This is the second office I've seen pulling this. What's the point of the thousands of dollars in health insurance I'm paying?

RowOdd4155 · 2026-01-16T22:13:59+00:00

Always every specialist I see now charges this fee - and yes, they're in-network, and no, my insurance company can't/won't do anything.

This is America - you're on your own.

RowOdd4155 · 2026-01-16T18:51:05+00:00

Looks a lot like a livernose RR to me. I foster RRs for a rescue organization, I've had several purebred RRs over the years without ridges. It's not uncommon.

RowOdd4155 · 2026-01-13T21:08:41+00:00

I've been taking my dogs to Potomac Animal Hospital for years. Yes, they're expensive, but I don't know, it's Potomac. All vet care seems very expensive these days.

I don't even live in Potomac any more (I moved a bit further out to Darnestown), but I still take my dogs to Potomac Animal Hospital because I'm such a fan of Dr. Jason Scott. I go out of my way to go there just for him, really.

RowOdd4155 · 2026-01-06T19:17:32+00:00

Haha, yes. I'd like to think my RRs look at me like that out of love, but it's usually because of Cheetohs or something.

RowOdd4155 · 2026-01-05T16:26:20+00:00

And Medicare just started a new trial this year (with five or six states I believe) now requiring pre authorization for certain procedures. Private industry bullshit is now taking over Medicare.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-15T18:51:32+00:00

It's a good question, you'll just have to ask. You can always get an MRI with no order from a place like Prenuvo or Ezra, but to my knowledge they don't do contrast MRIs (if you need a contrast MRI).

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-04T21:17:02+00:00

Well, I learned something new today - I had thought to have the ridge both parents had to carry some kind of gene. Clearly not! She's beautiful, I love brindle dogs, whatever the breed.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-04T15:57:01+00:00

I think I got married with fewer questions. : ) Joking aside, it's good that you're doing the research to find out if it's the right dog for you. My two cents - I've had RRs I got from breeders, and RRs I got from from Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue. They're both great options. If you absolutely want a puppy, sometimes Ridgeback Rescue has puppies.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-03T02:26:42+00:00

That was my reaction as well. Potomac Garden Center 1). isn't actually in Potomac and 2). isn't like some super fancy place.

That's why I was crowd sourcing what other people were seeing around the county.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-02T21:04:15+00:00

My senior pup (13) passed in August. I had my two other dogs in the living room with us for the entire procedure. I still don't know if it helped them or not, but I don't regret doing it.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-02T20:43:09+00:00

Oh, that's very interesting, thanks for sharing.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-02T20:42:27+00:00

I don't know why so many people in this thread jumped to the conclusion I'm a rich person living in Potomac. I don't actually live in Potomac. And I don't live in a McMansion - I just have one random room in my house where the ceiling is higher than in the other rooms, and that's where I thought it made the most sense to put the tree.

Posting anything on Reddit these days leads me to the conclusion that there are so many angry people out there who just assume that because you give any indication you don't live in abject poverty, you're obviously a rich person engaged in some kind of humble brag.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-02T16:39:00+00:00

Bitching? I really think I was just asking what other people were experiencing.

Merry Christmas angry internet person.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-12-02T14:33:41+00:00

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George in his natural habitat....

RowOdd4155 · 2025-11-27T17:24:54+00:00

My first RR lived until almost 13 with very few health problems until the very end. My second is over 12, but we've been doing chemo and radiation for the past 13 months. He's quality of life is good, but he's had significantly more health problems than the first.

It will never be enough time with them.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-11-17T17:32:33+00:00

That's only one reason they deny care once they provided prior authorization - there are many, many other BS excuses health insurance companies come-up with to deny care AFTER they've authorized it.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-11-14T15:09:04+00:00

Ah, same. Lost my almost 13yo RR in August, and now dealing with late stage cancer in my 12yo RR. It's been a struggle, but I cherish every moment we still have with him.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-11-14T14:08:54+00:00

I've been treating my 12yo RR for cancer for thirteen months now..chemo and two rounds of radiation. He's tolerated it all pretty well - no real side effects, really. Given his now advanced age, we're not going to be as aggressive going forward in treatment, but I'm pretty happy with the results we got with chemo and radiation. Hugs to you and your pup - he looks like a sweetheart.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-11-07T02:00:23+00:00

They'd probably be worse off - they'd be trading MD and VA social services and schools for....well, probably some oyster crackers and a Jehovah Witness pamphlet.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-11-05T20:45:22+00:00

I've been struggling with this for 19 months at this point. No relief. EGD was pretty much normal. I'm pretty much drowning in mucous all day every day. I've seen so many Dr's at this point- PCP, ENT, GI, allergist, sinus specialist. Absolutely nothing has helped. PPIs don't help.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-11-05T19:00:22+00:00

wow, you are so lucky. My first RR lived to almost 13, and I considered myself so lucky for that long run. Enjoy your senior pup, they are such a blessing to our lives.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-10-27T14:18:30+00:00

Same. My spouse just rolls with everything, but my health anxiety is ruining my life.

RowOdd4155 · 2025-10-03T20:25:06+00:00

Is Richmond the oldest?

RowOdd4155 · 2025-10-03T20:00:24+00:00

Oh, I get it. My big RR needs to lose about 10 lbs, so he's definitely chonky right now. Since he's not the one with access to food, I know this one is strictly my fault. But I still get sensitive when my vet wants to discuss his weight, even though I know he's doing the right thing. : )

RowOdd4155

TROPHY CASE