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Post by cashewpeanut on Nov 28, 2022 6:13:21 GMT -8
Hi all,
Super sad to say that yesterday I found what I'm fairly certain is a scent gland tumor on one of my gerbils Peanut. I'm fortunate to have a few options for small animal vets as I'm in Toronto, Ontario but I have NO idea what cost quote to expect.
One vet previously quoted me $900 to put my gerbil under anesthesia for an xray (which luckily he did not end up needing) so I'm assuming their surgery quote will be high. I'd like to consult another clinic but again, don't have any idea what's reasonable here in Canada. I've seen $150 - 400 quoted in the US and UK but don't know if that applies here. Is 1k the Canadian standard? ANY experience from any province would be so much appreciated!!! I want to get my boy healthy. And don't worry - he will be seen for an initial consult this week regardless of price.
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Post by catnut on Nov 28, 2022 15:31:15 GMT -8
I was quoted $350 in BC(Coquitlam, near Vancouver) at a vets that has a few vets with small animal experience, so it will be alot i'm afraid. I couldn't afford that but my gerbil lived many months with a tumor as it was very slow growing(internal).
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Post by cashewpeanut on Nov 29, 2022 4:06:33 GMT -8
catnut thanks so much for replying. That actually gives me a little hope as ~$500 is in my budget. I have an appointment Thursday, hoping for a decent quote. I will update with costs for future reference for others. So sorry about your sweet gerb, I know you did your best.
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Post by cashewpeanut on Dec 1, 2022 11:21:29 GMT -8
catnut thanks so much for replying. That actually gives me a little hope as ~$500 is in my budget. I have an appointment Thursday, hoping for a decent quote. I will update with costs for future reference for others. So sorry about your sweet gerb, I know you did your best. So... very depressed to update that I was quoted $1500 - $1960 for the anesthesia, meds, removal, biopsy etc. I took him home with some medication to fight a possible infection with a reassessment next week. I'm going to start breaking down the costs, and I am considering asking if they will remove the mass without a biopsy and just... see if the removal is curative. But even that is looking costly at like $700. So sad. They kept telling me what a bright boy he is and all I could think is I will have to watch that fade away over what I had thought was a relatively routine procedure. Considering seeing a second vet but maybe that's just more money wasted when I should be trying to save for some kind of treatment plan. He is still feeling great, taking a nap from the big trip and later I am going to give him a chestnut boredom breaker treat. At this point I hope for Christmas with him and little suffering. I'll have no rest until there is a better plan. |
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Post by betty on Dec 1, 2022 12:42:22 GMT -8
Yes, I would say there is no point in the biopsy at all. If they are removing the entire scent gland (which is always advised) they should remove the issue. I have always been led to believe that SGT are confined to there only and I have never had one come back or any other noticable tumours.
Additionally, I don't think there are any care or treatment options if the cancer is deemed 'spread' whichever type it is - so knowing this may not actually increase future treatment options anyway.
It is always interesting to find out more about gerbils overall from testing and treatments now so readily available - but if that isn't a cost you are willing to pay for - then that would be the one I would skip.
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Post by catnut on Dec 1, 2022 14:21:11 GMT -8
So sorry to hear about the cost, i just remembered this quote was in 2019 so i'm sure it's much more now esp. with covid. Saphie had a mammary tumor from what i was told, and i was glad to have it grow very slow so i had her for months after i took her to the vets but didn't want to put her through an operation and maybe not making it so i took the chance, she had a sister i had to think about as well, who passed afew months after diagnosis. When you go back for the re-assesment, ask what treatments they could do besides different meds. Maybe they could give you an estimate over the phone at another vet but i would only take a gerbil to a vet who has done operations on small animals or gerbils before. Fingers crossed your boy will have a slow growing tumor, i did have another gerbil, Adam, who had one for over 6 months, it was slow growing.
