What is up with high vet prices? Rant

[IrisGreen]

I just don't understand it? So I go to take Derange, our cat in to get him fixed. My Dads cats had kittens and my Husband fell in love with one so we ended up with it. I was never really a cat person but Hubby was. This kitten was dog broke before we got him because my Dad has dogs and my dog is friendly to cats. So it all worked out.

So, Now I like this cat. He grew on me and he acts like a dog. I guess because I'm the one thats home all the time and I treat him just like I treat the dogs. lol

So, he is.. around 4 or more months old now. I call up the vet and let them know his age and I want to get him fixed. They say ok, set an appointment and I ask how much? They say $60 to get him fixed. I was fine with that.

Then when I go in today what happens? I feel like I walked in to a used car lot and they are throwing all these fees, extra shots, tests, guilting me in to getting the works done on this cat for a total of almost $300!!!!

They are charging me:
$60 to snip him
$40 for a leukemia test
$40 for shots
$25 for a pain killer shot so he won't be hurting after his snip job (why is this not included?)
Some other fees and shot costs and they wanted to add a full blood panel while he was sedated to test all his kidney and organ functions to make sure everything was working properly?

I want to be a responsible pet owner and get him fixed and they charge me for everything they can think of under the sun.

I asked the lady why does he need all this stuff? She said...well he needs the leukemia test so we can give him the vaccine depending on the test but they charge the same for the test and the vaccine so there goes $80, plus the rest of the vaccines another $40.

Don't get me wrong. I like this cat and want the best for him but how does a free cat cost me more in vet bills in one day then Muffin does in a whole year with his, check ups, sheath cleanings, dental exams, shots, wormings, and sand floats?

Wait tell the Hubby finds out his cat is costing us more then my horse!! hahahaha Ohh, this is going to be great....

No wonder there are so many people that don't take there animals to the vet! You go in just to get them fixed for a standard fee of $60 and at the least they want another $25 for a pain killer shot. That's if you can get out of there with out succumbing to there "don't you want the best for your pet" guilt trip. Why charge for a pain killer anyways? shouldn't that be included in the price on the surgery? They know the owners are going to feel bad and spend the extra money so there pet isn't in pain so they make more money off the fact that you care about your pet instead of not caring and not having to pay the extra money?

Ok so that is all for my rant. Sorry. now I know why so many people just don't take there pets in to get fixed. It's like buying a used car and they tell you the price but you cant drive off the lot because they didn't tell you the tires were not included!

[WashingtonBay]

I was almost going to defend that vet bill till the blood panel, and perhaps the pain shot... I've taken a lot of cats in to be fixed lately, at both lowcost no-frills and all-the-frills suburban vet clinics, and I wasn't charged that. Phooey on them.

Blood panel on a young healthy cat? That's silly. One clinic at the high end part of town once wanted to charge me $10 for a heated blanket in recovery.:eek:

The Leukemia test (and probably also includes feline HIV) I did pay for on the ferals, at least both of the mothers, because you do want to know, and potentially put them down, if they are positive. They can't have contact with other cats if they are.

But a kitten who had not been out in the wilds yet or in contact with other cats besides the parent (assuming the parent is vaccinated) I would have refused the test. You can. Once I'd gotten only negatives on the feral mommas I refused it on the kittens. You don't have to do it even when the little tech is sitting there with that "you do love him, don't you?" look on her face.:rolleyes: But I did vaccinate them all for Leukemia... and the rest of the shots. So it came out around 80-100 for the works.

[alittleoffkey]

Wow. Our vet's pretty awesome... it cost $150 to have Susey fixed, she was in heat (+$20), and including all her shots, blood tests, a worming, staying overnight (so two meals) and pain medicine (and being spoiled rotten by everyone who worked there... they bought her love with treats - that part wasn't even on my receipt, haha). Our (male) cat was fixed two years ago for $80, and he tried to kill a very pregnant vet tech (I would've expected them to try to tack on a few more charges for that hellion).

Cost of living is a lot higher in SoCal than it is in nowheresville, Georgia though. That's probably something to take into account. ;)

[IrisGreen]

I didn't get the full blood panel. I thougt that was a little over the top on a healthy young cat too. But, I do agree with the leukemia testing and vaccine. I am heading out right now to go pick him up so I will see what kind of damage they managed to tally up for our bank account. lol

I will get the copy of the bill so I can brake it down. Hopefully it's just around $200 at the most....I hope...We will see.

Be back in a bit.

[IrisGreen]

sorry, didn't see your post ALOF. I will respond to you when I get back :) I gotta go get my snipped kitty :)

[WashingtonBay]

I like this cat and want the best for him but how does a free cat cost me more in vet bills in one day then Muffin does in a whole year with his, check ups, sheath cleanings, dental exams, shots, wormings, and sand floats?

If he's actually having his teeth and sheath done once a year and shots by your vet, for less than that, you've got a really cheap horse vet. My vet isn't less than that. Horse checkup day here usually costs around $500 for the three of them, assuming at least one needed anesthesia for a dental.

[alittleoffkey]

We had a free cat years ago. She had EVERYTHING wrong with her that's non-lethal - seriously. From fleas, mange and ring worm to some rare blood disease so she had to be on some serious meds for a couple of months. She wound up costing my parents more than $3000, and then they had to give her away because she and my younger brother took to attacking one another. *rolls eyes* I was all for getting rid of the brother. ;)

[SedonaThunder]

I hear you... my vet was here today ($50 for the appt.)... I have FIVE cats that needed vaccines. Everyone got (Rabies $12, FVRCP $15, FELV $15) so my total was $260... on all "free" cats!:eek: They come back in one month to boost the kittens so that will be another $50 visit (this was only $10 more than the office visit fee if I take them in somewhere) plus $60 for the shots... so another $110. PLUS since they are a mobile vet they don't do spays (they do neuters for $50 and joked "get boys next time instead of two girls") and told me that the place they recommend for spays is $400:eek::eek:! I will definitely be shopping around on that and will have to do them a few months apart - have to make sure there is still something left in savings in case of a horse emergency.:(

[WashingtonBay]

Aw geeze. You can get the kittens under 5 months done for $40 each down here at the cheap place. It was about 80 to do wicket at the more 'full service' vet..

