We were looking forward to our son staying with us in the Santa Barbara area during our vacation. His wife had the start of the school year as a teacher. My daughter also had a new year beginning at UC Berkeley where she works. It was just going to be our son joining us, which would have been unique, because we rarely if ever have time alone with him.
But it was not to be.
He was out for a walk in his neighborhood when he called to tell us a huge Rottweiler came up behind him and bit him in the thigh. He was pretty shaken up and his wife was driving him to urgent care.
At urgent care he asked about rabies vaccines while they tended to his bite.
The staff at urgent care said there hasn’t been a case of a dog with rabies in eight years in his county, so it wasn’t necessary. My son was reading about rabies online. It’s fatal so he was more than concerned. I told him to call his insurance or animal control. He couldn’t get through to animal control but did reach the County health department. They instructed him to go to an ER, not an urgent care, and get rabies vaccinations. They had a dog with rabies two weeks prior.
Also, since the dog was a stray, there was no way they could track the dog to see if it had rabies or not. It might have escaped a yard. Or it could truly be a stray dog with no home.
The other thing that was scary besides getting attacked and bitten by a dog, was my son discovered online that if insurance doesn’t cover rabies vaccines, they are ridiculously expensive.
He got the first rabies vaccine which was extremely painful. He said the needle was like a needle on a sewing machine and the diameter of the syringe was the size of a nickel. They stabbed him five or six times in the wound to fill the area with human rabies immune globulin. Then he got a shot in the arm with the rabies vaccine. He had to go back for more vaccines — which just happened to be during the time he took off work to join us at the beach.
The good news is he received treatment. At first I suggested that he follow the urgent care’s advice and not to worry about rabies vaccines. That was first of all, because I trusted their advice, and second, that the costs my son found online were around $36,000 for the shots!
He called the other day to say he got the bill from the ER. His bill was about $2,000. His health insurance covered $85,000. Yes, that’s $85,000 for two shots! He hasn’t received the bill yet for the rest of the shots.
What are your thoughts about shots to save your life costing more than $85,000?
I read that if a bat makes its way into your house, which happens a lot, that you have to get rabies treatment asap for all members of the house. Even if you think it didn’t bite, like while you are sleeping. Terrible! So sorry for your son. I’m glad he got a second opinion.
Wow. Can you imagine the cost for the entire family if a bat gets in the house. My son sad bats, raccoons and foxes are the main spread of rabies in the US.
Wow, interesting story. First time I have ever heard of rabies shot being so expensive. We see many stray dogs, not this year, but in the past. I wonder how people afford it who are receiving food stamps and help in some neighborhoods. Some really bad neighborhoods might be where more of the stray dogs are. Glad he is okay.
My son lives in a bad neighborhood that is filled with strays and the dogs with owners are vicious. They have a very nice apartment, but it’s not in a good area. That makes it more affordable, I guess.
I understand. Sometimes good areas are surrounded by bad areas, also. Our area in the past couple of year has improved immensely from up and coming to popular as it has a good location. Yes, some owners can be very scary, I know. I just wonder how people afford this shot if bit.
I did google it and it said it depends on the location. I did find this. Is this in California?
How much does the rabies vaccine cost? For those who don’t have health insurance, the rabies shot cost will vary anywhere from $400 to as much as $1,400 per shot. The geographical location and the clinic will affect the final price
It was a hospital in San Francisco, so of course they’d have high prices. I got the same prices that you did when I googled it. But the next paragraph said costs could exceed $100,000.
Oh, yes I believe you! That is something! Wow.
He has a friend in San Francisco who got bit by a raccoon and needed rabies shots, too!
wow, I guess public funding must pay for in some areas, also. Remind me not to put out food for stray cats if raccoons are nearby. Usually they are not people friendly unless they are fed.
Probably not a good idea to put out food for stray cats. Raccoons would definitely be attracted to it, too.
Yeah, I will take it in shortly. Thanks for the reminder.
I am sorry but the US is nuts.
In Australia “A rabies vaccination in Australia typically costs around $150 to $350 for the full course, which usually involves two doses given by injection, with the cost varying significantly by clinic and administration method (intramuscular vs. intradermal).”
That seems reasonable and doable. I have no idea why rabies shots cost so much here.
Only one answer I can think of –
Because America
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Oh no, that’s awful! I hope your son recovers quickly. Dr. Zeus was bit by a friend’s Rottweiler many years ago on his torso through the same stress about rabies. Thank goodness insurance covered it for your son.
I know that antivenom shots are also expensive. I had a friend bit by a snake here, through I don’t recall which, and it cost her $70,000 before insurance stepped in. At the end of the day, there probably isn’t much of a choice if a treatment is life-saving, but it is still awful.
Wow those are horrible stories too. I didn’t know anti venom shots were also so expensive. It seems like they’d be more common than rabies shots. I will keep my eyes out for where I step!
That all sounds so awful EA! I’m really sorry your son has to deal with this. What the heck on the cost of the shots!! How is that even possible?
Isn’t that a horrific story? I was so worried his insurance wouldn’t cover the costs. I googled it and it said rabies shots can cost more than $100,000.
