[nanashi7]

The forum did this last year and I thought it insanely interesting as well as super informative for would-be rat owners. http://www.ratforum.com/archive/index.php/t-146050.html?

In January I neutered two males: $280
In March, I e-spayed a female: $250
In July, Caius had an abscess which was FNA, removed, and ABS: $120
In September, Iris was diagnosed with arthritis: $150
In October, Caius fell ill and was PTS: $100 (includ. cremation and return)
In November, Remus got pneumonia: $150

TOTAL COST: $1050

That's like spending $90/mo on rat medical expenses. To cover that and have excess, a person paid biweekly would need to set aside $50/paycheck.

This year, I've already spent $228 diagnosing, treating, and ultimately euthanizing two rats. I anticipate another $90 within a month.

 

[Finnebon]

This makes me wish I kept track of all my rat expenses! But so far for this year, we had Dumplekin's final vet visit plus some pain meds which was $140. We will pay for his euthanasia appointment when we pick up his body later this week. Charlie and Mouse's megacolon medication is almost $60 per month. And we just had our 3 new rats fixed, 2 spays and 1 neuter which was $280 total. Our last senior, Pancakes, will get a vet appointment for his tumors and an abscess in a week, and Bijou may need a second surgery for a small tumor that's starting to form. We also spent $75 on a used double critter nation.

So far what we've spent this year has been $555, with more to come very soon... *sweats nervously*

This is why I tell everyone that rats are very expensive pets, more than dogs and other pets generally!

 

[Sabatea]

I had two check-ups, an ear infection, and a respiratory infection to pay for in the few short months I owned them last year. XD (I guess the respiratory infection may have been from this year though...) Anyway, so I spent just a bit less than $400 in total. XD

 

[FallDeere]

Oh goodness... 2014 was the year of my first rat deaths and me going broke. Cream had a $500 surgery to remove a tumor, had followup visits that probably equaled another $100 (though it was probably more), then was put down for around $130 (includes cremation). Bartok began losing the use of his back legs and the vet convinced me to let them do a useless x-ray which cost around $150, then he was cremated for $39. Silver got cancer which caused an infection in her uterus. Surgery to do an emergency spay cost $699, followup visit to get extra medicine cost $115 (because the medicine was stupid expensive), and putting her down cost $110 (cremation included). Peaches was also put down for about $140 (part of the cost for some of the euthanasia was that they included the exam in the cost). Pooka was neutered for about $300, followup visits probably cost about $100.

Most of these prices are an approximation, but...

Around $2,345?

Yep. Fun. What's really depressing is, I'm leaving out some other random vet visits for Pooka's nail clippings, antibiotics, and miscellaneous. Those visits/medication/etc probably equal another few hundred, if not another thousand.

I've gotten to where I really despise this vet. I'm not stinkin' rich. >.< Sadly, there's no other good vet around. I am taking my new rat to get neutered today by a vet that only charges $77 for surgery plus another $10 for antibiotics to take home. Not a huge fan of them, but we'll see how it goes...

 

[kksrats]

I was fortunate with my rats this year and spent maybe $150 on a check up and meds. My dog was a different story with about $2000 worth of allergy testing and various medications >.<

 

[Jessiferatu]

I want to say about $300, give or take. 2 consults to have the girls fixed, which I didn't end up doing because the price was astronomical; 1 injury that required cleaning, topical cream and an oral antibiotic; 1 trip that ended with an oral antibiotic for a sneezy rat.

 

[Hey-Fay]

Oh boy, let me think...
Back in April I took Lilly to the vet due to her having a uterine infection; office visit cost's 38.00 and meds costed 20.00
A few weeks later she was rushed back to the vet and that's when we found the cancerous tumor in her abdomen. Office visit was 38.00, metacam was 30.00 I think.
Then I had Jude neutered July which was around 115.00-120.00 and it included metacam for him and Lilly.
Then in August I took Lilly back to the vet for a severly scratched eye. Office visit was 38.00, medicated eyedrops 30.00
That night she had a massive stroke and the vet wanted to see her the next day, they charged for a re-check which was 15.00
Four days later we helped her over the bridge, cost was 40.00
So medical expenses were around 369-500 give or take because i'm pulling all these numbers from memory.

But this is nothing compared to food, fleece, toys etc. I also bought a 300 dollar cage last year. When I first decided to get rats I read somewhere that they were a very low maintenance pet and only cost 50.00 a year. I'd like to find the idiot that wrote that and flog him for his stupidity.

 

[nanashi7]

Amen to that Hey-Fay! I read that they had a cost of $20-30 a month!

 

[LilCritter]

I think for my 4 rats, I spent about $160 for check ups and antibiotics for some sniffles... This was probably a good year though... all my ratties are about the same age (1-2 months apart in age), so they'll all age together. I dread the year they all start getting up in their ages.

