A nephrectomy is a surgical operation in which one of your dog’s kidneys and the associated ureter are removed. This procedure is incredibly rare and is only performed in order to cure serious and irreversible disorders that affect the dog’s kidney. Some examples of these conditions include cancer, injury/trauma, chronic infection, or genetic abnormalities. Now we know the basics about nephrectomy and why it’s done so, let’s move toward its cost in dogs.
How much does a dog nephrectomy cost?
The cost of a canine nephrectomy might range from $1000 to $1,600 on average. This cost may increase from $2000 to $2500 in a referral scenario because of the higher level of expertise required of the surgeon and the more complex monitoring required in critical care.
Factors Associated with Nephrectomy Costs
- The cost of a nephrectomy will differ depending on the dog’s age, breed, and health status state of the dog.
- The price might also be affected by the credibility of the veterinarian. For instance, the price of having a nephrectomy performed on your pet by a veterinarian who specializes in surgery goes up by a large amount.
- The price may also go up or down depending on the vet’s geographic location.
The following are some other factors that contribute to the overall cost of the dog nephrectomy:
- Take home medications
- Hospitalization if required
- V. Fluids
- V. Catheter
- Anesthetic drugs
- CBC
- EKG
- Consultations for Follow-Up
Does pet insurance cover nephrectomy?
Yes, dog nephrectomy is typically included on the list of conditions that are covered by pet insurance policies. Dog insurance premiums often range between $35 and $44 per month.
What steps are included in a canine nephrectomy procedure?
In order to perform a nephrectomy, the very first step is to give general anesthesia to the patient’s dog. The vast majority of anesthesia techniques may be performed without risk during this treatment; nevertheless, your vet needs to pick anesthetic medicines that are just slightly harmful to the kidneys.
After giving anesthesia dog will be laid down on its back. An incision is created on the patient’s abdomen, beginning just below the sternum and continuing all the way down to the pubic bone. After checking the remainder of the abdomen for any abnormalities, the kidney is imaged separately from the other organs. The renal artery and vein are located after the kidney has been separated from its parenchyma and the kidney itself has been removed. Following the tying off and cutting of the renal artery and vein, the ureter that is linked with the kidney is likewise tied off and cut. After that, the ureter and the kidney are taken out. Finally, after making sure there is no further bleeding, the incision can be closed, and the healing process can begin.
Nephrectomy’s Efficacy Rate in Dogs
Nephrectomy is an effective therapy that can help alleviate problems that affect both the kidneys and the ureters in dogs that are irreversible. Nephrectomy always has long-lasting consequences that can never be undone. Nephrectomy is one option for treating kidney disease; however, partial nephrectomy and ureteroneocystostomy are other viable alternatives. A partial nephrectomy might allow some kidney function to be preserved, relieving the stress that would be placed on the other kidney if it were required to provide all of the animal’s renal needs. Unfortunately, a partial nephrectomy raises the risk of chronic bleeding following surgery, and it is frequently more dangerous than the removal of the kidney as its whole.
Recovery after nephrectomy in dogs
The healing process following a dog’s nephrectomy comprises several stages, each of which needs to be carefully studied.
- Post-surgery pain management: After the procedure has been completed on your pet, they will be administered pain medicine in an effort to alleviate any pain that the operation may have caused. After the operation, your pet will experience this for a few more days.
- Careful Nursing/Post-surgery intensive care: Canine patients will remain in the hospital for anywhere between 36 and 48 hours so that they can be monitored all the time in case of any emergency.
- Rest at home: After 36 to 48 hours, and provided that your veterinarian is satisfied with how well your pet is healing, your pet will be able to go home. During the time that it takes for them to recover, they will need to get plenty of rest, and during this period, you should be on the lookout for any indications of infection surrounding the incision, such as edema, redness, pus, or extreme pain.
Conclusion
Nephrectomy refers to the surgical excision of the kidney as well as the ureter that is connected to it. Surgical procedures like this one are necessary in order to address irreversible diseases of the kidney.
Usually, a nephrectomy dog costs around $1000 to $1,600. But it may increase depending on the patient’s health status and disease severity.
