cost of scent gland tumor removal?

[reesesturtles]

So Tribbles, a 2.5 year old male in good health, has a scent gland tumor. It's not bothering him at all and he doesn't do anything to irritate it. But it is gradually getting larger. My regular small pet vet quoted a $400-$450 price tag to remove the tumor.

This seems unusually high to me. What have some of you paid for scent gland tumor removal?

I do plan on calling a couple other small animal vets in the area to compare costs.

[rhianna]

I've never inquired about the cost of a scent gland tumor removal because none of my gerbils have had one yet, but I think $400 is a bit steep. I once had a rat with a tumor on her neck that cost around $150 to remove. I suggest looking around for other vets, but don't just settle with a not-so-great vet simply for a good price. Make sure they're trustworthy and know what they're doing first. Good luck

[reesesturtles]

A small animal vet who works at a nearby clinic and also has the mobile vet service I posted about in another thread told me she can excise the tumor with laser. She quoted me $150 total for anasthesia, surgery, and pain meds. I'll be scheduling the surgery for Tribbles for next Wednesday or Thursday.

It isn't just the lower price though. I really like that she is going to use laser which should heal more quickly and reduce infection risk and I get to take Tribbles home with me that night instead of having to leave him overnight in a strange place "for observation". This vet is reasonable with what she charges and also compassionate. She even called me personally to ask how Jaxom (the one who passed away) was doing. I think I know who all my gerbils will be seeing in the future when vet care is needed.

[rhianna]

That sounds perfect, I'm glad you found a reliable vet. Good luck with the surgery

[streetwisegerbil]

That sounds positive although I've never heard of an overnight stay. Just a two day later scheduled appointment for a check up.

I've never heard of this laser surgery , unless my boy had it and I never knew.

Cosmetic surgery stitches are good . They can't pick at them.

Good luck.

[reesesturtles]

I'm familiar with the laser surgery because that is what my dogs' vet uses for spays and neuters since the healing is much better and infection risk lower.

The first exotic vet I asked requires an overnight stay for all pet surgeries and quoted $150 just for the anaesthesia...add the examination fee, overnight observation fee, pain meds and surgery itself and the cost came to over $400. I'm glad I found Dr. Tobias instead. She's knowledgeable, caring, and reasonable in many respects regarding treatment and animal care.

[sparky]

It's great that you've found a good vet who is also reasonably priced. When my gerbils have had surgery they've been able to come home the same day.

Has he had his surgery now? Sending good wishes for his speedy recovery.

[reesesturtles]

Yeah he had the surgery today. He's resting now as I'm sure it was a stressful event for him. He's doing okay though. The vet had to use staples on the wound since he chewed the stitches she put in loose (I could have seen that coming). She gave him a shot of pain medication and an antibiotic shot as well. I'll dab it with some aloe juice later, but for now he just needs time to himself to rest.

[sparky]

I'm glad he got through it ok. I'm sure he'll be back to his normal self in no time.

[reesesturtles]

Tribbles got his staples removed today. He's doing just dandy. The surgical scar is healing nicely and he's eating, drinking, chewing and just being his typical self. I'm glad to see him so well and I no longer have to worry that about that awful tumor

[banditcuster]

that is great that he is doing good.

When Warrick had a SGT, the exotic vet where I grew up wanted about $300 for it. but this is after I already dropped about 70 something for a check up and getting pain meds and antibiotics (just to make sure it isn't an infection) I ended up putting him down since he went down hill so quickly and if I let him live with the tumor I had a feeling I would wake up with him dead due to bleeding to death.

McGee though had a slower growing SGT last year and the small animal vet where I'm living now removed it for about 100 something. Then all the visits dealing with the surgery were free after words. Only thing I didn't care for with the vet was that they used normal stitches that he decided to removed after a week and I didn't get any pain meds for him.

This vet though was the one that also removed the two skin cysts that DiNozzo had and it cost me about 30 bucks(cheapest surgery the receptionist had ever seen XD), again no pain killers, but other than him taking off one toe, everything went well. Neither required an over night stay.