 

[hrl20100]

Hmmm... This is hard to think back!

Ebby, Echo and Evie cost me £60 for consultation and a course of baytril.

I then had to order more medication for them later in the year which cost me £20

Rhona cost £80 for her consult and cell sample

It then cost £60 to have her PTS a few weeks later.

So...
£220 if i added it all up properly. 🙈

 

[Hey-Fay]

Hmmm... This is hard to think back! Ebby, Echo and Evie cost me £60 for consultation and a course of baytril.I then had to order more medication for them later in the year which cost me £20Rhona cost £80 for her consult and cell sampleIt then cost £60 to have her PTS a few weeks later. So... £220 if i added it all up properly. 🙈

That's about 250.00 USD. Not bad. I wish the states veterinary services were that reasonable. I'm pretty lucky that I've found a vet that knows what they're doing and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Or a kidney.

 

[Minky]

Roughly $400 here - One euthanasia, one office visit with antibiotics, and one tumor removal surgery. I spent less on my 4 cats combined!

 

[webspinnr]

I don't know exactly. But in half a year I reckon close to 1000.

 

[Smarion0006]

I got my first rats in November so I haven't had any expenses yet ( minus the cage, fleece, food, toys ) and I have to say, your numbers kind of scare me a little bit! I am prepared though if anything were to happen. I just hope it doesn't cost my first born child to get my little ones fixed up.

 

[new_rattie_mommy]

Got my 2 boys neutered at the cheapest place possible by someone who had never done it on a rat before and made up a price for me - $130
multiple URI's and one bout of pneumonia for my new girl- $200 for office visit plus medications
Seeing some of your posts I didn't get away too bad but I'm not made of money so I wasn't too thrilled about the unexpected illnesses...they sure don't tell you about all these vet bills when they say how cheap of pets rats are. Most vets charge an arm and a leg cuz they are such exotic pets and not a lot of vets will even take them around here. I am now preparing to spay my girl which I'm not looking forward to that bill...oh the joys of the vet!

 

[Zaraxae]

In June I had my three girls spayed—$240 (surgery was $80 each, as it was performed through a rescue)
$20 for two weeks of Baytril and doxy
$17 for a course of Sulfatrim
$40 for a course of Baytril
$55 for Baytril and doxy

So this year, I spent a total of $372 on vets, which is quite cheap for all that I had done, a lot of which is thanks to Rattie Ratz, a fantastic local rescue.

 

[MomToRats]

Snowball had upper respatory Infection and both her a
d Mickey got treated , the vet Bill was $107.00 so far that's It for now

 

[Dan203]

Not sure exactly, maybe $300. But mine are all still young. I suspect it will get higher as they get older and need more care.

 

[Phantom]

I want to see if I can remember all of them. Let's see here.

- On New Years Eve I found Lynn. Her medications rounded up to around 20 dollars each making a total of 40 dollars just for medications. I think her vet visit was around 80, so that's 120.
- Toast had his ear infection so there's 25 dollars for one medication, 80 for the vet visit, and another 15 for his Baytril. Then there was the 25 dollar Medical for pain. That's 165 in total.
- Toast got sick again so there's another 40 dollars for medications.
- Pastoolio got sick so there's 80 for the vet visit, and 40 dollars total for medication. (I'm rounding for some of these because I don't remember the exact prices.) That's 120 in total.
- Pastoolio had a lump under his neck removed for 100 dollars.
- Toast got sick again, we'll go with 40 dollars for that.
- Crostini was neutered for 90 dollars in January, but we will count that towards 2014 since I made the appointment in 2014.

Total costs: 675

Thankfully, V and Evy have been healthy since I've had them. I've never had any issues with them except for a few eye cysts with Evy and some scratches with V.

 

[annoellyn]

Yeah whoever said they're cheap pets didn't take care of there rats properly. I mean, I didn't spend much on vet bills the first year I owned them but they have such short lives that end of life care care alone can get pricey and comes fairly quick. That being said, in no way would i give up rats as pets, they are such enjoyable little guys with such unique personality.
2014 year was the year I discovered how expensive rats can be as they enter elder status.
Igors feet turned blue so he was rushed to the vet and put on oxygen. Then the actual examination and meds. 200 dollars . It would have been more but I'm lucky in that the small animal specialist gives me discounts because she loves rats.
Monthly meds for Igor 60 dollars.
All four of my boys got lice. 50 dollars.
Xrays 150
X rays again 150
Euthanasia for Igor 30 dollars
Meds for iden 30 a month.
I guess adding it up over a year isn't much but poor little Igor went downhill quick so the expenses were not spread out. I had to borrow money from a friend a few times.