[SedonaThunder]

It was about 80 to do wicket at the more 'full service' vet..
HOLY SMOKES - that's a big price difference! I may have to come to Olympia for a price difference like that... how long does it take though? I'd be hanging out for a long time waiting to pick them up, huh?

[WashingtonBay]

The cheap place - I dropped their mommas off in the morning and could pick them up around 5. It was all day, by the time they have to wait for them to recover from the anesthesia. No frills there, but the quality of the work seemed fine on the mommas and the two wilder kittens I took in there.

I actually took wicket to my pet vet that kept her overnight, but still it was a hundred bucks including shots, which you don't need. Shop around other vets up there. That quote ain't normal.

[WashingtonBay]

I'm reading more carefully now.... the pet vet keeps females overnight... males can go home the same day.

[Cat]

I can't stand vet clinics who try to pile everything on - and I bet they got you to give the FeLV and FIV shots as well. I don't give those and actually say in my contract that if an FIV vaccine is given to one of my bengals I sell my health warranty is null and void.

I do strictly the 3-way + Calici and Rabies. Total cost per cat is around $25 through the vet, $10 if I buy them and do them myself. (Rabies can only be given by owner in certain states).

To get a male kitty snipped is $40.
Pain shot is $10.
FIV/FeLV is $30.

Blood panel is really only heavily recommended on older kitties. We had one done on a 5 year old before we had her spayed.

Amazing the price differences.

[SedonaThunder]

I bet they got you to give the FeLV and FIV shots as well. I don't give those and actually say in my contract that if an FIV vaccine is given to one of my bengals I sell my health warranty is null and void.

:rant::rant: OH NO! I am so good about being all read up on stuff for my dogs and horses but am an IDIOT when it comes to cats. I told my vet today that I just wanted rabies for my older cats and didn't know what my kittens needed... he ended up talking me into FELV and FVRCP (is that a 5-way with FIV???) for EVERYONE. Why do you make your health warranty null and void with these? You have me worried now.:cry:

[Cat]

If your kitty is going to be indoors, once tested negative, it is extremely unlikely to contract FeLV. I HAVE given it to outdoor kitties and to kitties going to cat shows who migh possibly come in contact with other cats. That one is not all that bad. The FVRCP is just the 3-way with calici - which is what all my kittens & cats get vaccinated with. These are airborn and can be hard to get rid of, so they are better to prevent with the vaccine. I give them 2 kitten boosters and then one at one year.

I say null and void for the FIV because the cat can then test positive for FIV. And since several shelters I know of immediately put a cat down if it tests positive for FIV, if your kitty should ever get loose and end up in the shelter, it could be a death sentence. Plus it still has questionable effeciency and I know of some bengals who have had a bad reaction with it, including a really high fever.

edit: I just wanted to add that while I wouldn't normally give FeLV, that with the FVRCP isn't all that bad. Not sure if that was clear in my ramblings up there. I would just watch kitties for lethargy or a fever spike which can happen when multiple shots are given at once, especially in younger cats. But even then they are usually bouncing around normal the next day, but I do like to keep an eye on them.

[WashingtonBay]

I have always given the leukemia shot and never had a problem with the shot. It's far more common in the feral population around here than rabies is or distemper. I lost a cat to Leukemia once, years ago.

[oursarge]

I can relate. We decided to adopt a kitten. Normally the rescues have them fixed and when you pay for the kitten you've also paid for the fixing. Well this girl is a private rescue and I found out after the fact that unless she could have her vet tech friend get the cat in for free we'd have to pay for the spaying. I called one vet, $220. just for the spaying, nothing else. They'd keep her over night, I'm guessing more fees would be added to that $220. I called another and it was $125. but she would need a pre exam which is $85. to walk in the door and then add what ever else you need on top of that. I told the girl we couldn't do it right now, we have money saved for if the animals we have get sick but I couldn't take money from that fund for a cat that we don't have yet.

Her vet will spay the cat for $95. because she's a rescue. He waves the other fees so I guess we're paying for that. I haven't heard anything back from her, she was hoping to get an appointment for this week.

I love my vet and I know he works hard but it's sad that the prices are so high that many people are not able to give their pets surgeries they need etc. so they have to put them down. My brother in law spent $1,000 for cancer surgery on their dog. That was 3 weeks ago. A week later they had to pay what ever to put her down because she couldn't be saved. They debated about the initial surgery but even though they don't have alot of money they wanted to give her a chance. It's just so sad.

I know my vet has alot of employees to pay and they have kids to put through expensive schools. They have a huge house and expensive horses. They are such nice people but they are expensive. I love him though because he always comes when I need him and he's a good guy and his vet wife is very nice. The farm call is actually less than an office visit. Can't figure that out but his farm calls are still very reasonable.

Buying products is expensive too. Last yr I bought spray frontline for my horse's mites. When I came home I looked on line and got the same thing for 1/2 price. My one boy is on a Selenium Suppliment, we bought it from the vet, again I found it for 1/2 the price. The next time I need it I'll mail order it. I worry all the time that my guys will get something we can't afford to treat. I would mortgage the house to make them better but I don't even know if the bank would let us do that with the way things are. It is a worry.

