Vetrinarian horror

[orinskye]

there have been many people posting online about how much their vet bills have costed them, and i find the amount rather dsiturbing...... neutering my toby will cost me $30, but some people pay as much as $400.. possibly more..... Clinics are not bad places to take youre baby, you just need to find one that you trust......... you DO NOT ALWAYS get your moneys worth when you take youre baby to a regular vet office.......
I have found from personal experience that vetrinarians actually pull on youre heartstrings and make you feel guilty in order to get you to pay their outrageous prices!!!!
Example: My mother took her dog (big dog) to the vet because she got bit by a rattlesnake..... the vet took her in the back and gave her a vile of antiserum (without asking if they could give it to her first) so then they come out and say " we gave your dog a vile of serum and it costs _____ amount and she needs another one or she will suffer and die" ....... ok, so this being said, my mother would either just say forget it and the dog would die according to the vet (but we would still have to pay for teh treatment she had allready recieved) or pay such and such more and save the dog......... The vet gave my mother such a guilt trip!!! they said "i cant beileve youre pets life means so little to you, ...... it is only money against youre pets life...... you are willing to put youre dog down for a snakebite....." well, my mother paid the vet bill (IT WAS AROUND $1000 DOLLARS!!!!!!!)
And later we find out that in teh army (my uncle trained war dogs) they just PUT ICE ON TEH SNAKEBITE and THEY ARE FINE!!!!!!! so......... the vet lied to her, made her feel guilty to get her money, and medicated the dog when it wasnt necessarily needed........

So, my reason for all of this ranting and raving....... please please please find a vet you are COMFORTABLE WITH that will not take you for every penny you are worth, just because they are more expensive, does not necessarily mean that they are the best, and just because they are "low cost" doesnt necessarily mean that they dont offer the same care that a regular vet office does

[Bentley'sMom]

Are you sure that price includes the anestetics (sp?)? I've heard that is the most expensive part.

[orinskye]

$30 covers everything.......... i take him in they do teh surgery and my fiance pays thiry dollars.....they do teh surgery..... then we can take him home


There are no hidden costs........ for a dog under 15 lbs it cost $30 dollars to neuter........ for a female under 15 lbs it costs $45.........

[lickthestar]

I need to get Archie neutered, and it's going to be about 300 because the vet wants to do blood test, etc. But it's not cheap to have a dog in NYC...

I know what you mean about vets, though. The vet that Archie was going to before I got him was horrible. Every time I went, there was a new vet and I'm not even sure half of them had finished school because they were so young. At one point, they misplaced his paperwork (well, let's be truthful...INDEX CARD) and almost gave him the same shots again until I told them that he already had everything. There was a woman there (a customer) who HIT her dog in the face everytime the dog looked around at other people or dogs. One teenage boy had a baby pit bull, not on a leash, who he was picking up by the rib cage! My boyfriend got so angry at the vet and the clientele that he stormed out of there saying that that place was $%*&. We now go to a vet we know and trust but I knew beforehand that it was more expensive because the vets there are all highly qualified from Cornell U. and have done extensive internships in good hospitals in surgery and other veterinary care, and the it's clean and professional. More important than money is how qualified, trained, professional and caring the vet is. It's the same as if I were going to choose my own doctor. But yeah, a little research goes a long way.

[Luvmypupster]

the price does vary but in the DFW area you are going to find that they are all pretty much charging the same thing. I have had a hard time finding a vet because I'm picky. I want the office to be just as nice, clean, orderly, with up to date equipment as I would expect a human doctor office to have. When I got Bentley he was about 15 weeks old, took him to a vet for his first puppy check up. The vet was so nice, but his office wasn't clean, his front desk help was not friendly and he lacked appropriate modern equipment. Then I tried another whoms prices were extremley high for this area. Finally found one I'm happy with, the office is clean, people are nice...the whole nine yards. I feel that I can trust this vet. I paid around 200. to get Bentley fixed and around $250 for Mia. Just want to caution everyone that having these tiny breeds fixed and out under anesthsia is risky. I have known several whom have lost dogs due to them being under for surgery. It isn't something to be taken lightly.

