Veterinarian Cataract Surgery in Thailand

[ftpjtm]

We split our time between the US and Thailand. When in Thailand we typically leave our 14 yo Chihuahua in the US with our son, but are considering taking him along with us this time. On reason is that he was recently diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. He is otherwise very healthy, but becoming more blind by the day to the point of falling down staircases and endangering himself in other ways.

 

In the US cataract surgery is approximately $4,000 which is rather pricey for us.

 

I've seen some other threads from folks looking for someone to perform this in Thailand. We are in Chonburi, but travel to Bangkok is easy enough.

 

Does anyone know a Thai veterinarian able to do this, and the approximate cost?

[Sheryl]

You should  go to a government vet university hospital for this.

 

Kasetsart Univ   http://vet.ku.ac.th/vetenglish/index.php/veterinary-hospital/bangkhen

 

Chulalongkhorn Univ  http://www.sath.vet.chula.ac.th/english/index.html

 

Call first as the eye specialist may not be there every day

[ftpjtm]

5 hours ago, Sheryl said:

You should  go to a government vet university hospital for this.

 

Kasetsart Univ   http://vet.ku.ac.th/vetenglish/index.php/veterinary-hospital/bangkhen

 

Chulalongkhorn Univ  http://www.sath.vet.chula.ac.th/english/index.html

 

Call first as the eye specialist may not be there every day

Thank you very much! 

 

Has anyone done this and/or have an idea of the cost? 

[Sheryl]

I priced it some years back, I think it was something in the range of 10,000 baht then.

[ftpjtm]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I priced it some years back, I think it was something in the range of 10,000 baht then.

Thanks! We'll call and see if we can get an idea. We're in the US at the moment so it will take a bit of planning, need to know if it's worth all that. 

[Sheryl]

Yes, do. Also be warned that it won't be a quick affair, and will require many trips. First to see the eye doctor, then to get blood work, then to schedule the procedure and likely a wait list for it.

 

There may be less expensive options in the US. If you are by any chance located in the northeast try this place, they are excellent and very reasonable in price  https://www.mspca.org/medical-centers/

[ftpjtm]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Yes, do. Also be warned that it won't be a quick affair, and will require many trips. First to see the eye doctor, then to get blood work, then to schedule the procedure and likely a wait list for it.

 

There may be less expensive options in the US. If you are by any chance located in the northeast try this place, they are excellent and very reasonable in price  https://www.mspca.org/medical-centers/

I am relatively near the clinic per your link. I contacted them about cost and their reply is below. Hoping there are less expensive options in Thailand, 10,000 Baht sounds good! 

 

"Thank you for your inquiry. 

 

The first step would be an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists. Our initial evaluation appointment with specific ocular diagnostic testing will cost about $190, with any medications being in addition to this. 

 

The next step would be an ERG and ocular ultrasound.  The ERG and ocular ultrasound are required in all cataract surgery work up as our standard of care.  These tests will tell us that the retinas are healthy for surgery, and there is no evidence based on these tests, of retinal disease including degeneration and detachment.  The cost of these tests ranges between $800-$900.

 

Prices for cataract surgery generally fall within a range depending on if we operate on one or both eyes, how long the anesthesia time is, and if there are additional medical needs the patient has during the hospital stay.  For one eye the cost of surgery can range from $3000 up to $3600 and for two eyes the cost can range from $5050 up to $5900. This amount includes the surgery, anesthesia, hospitalization, and patient care including one overnight stay."

 

[Sheryl]

Ouch!

 

Do call the clinics mentioned in Thailand as my price may be out of date. But I can't imagine it exceeding 20,000.

 

As a point of reference my elderly Chihuahua just had surgery to remove a tumor on his gum. At a  private clinic, the surgery inclusive of general anesthesia, full physical work up  pre-op (labs, Chest Xray, EXG etc)  and scaling done as well as the tumor excision, plus path charges for biopsy, came to14,000 baht and I frankly suspected I was getting soaked with a "farang surtax" at that. Of course, cataract surgery is more specialized, but on the other hand government vet clinics are far less expensive than private ones.

 

You could try emailing the clinic I used to see if they can do cataract surgery.  It is an after-hours practice by a professor from Kasetsart so he might be able to arrange eye specialist to come do it there, would cost about double going to Kasetsart itself but, IF they are able to do it, you could probably set it up via email and bring him in directly for the surgery, avoiding what would otherwise be many visits and waits (that being why I go there). Anyhow no harm in asking 

 

Parichart Suwinthawong Best Veterinary Services

<[email protected]> 

It is in Minburi area close to Suvannabhumi airport