Good luck with your new kitty!

[IrisGreen]

Ok, just got back. WoW, this thread blew up! Guess I'm not the only one that feels shafted by vets?

First question:

After a male is neutered how do they look back there? He looks like he still has balls in his sack? Is that just normal swelling or what? Did they shave him up and forget to to take the goods?

Bill:
1 Castration - Feline $60
1 FELV & FIV Test $40
1 FVRCP & FELV $48 <- this was a multi vaccination shot
1 Metacam Inj. $25 <- Pain reliever shot
------------------------
Total $173


So, I go in and the clerk has to pick up the phone and ask if my records are up to date and ready for me to pay. I dropped him off at 8am and it's now 5pm and they haven't finished the paperwork yet? I ask about the tests and if he is fine or not. He is fine and doesn't have leukemia or feline AIDS. So, then I ask about the vaccines and she just rattles off how it's a multi vaccine shot and has the leukemia and everything he needs. I ask how he did and if everything went well and she said yes.

I want to ask about there prices for horse type vet calls. But, She answers the phone and passes me off to another girl walking around. I ask again if they have a price list or a print out of prices. She says no they don't and what am I looking for so she can look it up in the computer.

Dental, shots, exams, stuff like that I say. She gives me a price for dental for $110 and I ask is that just for an exam or float or what is involved. She has no idea, it just says dental next to it. I ask about exams she told me the price, I can't remember what it was and I asked if they do sheath cleaning during an exam or for extra. She has to look at the other clerk and ask if they do sheath cleaning in the first place! Then says no it's extra but doesn't give me a price. Every other question I asked she had to look up or all THREE girls that were working there had to have a pow wow to figure out the answer to it!

So, this guy walks in with a HUGE white rat. He looks like a biker type older guy with two long braids for a goatee. Seems like a nice kick back guy for how hard core he looked with his huge rat. lol He wants to know if the vet can give his rat a check up. She is getting old and he wants to just have the vet check her out because he thinks she is starting to go blind. The clerks tell him the vet leaves at 1pm....... I am thinking to myself, WHAT? So, he asks when does the vet leave normally thinking he must have just left early today and he missed him. They repeat that the vet leaves at 1pm. By this time I have figured out I am NOT going to start using them as Muffins vet, that is for sure.

So, now I am at home and Daringer is happy to be back home. Why are good vets so hard to find and why do more vet techs or office clerks seem so ditsy and don't know how to do there jobs? It's like every vet I walk into has some younger girl that gets a blank look on her face at every other question I ask or just plane has no clue what I am talking about?

I guess it's back to the drawing board. I was hoping I would like this vet because they are only 25 mins away from my house opposed to an hour like my current vet that by the way I am not happy with ether. But, It seems like my current one does have better prices but the gas it takes to get him there makes up for it.

There is another horse vet that I have not tried yet and is between the two vets in distance from my house. I hope I like them so I can change over and finally have a vet that I like. I just hope they don't have some ditsy blond working at the front desk that the only thing she has to offer is that your animal is soooo darn cute!

ohi

[Remali]

I am furious about vet costs for small animals too......seems like nowadays vets charge more for the small animals and horses are not as expensive as the dogs and etc.! I had a ridiculous vet bill after Bentley had anaplasmosis last year, and I did ask what the charges were going to be BEFORE I took him in, and then I get charged something different, and charged more....I am still paying the bill and I do plan to ask why somethings were over-charged.

[alittleoffkey]

Geesh, I'm sorry that vet is so... pathetic (much like my doctors). Our small animal vet doesn't do large animals, but he is one of the sweetest men I've ever met, and his assistants are equally amazing.

When Susey was fixed I had to make sure Nana and Papa didn't know that her surgery cost more than $100 (it was a big deal financially), and they made notes all over the place not to let on that Will and I were paying the extra money when Papa dropped her off. :) The vets spent hours getting to be friends with Susey both before her surgery and during recovery (she's really shy), they told me she was rarely without someone holding her paw (which makes her very happy).

There are good vets out there somewhere! They do exist, hold on to that hope!

[Steelhorserider]

I had my cat Kayla to the vet about 2 months ago as she lost a lot a weight rapidly, was drinking lots of water and using inappropriate places as her bathroom. The vet recommended testing and some antibiotics at a cost of $350. They were supposed to call me the next day with the test results...no call. I called them on Monday and they can't find my chart so they call me back and say another vet will call me with the results later. The second vet finally calls on Wed and so does the first vet. They said she either has an infection or some type of cancer...use up all the antibiotics and let us know how she does. She rallied for a month and went down hill again. When I called them to put her to sleep they wanted to do an ultrasound!!!. She was an old cat and I was not going to do anything even if they found something on the ultrsound. I told the receptionist this and I still had to pay for a vet exam to discuss putting her to sleep--what the heck!!! I paid only because I did not want her to continue to suffer. A third vet examined her and told me that she was sure Kayla had lymphoma and that I was making the right decision. My girl is not at peace but I want to find a new vet. The additional office visit was around $52. What a crock.....they seemed to want to make more $ on my poor kitty and didn't care what really happened to her!

