Cost for scoping for ulcers?

[awaywego]

How much are people paying? Specifically, has anyone had this done recently at either Mid-Atlantic Equine or New Bolton?

I’m trying to decide if it’s worth the cost to scope first or just do the treatment and “diagnose” based on the results of treatment. I’m in the midst of another round of treatment for an EPM flare AND did a lyme flare just before this, so I’m not really dying to just keep spending $$$ on drugs and hoping it works. I’m even wondering if what I thought was another EPM flare is actually ulcers.

Sigh. My horse is so special needs. I am kind of losing my mind.

[ladymcts]

Sorry I can’t help with the cost estimate, but I will say that when I had my horse in to a university vet school for full workup to determine if EPM was at the root cause of his many problems, and\or whatever else might be his issues, we discussed scoping for ulcers, and in my case they said he was showing no signs indicating them. They’d had him for 4 days by that point. They were also very good about providing ballpark estimates by phone (both before they even saw him, and during his stay, which was a few hundred miles away from home for me). So if you’ve been working with a vet already on the flare-up, you might want to discuss your concerns. Sorry if this wasn’t quite what you were looking for.

[SuckerForHorses]

I’m not really dying to just keep spending $$$ on drugs and hoping it works.

Exactly the reason I scoped my mare when we suspected ulcers. We tried 8 days of full tub daily of GastroGard with no improvement whatsoever but I wasn’t convinced it was something else. Also didn’t want to shell out the $$$ for GG if it was indeed something else. My brain likes to KNOW.

I scoped. She had ulcers. Glad I didn’t go off on my merry way trying to figure out something else because her symptoms didn’t’ get better in that 8 day period. Vet said if no improvement in 4 days, not ulcers. Glad I went with my logic to find out for sure since the poor horse had pretty severe ulcers.

My first scope visit to a large animal hospital was around $440 because they included bloodwork and a physical exam fee on top of the scope procedure.

When I went back 28 days later, to rescope, the cost was scope only (and sedative) and it was right around $300.

IMO, well worth the peace of mind to know for sure. I suggest scoping.

[Valrhona]

I paid $501.00 for a stall side scope back in March. $285 for the scope; $66.00 for meds and $150.00 barn call. The barn call was quite a bit more expensive than usual because I was out of the vet’s normal service area.

Based on the results of a fecal blood test, I elected to treat for 28 days with UG first and then scope. My horse scoped completely clear of ulcers. In my case, I would have been better off scoping first.

[salymandar]

I had mine scoped a year ago at Mid Atlantic. I don’t have the breakdown in front of me, but my credit card was charged $1,120, which included a month of sucralfate and the hind gut ulcer test. The sucralfate was definitely the most expensive part, so I would guess the scoping was in the $250-$350 range. If you want the actual cost, let me know and I can look it up when I get home.

I balked at scoping at first, but I am glad I did. I got to see where his ulcers were located, see the results of 30 days omeprazole treatment and added a new med, which made all the difference in three days.

Also – my horse’s ulcers definitely flared because of Lyme treatment, so it is very possible your horse has ulcers.

[awaywego]

Thanks everyone - the last time I had a horse scoped was almost 10 years ago at New Bolton and I thought it was around $500. Seems like it will be about the same now.

Salymander - I know you know my pain! hahaha.

FWIW - he was on Finish Line’s Total Control for previous lyme and EPM treatments but not currently. Now I’m feeling like an idiot for taking him off it, thinking he didn’t need it. Maybe it’s like the Head & Shoulders commercials: but you don’t have dandruff/you don’t need H&S! My horse doesn’t have ulcers/doesn’t need the Total Control! Maybe he didn’t have tummy issues because he was on Total Control!

[Banging my head against the desk now]

[IPEsq]

Around $300 for scope and sedation done at the barn.

[One_Two_Three]

I was quoted $400 for scope sedation and ‘cleaning’ of scope (vet made sure to let me know how the equipment is difficult to clean and therefore why they charge so much.

However my vet is currently doing a special on dentals and scoping this month. $175 to scope. Not sure if my vet is just super awesome, or if others do specials. Keep eyes peeled.