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Post by Markpd on Dec 6, 2022 12:30:59 GMT -8
Hi all, Super sad to say that yesterday I found what I'm fairly certain is a scent gland tumor on one of my gerbils Peanut. I'm fortunate to have a few options for small animal vets as I'm in Toronto, Ontario but I have NO idea what cost quote to expect. One vet previously quoted me $900 to put my gerbil under anesthesia for an xray (which luckily he did not end up needing) so I'm assuming their surgery quote will be high. I'd like to consult another clinic but again, don't have any idea what's reasonable here in Canada. I've seen $150 - 400 quoted in the US and UK but don't know if that applies here. Is 1k the Canadian standard? ANY experience from any province would be so much appreciated!!! I want to get my boy healthy. And don't worry - he will be seen for an initial consult this week regardless of price. Wow! That seems insanely expensive for anaesthesia and X-ray, looking at the exchange rate from C$ to £, that's ~£543. I recently had my Avon X-rayed (and using gas anaesthetic) along with a physical examination and some Metacam, that cost me just under £200. Surely vets (overall) can't be that much more expensive in Canada??
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Post by cashewpeanut on Dec 13, 2022 11:20:45 GMT -8
Markpd I know, I'll be honest I'm flabbergasted at the price as well. From my understanding even the US cost is generally no more than $400. My itemized breakdown lists the anesthetic at $255 CAD, $70 for anesthetic "maintenance," fluid administration $88, a daily hospital fee of $115, and the biopsy itself at $230. Plus approx. $130 in medication. This is if they are willing to do all that without the histopathology of the tumour cells which is $340. Additionally without x rays to see if the tumour has spread as they are $385..... I have an appointment tomorrow and I'm going to ask if they will remove the mass if I will take responsibility for anything that happens by not having it tested. I would really like to consult another vet but consult fees are $150 and they won't quote over the phone. I've tried every one in my large city. And I'm already in $300 with my current vet, who I must say is good albeit expensive as hell. Wondering if the vet fees have to do with my being in Toronto? But even so, it seems astronomical. I can only hope they will agree to remove it and I'll just eat the $800 or so. Wild times here in Canada, the price of everything is insane. I wish we had more normalized small animal care like the UK. There is also very little information or experiences to compare to. I will update again after Cashew's appointment tomorrow for future reference. Thanks all for commenting. I appreciate it. catnut thanks for sharing your experience. I hope if I cannot get the surgery my boy will have some time too. I will definitely discuss my other options if they refuse to do surgery without the histopathology.
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Post by Markpd on Dec 13, 2022 12:19:17 GMT -8
Wow!  I hope you manage to find a better price. Oh btw, I've just been quoted £809 to have the gallstone removed from my gerbil!  |
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Post by catnut on Dec 13, 2022 14:04:22 GMT -8
Sorry it's such a big cost, i'm sure most don't do anything as they can't afford that or don't want to take the risk. I couldn't afford that rate as i'm on disability. Do what you feel is right and what you can afford.
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Post by cashewpeanut on Dec 14, 2022 9:23:14 GMT -8
Markpd so sorry to hear about your gerbil. Our beloved little friend's vet bills sure dp add up  it's a hard part of the pet owning journey to face and make these decisions. I was at the vet today, she was very kind considering, and gave me two treatment options: - A course of Metacam for $65 which she says will likely reduce the tumour and provide relief for any discomfort, but will eventually stop working and cannot be dosed over again. There is also the risk of digestive upset which could kill him...? - Perform the surgery w/o the histopathology at a cost of $1100 CAD and hope it does not regreow. My vet says that she feels it likely will due to its "fast growth" already and within weeks or months it will be back. betty can I ask if you have dealt with regrowths? EDIT sorry I see you have not. That's encouraging but I'm worried they don't seem to be treating it as a scent gland tumour (rather just a typical (?) tumour)and will possibly not remove the whole gland.... but I also don't want to act like an internet know-it-all to the vet. catnut thanks for the support, it's a tough situation. We truly can only do the best we can. I know we love our animals very much and they live good lives and will be taken care of as needed, even if it's not what we hope for. It's just sad they have such a relativelyshort lives I'm going to take a few days to mull over all the information and try to make a decision soon.
