Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - IMHA Blood Transfusion

My chihuahua minature pincher has just been diagnosed with IMHA. I've been told he needs a blood transfusion but I don't have the $1,000. What is a person to do when all the vets in the area require upfront payment. He does have health insurance. Please help.

Mary California

There is something called care credit that we were offered. Here's the link: http://www.carecredit.com/

Monet Sammamish

Thank you, Monet. I tried that and was not accepted. I really do appreciate your response.

Mary CA

Mary, This is very expensive, in fact it is outrageous. Get on the phone and find another vet. Many vets have donor dogs associated with their practice, so the blood is donated. I paid my vet around $300 or so for a transfusion this way. The procedure is time intensive so you are paying for the experience of a vet and a tech monitoring the process for about an hour or so. But $1,000? Ask friends with dogs or call a local dog training club to see if anyone knows a vet clinic that is smaller and will provide this service for less. Surely there is someone who is nearby that will help you? my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Mary, I agree with Patrice that $1000 is ridiculously high for a transfusion. My transfusions were only in the $300 range as well - though they did say it takes about 4 hours to complete. Why won't they work with the insurance company to cover it? Sorry, I'm completely ignorant about how insurance works for pets.

Judy Medford

Dorthy~ Praying that you will find a vet and a reasonable charge for the blood tranfusion ASAP! We understand the expense...we unfortunately don't have pet insurance at this time. Blessings, Cindi & Tori (IMHA/ITP called Evans Syndrome)

Cindi FL

Monet, Patrice, Judy and Cindi, Thank you all for your kind thoughts and advice. Peanut passed last night. I am really sad about losing him but I am also very angry. A vet last night gave me the name of an organization that might have been able to help financially, IMOM.org. When I went in today to take Peanut home, I told the office about this website and found out they already knew about it. Why didn't they give me the information on the day I took Peanut in. We might have able to get the blood transfusion on time. I wish there was something I could do to make these vets more aware that these animals are our pets and part of the family. When we get sick the doctor bills the insurance company. I think the vets should do the same if a person has pet insurance. Again, thank you.

Mary California

Mary, first off i am so very sorry for your loss of Peanut, the way in which you lost him just makes it even worse. My family is not one that could afford extreme vet bills either, our experience was the opposite, each crisis would cost 500-1000 then sometimes only a couple of hundred.nothing terrible up front but when we had our transfusion the actual transfusion itself was 300 but the care involved and iv therapy and other meds brought that vet stay bill to around 2000. all in all we spent almost 5000 and i know many people on this board have spent a lot more than i have. my husband has told me if we had known how much it was going to cost at the start he might have had to tell me no, but with the expenses coming in stages we kept moving forward. we are grateful our dog is with us now but the expense has really hit our family hard. this disease if very cruel all the way around. and please don't beat yourself up for not having the money up front, your peanut knows you did all that you could. Unfortunately the vets, especially the emergency ones, cannot treat with out up front payment - they often get very bad raps for this but it cost them a lot of overhead to keep equipment, staff etc. readily available for emergencies --i hope my rambling offers some comfort -- it is a terrible situation. take care,

charlie

Mary, I am so sorry to read about Peanut. I wish that you could have received more help in time. You had a very bad experience. I feel so badly. It can be difficult to find a vet that you like and trust. Perhaps they are good vets but not so good business people? I hope that in time this unhappy time will diminish in importance and you will only remember the best times with Peanut. I am sure there are many. Please accept my deepest condolences. patrice

Patrice NYS

Mary, I can only offer my deepest condolences. Peanut felt and understood your love for him right up to his last breath. As I look for consoling words, I know there is nothing that you can read or hear that erase the pain you currently feel. My heart truly goes out to you. Robert

RobertN Superior

Oh Mary, I am so sorry about your loss. RIP little Peanut. We tried every organization out here. We were told by 1 that they had no funds, Another told us that, They only had funds for Spaying and Neutering. We even had a Lady tell us that they won't spend funds on a dog that has no chance, that they'd prefer donating the Money to a dog that can survive from an accident. I Cried! We even tried for the Pet Credit Card. Everyone that I know that tried for that card was turned down. We stopped paying bills to make sure that we had Money to pay Lucky's Hosp. and Doctor Bills. She passed away in Sept. and we still aren't caught up. We would have continued too if we could have had her stay with us. I am truly sorry for your loss.

Kathy Calif.

Mary, I am so sorry for your loss. I don't understand why they did not accept your insurance? I also don't get why they weren't more helpful in pointing you to places that might have helped you financially. I think I would be finding another Vet. Even when you do everything possible finances aside it is not always possible to make it through so don't feel that the transfusion or the lack of cost Peanut his life. You did everything you could at the time and Peanut knew that. I hope the happier memories help you through this awful time. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek

Dear Mary, I am so very sorry to hear that you have lost Peanut. May your happy memories comfort you during this difficult time. Our sincere condolences, Sam & Millie.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Mary, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Your story just breaks my heart. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Sincerely, Ronda and Buster

Ronda Illinois

Oh, Mary, I am so sad for your loss. You are in my prayers. Blessings, Cindi & Tori

Cindi FL

This thread was discussed between 01/12/2011 and 06/12/2011

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