[oursarge]

I had my cat Kayla to the vet about 2 months ago as she lost a lot a weight rapidly, was drinking lots of water and using inappropriate places as her bathroom. The vet recommended testing and some antibiotics at a cost of $350. They were supposed to call me the next day with the test results...no call. I called them on Monday and they can't find my chart so they call me back and say another vet will call me with the results later. The second vet finally calls on Wed and so does the first vet. They said she either has an infection or some type of cancer...use up all the antibiotics and let us know how she does. She rallied for a month and went down hill again. When I called them to put her to sleep they wanted to do an ultrasound!!!. She was an old cat and I was not going to do anything even if they found something on the ultrsound. I told the receptionist this and I still had to pay for a vet exam to discuss putting her to sleep--what the heck!!! I paid only because I did not want her to continue to suffer. A third vet examined her and told me that she was sure Kayla had lymphoma and that I was making the right decision. My girl is not at peace but I want to find a new vet. The additional office visit was around $52. What a crock.....they seemed to want to make more $ on my poor kitty and didn't care what really happened to her!

I'm really sorry about your kitty. It's so sad.

I hate when vets try to suck every nickle out of you then the poor baby dies anyway. My aunt had a 13 yr old dog who was dying from liver failure. The vet actually caused the liver failure to begin with by giving him a medication he reacted to and then kept feeding him with IV's because he couldn't eat at all. He didn't eat solid food for at elast 2months. He kept telling my aunt & uncle who are senior citizens he'd tell them when it was time. It was time 2 months before the actual time, I think he was scared the dog would die on it's own and he wouldn't get the money it took to put him to sleep and cremate him so he finally told them it was time. He sold them some big old fancy urn too. I was so upset that he took advantage of an old couple who loved their dog and that he let that dog suffer. I wanted to say something to him but my aunt & uncle think he's such a great vet I kept my mouth shut but I wouldn't take anything to him.

I love my vets, they are so compasionate but still the prices are high. I worry alot if something bad happens we won't be able to save them after a certain point if they can be saved. Again I am sorry about your poor kitty, I think after awhile all old cats loose their kidney function. Not sure if that's what is wrong with yours but I lost 2 that way.

[oursarge]

Ok, just got back. WoW, this thread blew up! Guess I'm not the only one that feels shafted by vets?

First question:

After a male is neutered how do they look back there? He looks like he still has balls in his sack? Is that just normal swelling or what? Did they shave him up and forget to to take the goods?

Bill:
1 Castration - Feline $60
1 FELV & FIV Test $40
1 FVRCP & FELV $48 <- this was a multi vaccination shot
1 Metacam Inj. $25 <- Pain reliever shot
------------------------
Total $173

So, I go in and the clerk has to pick up the phone and ask if my records are up to date and ready for me to pay. I dropped him off at 8am and it's now 5pm and they haven't finished the paperwork yet? I ask about the tests and if he is fine or not. He is fine and doesn't have leukemia or feline AIDS. So, then I ask about the vaccines and she just rattles off how it's a multi vaccine shot and has the leukemia and everything he needs. I ask how he did and if everything went well and she said yes.

I want to ask about there prices for horse type vet calls. But, She answers the phone and passes me off to another girl walking around. I ask again if they have a price list or a print out of prices. She says no they don't and what am I looking for so she can look it up in the computer.

Dental, shots, exams, stuff like that I say. She gives me a price for dental for $110 and I ask is that just for an exam or float or what is involved. She has no idea, it just says dental next to it. I ask about exams she told me the price, I can't remember what it was and I asked if they do sheath cleaning during an exam or for extra. She has to look at the other clerk and ask if they do sheath cleaning in the first place! Then says no it's extra but doesn't give me a price. Every other question I asked she had to look up or all THREE girls that were working there had to have a pow wow to figure out the answer to it!

So, this guy walks in with a HUGE white rat. He looks like a biker type older guy with two long braids for a goatee. Seems like a nice kick back guy for how hard core he looked with his huge rat. lol He wants to know if the vet can give his rat a check up. She is getting old and he wants to just have the vet check her out because he thinks she is starting to go blind. The clerks tell him the vet leaves at 1pm....... I am thinking to myself, WHAT? So, he asks when does the vet leave normally thinking he must have just left early today and he missed him. They repeat that the vet leaves at 1pm. By this time I have figured out I am NOT going to start using them as Muffins vet, that is for sure.

So, now I am at home and Daringer is happy to be back home. Why are good vets so hard to find and why do more vet techs or office clerks seem so ditsy and don't know how to do there jobs? It's like every vet I walk into has some younger girl that gets a blank look on her face at every other question I ask or just plane has no clue what I am talking about?

I guess it's back to the drawing board. I was hoping I would like this vet because they are only 25 mins away from my house opposed to an hour like my current vet that by the way I am not happy with ether. But, It seems like my current one does have better prices but the gas it takes to get him there makes up for it.

There is another horse vet that I have not tried yet and is between the two vets in distance from my house. I hope I like them so I can change over and finally have a vet that I like. I just hope they don't have some ditsy blond working at the front desk that the only thing she has to offer is that your animal is soooo darn cute!

ohi

I just read this, I didn't have anything male done before our dog Noah so when he came home I thought the vet forgot to neuter him since he seemed to be all there. We had to take him back because he pulled his stitches out. They then glued him and he was great with the glue. I asked the vet if he actually neutered him because he still looked the same and I thought they'd be "Whacked off". He said leave it to a woman to want to wack things off!!!!! He said they take things from the inside out and that everything would eventually shrink and they did.

I loved reading this since I thought I was the only one who thought the vet forgot to neuter my boy!!!!!

Our new kitten is being spayed today, the rescue girl is taking her. I'm a nervous wreck. I hope she'll do OK. I don't know how long it takes to recover from spaying, if she's doing good on Sunday we'll pick her up, if she's not feeling better we'll wait.

I hope your boy is doing good and hope that you find a vet with longer hrs. Does he leave at that time every day or just one day a week? On Tuesdays ours starts at 8 a.m. and goes 'til 7:30 or so at night but on Weds they only work 'til noon, well they did now they have another vet in there and I think she might stay 'til 4. They are open 'til 5 the other days but they do close early the day after their long day. When it was just 2 of them they closed at noon but were available for emergencies.

