Doggone vet´s bills

A couple of weeks ago I went away for a weekend to Seville and my good friend came to look after Barney the mutt. He is Heinz 57 variety (the dog, not the friend), and I found him 6 years ago by the lakes on the way to Ardales. I didn´t steal him (contrary to rumour), and as he was padding along a country lane, tick-ridden and starving, I decided to take him home and make him better. A few medical bills along the way, including an intricate op on his back to remove a disc, I could not have made a better decision that day at Villafranco - he is a beautiful dog and has a great nature (ok you non-doggie lovers out there - stop yawning). Anyway, I digress......... After returning from Seville said mutt was scratching a patch of skin near his tail for hours and eventually made it bleed from all his gnawing. I took him to my vet in Calahonda (who is brilliant) and he told me it was an insect bite (not the dreaded sand fly thank God) and he said I would need to buy a cone to attach to his collar, a flea collar, some anti-biotics and some betadine and gauze to dab the affected area. Then he gave him an anti-inflammatory injection for good measure and the bill was €80. Now don´t get me wrong, he is worth €80 and much much more, but why are vet´s bills so steep? I have decided in my next life I am going to come back as a vet or a dentist! Watch this space.