My dog's been a bit ill on and off for a little while. He was sick today and I felt his belly and thought I could feel something like a ball so I took him to the vets. We are going back in the morning for them to see him again, but they have said as they are fully booked and they have to switch to another surgery at lunch they probably won't do x-rays and we will have to take him to the emergency vets to do it. I am not sure whether this is reasonable of them seeing as the emergency vets will be a lot more expensive. If they think it is an emergency that can't wait until Monday should they be doing something themselves?

Also the emergency vets won't give us any idea of the cost of the operation if he needs one so anyone got any good guesses how much this could cost? It is vetsnow if that helps.

I would also appreciate hearing from anyone whose dog has had an operation for a foreign object, how did it go and what was recovery like?

Thanks

It's common with larger chains of vets from what I have heard smaller surgeries like I use tend to have a more personal approach, my vet actually returned from holiday a day early when my Duncan was bad, he couldn't save him but he felt it important he was there at the end with us.

I can't help with cost as vets vary greatly across the country but I can say a few years ago our Katie ate a stone which caused her problems and they operated and after a few days of stopping her eating anything solid she was fine, went on to live another 8 years quite happily. Never learned her lesson though as we had to be like hawks to make sure she didn't eat anything else !

Thanks for your reply, they did actually do x-rays in the end and now he's at the emergency vets for an operation

Aww no, so they know what it is? Surgery is usually charged on a hourly rate, something astronomical like £120 an hour depending on your practice. The emergency vet shouldn't charge more forthe procedure but usually put a 'emergency charge' on which is anything they feel like.
My cat broke his back leg a few years back, needed a pin and reset (all at 8pm on a Sat) was £800 in total :0

Hope your boy is ok.

Yes they found half a ball on the x-ray so he's having that removed. They had thought he had pancreatitis for a while as he's been sick on and off for a few weeks (always at the weekend!). Thanks goodness for insurance!