The other vet I contacted who I liked alot is there every day 'til late and told me to call there up until 9 at night if I need him, after 9 they switch you to an ER clinic.

Pats to your boy, hope he's not too upset about loosing his manhood!!!!!

[cowgirldude]

I never get the leukemia test or shot because I have indoor cats. Vet prices have escalated lately I've noticed. I took our kitten to the Spay and Neuter clinic because they were cheaper. I don't think you need a blood panel unless the kitten is ill. I had it done when my 7 year old cat got sick, but it should always be your choice.

[IrisGreen]

Ok, I feel better :) So, it's just swelling and they did take his goods. lol I was a little shocked when they appeared to still be there!? lol

It's just sad what they do to good caring people....If I would have let them and just went with there recommendations I would have walked out of there paying $300. I told the lady I'm not really a cat person and that my Husband just got this cat. She "tried" to take full advantage of the fact that this is our first cat and do the whole blood panel test! I think it was a $80+ test and I'm scared to think if I would have just told them to do all the stuff he needs....I'm sure they would have found more to test for or come up with something else he "needs".

But, since I knew he didn't need that the lady figured out I was not so gullible. I also thought they were going to give him a rabies shot? Don't you give cats rabies shots just in case?

I think the dog and cat vets are more expensive then the horse vets! Shouldn't it be the other way around?

We have "low cost" spay and neuter clinics. They take the cats/dogs and truck them up to Sacramento (few hours north) to have a vet up there do them!? It's the same prices you can get it done for at any vet in town, 60 for a male cat. Why do they call it "low cost" when it's not any cheaper then a regular vet and at least they don't have to be trucked up north out of town. What...we don't have any vets in town that will offer there time for a once a month half price spay clinic? So, they found some vet out of town that's dirt cheap and by the time they pay for the driver, truck gas and vet they still make a few bucks off the whole thing?

It's just sad and now I can see why more people just don't bother to get there pets fixed and let them roam the neighborhood.

I'm happy to hear about those of you that really like your vet. That's awesome! I sure hope the rest of us can get that too. I'm still looking...

[IrisGreen]

Ohh, and Daranger is a healthy cat. He is a little over 4 months old about 8 pounds, nice thick shinny coat, happy, bright eyed, active cat. Why they would want to run a full blood panel on him, I have no idea other then to get more money out of me. I told them we got him from my Dad's cats' litter. So, it's not like he was just found on the street and I walked in with a sick cat.

This reminds me. Do any of you have of know about the Manecoon/Maincoon breed of cat? My friend has one and I guess they are the largest domesticated breed of cat. Chester is over 25 pounds!! His head is HUGE and his eyes are soo big and stunning! That cat is bigger then most peoples medium sized dog! You have to pick him up with both arms and he can't fit in your lap comfortably!

[Equine_Woman]

Well while I'm not a fan of paying big vet bills I must say I understand why they are charged. I can't imagine walking in to a human doctor (who has AS much schooling as a vet) and asking to get my husband snipped for 300 dollars.

The problem is we don't have health care insurance for our animals. Vets charge what they are worth generally. Now I don't agree that your animal needed all the preop stuff like blood panels and things like that and granted it is MUCH easier to neuter a cat than it is to spay a cat but you still have to pay for that big education bill.

I have a vet I use that charged me 250 for an emergency c-section on a goat in the middle of the night and I thought it was a HUGE deal!! I was expecting closer to 1000. However I wouldn't take my horse there for free because they just aren't specialized for horses. (even though they see mostly large animals) They charged me 25 dollars for a float and didn't even knock my horse out!!! I was appalled!! I have older horses that require more dental care than that and I want my horse knocked out and the power drills brought out and I expect to pay closer to 100 or more for their teeth.

The cow vets do my spays and neuters on my other critters for about 45 for a neuter and 90 for a spay. . but you still have to get their vaccinations. 173 seems very reasonable to me for a spay and shots.

[Hill]

Ohh, and Daranger is a healthy cat. He is a little over 4 months old about 8 pounds, nice thick shinny coat, happy, bright eyed, active cat. Why they would want to run a full blood panel on him, I have no idea other then to get more money out of me.

Because under that 8 pounds of beautiful cat there can be all sorts of horrible things that you wouldn't know about until it's to late. Speaking anesthesia wise... Say he has a portosystemic shunt and the anesthesia they use is excreted through the liver... your cat wont wake up. And by the time *WE* realize that it's to late and your FURIOUS because your cat is dead. When things like that are easily diagnosed with blood work. Now if you decline it that doesn't mean you love your pet less but *if* he dies and you try to come after us we say "Well.. you were offered lab testing which was declined. " And then our DVM doesn't lose her license. It's MY job to tell you what the BEST medicine for your pet is. It's YOUR job to choose what you want.

It really irks me that so many people think that vets are after them for their money. I'm a technician at a really fantastic moderately priced clinic. I've been a technician for TEN years worked at a lot of places and not once have I ever felt like the vet was just out to make money. Trust me *most* vets make a hell of a lot less than anyone else with an equal amount of schooling!

The other reason vet prices are so high is because they have so many facets to the clinic. Think about it your MD only has an office and a few basic supplies usually. Gloves, gowns, paper for the tables... The clinic I work for has a fully functional surgery, x-ray dept, hospital ward, isolation unit, pharmacy... And NONE of that stuff everyone wants when their pet is really ill is cheap.

