Veterinary Expenses

In almost every case, when a Thoroughbred owner hires a trainer, the trainer selects which veterinarian will perform work on the owner's horses. However, the owner is wholly responsible for all veterinarian bills and should not be afraid to ask either his/her trainer and/or his/her veterinarian questions about veterinarian procedures, dispensations and costs. An owner may also request that his/her trainer inspect and initial all vet bills before passing them on to the owner. 

Be sure to discuss with your trainer whether or not you require PRIOR APPROVAL of medical expenditures as well as ways in which you can manage or lower your vet bills.

The "average" vet bill, per horse, per month in Southern California & Washington runs $200-$250. This amount however, is strongly affected by:

• How heavily your trainer relies on medications or veterinary consultations. In many barns the trainers actually direct the veterinarians as to what procedures to perform or medications to give (because it worked on another horse they had).
• If your horse is ailing or has suffered a serious injury or illness. In the latter event, your vet bill can soar to well over $1,000 in a month.

To help mitigate the "pain" of monthly vet bills:

• Understand as much as possible the purpose of each treatment.
• Have some realistic sense of the cost of each.
• Keep in contact with your trainer so you are prepared for any abnormal medical outlays.

The individual charges for every veterinarian procedure can and will vary by locale and vet, apparently according to what the market will bear.

Common Treatments for a horse in training;
 Their Purposes & Costs:
(Reprinted from the "Handbook for Thoroughbred Owners of California" courtesy of Thoroughbred Owners of California).

Injections

• Vaccinations for flu and Rhinopneumonitis (respiratory viruses) tetnus, etc.= $12-$30 per vaccination, up to 6 annually.
  
• "Lasix" a diuretic used for the prophylactic treatment of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH or "bleeding"), which is believed to work by lowering pulmonary-arterial pressure: Injection for racing = $25-$35 (due to the regulatory paperwork required for race-day treatment). Injection for workouts = $15-$20.
  
• "Premarin" (estrogen compound), an old-style remedy for "bleeding" which is thought to work by strengthening capillaries = up to $60.00 per injection. ("Premarin" is the most expensive estrogen compound at $35 per 25 mg dose; an injection with a generic compound such as Estrone will run less.)
  
• Phenylbutazone ("bute"), an anti-inflammatory = $12-$17 per injection. ("Bute" is also available in tablet & paste form: dispensing cost from the Vet is $25-$30 for 100 1-gram pills.)
  
• Vitamin "jug" (vitamins and electrolytes in 1/2-1 liter of fluids) = $20-$30
  
• Intra-articular injections (with Cortisone or Hyaluronic acid, or a combination) for inflammation of joints = $50-$150, depending on the medication(s) and which joint or joints require injection.
  
• "Adequan" a common anti-arthritic medication used to stabilize articular cartilage = $50-$65 per injection (often administered weekly in 500 ma. doses).
  
• "Equipoise & Winstrol" anabolic steroids = $40-$50 per injection
  
• Penicillin = $12.50-$15.00 per injection (given either once or twice a day, depending on the illness or injury).
  
• "Gentamycin" a broad-spectrum antibiotic, = $20- $40 per injection, depending on dosage and whether injections are given once or twice a day. (As with all antibiotics, therapy can run from 5 to 7 days.)
  
• De-Worming (necessary at least quarterly for parasite control) = $20-$25 per treatment. (Note: your trainer may choose to de-worm with an oral paste, an effective option which does not require a vet.)

Tests & Examinations

• "CBC" complete blood-count = $25-$35, depending on the scope of the laboratory tests.
  
• Diagnostic ultrasound examination to check tendons and other soft tissues of the body = $90-$120
  
• Endoscopic examination of larynx and pharynx, to check for "bleeding" = $50-$65, also to see if the flapper is functioning properly.
  
• "Swabbing" (tracheal wash) to check for respiratory infection = $45-$60 to obtain sample for culture, plus $50-$70 for lab work.
  
• X-rays are charged by the joint or per "view," depending on the veterinarian. A typical X-ray of the knee or ankle (generally requiring 5 views) = $60-$75. X-rays of larger structures, such as the stifle (the joint between hock and hip) = $80-$100. Also to check young horses (2 yr olds) to see if their knees are joints are closed, so you can continue training them and race them soon...
  
• Colic: Simple, "uncomplicated" colics generally cost around $50 for all necessary treatment. Prolonged colics can run into the hundreds of dollars. If surgery is required, the costs can reach into the thousands...
  

Treatments & Procedures

• Grabbed Quarter (while running, the horse "grabbed" one of its front hooves with a hind hoof, tearing skin and tissue) = $15-$50, depending on extent of injury.
  
• Castration = $125-$175, plus cost of tranquilizers, local anesthetic, tetanus shot and antibiotics. (Cost is lower if done at a farm.)
  
• Arthroscopic surgery for a damaged knee or other joint, to remove a bone chip or clean up damaged cartilage = $1,500-$2,000 plus up to 3 months of farm rest and an additional 3-4 months of re-training.
  
• Surgery for a fractured leg (requiring the placement of screws and or plates in cannon bone or pastern) = $1,500 for simple fracture; $2,500-$3,000 for very complex fractures, plus 4-8 months of recovery and re-training.
  

Common Treatments for a injured horse that is turned out (a "Lay-up");

• Acute Respiratory illnesses such as pleural pneumonia require extensive, and expensive, treatments which can last for months and run into thousands of dollars. The average equine athlete is likely to develop less severe respiratory illnesses at least once or twice in its career.
  
• Torn Suspensory Ligaments will require 6-9 months farm rest (there is very little, "medically" that can be done) and an additional 3 months of retraining.
  
• Bowed Tendons may require 6 months to a year of farm rest (again, there is no truly effective medical or surgical treatment for this injury). Less than 50% of horses suffering a tendonitis come back successfully.

Broodmares:

• Broodmares usually have very little veterinary expenses, other than de-worming and vaccinations, except during the breeding season. Foaling fees are $150-200, and then while getting the mares back in foal, there will be numerous palpations ($20-30 ea), and ultrasounds ($50-75) to check for pregnancy and or twins. If your mare does not easily become pregnant, there could also be expenses for drugs to get her to cycle, or treat infections. Additionally if there are any complications post foaling, your mare could require surgery. 

Foals:

• Foals, if they are born healthy, and stay that way, and have correct legs, should only have de-worming and vaccination expenses, however, that is rarely the case. An early foal that requires neo-natal hospitalization can rack up enormous expenses. Foals in the first 8 months of their lives are very susceptible to infectious diseases. Pneumonia and other respiratory diseases are common. Antibiotic treatments can run in the hundreds of dollars and hospitalization is not uncommon. 
  
• If your foal is born incorrect, surgery, casting and other measures may be necessary to force its legs to correctly align. This expense can be small or run into hundred's of dollars depending on the degree of the angular deformity. If your foal's legs remain incorrect despite your efforts to correct them, it's future as a racehorse/sale prospect can be severely compromised. 
  

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Revised: 10 Apr 2010 00:47:50 -0400.