PADS

 

Pet Affordable Dentistry and Surgery (PADS)

This is a program initially designed and begun in late 2014  to provide needed surgical or dental care for pets who may otherwise be unable to receive it due to financial reasons.  We wanted  to use our helping hands to allow people to take care of their furry friends.   We were so gratified with the results of the program and the many pets and their owners that we have helped, that we have decided to completely devote our practice to this. We are often asked how we can provide these services for fees so much lower than other hospitals.  We offer two responses:  1. We remember why we got into this profession in the first place, and it wasn't  to make money.  There are many easier ways to do that.  We want to help animals.  We help hundreds of pets yearly that would either be euthanized or suffer with treatable disease solely due to financial reasons.   2. By not providing other services and selling flea medications, pet food, shampoos, etc., our operating expenses are lower.

The goal of this program is to provide high-quality, yet affordable surgical and dental care for your pet.  We utilize an Accuvet CO2 laser to perform many of our surgical procedures.  The laser provides greater precision and less pain, bleeding, and swelling than a scalpel.  Please see below a list of common surgical and dental procedures that we perform.  For the sake of simplicity, all costs are included in the fee which covers necessary sedatives, anesthetics, anesthetic monitoring costs, surgical supplies, laser use, antibiotics, and take-home pain medications. ***   The fee also includes a consultation and patient examination.   Patients are treated on an outpatient basis, being admitted early in the morning, and most often sent home with you after anesthetic recovery in the late-morning or afternoon.  Patients are encouraged to have pre-anesthetic laboratory testing done by your veterinarian.  This is especially recommended for patients over seven years of age.  If a patient has been referred to us and has recent blood work results, please bring them with you.   ** $15 will be charged for an Elizabethan Collar (cone) if the doctor deems it necessary.**   There will be no other additional fees.   Full payment for the procedure is required at time of admission.  We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and CareCredit.  Since surgical and dental procedures take considerable time, it is imperative that we be notified as soon as possible if you will be unable to make an appointment, so that other patients may be scheduled. **** Missed appointments will not be re-scheduled if such notice is not given.**** 

Since these fees are considerably less than what is generally charged in veterinary hospitals, we will not provide any other routine, preventative health care, or non-surgical/dental procedures such as vaccinations, or elective surgeries such as neuters, spays, and declaws.  If another veterinarian has referred you to us, you will be sent back to them for any needed follow-up care, unless any immediate, post-operative complications arise.  In this unlikely event, we will treat the same at no additional charge.  Our goal is not to "steal" clients from other veterinary practices, but to provide care to patients that would otherwise receive no care or be euthanized due to financial reasons.  Again, routine, elective procedures such as spays, neuters, and declaws will not be provided under this program.  

Procedures/Fees (This is a partial list. Please call if a needed procedure is not listed).


ABSCESS TREATMENT (lance, debride and flush; place drains if needed) $275-$400

AMPUTATION OF TAIL      $480-$1200 depending on size of pet

AMPUTATION OF DIGIT (TOE)  $475-$850 depending on pet size

AURAL (EAR FLAP) HEMATOMA $500-$700 depending on pet size

CAESAREAN SECTION $900-$1700, depending on pet size

CHERRY EYE (PROLAPSED THIRD EYELID GLAND) $600 ONE EYE, $800 BOTH EYES

                  *****CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT SURGERY-SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE*****

CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT STABILIZATION USING LATERAL SUTURE TECHNIQUE $1450

      *We do not perform either the TPLO or TTA procedures for treating cruciate ligament rupture.

CYSTOTOMY (OPENING THE URINARY BLADDER TO REMOVE STONES OR GROWTHS) $1000 cats and female dogs, $1150 male dogs.  (Includes follow-up X-ray if needed) --- (Stone analysis to determine type recommended-- we will give you the removed stones to have your veterinarian have them analyzed).  A male dog with many small stones, especially those in the urethra, will often also need a urethrostomy surgery to help prevent re-obstruction.  This is another major surgical procedure and is generally beyond the scope of the PADS program, but may be performed in select cases. $2000

DENTAL SCALING AND POLISHING $475 routine.  $500 if simple extractions are needed, up to $800 if numerous/surgical extractions are needed.  Please see the following concerning dental radiography.  We realize that without our PADS program, many pets needing dentistry work will go un-treated, and we will still offer the cleaning, polishing, and extraction of any obviously diseased, painful, and infected teeth at these fees.  Unfortunately, although we do everything that we can to properly treat all visible dental disease, we may not be able to recognize significant disease without radiography.  PLEASE SEE BELOW THE INFORMATION CONCERNING STOMATITIS IN CATS.

