My Arthritic Dog 8-5-11

We went back to the Laser Therapist a total of three more times. 48 hours after each visit, my dog's gait improved perceptibly. She slept less, and was increasingly eager to go for walks again in spite of the Florida heat. She returned to her begging, mooching, obnoxious ways. On our 4th visit, however, the tone behind the counter at the clinic changed. I had been paying $40 per six minute session. It worked out to about $400 per hour for the treatments, but I still felt as though it was worth it. Suddenly, however, the cashier behind the counter grew grim. She explained that my dog was still quite large, and big dogs cost more to treat! She pointed out that the last treatment had lasted far longer than the first, when my dog refused to cooperate. She was very sorry (although she didn't look all that contrite) but she was going to have to raise my dogs rate a bit....to 60 dollars per treatment!!! She mumbled something about a package price. I asked her if the laser used more electricity on my dogs elbow than on that of a Chihuahua, and she said she did not know. I paid up and left. I had memorized the name of the manufacturer of the laser by then, and called for a quote and a listing of other veterinarians in the area to offer the treatments. They responded with the info for three others...the nearest was ten miles away. The cost of the laser itself was approximately $18,000, which aided me in figuring out how my dogs soon-to-be-former Vet intended to recover the cost of the clinics machine. They also hinted that I would need to produce a Veterinarians License. I was completely enmeshed in the animal version of the old "bait and switch" routine...."Does our Laser work to ease the pain for your old, crippled dog? Good! We shall now charge you $600 an hour instead, or you can watch her shrivel up and die!" Thus began my world-wide search for a new solution...to be cont...