Poppy’s Routine Vet Checkup Cost $1,090!

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:01]So, today Poppy had her normal 6-month checkup. Not emergency, just her regular little wellness visit. And it was $1,090.

[00:00:14]Which is, you know, completely normal if your pet is a tiny prairie goblin who receives medical care through a private woodland concierge service. But, um I think this is one of those things people don't always realize when they see Poppy being being cute online because yes, she's adorable, she wahoos, she sploots, she eats sweet potatoes like a tiny little angel with no understanding of personal finances.

[00:00:47]But, prairie dogs are not normal pets.

[00:00:50]Prairie dogs are a whole lifestyle, a very loud, very destructive, very uh emotionally complicated lifestyle with teeth.

[00:01:00]Poppy needs an exotic vet, which means she can't just go to any regular vet down the street. She needs someone who actually knows prairie dogs, their teeth, their diet, their little bodies, their behavior, their dramatic opinions about being handled.

[00:01:20]And um because prairie dogs are prey animals, they're actually really good at hiding when something's wrong. So, these checkups are important. And uh they might look totally fine sitting there all round and chunky and innocent like a baked potato in a cardigan.

[00:01:40]But, you still need blood work, x-rays, and uh a real exam to make sure everything's okay.

[00:01:48]Today she had blood work, x-rays, an exam, anesthesia, monitoring, and a nail trim.

[00:01:57]Uh a nail trim, which sounds simple until you remember this is Poppy. And Poppy believes nail clippers are a personal attack from the government. So, yes, even a routine checkup becomes a whole little production. And this is why Hi, Penny. This is why I always tell people prairie dogs are amazing, um but they're not easy at all.

[00:02:26]Uh they need specific diet, lots of hay, greens, enrichment, attention, patience, safe spaces to dig and burrow and chew, and a human who is mentally prepared to say things like please stop eating the door several times a week.

[00:02:46]Uh they are funny and sweet and smart and ridiculous, but uh they're also expensive and complicated.

[00:02:56]Poppy's absolutely worth it. Obviously, she's my little wahoo potato, but but she is not a low-maintenance pet.

[00:03:08]She's a tiny emotional contractor who lives in my house and occasionally sends me invoices through the vet.

[00:03:17]So, that was our day. Oh, thank you, Poppy.

[00:03:22]That was our day. Poppy had her normal checkup. She's very brave. I'm financially wounded. And if anyone would like to support Poppy's glamorous little little medical lifestyle, her merch page is always open.

[00:03:38]Socks, shirts, mugs, stickers, or on her website you can get little uh Poppy plushies and also stickers and patches and things like that. But, um every shirt, mug, sticker, everything helps keep this little queen healthy, spoiled, and uh under the firm belief that she runs the household, which uh unfortunately she does.

[00:04:09]And so does she. Right, Penny?

[00:04:13]Thanks, Poppy, for the little hand-holding.