Neutering Question
 

My little Mickey is scheduled to be neutered at the beginning of August. He is 2.5 years old. When the vet called to go over the estimate with us, we were given a range of $300-$700 and told that there were a lot of variables. For example, it would be extra if we wanted to have his teeth cleaned, etc. Most of the charges I understood..One I did not was the IV fluids. They said that since he is so young, he wouldn't have to have an IV with fluids in it....they usually recommend that for older dogs, but that we could opt to have it or not. Does anyone have any experience with this or can recommend that we do/do not have it included? I'd like to be sure that Mickey is well taken care of, but I don't want to pay for a bunch of unnecessary charges. He has undescended testicles, if that makes any difference.

Any advice about neutering would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

Here is the sticky post on surgery/anesthesia protocol that indicates IV fluids are recommended regardless of age: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-protocol.html

The price sounds reasonable, especially considering your boy's undescended testicles, which requires a more invasive procedure.

I paid around $400 for Max to be neutered and have 6 baby teeth pulled, and we live outside the big city.

I decided when Rubyboy was about 6 mo.s old that I did not want to use him as a stud dog. I won't get into all the reasons here. Anyway he was only neutered, no teeth cleaning or anything. He did have an IV. It was $400.00 and he came home that afternoon.

I must have a great vet, I had my boys neutered and complete blood work and it was $140.00 for each. They came home the same day, they were 6 months old. I thought they always give them an IV my vet does. When Tessie was spayed and had teeth pulled and bloodwork, it was $200.00, Sassy spay was $180.00 and these prices included pain medicine for them.

The pricing sounds ok to me. When Teddy was neutered, he had bloodwork and a cardiac ultrasound before the procedure, he was neutered, and they removed 6 baby teeth. I'm pretty sure I paid about $300-400 but I don't have my receipt handy to check. He was definitely on IV during the procedure and only the safest anesthetics were used (propofol for induction and isoflurane for maintenance).

I had Harley neutered at 7 mos old, he is now 10 mos old...I paid 200.00 for everything, bloodpanel/neuter/4babyteeth removed/microchipped/ IV....I have never paid over 200.00 bucks to have any of my babies spayed/neutered....700.00 is insane to me! :eek:

Your prices are what I see locally too. I always do the IV Fluids but that a personal preference and precaution.

I must a have a great vet also. We had Bentley done just a little while ago and he also a 1 tooth pulled. The cost was only $200.00 for everything.

Good luck to you. Hope everything works out.

My vet runs $130 for the boys and $150 for the girls. My old vet (same town maybe 3 miles down the road) quoted me $350 for the boy and $395 for the girl, and the other one I considered (2 miles the other way) was $365 and $405 - and I was told it maybe more depending on blah blah blah. The prices for all of their other services are similar. I asked my vet why they were so much cheaper and they laughed and said they had not heard that before. I mentioned the other prices and they said a lot of it is mark up. Don't get me wrong, I want the IV and the monitor and everything else to ensure a safe procedure. They said that was all included - as well as the follow-up visit. Pain medication to take home would be about 12.00 extra.

The clinic is nothing special to look at from the street - no fancy sign or lights - and they are only open M-F 8am-5pm and Sat 8am-noon. (My old vet was 7-7 Mon-Sat and Sunday 8am-1pm.) And the waiting room is not all fancy. The exam rooms are the same at most other vets.

We have a spay neuter clinic in town that charges $60 regardless of gender and size for dogs and cats. The vets on staff are all board certified. A lot of local vets donate a day or half a day at the clinic to help out. The breeder I got my babies from has taken the dogs she has rescued there and had a great experience.

I admit I am a little snobby and will not take my babies there. They are too far from my house and I am just not comfortable going to somewhere that does not know my babies.

And most importantly, I really like my vet. I asked for recommendations and even went to meet him before I got my new babies. I asked his opinion on getting two and he said as long as I was up to the challenge of potty training, had considered the costs and commitment, two it was good and suggested getting one of each sex.

I had Riley neutered at exactly 6-months. I live in the city [DC] and his vet is about 5-blocks from my place....Here is what I paid, and the break down:

$300.00 = Neuter/25lbs and less, including pre-op blood work
$ 17.99 = Rimadyl Injectable
$ 13.79 = Rimadyl 25 mg (3 pills) Vet said to give 1/4 morning & night
$ 65.00 = Microchip & Registration [OUCH!!]
$ 12.25 = E-Collar [Haven't had to use just yet.]

$409.03 = TOTAL

- I then had to take him back about 3-months later to have his two upper baby canines removed. That was another $303.88.

Good Grief, I just called and micro chip for my dogs is $40.00 each and they will give me a multi pet discount of 15% for all services.

Yeah.... DC Vets are not cheap! Riley is due for his yearly vaccines and I am seriously contemplating taking him a little south in Virginia, near my parents. My Vet charges $70 just to walk through their door. :eek:

IV fluids shouldn't be optional. If a dog is under general anesthesia, fluids should be given. Also, if there is an emergency and an IV drug is needed to keep your pet alive, how will it be given if they wait until mid emergency and try to get an IV in?

And for undescended testicles, that is fairly invasive. The abdomen will be open. There is no way I'd skip fluids.

Thanks for all the info!
 

I called today and told them that we will have IVs and the pre-surgery bloodwork done. Thanks for all of the responses! I really appreciate it.
:)

I'm thinking from the way the OP worded her post that the vet planned on putting in a hep/saline lock for emergencies, but not giving fluids as a routine matter. Though I do agree with you that IV fluids should be running when n laparotomy is being done. His anesthesia is going to be deeper and he's at higher risk of being nauseated after it just from all the "fiddlin" with the abdominal cavity.