[mmyorkies]

Yes, the anesthetic is the costly part for the toy dogs, Isoflurene and Sevoflurene are expensive, but they are the safe ones to use for toy dogs. When other anesthetic's have been used, the ones that are meds injected into the dogs, there have been many, many times that the yorkie has never woken up again. A needless death because either the vet did not know about the needs of toy dogs, or the owner did not know that using a cheaper anesthetic could cost the dog his/her life. Please make sure that the proper anesthertic is used for your baby and don't fool with their life. I know that usually the humane societies and maybe even some shelters do it much cheaper than a vets, but you still have to make sure it is done right. I only costs a small amount for the injectable anethetics compared to the cost of the gas that is safe for our babies.

[Higgin's Mom]

When we had Higgins neutered, we had the blood test for anesthesia done. The vet also told us that one of the biggest dangers to little dogs during surgery is hypothermia. They lose body heat sooooo fast under anesthesia, she said, that they put them on a heating pad while they operate, and they do not waste any time during the surgery.

Finding good vets isn't easy these days.

[Bentley'sMom]

Like others, we also did the most extensive blood test before the surgery. It added a little to the cost, but I would rather be safe than sorry. They actually did find one level (the BUN) that was high and did more extensive tests before determining it was safe to go ahead with the surgery. Our vet also has dogs on an catheter (puppy I.V.) during the surgery. I'm very happy with all of the precautions they took to make sure our little guy made it through just fine.

[lucynfred]

I am very lucky to have the vet I have. Dr. May, whose father and brother are also vets, has a clean office, the best equipment, and affordable prices. He also owns six dogs and has small children, so obviously he knows how to train too. He always gives good, clinically sound advice as well as just common sense advice. (I.e., simple training tips, etc.) He gives treats each time he gives a shot or does an anal exam, pets the dog, knows how to soothe them, handle them, etc. Conversely, there is a very affordable vet in town whom I visited one time many years ago that was incredibly cheap, subpar office, few products available (no specialized food, only had Heartguard as heartworm treatment, etc.) and he just didn't attempt to set up a report with me. I would rather pay extra for the few more minutes Dr. May spends with me and my pets and also for having the comfort of knowing he has such a longstanding practice that runs through two generations. Also, he has a 24-hour hotline, which I've had to call once, and he didn't act put off at all and stayed on the phone for some time to answer all my questions ... there's much to be said for that.

Cost of living in Alabama is cheap too ... and that helps a lot. I couldn't imagine trying to have a yorkie in NYC.

I would love to only have to pay $30 to neuter Dean if we decide to neuter, but I don't think Dr. May would do the surgery without the proper blood work, anesthetic, etc. And I wouldn't chance it.

Orinskye, I hate your Mom overpaid to have her dog's snakebite treated; $1000 does sound high. My grandfather had a German Shepard bit by a water mocossin (sp?) once, and the dog didn't die ... nor did it get any vet treatment. Can't remember what he did -- probably some backwoods treatment. (He put a wad of [already chewed] chewing tobbaco on my knee when I was stung by a wasp one time ... worked!) But rattlesnakes have some of the deadliest venom too, so I would think antivenom would be necessary -- but I'm not a vet or a snakebite expert ... or a backwoods person who knows all the laymen's cures for that matter.

[mybirdys2003]

I paid $165. for Snoodles to be spayed. She also had the extra blood tests and 5 teeth removed. So, I didn't think that was too bad. Thanks to this forum, I asked about the anesthesia he would be using before hand. He looked a little surprised that I knew what I was talking about. (didn't really, but read it on here). I did go and get her and took her home that night. I had to sign a release form in case something happened to her during the night. But, I knew they never stayed there all night, and figured I would be with her and would know immediately if something was wrong. Sure am glad that is all over. I worried myself sick over it!
I also took her to a different vet when I first got her, and he never listened to her heart, lungs, or anything. Then after I had told them twice her vaccination record, came back in the room with a needle to give her her first shots. I told him to read what I had just brought in, all the records etc. This is a crucial exam, because if anything was wrong, the breeder would be liable. She said she would either pay to fix the problem or give me my money back. So, needless to say, I took her to the vet I am now with and had a really good check up!
Pat