Is soft palate surgery a requirement?

[georgie_peorgie]

Hi there,

My English bulldog, George, recently turned 1 on August 2nd and we’re now looking at potential dates for his upcoming neutering in October. We took him to our vet for a consultation and they found he was a perfect candidate for palate surgery. It seemed a little odd as when they took him to the back for an additional palate consult, they only took 10 minutes with no bloodwork or x-rays and seemed definite in him needing the surgery. Some important information with regards to his consult, when George was around 7 months he had a very bad bout of aspiration pneumonia after aspirating some of his vomit that left him needing to be hospitalized for a few days. Now, they’ve withheld his neutering surgery until the palate surgery can be completed. Of course we want to do everything we can to ensure his comfortability and happiness at home, but with the additional surgery we would be looking at almost 10 grand for both the neutering and palate surgery to take place at the same time.

Ultimately, I want to know if the palate surgery is absolutely necessary. If possible I’d love to hear both sides, how was your bulldog’s quality of life either with or without the surgery? Any responses will be most helpful and thank you all for your time.

 

[helsonwheels]

Whoa there my Canuck neighbour. 10 grand for both neutering and palate? Your vet is basically profiting on you cause you have an EB n putting them all with palate issues. Not all EB need palate surgery. About 5yrs ago, Jake was 2.5yrs old n he had a vasectomy n palate done cause he needed it. Vasectomy is more expensive than neutering, about 200$ more which came to about700$ n his palate 500$. All in all, cost approximately 1500$. Yes it was 5yrs ago but there is no way today would be 10K. Change vets n shop around. Neutering an EB is the exact same procedure n price as any dog. Plus he’s young n healthy. Alberta is the oil country as we say n trust me, everything is very expensive here. Why I’m saying start shopping around. Also, does George have breathing issues? Like when you walk him, is he panting horribly n dragging?

 

[2BullyMama]

Wowzzza…. I’d be getting a second opinion as pallet usually needs sedation to fully determine unless your pup is show serious symptoms. Some totally need it and can tell via obvious symptoms but a good percentage need to be sedation to fully evaluate

 

[buffym]

My Sophie had two bouts of aspiration pneumonia, the first one when she was 5 months old and the second a few months later. You could tell from her breathing that she needed the palate surgery. She had palate Surgery in August/September 2022 and I paid $1500.00, She was spayed a few months later which was $600.00. I would get a second opinion because those two together should come no where near $10,000!!

 

[Cbrugs]

Wow! I see a few red flags in your post. First, that after 10 minutes with your dog with you not present and they tell you he needs palate surgery and second, that a neuter plus palate surgery would be $10,000.

Not all bulldogs need the palate surgery. Does your dog have trouble breathing after running around? Some vets just see a bulldog and say they need surgery for this, this and this just because it’s a bulldog.

I’d run fast and find a new vet.

 

[1Chumly]

When we adopted Bob last Nov, he had severe breathing issues. He could only sleep in one position and would literally gulp for air. His nares were almost closed. He also needed entropion in both eyes. Because of his breathing (not just with exertion), the vet said she was sure he would need it done but would check thoroughly while under sedation. The result was nares, palate and double entropion. The charge after everything was about $2200.
It made a massive difference in his breathing and at about 3 years old, he had suffered for a long time, poor boy.
My dogs over the years have had many surgeries of various kinds but we have never paid anything like $10,000! I think Chumly was the most expensive when he had his spleen removed in an emergency situation. That was about $5000.
I am assuming the location has something to do with this?

 

[oscarmayer]

Just go anywhere else and get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion. IF your Bulldog needs surgery to reduce the soft palate, shop around and make sure the Vet is very experienced with Bulldogs AND this surgery.

FWIW...$10K is absolutely insane. Should be closer to $3K Canadian, IMO.

 

[rjisaterp]

Price is high...however, if your baby will be under sedation...it is a good time to get surgeries done.

 

[helsonwheels]

Hi there,

My English bulldog, George, recently turned 1 on August 2nd and we’re now looking at potential dates for his upcoming neutering in October. We took him to our vet for a consultation and they found he was a perfect candidate for palate surgery. It seemed a little odd as when they took him to the back for an additional palate consult, they only took 10 minutes with no bloodwork or x-rays and seemed definite in him needing the surgery. Some important information with regards to his consult, when George was around 7 months he had a very bad bout of aspiration pneumonia after aspirating some of his vomit that left him needing to be hospitalized for a few days. Now, they’ve withheld his neutering surgery until the palate surgery can be completed. Of course we want to do everything we can to ensure his comfortability and happiness at home, but with the additional surgery we would be looking at almost 10 grand for both the neutering and palate surgery to take place at the same time.

Ultimately, I want to know if the palate surgery is absolutely necessary. If possible I’d love to hear both sides, how was your bulldog’s quality of life either with or without the surgery? Any responses will be most helpful and thank you all for your time.

So I just called my Vet for what the prices go for nowadays. I got my prices reversed but hey it was 5yrs ago

So today to get a dog n neutered is 360$ for 30lbs plus. Between 60-90lbs is 375$

Soft Palate, tech didn’t see a price and went with Jake’s file 5yrs ago. I paid 600$. The tech said the price will be a bit higher but not that much.

So basically you’re still sitting approximately just over $1000 plus a few meds n tax. Definitely shop around or drive here. You will still be under 10K with gas n hotels

 

[benny]

Run away!! Ten grand for palette and neuter? 10 minute boas eval? “perfect candidate?” All red flags

 

[2BullyMama]

Hi there,

My English bulldog, George, recently turned 1 on August 2nd and we’re now looking at potential dates for his upcoming neutering in October. We took him to our vet for a consultation and they found he was a perfect candidate for palate surgery. It seemed a little odd as when they took him to the back for an additional palate consult, they only took 10 minutes with no bloodwork or x-rays and seemed definite in him needing the surgery. Some important information with regards to his consult, when George was around 7 months he had a very bad bout of aspiration pneumonia after aspirating some of his vomit that left him needing to be hospitalized for a few days. Now, they’ve withheld his neutering surgery until the palate surgery can be completed. Of course we want to do everything we can to ensure his comfortability and happiness at home, but with the additional surgery we would be looking at almost 10 grand for both the neutering and palate surgery to take place at the same time.

Ultimately, I want to know if the palate surgery is absolutely necessary. If possible I’d love to hear both sides, how was your bulldog’s quality of life either with or without the surgery? Any responses will be most helpful and thank you all for your time.

How are things going.... any update?

 

[helsonwheels]

How are things going.... any update?

Was thinking the same.