$125 just to walk in the door...

I consider myself quite fortunate in comparison to many Americans when it comes to the average cost of medical bills. While my medical bills literally add up to $0, the same cannot be said for my beloved Alfredo. For as long as I can remember, he's been on some type of medication for his fur (or lack thereof). When he was around 2, he began taking daily doggy fish oils (we refer to them as his jelly beans) to promote fur growth. What can I say, Bostons are known not only for their tuxedo fur, but also for their lack of fur, especially on the chest and behind their adorable overly sized ears. Fish oils have been successful in that he has grown some additional fur, and as a result, he's been taking them daily...up until about 10 weeks ago. It was then that Alfredo's regular vet became concerned that he had developed a type of allergy due to his itchiness. To rule out internal issues, I had his thyroid tested ($158) before making any assumptions. Just as suspected, all was good with his thyroid. Allergies it was.

Moving forward meant taking Alfredo to the veterinarian who specialized in dermatology. Walking in the door alone cost me $125. I had learned that the first step in determining allergies is to completely change the diet. I tucked away the mainstream Royal Canin adult food, and replaced it with a prescriptive Royal Canin (rabbit and potato) diet. One 25 pound bag of dry food and one case of cans cost me $250. Cha-ching! Did I mention that this food had to be purchased 25 miles away because the local Petsmart doesn't carry this specific food? The things we do for our furry (or lack of) kids...and to think I often eat a bowl of cereal out of a $4 box.

Well, here we are several weeks later, and I think it's safe to say that Alfredo's allergies are environmental. The itchiness (although not overwhelming), still exists. Not all of the special shampoos, sprays, and other medication that I haven't even mentioned, combined with the crazy expensive food and jelly beans has solved our problem. I've also changed the air filters, had the carpet professionally cleaned, and changed detergent just in case it was something environmental that I could fix. Not the case.

Sooo, Alfredo now has an appointment on Saturday, September 14th for allergy testing. Any guesses on the cost of this extravagant appointment? Here's my quote:

Yes, you probably see right. According to this document, Allergy testing would cost anywhere between $735-$1,128. I should note that this visit would cost me more than the actual price of Alfredo himself, who was $600 (but certainly worth everything I have).

I haven't committed to this test yet. I'm researching like a mad woman and seeking other options. I think there are two morals to this story:

1. Consider the cost of a dog before committing to one. They are costly. None of this includes all of the mainstream care, or the $2500 I spent on his broken leg (three years ago last weekend actually). We won't even go there. And...

2. Despite this setback, I'm still going to do whatever I can to give Alfie the best possible life that he deserves. Who wouldn't want this little guy to be happy and healthy at all times?