If I got a bill for $100,000, I think I would need more rabies shots to keep from going rabid.
No kidding!
Yikes! Sounds scary and painful . But I’m glad insurance paid.
I would be afraid to walk outside again after that. Yes, we’re relieved insurance paid.
That’s such an appalling situation! The pain of the treatment first off, had me feeling so sorry for your son. I would hope for some sort of pain relief to be administered prior to those horrible shots. And the cost is beyond outrageous. I’m so sorry about the whole thing.
Thank you for being so concerned. I never asked him if they gave him help for the pain before they gave him the shot. He said it was painful afterward because it caused bleeding everywhere they poked him! He just called me and was walking on his lunch hour. I was surprised he still goes out for walks!
I’m so sorry your son wasn’t able to join you for vacation. What a terrible incident. I’m glad he got the treatment he needed and I hope there’s no long term damage to his thigh! Sending best wishes!
Thanks! Yes, it was a terrible thing to happen. He said he was so shaken up he couldn’t sleep the night after the bite. I don’t think there will be long term damage.
As they say – you can’t put a price on health or life. If it’s necessary, I would do it too!
I’m so thankful he got through to the county health department and got the latest information and instructions to get rabies vaccines.
Yes, it is imperative to get the vaccine asap. I’m glad he did that.
I am too!
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OMG- that is awful! How is he doing now?
He’s better now. But he was so shaken up. What a random scary thing to happen, to be bitten from behind. Then the awful shot series, and finally the bill!
Right?? OMG. I’m glad he’s okay.
My mouth is hanging open about the cost!
I see in your exchange with Kari that your son is doing well – and that’s the most important thing…but even so. Still scary. 💔
What an unfortunate event to be taking a walk and have a stray dog bite you from behind. Then to find out that they do have dogs with rabies after eight years of none! My mouth fell open too and I started laughing wildly when my son told me the cost. I’m going up to the Bay Area to take care of my daughter post surgery in several weeks. She’s going to be staying at her brother’s and wife’s
apartment so they can watch over her at night. I’ll be the daytime help while they work. My son said he’s going to take me out for walks! No thank you!
Yeah, don’t get me started on the U.S. pharmaceutical industry and health insurance!!!
It’s insane! The day he got the bill for his rabies shots, his insurance sent him an email to please refrain from using the Emergency Room and that there are other healthcare options. Unfortunately, for human rabies shots in San Francisco, that is the only choice.
I went for a walk this morning at a nearby park and I had this very concern. I love this park but for some reason, people always let their dogs off their leash. Drives me crazy. I love dogs, but hate being put in that situation. Glad your son is doing well.
Thank you for your concern about my son. Where my son lives, people get tired of dog ownership and let them loose permanently. Then there are new wild puppies growing up there. Isn’t that a scary thought!
Ugh. Hate that. Dog ownership is a commitment. You don’t just give up on the dog. Poor animals. Feel bad for your son.
It should be criminal to let your dogs go on their own. I’ll be visiting in a few weeks to take care of my daughter post shoulder surgery. She’s going to stay with my son and DIL. My son says we are going to go walking every day. I’m not so sure about that!
Wow! That is ridiculous to cost that much! Thank goodness insurance covered as much as it did, but I still agree with you about the price being outrageous! I am glad your son is OK, but Iso sorry he had to go through that and miss vacation with you guys!
It’s ridiculously expensive. A friend said that most visits to ER these days are priced about like that. But the ER was the only place for him to get rabies treatment.
Healthcare prices are out of control! So very thankful that my husband has very good health insurance for us, from his job. But I really feel for those who don’t have access to good insurance.
My son has the best insurance his company offers because of his health issues, asthma, etc. and his wife’s recent cancer treatment.
That is great that he does. Definitely a blessing!!
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“And a doctor in Manhattan
Saved a dying man for free
it’s a miracle
(It’s a miracle)
(It’s a miracle)
(Another miracle)”
Roger Waters
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That’s insane! I mean seriously….wtf!!!
Unbelievable!
How scary! The method of getting the shots just about had me jump out of my chair, let alone the cost! That’s crazy! As much as I miss Copper, I don’t miss other dog owners always saying, “My dog is friendly” when it’s charging at us. Anyway, I’m sorry your son went through that, but glad he’s okay.
Such a relief! I can’t believe he had to go through that too. I’m also relieved his insurance paid the huge part of the bill. He lives in Oakland and I googled it and there are lots of stray dogs there. Not a bunch of people like you and your family who loved Copper.
Yes, glad he had insurance; that’s gold, and it’s too bad about the stray dogs. Hopefully, this is a first and last time.
Thanks for your comments. I do hope this is a last time.
You’re welcome. 🙂 Is it possible for him to leave Oakland?
I wish he would. They love their loft apartment and he said because of the location it’s very affordable.
I’m so very sorry this happened to your son. How scary—and traumatizing! Plus, he missed a vacation with YOU.
The cost of medical care is out of this world. If there were a way to do things without insurance, then perhaps the hospitals would charge a nominal fee without UPPING it to cover the insurance pricing.
Praying he continues to heal.
Thank you for all you kind words. There is something so wrong with how our insurance and hospitals bill us.