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Post by katt on Jul 7, 2011 4:53:24 GMT -5
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Post by katt on Jul 7, 2011 4:54:42 GMT -5
Oh and for reference, it is now almost $100 for a Lupron injection (including the bio-hazard waste disposal fee).  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2011 5:41:52 GMT -5
Exactly what does it do? & Do you happen to know how long the injection lasts? Also what's the des implant?  |
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jul 7, 2011 6:44:25 GMT -5
That will be devastating to the ferret shelters.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2011 7:07:47 GMT -5
I don't even want to know what Lupron where I am is, now. It had already been $100 (not including the "injection exam" fee I have to pay prior to each shot). That's why I've been so jealous when everyone talks about it. I just usually whine to myself in a corner ("why is mine so expensiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive?  " ) |
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Post by goingpostal on Jul 7, 2011 8:29:18 GMT -5
What's a VCA clinic? I got mine straight from the compounding place, the vet called in the rx and I paid them, had to pay shipping too but I usually ordered 3 months worth to even that out. Ran between 30-40 per shot.
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Post by Sherry on Jul 7, 2011 8:42:51 GMT -5
Why one earth would they force it to double like that? And I certainly hope it doesn't happen here. No way I could afford $300 a month for lupron!
As it is, since the vet tech's are the one who do the shots, I don't pay for an exam. Which makes it $45 per shot.
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Post by Heather on Jul 7, 2011 10:54:46 GMT -5
Makes the des implants look better all the time. It was cheaper even before this for me to do the implants. Lupron cost me between $50 and $70 (cheaper if I bought more). If it doubles....no. That is what it costs me for a des implant and the implant is good for 6 months (if you can get it on time, I'm starting to see symptoms, mild but symptoms all the same  ) Lupron is a monthly shot....nope, I will use it to hold over for the des implant but it's becoming an item of great expense....surgery would be cheaper if it wasn't for the high risk to the ferret ciao |
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Post by katt on Jul 7, 2011 16:42:08 GMT -5
I don't even want to know what Lupron where I am is, now. It had already been $100 (not including the "injection exam" fee I have to pay prior to each shot). That's why I've been so jealous when everyone talks about it. I just usually whine to myself in a corner ("why is mine so expensiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive? " ) Apparently most clinics have been charging the "real" rate ($100) for a while. The clinic here was providing them cheaper even as Lupron prices went up, then corporate told them they have to sell it at the "going" rate i guess. So your costs probably did not go up, but for those of you still paying $50ish, prepare yourselves now - prices are supposed to go up for everyone. What's a VCA clinic? I got mine straight from the compounding place, the vet called in the rx and I paid them, had to pay shipping too but I usually ordered 3 months worth to even that out. Ran between 30-40 per shot. A corporate chain is the best I can describe it... www.vcahospitals.com/"We operate more than 540 animal hospitals in 41 states across the nation in the VCA network." Also, how do you go about doing that? Do you administer the shots yourself? I would LOVE to do that. I could totally give Koda the prick once a month on my own! Why one earth would they force it to double like that? And I certainly hope it doesn't happen here. No way I could afford $300 a month for lupron! As it is, since the vet tech's are the one who do the shots, I don't pay for an exam. Which makes it $45 per shot. Canada might be different, but in the US it is supposed to go up everywhere. And the techs do it here as well, so I only (thank heavens) pay for the injection as well. Makes the des implants look better all the time. It was cheaper even before this for me to do the implants. Lupron cost me between $50 and $70 (cheaper if I bought more). If it doubles....no. That is what it costs me for a des implant and the implant is good for 6 months (if you can get it on time, I'm starting to see symptoms, mild but symptoms all the same ) Lupron is a monthly shot....nope, I will use it to hold over for the des implant but it's becoming an item of great expense....surgery would be cheaper if it wasn't for the high risk to the ferret ciao And that surgery is not always effective. If I could afford it, and if I thought it would work I'd go that route now. How long does surgery usually last Heather before you have to medicate anyways? This might be something worth looking into if the Des is going to take much longer. At those costs, give it 4-6 months and I might as well have paid for the surgery already.  I am going to call today about the Des. I REALLY wish I had taken Koda in earlier and saved $50 this month, but I just couldn't. Our Security Deposit was really really late getting back to us, and money was suuuper tight. Grrr! The things we do for these critters! |
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Post by goingpostal on Jul 7, 2011 16:53:13 GMT -5
I gave the shots myself, it'd be hard with one person though, I had James scruff and hold and I gave the shot. As far as surgery, it's iffy, Pip seemed like he was maybe showing adrenal signs again right before he got sick and that was 2 months after, Precious didn't show any more symptoms but she died 3 years after her surgery. I like the des best right now.
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Post by Heather on Jul 7, 2011 16:59:29 GMT -5
That's the problem with the surgery Katt, there is no definitive answer as to how long it will work. The little fellow that went in and had his surgery done at the same time I was starting to treat Pooka. His surgery lasted 6 months, maybe 8 and they were then using the lupron. He never survived to the des implant came in, the lupron had stopped working.
Loki had the surgery done when he was 4, he had been completely stopped up and he had been turned into Ferretaid (Randy's shelter in TO). She had and has some really fantastic vets on call for the shelter. He passed away from renal failure at about 8 or 9 yrs old. There were vague traces that his adrenal was back (that sparse fur growth at the base of the tail and butt) but nothing conclusive. We tried lupron and it did nothing so we didn't take that any further and treated the renal failure instead. So, his surgery probably lasted him at least 4 yrs.