NEW!  DENTISTRY CARE WITH FULL-MOUTH DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY $700-$1000  The use of intra-oral dental radiography (X-rays) allows us to detect dental disease below the gum line that may be causing pain in your pet that is not detectable by visible examination.  Studies have shown that 20-50% or more pets have painful dental disease that is not detectable without dental radiography.  Anyone that goes to their personal dentist can expect dental X-Rays.  It increases our ability to properly treat all diseased teeth, it increases the safety of potentially dangerous dental extractions that might cause jaw fracture due to severe bone loss around the tooth caused by disease that can’t be seen without radiography and helps ensure that tooth extractions are necessary and complete.  We will call you with an estimate on what we consider necessary following what we see on the radiographs.  Unfortunately, since pets won’t sit still with radiography sensors in their mouths, they will have to be anesthetized for this. Also please realize, that we do not extract teeth without significant disease.  It takes more time and effort and is more costly to us when extractions are necessary, but it can make a real difference in the quality of life and health for your pet.  Currently, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Dental College, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the American Animal Hospital Association all consider the use of dental radiography the standard of care when performing dentistry procedures today.  We are one of the few area hospitals that have invested in the equipment to be able to provide this, and we are proud to be able to offer the best dental care that we can. Also, please recognize that although we necessarily have higher fees for this service, the equipment we use is quite expensive, it takes a considerable amount more time and effort to perform the radiographs and to deal with additional disease not visible without radiography,  but it allows us to better identify and treat painful disease in your pet.  For more information, please see the dental radiography article page on the homepage.

***CONCERNING STOMATITIS IN CATS***—This is a poorly understood condition causing severe pain and discomfort in cats.  It consists of severe gingivitis and inflammation in the back of the mouth and throat.  Unfortunately, the most effective treatment is the extraction of all premolar and molar teeth, and in many cases, all teeth.  Many of these teeth will have the tooth roots fused to the bone and will require advanced surgical extraction procedures beyond the scope of our program, and a veterinary dental specialist should be employed.   For this reason, we do not attempt to treat these patients, and refer them to dentistry specialists.

ENUCLEATION (eye removal) $600 (cats and dogs less than 30 lbs.).  $750 (dogs over 30 lbs.).

ENTROPION/ECTROPION REPAIR (per eyelid) $525

EXPLORATORY LAPAROTOMY (dependent on condition) $700-$1500

FEMORAL HEAD AND NECK EXCISION (FHO) $1000-$1500 (depending on condition and pet size) This is considered a last-choice, salvage surgery to relieve pain, when no other options exist.  The ball (femoral head) of the ball and socket hip joint is removed to alleviate pain in an injured or diseased joint.  While cats and small dogs usually do very well, larger dogs usually still have an abnormal gait, even if they’re not painful. For chronic hip dysplasia, a total hip replacement is the best choice in a perfect world, but we realize that this may not be feasible for many people. Since this is not an emergency condition, we often recommend pain medication and limited exercise.  Many patients, especially younger ones, will do ok for years.  If they don’t, this gives time to save up for a hip replacement surgery, which is the best way to go in many cases.  Large-breed dogs are most often affected by hip dysplasia, and the results from this surgery in larger animals is unpredictable at best.  For this reason, we do not perform this surgery for hip dysplasia.  We typically only perform this procedure on select cases, usually traumatic hip dislocations on cats and small dogs, and select other cases, depending upon what condition exists, and will need medical records and radiographs to determine whether we can perform the procedure 

GASTROINTESTINAL FOREIGN BODY REMOVAL (simple) $1100-$1300 If intestinal resection/anastomosis or multiple incisions into stomach and/or intestines are necessary, $1600

SKIN GROWTH REMOVAL - LARGE (3 or more inches) $800-$1600 depending on complexity, size. and location*

