 replies

catandgirlmum · 03/10/2023 22:39

I have already posted this several hours ago on the litter tray page but no response so trying on here to see if anyone has been through similar or might know what my cat has done to his toe!

Hi,
I'm hoping there will be someone who has been through similar or is a vet on here who can give me an opinion on what is wrong with my cats toe?
I noticed on Saturday his toe was swollen, red and seemed to be hurting him so I gave him some metacam I have left over from his sisters spaying op and waited over the weekend to see if it went down. He was still eating, playing and cheerful (he's only 6 months old)
Anyway swelling hasn't gone down but redness has. The toe is floppy and easily manipulated and doesn't seem to be causing him any pain at all now. He lay there happily purring as I was poking it earlier.
Took him to vets today and they have suspected broken toe and want to x-Ray. They have just sent me an email with estimation cost and I can't believe my eyes!!!! Will also attach this! I'm thinking I need another opinion before going ahead with this? Any ideas?

£563 vet bill estimation for an x-Ray?
£563 vet bill estimation for an x-Ray?
OP posts:
purpleme12 · 03/10/2023 22:40

God it's so sad the cost of vets 😞
I hope someone can help. I've got no experience of this myself

Floralnomad · 03/10/2023 22:43

Can you post the whole bill so we can read what the amounts are for . I assume at that cost they are anaesthetising him not just sedating .

countrygirl99 · 03/10/2023 22:44

If you had to pay for one yourself you'd be shocked at the cost and you wouldn't need sedating/anaesthetic.

Original poster
catandgirlmum · 03/10/2023 22:50

This is the itemisation of everything I've been charged for two hospitalisation which must be a mistake? And also would be need a bandage if having his toe x-rayed? It costs £73 for the application of a bandage!

£563 vet bill estimation for an x-Ray?
OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 03/10/2023 22:51

£563 seems really expensive for an x-ray, I would definitely ring around other vets and get an estimate from them for the price of an x-ray.

Original poster
catandgirlmum · 03/10/2023 22:54

Surely if his toe was broken he would be in pain with it? It's almost like he's lost the feeling in it though and doesn't even notice if I touch it..

OP posts:
Rubyruby101 · 03/10/2023 23:19

Does around the claw look sore ? Maybe he caught it or could he have been stung ? I would leave it for a few days & see if it gets better by itself .

IntheSnowySnowyMountains · 04/10/2023 00:20

countrygirl99 · 03/10/2023 22:44

If you had to pay for one yourself you'd be shocked at the cost and you wouldn't need sedating/anaesthetic.

I'm in a private healthcare system in Europe and three x-rays of a limb would not cost that much! (My bills show the full amount, not just the percentage to be paid by the patient, before anyone asks.)

It does sound a lot - we 'only' paid €550 for a full-body scan of our cat, including blood tests and anaesthetic.

ScattyHattie · 04/10/2023 00:24

It's worrying that he's not showing any sensation to being touched as it would suggest there's some issues with the nerves. Maybe it's dislocated the toe. Most animals are quite stoic so unless very acute pain like being stood on so he maybe trying to pretend he's not vulnerable and the signs of pain will be more subtle.

Not sure if reasonably for a cat x-ray as vet fees vary significantly by location and whether being seen at a GP vet or a referral specialist/hospital. So you could try asking another local vets for quote, though may depend on how urgent your vet thinks it is.

They could be charging standard inpatient cattery fee and the half day is for nurse post GA care to make sure they recover ok. The bandaging could be a cast if they think it maybe a fracture.

eurochick · 04/10/2023 06:32

I've just paid £650 to have my cat's leg x-rayed. The anaesthetising was the bulk of the cost.

Autumn1990 · 04/10/2023 06:53

That’s a lot. Our dog has been in for a couple of days and had an op for less than that! This year as well. Find a different vet

Original poster
catandgirlmum · 04/10/2023 06:59

Thanks everyone for your opinions. I'm going to call another vets in the area today and ask for a quote there. He's such a timid cat so gets so scared going to the vets so I don't want to be passing him from pillar to post but at the same time £500+ for an x-Ray that the vet told me would take '10 minutes' just makes me so anxious for the extra costs of how much it would be if he ended up needing his toe amputating (which she said could be a potential outcome).

OP posts:
Original poster
catandgirlmum · 04/10/2023 07:01

ScattyHattie · 04/10/2023 00:24

It's worrying that he's not showing any sensation to being touched as it would suggest there's some issues with the nerves. Maybe it's dislocated the toe. Most animals are quite stoic so unless very acute pain like being stood on so he maybe trying to pretend he's not vulnerable and the signs of pain will be more subtle.

Not sure if reasonably for a cat x-ray as vet fees vary significantly by location and whether being seen at a GP vet or a referral specialist/hospital. So you could try asking another local vets for quote, though may depend on how urgent your vet thinks it is.

