Is it just me or do you??

[Tala]

Quote:
Your prices are lower than what my CATS ONLY vet charges. I loooooove him he is so reasonable and so good at what he does!!!!!!!

Unfortunately I was not quoted any less than $250 to spay my 60lb dog, and they all wanted to do a preliminary visit for extra $$ (which I can understand thye reasoning, but not the price) and they all wanted proof of fifteen hundred puppy vacceines that I don't get. Belive me, I called a lot of places.
So I looked into the humane society's low cost clinic...... and then I started reading about how crappy these things are and how so many dogs get infected coz they are essentially doing surgery on the kitchen table instead of at a real hospital. No thanks.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
Your prices are lower than what my CATS ONLY vet charges. I loooooove him he is so reasonable and so good at what he does!!!!!!!

Unfortunately I was not quoted any less than $250 to spay my 60lb dog, and they all wanted to do a preliminary visit for extra $$ (which I can understand thye reasoning, but not the price) and they all wanted proof of fifteen hundred puppy vacceines that I don't get. Belive me, I called a lot of places.
So I looked into the humane society's low cost clinic...... and then I started reading about how crappy these things are and how so many dogs get infected coz they are essentially doing surgery on the kitchen table instead of at a real hospital. No thanks.

Just a suggestion, pet insurance could lower that spay cost to under $100

 

[chickerdoodle]

There is a big difference between people and animals. Humans can complain of illness--animals cannot. Cats (especially) and many dogs are stoic and act normal until they are very ill. I do take my pets in routinely for exams yet I do minimal vaccines as they do not need them so frequently anymore. I have my senior dog (she's 15) checked twice yearly since she has been nine, my younger dog annually and my cats annually. They all get blood chemistry and heartworm tests, fecal checks for worms, and the ones who need dentals get that taken care of (yikes--that's getting up there in price too). It is all expensive so we do have pet insurance for any illness or injury but pay for the medical maintenance. We are not rich, we just feel we chose to have them in our family so we feel we are responsible to take their care seriously.

Believe me, we have been strapped for cash after Cherokee's last knee surgery ($5, 000)!

Oh, we do live near a large city so the costs is higher as demand for a state of the art comprehensive veterinary hospitals and specialists are demanded by the people in Portland, Oregon.


My background also helps me understand the costs and why it is so important. I was a certified veterinary technician,hospital manger, and after going back to college an animal behaviorist. Most people complain about the costs but they do not understand the cost of running a well equipped and staffed veterinary hospital. Rent, upkeep of the building, kennels, employee salaries, business taxes, fees for the organizations you need to be in, continuing education, up to date medical books and magazines, all the equipment needs to be serviced and/or updated (anesthesiology, radiology, surgical monitoring, etc.) need to be inspected and serviced, licensing fees, the drug inventory you must have to treat emergencies, various insurances, etc., etc. I got a good idea when I managed a three doctor veterinary hospital--staggering!! This is why I do not begrudge them their fees. I do however, always ask what every fee is for PRIOR to the work being done. I will ask for alternatives f I feel that is an option.


Don't feel bad not doing all of this for your pet as everyone has different priorities and budgets. We don't have cable TV because its not in our budget. We do spend money to feed the pets the best diet we can (EVO) in order to avoid illness. Looking at our 15+ year old dog's medical history I am happy to say it has all been worth it! Emma still romps through the yard and plays, goes on walks (she always trots ahead of us too!) wags her tail often, and eats with gusto---every single day! I am petting her now as she naps beside me.

Its worth it to me.

 

[OccamsTazer]

Quote:
All that means is that they read the same manual.

My grandpa's SPAYED dog died of a giant tumor/cancer thingy. I don't think the vet tested it, he just told my grandpa that removing it wouldn't be sucessful because it would just grow right back.