SKIN GROWTH REMOVAL - MEDIUM (1-3 inches) $675-$800*

SKIN GROWTH REMOVAL - SMALL (less than 1 inch) $400-$650*

*THESE SKIN GROWTH REMOVAL FEES ARE ESTIMATIONS, AND MAY CHANGE DEPENDING ON LOCATION, INVASIVENESS OF GROWTH, DIFFICULTY INVOLVED IN EXCISION, THE AVAILABILITY OF SURROUNDING SKIN TO CLOSE THE INCISION AND INCISION SIZE.  WE WELCOME PHOTOS AND RECORDS, AND WE CAN GIVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE ON WHAT WE CAN DO BASED ON THEM, BUT AN EXAMINATION MAY BE NEEDED TO PROVIDE A DEFINITE FEE AMOUNT AND ALLOW US TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE CAN REMOVE THE GROWTH.  UNFORTUNATELY, PHOTOS AND RECORDS DON’T GIVE US ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO MAKE A TREATMENT PLAN.  THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR THE EXAM.  THE CONSULTATION WILL NEED TO BE SCHEDULED BETWEEN 7:00 and 7:30 AM, SINCE OUR SURGEONS ARE IN SURGERY LATER ON.  THIS IS THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE DAY FOR US, SO YOU MAY NOT ACTUALLY SPEAK WITH THE SURGEON, BUT REST ASSURED, A CAREFUL ASSESSMENT WILL BE MADE, AND COMMUNICATED TO YOU WITH OUR SKILLED STAFF.

HERNIA REPAIR - INGUINAL $825, UMBILICAL $425

INTUSSUSCEPTION $1000 (simple) --- If intestinal resection/anastomosis is needed, $1600

MASTECTOMY - SIMPLE/LUMPECTOMY $600-$1000, (depending upon size)—RADICAL (INVOLVING MULTIPLE GLANDS) $1000-$1600, depending on patient size and number of glands involved.

NASAL SKIN FOLD EXCISION $525

NEUTER (cryptorchid) $400 INGUINAL $800 ABDOMINAL

PYOMETRA (infected uterus) OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY $500-$1600  (DEPENDING ON PET SIZE)

SPLENECTOMY $1700

WOUND/LACERATION REPAIR (varies depending on size, location, and duration) $250 for small, fresh wound to $950 for complex, large, or infected wounds.

VULVOPLASTY  (removing excess skin overlying the vulva that may lead to skin irritation and recurring urinary tract infections)  $900


*****Cranial Cruciate Ligament Surgery*****

Surgical procedures performed to treat cruciate ligament injuries are generally one of the following:

1.      Osteotomy techniques such as the TPLO or TTA procedures where a portion of the tibia bone is cut and repositioned with bone plates  in order to stabilize the knee joint.  These procedures are very effective, but are more invasive, require more equipment, and are considerably more expensive.  Complications can be potentially severe since bone is cut and repositioned with plates and screws that may fail, or the bone not heal.  We do not perform these procedures.

2.      Extracapsular (outside of the joint) repair techniques where either strong nylon sutures, fiber tape, or other materials are implanted to replace the function of the torn cruciate ligament and stabilize the knee while the injured joint heals.  Complications are mainly implant infection or breakage in approximately 5% of cases.  These are the procedures we do.

3.      Intracapsular (inside the joint) repairs using various graft techniques; not done as often today as in the past.

Many studies show about an 85-90% success rate, regardless of procedure performed.  As a general rule, very large dogs or very active dogs will probably do better with an osteotomy procedure.  Also, dogs with chronic injuries often have significant degenerative and arthritic changes in the knee that will reduce the likelihood of an optimal recovery, regardless of which procedure is done.  It is important with any cruciate surgery to remove the remnants of the damaged ligament and to inspect the menisci (wedges of cartilage between the femur and tibia that act as shock absorbers)  in the joint for damage and to remove any damaged portions as they cannot heal and cause pain.

Not every dog is a candidate for the extracapsular techniques.  We use several factors to judge if our techniques are suitable for a given patient.  Some of these are body weight, age, level of expected activity, duration of the injury, amount of arthritis or degenerative joint disease present, and your dog’s particular anatomy.  Radiographs (X-rays) of the knee are helpful and are suggested to be provided to determine whether your pet is a good candidate for the procedures that we perform.  We evaluate every patient on a case-by-case basis and will give our best recommendations.


Here is a link to the ACVS Website with more information about this condition:

https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/cranial-cruciate-ligament-disease

For conditions not listed, please call the office to inquire.

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