They could be charging standard inpatient cattery fee and the half day is for nurse post GA care to make sure they recover ok. The bandaging could be a cast if they think it maybe a fracture.

I did think about dislocation. Because if you look at the picture it does look like the toe is much further out than the other toes.

OP posts:
user1471542018 · 04/10/2023 07:04

The estimate seems to be for general anaesthesia, X-rays, pain relief and bandage, presumably after returning the toe to its normal position. It would take longer than 10mins to do all that, and would cost similar at vets local to me.

viccat · 04/10/2023 07:08

Do you not have pet insurance? This is exactly why cat rescues and reputable breeders recommend insurance. As he's only young it would cost about £20 per month and you wouldn't have to worry about getting him treatment. Too late now but definitely consider it going forward and for your other cat.

It's the anesthesia that adds to the cost and isn't comparable to private medical care for humans as we would of course be able to have an X-ray without.

Ceraunophile · 04/10/2023 07:08

The bandage will be for the catheter for the GA not for the toe.
I was just charged similar amounts for my cat to have an X-ray on her leg.

LaurieFairyCake · 04/10/2023 07:09

Well they don't do anything for a broken toe do they?

I wouldn't bother, just get painkillers if it's hurting him and keep him in and rested as far as possible

Dessertinthedesert · 04/10/2023 07:11

IntheSnowySnowyMountains · 04/10/2023 00:20

I'm in a private healthcare system in Europe and three x-rays of a limb would not cost that much! (My bills show the full amount, not just the percentage to be paid by the patient, before anyone asks.)

It does sound a lot - we 'only' paid €550 for a full-body scan of our cat, including blood tests and anaesthetic.

Show quote history

How much would a GA be?

The bandage will be for where the cannula was sited.

SnowflakeCity · 04/10/2023 07:16

viccat · 04/10/2023 07:08

Do you not have pet insurance? This is exactly why cat rescues and reputable breeders recommend insurance. As he's only young it would cost about £20 per month and you wouldn't have to worry about getting him treatment. Too late now but definitely consider it going forward and for your other cat.

It's the anesthesia that adds to the cost and isn't comparable to private medical care for humans as we would of course be able to have an X-ray without.

But cats get a GA to be neutered and it costs way less than that for the whole op and GA?

I'm in Ireland not the UK but things are generally more expensive here and my dog had sedation and an xray with contrast dye(or something like that) and pain killers and it was €150. Over £500 seems extortionate.

romdowa · 04/10/2023 07:22

countrygirl99 · 03/10/2023 22:44

If you had to pay for one yourself you'd be shocked at the cost and you wouldn't need sedating/anaesthetic.

Here in Ireland I can get an private xray for €180 and an mri for €350 euro.
I can also get my pet xrayed with sedation for €200. Bandaging would be including in the cost of the consultantation

Ceraunophile · 04/10/2023 07:25

Ceraunophile · 04/10/2023 07:08

The bandage will be for the catheter for the GA not for the toe.
I was just charged similar amounts for my cat to have an X-ray on her leg.

Cannula not catheter 🤦🏻‍♀️
Its early…

wildwestpioneer · 04/10/2023 07:26

Unfortunately anytime you put an animal under general anaesthetic it seems like a licence to print money for the vets.

We were quoted over £800 for an X-ray and scan.

We've just had a few vet appointments for our dog and one general and it's came to over £1200 in total. Thank god for insurance, although that now seems to be coming with a bunch of terms and conditions now, a % off for this and that and of course the excess.

Sorry for the rant, I hope your cat is ok.

Original poster
catandgirlmum · 04/10/2023 07:35

viccat · 04/10/2023 07:08

Do you not have pet insurance? This is exactly why cat rescues and reputable breeders recommend insurance. As he's only young it would cost about £20 per month and you wouldn't have to worry about getting him treatment. Too late now but definitely consider it going forward and for your other cat.

It's the anesthesia that adds to the cost and isn't comparable to private medical care for humans as we would of course be able to have an X-ray without.

I do have pet insurance for my older 2 kitties and had 4 weeks free pet insurance for my younger two that ran out last week Sad I am making it top priority today to insure them! Just typical this would happen in the week he isn't insured!

OP posts:
Original poster
catandgirlmum · 04/10/2023 07:39

wildwestpioneer · 04/10/2023 07:26

Unfortunately anytime you put an animal under general anaesthetic it seems like a licence to print money for the vets.

We were quoted over £800 for an X-ray and scan.

We've just had a few vet appointments for our dog and one general and it's came to over £1200 in total. Thank god for insurance, although that now seems to be coming with a bunch of terms and conditions now, a % off for this and that and of course the excess.

Sorry for the rant, I hope your cat is ok.

Oh wow that's a crazy cost Sad

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 04/10/2023 11:05

Unfortunately anaesthetic always costs a lot . I’d be tempted to just check what treatment they would be giving if it is broken because if they are going to say rest then I would probably go with that first .