That's the problem...nothing is definitive but at the prices being quoted for lupron and counting that your ferret could very well live for 2 or more years using RX intervention, you might find the cost between the two comparable. Despite the cost being the issue and even if I didn't have to watch my dollars, I don't think I would do the surgery. The risks are too high, the chance of the return of the adrenal within a short period of time too great and the stress on the ferret leaving it exposed for other issues because we're cutting it open still makes me think I would continue to offer alternatives instead of surgery at least for now.
ciao
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Post by katt on Jul 7, 2011 17:28:51 GMT -5
I gave the shots myself, it'd be hard with one person though, I had James scruff and hold and I gave the shot. As far as surgery, it's iffy, Pip seemed like he was maybe showing adrenal signs again right before he got sick and that was 2 months after, Precious didn't show any more symptoms but she died 3 years after her surgery. I like the des best right now. Hmmm....how could I convince my vet to let me do that? I feel like I am "cheating" on my vet (I really love her) when I use the new vet I found for Tito, but maybe she would be more willing/able to order Lupron as a take-home thing seeing as how she isn't constrained by a corporate organization but rather works for a local clinic... Do you know what the process is? How did you get your vet to order it for you or give your an RX so you could order it yourself? And who showed you how to do the injection? I could have Shane, Derek, or my roommate help me hold him, so that would be no problem. Any and all info you have on this would be really helpful and I'd be grateful.  Even if it saved me the $10 waste management fee, and the stress of scheduling appts every month, at least that is something... That's the problem with the surgery Katt, there is no definitive answer as to how long it will work. The little fellow that went in and had his surgery done at the same time I was starting to treat Pooka. His surgery lasted 6 months, maybe 8 and they were then using the lupron. He never survived to the des implant came in, the lupron had stopped working. Loki had the surgery done when he was 4, he had been completely stopped up and he had been turned into Ferretaid (Randy's shelter in TO). She had and has some really fantastic vets on call for the shelter. He passed away from renal failure at about 8 or 9 yrs old. There were vague traces that his adrenal was back (that sparse fur growth at the base of the tail and butt) but nothing conclusive. We tried lupron and it did nothing so we didn't take that any further and treated the renal failure instead. So, his surgery probably lasted him at least 4 yrs. That's the problem...nothing is definitive but at the prices being quoted for lupron and counting that your ferret could very well live for 2 or more years using RX intervention, you might find the cost between the two comparable. Despite the cost being the issue and even if I didn't have to watch my dollars, I don't think I would do the surgery. The risks are too high, the chance of the return of the adrenal within a short period of time too great and the stress on the ferret leaving it exposed for other issues because we're cutting it open still makes me think I would continue to offer alternatives instead of surgery at least for now. ciao How do you know whether the surgery is effective or not, and what is happening in their bodies when it is not effective? Do they start getting tumors and such anyways when the surgery fails? If so where (as there is no gland)? Or is is just the hormone imbalances come back with the hair loss, behavior, and weight loss? Does removing the adrenal gland have Negative effects other than the inherent risks of surgery? I mean the gland has multiple purposes for being in the body... But does anyone know of other bad side effects as a result of removing the gland(s)? Also what is more common/effective? Removing one gland or both? I think knowing the mechanics of it all would help me. I need to do some research... |
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Post by goingpostal on Jul 7, 2011 17:41:28 GMT -5
Trying to cover all the questions here, well my vet is 2.5 hours away so bringing a ferret in once a month on around the same day would be next to impossible working two jobs. So I brought him in for his first one and they showed me how and let me inject him with some saline solution or something. The vet ordered the first few months, I called the pharmacy and paid and after that I just called the vet when I needed more and asked them to have my vet call it in. It does need to be shipped frozen, 1 or 2 day mail though and I think can only stay frozen for a few months after it's been all mixed up and put in syringes. Is it any cheaper for you to go for the 3 month dose?
On the surgery my vet only does left side, which on both of mine was the affected gland, it can reoccur on the other side and there's something ferrets can get if you remove both. Addisons? I don't know how much surgery is there, I paid $420 for Precious (5 years ago, base rate is $520 now) and Pips bill was over $900 with the surgery and bladder issue going on.
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Post by Heather on Jul 7, 2011 18:11:42 GMT -5
Exactly, chances are most vets are only comfortable removing the one gland. It's the other that becomes infected afterwards, they will try and remove the tumour from that side but chances are it won't be clean. If it's the right side (it lays along the vena cava (sp?)) most vets won't touch it and will just stitch your fuzz up and leave the whole thing alone . Some vets are used to dealing with it and will work both sides (Jennifer has a vet who is comfortable removing the right side or both). My vet surgeon won't touch it, he doesn't do enough of them and if he nicks the vena cava your little one will bleed out on the table before he can do anything about it. If both adrenal glands are removed then your little one has to be put on medication for the rest of it's life because the adrenal gland is necessary for them to function. It's not a simple surgery. I, so far prefer not to do it. ciao |
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Post by Sherry on Jul 7, 2011 18:19:39 GMT -5
And even if both glands are successfully removed, the hormones are still being pumped out by the pituitary, which can then trigger the adipose tissue into thinking it's an adrenal gland, thus showing adrenal symptoms yet again On top of which you are also treating for addison's disease. |
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). She said prices are going up all over. She didn't say how much. I got a letter in the mail the other day. As of July 5th, Lupron has almost DOUBLED in price! 
) Lupron is a monthly shot....nope, I will use it to hold over for the des implant but it's becoming an item of great expense....surgery would be cheaper if it wasn't for the high risk to the ferret