I fractured my wrist and didn't really know it. My MD sent me to an orthopedist the orthopedist did the x-rays and sent me for a surgical consult to remove bone chips... THEN I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up pain meds. If that was a dog we could do it all under one roof! :eek:

Now it also irks me that there are clinics that offer one price and then jack it up to though. :( I'd find another vet that is more up front.

[oursarge]

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/ournoah/Molly005.jpg

This is the little girl we're adopting. Her name is Molly. She got spayed yesterday, not sure when she'll be here, she's still in her foster home 'til she recovers. She's part Main Coon. She's pretty big for a kitten, she's about 4 months old. The girl we're getting her from has a Maine Coon she rescued, I didn't see him but my husband did and said he's way bigger than our Bo and Bo is 15 lbs! They are beautiful cats. I love all cats but can only have long haired ones because for some reason I am so allergic to short haired cats, the ones with long hair don't bother me.

[cheval]

Non horse vets are getting out of hand with prices. I paid over $300 to get Bunzilla! spayed. Anytime I take her in to have a check up or whatever I NEVER leave without paying well over $100 for the visit. However, the vet is bunny savvy so I suck up the price for good care.

There's not a lot of bunny savvy vets out there and sometimes I wonder if they take advantage of that with their pricing.

[cheval]

Iris I don't think I'd ever use a vet for my horse that didn't specifically specialize in horses. I think that's casting the net a little too wide for a vet that does everything like that.

I agree, find a horse only vet. That place doesn't seem very organized. Either of my vets (bunny/horse) can tell you exactly what procedures cost looking them up. Everything from shots to approximate costs for minor surgeries.

[Ryle]

The truth is that vets are offering much better services and using better drugs which all adds up to extra costs for them to run their facilities.

The blood panel is a good idea on ANY animal that is going under anesthesia just like it is for any human. While we and they can appear perfectly healthy, there can be problems that just aren't visible but could be catastrophic on the surgery table like poor blood clotting ability or an elevated or decreased white cell count that points to an infectious problem that is just not far enough along to have been noticed but would have been exacerbated by a surgical procedure which is a real stress on the immune system.

And there are lots and lots of anesthetic and monitoring choices available now. At the low cost places you are likely still getting the cheap old anesthetic drugs that we now know don't really anesthetize the animals fully but allow for the appreciation of pain, they just don't know where it's coming from. And the low cost practices generally don't treat post-surgically for pain which we now understand occurs and can significantly affect overall healing and recovery rates. They also generally don't use any of the good anesthetic monitoring equipment and don't monitor their recovering patients nearly as well as they should. (Note, I have done relief work for low-cost spay/neuter places.) "Full service" clinics use better anesthetic choices and multi-drug preperations on their surgical patients to provide safer anesthesia, better pain relief during and after surgery and monitoring of things like heart rate, blood gases, ECG, etc etc. They also tend to have actual trained professionals who have a good knowledge of what each drug does to the body systems and what kind of adverse events each drug can cause, how to monitor the depth of anesthesia in detail so that your pet is only as deep as absolutely necessary, etc. (Where vets are not required by law to have only trained individuals performing these duties, you may have someone monitoring an anesthetized patient who's only been in a veterinary medical setting for 5 minutes--literally.) All of these things add up. For example, that post-op pain medication is a controlled substance which means that it not only costs more to acquire because it takes a lot more paperwork when it changes hand, but the vet has to have a special permit for carrying controlled substances, he has to have a safe to keep them in, a log book to keep track of all incoming shipments and use/dispensing of them.

As with anything else in this world, you get what you pay for. And the cost of everything has gone up because the cost of gas has gone up and increased the price of getting all of the equipment/drugs/products required to perform any service.

[IrisGreen]

Thank you Ryle. That was a great explanation and helps clear up some of the misconceptions I had. I can understand that they have to make money to cover there expenses and that I don't fully know or understand what all there expenses are or there over head.

What I don't understand and should never have to deal with is clerks, vet techs or any other employee not knowing there job or how to help there clients with answers, prices, procedure risks, options or just general help. If they don't know the answer then just say so, don't act like you know it and give me some half answer or a blank look as you are trying to pull something out of your not having a clue brain. (I'm not talking about you Ryle)

I can understand if a clerk doesn't know all the details but she/he should be helpful and try to get the answers or comfort the client when they are seeking answers to questions that they are concerned about.

I have found there are TWO types of vet clerks in my experiences so far. One is the "dumb blond" sorry for the stereo type and they don't have to be blonde to fit in this category. You know what I am talking about. The other is the older "don't bother me go sit down and wait" type. They are usually an older lady that has been working there for a long time and has an attitude, doesn't want to take the time to answer your questions even though she knows the answer. She just wants you to drop off your pet and leave and don't worry about it. She is abrupt, short and acts like you are not worth her time. When you ask in concern for your pet she just avoids your question and gives you a "he will be fine you can pick him up at 5" while looking down at paperwork or the computer. It's like talking to a robot tell she gets an attitude with you.

I can understand the cost of vet bills but I can not understand the people you have to deal with and there lack of social skills or understanding and compassion or there plane lack of knowledge about there job and it's practices/prices.

I don't have a problem paying for my animals health I have a problem paying a vet that employs ether the ditsyist or the snobiest clerks and expects me to come back or be happy when I leave his office after having to deal with them and a big bill. I don't think vets understand that there clerks attitudes, bed side manor, ability to answer simple questions and general helpful personality's make a HUGE impression on there clients and are view of them as a good or bad vet.

What is the requirements to be a vet clerk, tech, or work at a vets office? Do they have to have any schooling or are they just hired for there bubbly personality's? I know to be a registered vet tech you need a lot of schooling and I'm sure you know what you are doing and would be able to answer questions wonderfully, Ryle :) But, the clerks at the front desk?