[awaywego]

[QUOTE=One Two Three;8167232]
I was quoted $400 for scope sedation and ‘cleaning’ of scope (vet made sure to let me know how the equipment is difficult to clean and therefore why they charge so much.

However my vet is currently doing a special on dentals and scoping this month. $175 to scope. Not sure if my vet is just super awesome, or if others do specials. Keep eyes peeled.[/QUOTE]

WOW! That is quite a special! I don’t think any of the vets in the area are doing scoping at the farm - I have to ship in to one of the clinics. If only I could use family sick time for THAT vacation day.

[sirbeastmom]

I wish I would have scoped first. My vet suspected ulcers based on my mare’s reaction to having her ulcer points palpated, and after a week of UG she showed improvement so I kept treating.

A few weeks into treating, I had her bodyworker out (I hear you on having a special needs horse, preach), and the bodyworker thought my mare’s reaction to palpation was due to nerve impingement. The improvement I had been attributing to the UG could have been because I had stopped riding her and the nerves weren’t pinched and firing.

Mare is much better after bodywork and UG, but I have no idea which should get the credit. It’s entirely possible that she did have ulcers and is feeling better after four weeks of treatment, but it’s just as possible I dumped a grand of meds into a horse that just needed a good massage.

ETA: stall-side scopes are around $450, but a few times a year a local vet hosts scoping clinics that are under $200

[awaywego]

[QUOTE=sirbeastmom;8167310]
I wish I would have scoped first. My vet suspected ulcers based on my mare’s reaction to having her ulcer points palpated, and after a week of UG she showed improvement so I kept treating.

A few weeks into treating, I had her bodyworker out (I hear you on having a special needs horse, preach), and the bodyworker thought my mare’s reaction to palpation was due to nerve impingement. The improvement I had been attributing to the UG could have been because I had stopped riding her and the nerves weren’t pinched and firing.

Mare is much better after bodywork and UG, but I have no idea which should get the credit. It’s entirely possible that she did have ulcers and is feeling better after four weeks of treatment, but it’s just as possible I dumped a grand of meds into a horse that just needed a good massage.

ETA: stall-side scopes are around $450, but a few times a year a local vet hosts scoping clinics that are under $200[/QUOTE]

That’s kind of where I am - I don’t want to guess what it was that “worked.” I have already been down this expensive misdiagnosis road. Another vet thought his back soreness 2 years ago was due to kissing spines. $600 of xrays and injections later…he was worse. Because it was actually EPM making his back sore - diagnosed 6 weeks later - and THAT treatment solved the back issue.

[J-Lu]

In my area (NC), it costs around $300-400 for someone to come to you (including barn call and sedation), although there is only one practice in central NC who has the equipment to do this. Alternatively, one can trailer to practices in Southern Pines and other locations (the NCSU vet school) and the scoping costs $250 sans gas.

I had my horse scoped after a long transport and expected bleeding ulcers from the way he was acting but only saw tiny ulcerations. I treated him anyway (most expensive part). At the very least I learned that his dramatics were NOT due to ulcers, and that he could travel cross country while throwing histronics and NOT have bleeding ulcers.

For the same reasons you stated, OP, I would not want to “guess”. It’s best to know what you’re dealing with so you know where to put the money most effectively.

[salymandar]

I checked the breakdown on my bill and it looks like your $500 quote is about right. My scope was $400 and the meds, fecal test, and clinic call brought it to about $500.

I can say after a very expensive year last year, I am glad I did scope because now I know and can treat based on knowledge that he did have ulcers. Good luck!

[eclipse]

Gulp…I will find out today and let everyone know what it costs here in Alberta! I’m expecting it to be in the $800 region … I’m hoping that’s wrong! LOL (everything in Canada is expensive!)

[awaywego]

It must be my lucky day because Unionville Equine is doing a gastroscopy special on 6/11 - $200 including sedation! I hate to wait another 2 weeks but at that price, I’ll wait

[eclipse]

Well I just got my bill and the actual scope wasn’t too bad $376 CAD. Gulp it was the hospitalization, internal exam, ultrasound, and then the months supply of Gastroguard that brought it up to $2500… Sigh…