On the other hand, remember that the spay/neuter issue is only in reference to a specific type of mammary tumor. It does not mean a dog cannot get cancer, including the type that it helps prevent. All the data shows is that sterilization before first estrus drastically lowers the occurrence of mammary cancer.
Those manuals aren't just pulled out of someone's butt, either, they're based on decades of empirical data

 

[Crazyland]

The costs of the vet hospital and what they have to offer is why I choose the one I did. Soon they will be the only hospital within 2 hours that has an ultrasound machine! Excluding the Equine vet school. I know that my money is going towards something and not just their pockets. The vet is also always willing to just talk and not push me out the door for the next client.
The vet personally called me the day prior to Rex getting his hips xrayed just to go over everything. That to me is service.
My dogs are not fixed. And now I am going to pay that price by my 18 month old female going to have a litter, 80% sure. We kept going back and forth on her having a litter after she turned 2. My vet is nonjudgemental unlike a lot of people. My boys do not mark, are not aggressive and just go against the biased nature towards intact males. My female has had her moments. But that is why they are called a B*. lol Overall for a girl she is wonderful around all animals. My animals are well fed on a high quality diet. I splurge on them sometimes with chicken feet at the store or bull testies, expensive. With the surplus I shouldn't have to pay for them! haha
I take their health very seriously. And I think most of us on here do.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
I have been doing lots of research about this, since the estimated risk in golden retrievers is 1 in 5. With out last dog, min pin, she had 1 heat before we got her spayed.

On the positive side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common
malignant tumors in female dogs
• nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female
dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs
• reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
• removes the very small risk (0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors

On the negative side, spaying female dogs
• if done before 1 year of age, significantly increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer); this is a
common cancer in larger breeds with a poor prognosis
• increases the risk of splenic hemangiosarcoma by a factor of 2.2 and cardiac hemangiosarcoma by
a factor of >5; this is a common cancer and major cause of death in some breeds
• triples the risk of hypothyroidism
• increases the risk of obesity by a factor of 1.6-2, a common health problem in dogs with many
associated health problems
• causes urinary “spay incontinence” in 4-20% of female dogs
• increases the risk of persistent or recurring urinary tract infections by a factor of 3-4
• increases the risk of recessed vulva, vaginal dermatitis, and vaginitis, especially for female dogs
spayed before puberty
• doubles the small risk (<1%) of urinary tract tumors
• increases the risk of orthopedic disorders
• increases the risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations

Taken from here http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

Heres another site http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/spay_neuter_risks_benefits.aspx​

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
All that means is that they read the same manual.

My grandpa's SPAYED dog died of a giant tumor/cancer thingy. I don't think the vet tested it, he just told my grandpa that removing it wouldn't be sucessful because it would just grow right back.

On the other hand, remember that the spay/neuter issue is only in reference to a specific type of mammary tumor. It does not mean a dog cannot get cancer, including the type that it helps prevent. All the data shows is that sterilization before first estrus drastically lowers the occurrence of mammary cancer.
Those manuals aren't just pulled out of someone's butt, either, they're based on decades of empirical data

Yes, I know that they can still get it, but it lowers the risk. Mammary tumors are also easier to treat than hermangiosarcoma.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Here it just depends on the Vet that you go to. The one closest to our home is OUTRAGEOUS! They want $300.00 for puppy shots! Yep puppy shots. I take mine to Angels of Assisi they are a low cost spay/neuter clinic (not free though) and they have a wellness clinic where you can take your animals for shots, HW testing etc...

Its 10.00 for an exam, 10 per shot (dhppc/rabies) 5 to deworm, 15 to microchip, 5 for nail trim. That is all that I can remember lol

 

[SarahFair]

I was going to take my (at the time I only had) 2 dogs to the vet a little over a year ago for annual shots. They told me that being a "new patient" it was going to be almost $400, just for shots!
Hmm... I dont think so.

All that state of Ga requires is rabies. I went down to the TSC when they had a vet come through and got the rabies for $25 each.

 

[happyhensny]

There are immunization clinics at PetCo. Yes, you need to wait in line but the shots are very inexpensive and they get done without the extra fees. While you are there pick up the heatworm meds. We brought our two cats there and it was less than half of what the vet charges.

Here is a link:

http://www.luvmypet.com/