Sorry for my rant. I just really want to like my vet and not have to hate there clerks at the same time. lol Ohh and this last vet I went too does do horses. They have a bunch of nice stalls out back, big horse trailer, and have been doing horses for a long time. Why the clerks had no clue about horses I don't know. They should know basic stuff about there jobs but I think if it didn't come in a shade of pink with a bow on top they weren't interested in remembering it.

[Gliderider]

I got my 4 month old kitty snipped 2 weeks ago. It cost me $ 32 with free rabies shot at are spay an neuter clinic. At the regular vets it is like 3 times that. I know you all will think I am awful but I didn't get the pain shot. They never use to even offer such a thing. I feel the animal keeps still better without it and I have never had a problem with them not healing well. The clinic vet also said cats really do ok without it more so then the dogs. I will admit I only have got the pain shot for one animal I ever had done so far and that was my house dog Grady because he is a big baby. I didn't get the leukemia test because both parents tested neg. As for shots I give them myself other then the rabies.

[rums_mom]

Kabota's new vet has the nicest front desk personnel, actually so far everyone I have met there have been fantastic.

I notice it does depend on the vet around here, the one we started out with for Rum is by far the most expensive in the area. She came from CA and is an equine internist as well as a hoof specialist so I guess that is why she feels she can charge 30-40% more than other vets.

[Vacker Hast]

Okay, where to begin my story is my problem. After a huge run-a-round by the SPCA (Private and County) I was given information by both that ultimatly deemed feral mamma kitty and her kittens mine so they were not deemed feral and I had to pay out-of pocket.

I got Momma Kitty spayed yesterday at a nice vet hospital that participates in the feral program but after jumping through all the hoops from the information given to me from the SPCA the momma kitty was shy but didn't attack the vet so she was considered domestic and didn't qualify so then they proceed to rack up a bill for me that amounted to $175.00 I said, "What?" The girls in the office were very nice but very busy so none of my questions were answered but they could see the frustration and sadness on my face as to what I was going to do. After they whispered with each other then talked to the vet they came back and said they didn't need to run all the tests and could just do the spaying for $107.00 so I agreed.

When I went back later in the afternoon to pick her up, again, I had questions of momma's after surgery care. They took my money and rushed me out without giving me any directions/discussion on her surgery, care, concerns or problems I might see. I told them "Thank You" and brought momma home.

The only thing I am worried about at this time is her throat. She is congested so there is slight gurgling and her pur/meow is rough. Is this normal and if not what do I watch for? I have seen her cough and get it cleared then she sounds normal but the congestion comes back. Is this from being tubed during surgery and she will be fine? I am keeping a close eye on her and she seems fine but I don't want this going into a lung infection! Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, Stacy

[WashingtonBay]

It's not normal for them to have any gurgling in their throat. I've call them and let them know that.

Bizarre that if she's too tame it costs more. It doesn't matter if she was once tame or is feral. She was a stray cat having kittens in a shed and you took her in.

If controlling the wild cat population is the goal, how easy momma is to handle shouldn't make a bit of difference!

[Ryle]

IrisGreen,
To be a receptionist or assistant at a veterinary hospital requires no special education. It's just like being a receptionist anywhere---you answer phones, make appointments and take care of bill payment---so asking the receptionist will often get you very pat, generic answers. A veterinary assistant in California is someone who has had no formal training, but is trained on the job to do things like restrain, draw blood and run the lab equipment--again, no in-depth knowledge of veterinary medicine. (That isn't to say that there aren't veterinary assistants out there who haven't got lots of experience and learned lots on the job, but they don't have a formal education. And in some states even those termed "veterinary technicians" don't have to have any kind of education or even experience.) So, if you have questions that you want more than the generic answers to, ask to speak to and RVT or the vet. If one isn't available, leave your phone number and ask them to have an RVT or vet call you because you have some questions. A really good idea is to learn the name of the RVT that you usually see or like and then ask specifically to have that person call you because you have some questions. And if you have a problem with any of the staff, be sure to let the veterinarian or the office manager know it so that the problem can be addressed. Generally the vet doesn't see much of how the receptionists interact with clients so they need feedback if something isn't up-to-snuff.

Stacy,
Call the vet's office---if they are closed call their after-hours number and tell them that you didn't get any after-care instructions and that your cat is doing something wierd. (This may be over-reacting, but it also gives the vet the head's up that someone on his staff didn't do their job. ;) ) Most likely it is from the entubation, but it's best to go ahead and watch her closely and talk to the vet(s) who saw her. If she shows any signs of it getting worse, nasal discharge, sneezing, lethargy, not eating, etc call the vet to arrange to take her in for a recheck exam.

[Ryle]

It's not normal for them to have any gurgling in their throat. I've call them and let them know that.

Bizarre that if she's too tame it costs more. It doesn't matter if she was once tame or is feral. She was a stray cat having kittens in a shed and you took her in.

If controlling the wild cat population is the goal, how easy momma is to handle shouldn't make a bit of difference!

The difference is generally again the type of anesthetic and the amount of monitoring used on a feral vs. a client's animal. The people doing the feral cat program are looking for the most cost-effective method for getting the cats altered rather than the safest or "best medicine". The vet is more at risk of a person "going crazy" on them if a pet cat dies under anesthesia or gets sick after a surgery as opposed to a person bringing in a bunch of feral cats that they don't have that emotional bond with, so they are much more careful with the client's animal and that extra time, newer drugs and more monitoring equipment ads to their cost.

[Vacker Hast]

I agree with you WB but as I sit here with this voucher in hand that covers all the costs of her FeLV/FIV, Rabies Vaccination and Spay, the Vet's office said there were strick guidelines and she didn't qualify (she was able to be handled without her attacking them).