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Post by catnut on Dec 14, 2022 14:43:13 GMT -8
that is very expensive but i'm sure you will decide the right treatment for Peanut, whatever you decide, I know what i would choose. Good luck, i know how hard decisions are.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Dec 14, 2022 15:10:37 GMT -8
Metacam doesn't typically cause digestive problems and I've never heard of it killing a rodent. It's best to give it with or alongside a treat to protect the stomach lining. $65 CAD seems very expensive though. It also won't shrink the tumour or slow its growth but may reduce swelling, inflammation and pain.
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Post by betty on Dec 17, 2022 11:15:54 GMT -8
Metacam does come with digestive warnings for all animals (just like our human drup ibuprofen that always says eat with food on the label). I haven't noticed it causing an upset on any of my gerbils - even long term - when served on a piece of food (sultana/quarter of a walnut/chunk of bread crust) so personally I would say several months of treatments isn't an issue. Also not sure on your price comparisnos over there but Metcam 5ml (cat) is only about £6 here.
As for the histology - I still don't think this is necessary (as there is nothing to be done with the results). Tumours on the scent gland are almost always isolated on the scent gland and full removal will prevent its return. I understand your hesitation to sound like an internet vet - but suggest it all the same - full removal in the UK is almost always the standard - and vets usually agree to it if it is suggested by the owner.
If - after a full scent gland removal - a tumour regrows elsewhere in the body or underneath where the scent gland was then I would assume that it has already spread beyond reasonable treatment anyway - so back to palliative care. I personally haven't heard of any currently effective tumour treatment for gerbils or other small rodents - but I am all ears...
These pesky scent gland tumours are never good news - some grow so fast it is isn't fair.
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Post by cashewpeanut on Dec 29, 2022 10:09:44 GMT -8
Hello all, I am back with a final, sad update. After an EXTREME amount of consideration, and a consult with another vet, I had decided to put sweet Cashew on metacam and go the palliative care route. As betty mentioned may happen his tumour is growing very rapidly. While he has had good days and we got to enjoy a nice Christmas with lots of treats for the gerbs, he is unable to leave the tumour alone and it seems to be irritating him and possibly affecting his breathing. He chewed it open yesterday despite my upping the metacam (with permission). I have made the heartbreaking decision to take him in to be PTS tomorrow. I am trying to take the advice I have read online to heart and not wait too long. He is spending much of his time now basking on a tissue on a platform underneath the heating pad I have draped on his lid. He is still eating and drinking - and I won't lie I've been spoiling him with nuts and tofu and carrots - but I fear that will soon go, maybe even over the weekend, and that would be horrible. Yet every time he gets up or chews a little soft cardboard I want to call and cancel the apt for another week. I've doubted my decision every step of the way, and sadly in doing so also delayed treatment. The second vet I consulted quoted me at $1200. And honestly, I could eat the cost, I even applied for a payment plan, if I could feel confident that his whole scent gland was going to be removed. He is a little over 3 years old, but was still healthy before this and his brother is still doing amazing. However none of these vets seem confident that they can remove the entire scent gland?? And based on the growth rate of the tumour I think it will grow back quickly if it is not cleared. Very devastating call to make and part of me still feels like I'm being cheap and to try anyway. But I have to stand behind my decisions before Chew starts to suffer significantly. He deserves better. I have enjoyed my time with him immensely. I adopted him and Peanut from a small rescue the Valentines day after my dad, dog, and hamster died - a bit of an impulsive decision, but it's been a pleasure. Gerbils have an huge amount of personality in their tiny bodies and are wonderfully cheerful souls. Cashew in particular would sit so nicely in your hands/arms and allow himself to be stroked. Even the vet was swayed by his docile sweetness. Anyway, I wish I had better news but wanted to again say how grateful I am for everybody's support and advice. I've felt so, so sad and lost, and it has been so helpful to read this forum throughout. I truly hope one day exotic animal care improves in Canada, as I can't help but feel he would have had a better and more cost effective chance in the UK. RIP Gerby Cash, as we call(ed) him. You are so loved. EDIT to add I was actually quoted even higher, closer to $1500 to try and remove the gland. Brutal, unfortunately. |
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), late 70s
I hope you manage to find a better price.
it's a hard part of the pet owning journey to face and make these decisions. 