The owners of a French bulldog named Matisse were shocked to see a bill for over $37,000 from their veterinarian in order to save their dogs life.
The dog’s owners, Sabrina and Daniele had noticed Matisse’s back legs had been very unsteady and “wobbly”, and being concerned dog parents, they took their five-year-old pup to the veterinarian. That was Easter Sunday; the couple had taken their dog to the vet twice that day and returned home.
When Matisse developed difficulty breathing, the couple rushed her back to Sydney Veterinarian Emergency & Specialists, who placed her in an oxygen block and were told she would need to stay the night and have testing done the next day to diagnose her condition.
According to the Daily Mail, the couple had been required to leave a $3,000 deposit and to sign waivers to permit testing that needed to be performed. Matisse underwent scans and tests and was told she required surgery to save her life. Meanwhile the owners had been receiving estimates, and the amount continued to increase.
The initial quote provided to the couple had been $8,900, however the price quickly escalated. Testing, surgery and six days in the hospital added up to $36,896.19. The charges included a public holiday surcharge (Easter Sunday) of $4,084.07, spinal surgery for $3,250, CT scans for $2,750 along with 15 paracetamol pills for $44.00.
The couple asked the veterinarian hospital to adjust the bill, but the veterinarian would not oblige the couple who did not have pet insurance. Sabrina told A Current Affair on Monday that she sold some of her designer purses to pay for Matisse’s care.
Veterinarians do need to be more upfront about costs so people can make decisions. In this case, the pet owners paid $5,000 for Matisse. There is no doubt they love her very much, but this breed has a history of breed-related health problems, and either pet insurance or a future plan for medical intervention should be considered.
The family agreed the veterinary hospital did save the life of their beloved dog. They were able to raise $29,000 towards the dog’s hospital care, and Matisse was released to the family although a balance is still outstanding.
In a statement, Sydney Veterinarian Emergency & Specialists (SVES) said Daniele and Sabrina agreed to the cost before treatment.
“Our hospital is a Specialty and Emergency Hospital and provides the highest level of care by a team of Specialist Veterinary Surgeons, often in emergency situations. As is our standard practice, the client was made aware of and consented to the cost for this unique and critical case prior to treatment after choosing between alternative treatment options.
The client also obtained a second opinion with an independent third party about the proposed treatment and costs prior to consenting to the cost of the surgery.“
Caring for our dogs have often compared with medical care for humans.
(Photos via screenshots from the Daily Mail)
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