I was told by the SPCA that the kittens needed to be self seficient (eatting and drinking on their own) before they would be eligible for adoption so I took them in when they turned eight weeks old but since I had them for more than two weeks they were deemed mine.

I rented the trap that was mandatory for a $75.00 deposit then $5.00 a day and did everything I was told to do but the system is set up for the person helping the feral cats to pay out of their own pocket. That's a whole nother rant.

But I am concerened about momma and I do have Cipro (Antibiotic) here if she seems to get wrost than better. I'm afraid if I call the vet they will have me bring her in and rack up another high bill. I will make sure momma is taken care of but they were so busy checking other people out at the same time that I stood there very politely to ask questions about her recovery and I was ignored. Not even an after-care-instruction's letter was given to me. That has never happened in all my years of dealing with my animals vet care.

I will call them and ask them why she is congested to see what they say but I think you guys probably can give me better advise than they will.

Thank you!

Sincerely, Stacy

[WashingtonBay]

The difference is generally again the type of anesthetic and the amount of monitoring used on a feral vs. a client's animal. The people doing the feral cat program are looking for the most cost-effective method for getting the cats altered rather than the safest or "best medicine". The vet is more at risk of a person "going crazy" on them if a pet cat dies under anesthesia or gets sick after a surgery as opposed to a person bringing in a bunch of feral cats that they don't have that emotional bond with, so they are much more careful with the client's animal and that extra time, newer drugs and more monitoring equipment ads to their cost.

I understand that Ryle, but I don't think that's the case here. I think the care the cat got is the same, they just didn't accept her county voucher (probably for a feral control program) to pay for it because the cat was too tame.

The fact that Vacker picked up a stray cat who appears to have been someone's pet at one time does not change the fact that it was living as a stray and ought to fall under the program that encourages the capture of breeding strays by helping to pay for spaying them.

It's a bureaucratic difference, not a medical one.

[Vacker Hast]

Ryle,

I agree that they can minimize some of the treatments with the ferals to bring down the cost but I paid full price and she was deemed my pet and she deserved the best treatment! She didn't get the Rabies nor the tests done but full price for the spaying so she should have gotten the royal treatment as any other pet. No need for the Rabies, I would have been sick by now lol so I'm pretty sure she's safe there....well unless crazy is apart of the beginning signs of Rabies. All joking aside, I am worried about her respitory condition.

Sincerely, Stacy

[Vacker Hast]

***Update***


I spoke with the vet's office and they told me she could still be clearing out the anesthetic which could take up to 24-48 hours then she put me on hold and came back and said she spoke with someone else in the office and she could be developing an upper respitory infection and that I could bring her in during certain times without paying the $75.00 emergency fee. I stated that she was very healthy when I brought her in and this is a result from her surgery and should be considered an post surgery exam/treatment if anything is needed for her. I guess I will see how she does over the next 24 hours.

How can you tell if a cat if running a fever? What is the norm for a feline? I have experience with dogs but not cats. I will continue to do my part to make sure momma is okay whatever it takes ..... i have come this far and I am determined to make sure I do all that I can for her. My ignorance with cats isn't helping but that's why I'm asking.

Sincerely, Stacy

[palomino]

My vet wants to charge me 400 bucks for a tooth extraction. Ridiculous. Bo (my walker hound) has had a bad tooth since he was 1, and I just CANT afford to fix it. Im just waiting for the day it starts bugging him and I have to- so far I have saved up 100 bucks LOL in the Bo dental fund..stupid vet bills. My horses are cheaper than my dog!!!

[starkitten]

palo - that scares me. My little redhead failed to loose her 2 baby canines so now she has 4 on top. I have been told they will need to be pulled - god willing it won't cost 400+ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[Ryle]

Normal temp for a cat is 100-102. You take the temp via a rectal thermometer. (yeah, I know...not a nice thought) If it's over 103 and the cat isn't stressed then it's something to be worried about.

Rabies vaccination isn't in case she has been exposed prior to you taking her in but to prevent the disease should she come into contact it after vaccination. This serves to both protect the cat and any humans she comes into contact with.

WB, that is exactly my point---because she had adopted the cat rather than planning to spay and release it they treated the cat differently at the vets office. They used different anesthesia, different/better monitoring, etc which led to the full price being charged rather than taking short-cuts and cheaper methods to cut costs.

[Vacker Hast]

Thank you WB and Ryle,

The Feral Spay Program did not help me and forced me to make an on-the-spot decision at a pricey Vet's office to deem momma kitty as mine. I want what is best for her and I have bonded with her during our time together and had already planned on making sure when she leaves my house that she has food and fresh water out for her and still let her come in my house if she wishes. I will get her shots but at my Vet's office when they have their clinic day so it won't be nearly as much as this Vet was wanting to charge.

Momma kitty is acting better this morning .... she is eatting and up and around alot like her normal self but her throat is still giving her problems so I'm still keeping an eye on that. I have no problems taking her temp via rectal, I had a child and plenty of dogs so I have no problems and plenty of experience lol.

I will see how she continues to do today and hopefully she won't have to go back in for an upper respitory infection since the Vet's office is not taking any fault and will charge me full price but they are the only ones that really know what they did that caused it even though they will not admit it or take any responsibility!!! I feel they were too rough with her and didn't care since she was brought in originally as a feral. We do care .... there is alot that goes into feral cats and it's not easy jumping through all the hoops, it's actually alot more work than taking care of your own animal and they should be treated the same and get quality care as if so!!!

I will keep you all updated and thank you for your support and help it is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, Stacy