We all love our mischievous and adventurous pets right? But sometimes Johnny just decides that it’s fun to run after a rabbit in the bushes and branches or Hero thinks he is a superhero that could jump over a sticky fence.
Dogs seem to be unaware of the danger and they can’t really predict what might happen if they go along with their plan. So, if you are one of those lucky owners that landed with this type of dog, you probably wonder on a daily basis what could go wrong today.
In other cases, your dog may end up in a dog fight and even if he “wins” the battle, he still may end up with a laceration or a deeper wound. Sometimes, dogs fancy running after cars, and when they are not careful enough, they may end up being hit.
The cost for stitching up your dog may vary, but expect a price range between 200-400$.
So, what do you get for that price?
Usually, every clinic will charge you for the check-up and visiting fee, which should be around 35-45$. The rest should sum up the anesthesia, the intra-op drugs, and the suturing itself.
The price for this may also vary depending on whether you are going to a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, or it is a small local veterinary practice.
Another interesting matter is that some clinics charge differently for veterinary and non-veterinary clients.
As mentioned above, more serious lacerations require more time and work in order to be properly managed.
This itself may increase the overall price. In these cases, your pet may need to be more than sedated, it may need general anesthesia and local anesthetics could be used to help with pain management, as well as systemic ones.
In cases where the wound may seem infected, the vet may decide to do swabs and take samples for microbiology culture, which again, could contribute to a higher price for the owner.
The cut does not seem to be serious, what should I do?
Sometimes, the cuts your fur friend gets may not seem serious, but in other cases, they may seem innocent enough.
Whenever you see that your dog is not showing any signs of pain or discomfort, you could save yourself a trip to the vet, as well as some money.
What you could do is properly clean the wound and use a topical antibiotic cream that first needs to be approved by your vet.
Never try to do more than that, because Google can’t teach you what vets have learned over 6 years of school and training.
In cases where your furry friend did need vet assistance, make sure you talk about wound management at home.
Stitching up is usually only a half-done job, the harder work comes down to you. Try to be as supportive as you can for your dog, because he may need to wear the cone of shame for a few days.
If you notice the redness and swelling, if you can smell an unpleasant smell coming from there or if you see a large amount of blood dripping and yucky yellowish discharge, do not hesitate to contact your vet, or maybe take another trip to the clinic.
Conclusion
Yes, our pets cost us money, but we still love them. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But, having skin cuts or lacerations that are not deep and complicated is usually a nonlife-threatening condition, even though it may seem pricey. In any case, you should consider visiting a vet, maybe pick a cheaper clinic, or ask your regular vet if you could come up with a plan for paying.
