Reasonable Vet Prices!

sabian

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In the thread What Would You Do? the subject of vet pricing came up. How one vet would charge $2000 for something and another vet would charge $600 for the same procedure. Dr. Jeff came up in the thread and @Mamanyt1953 commented to bad Dr. Jeff didn't have time to put up a page with links to reasonably priced vets. So my reply is/was why can't we do that here? Isn't that what we do? :lol: Why couldn't we compile a data base of let's say Preferred Vets. It could be evolving and contributed to by the members. Question is... how would you do it and keep it orderly and on the up and up! I'm just throwing it out there. Any ideas?
 

Anne

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It's an interesting thought but I'm not entirely sure how we can do anything "official" with it. Sites with pricing databases and comparison options usually pull the data from online pricing lists. I don't think most veterinary clinics offer price listing online. Also, medical procedures can be complex so sometimes it would be like comparing apples to oranges. Some vets may apply different kind of equipment or anesthesia or medications which could mean a difference in treatment quality and in cost.

Having said all that, I think the basics - vaccinations and spaying/neutering - should probably be very similar across the board. I still don't think we can create an actual "official" database without the vets volunteering to somehow give us a price list but if members here want to share how much it cost them, that would be totally fine. It could provide new members with a sense of price range.

We've had threads about the cost of procedures before but sure, we can make this thread into one as well. As long as people understand the limitations. Remember to always check vets in your own area for recommendations and price comparison. With that in mind, please chime in, folks -

If you had a medical procedure performed on your cat in the past 3 years, please share the price here. Mention the procedure (spaying, neutering, check-up, vaccinations etc.) how much it cost and where you live -
 

Antonio65

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My contribution. I live in northwest Italy, so this could be totally useless to US members. Prices in euro.

Cat Spaying: € 120 (vet's practice) / € 170 (24h clinic)...(I paid as little as € 50 at a friendly vet)
E-tube surgery: € 200
Total Body CT scan: € 450(min) - € 690(max)
Ultrasound scan: € 80 (vet's practice) / € 100 (24h clinic)
X-ray (digital image): € 40 - € 60
Complete Blood Work CBC + Chemistry: € 70
T4 + fT4 test: € 80
FIV/FeLV IDEXX test: € 35
PARR test: € 150
Citology: € 35
Cytofluorimetry: € 118
Bacteria test: € 40 - € 70
Giardia test: € 40
Feces test: € 16
FVCRP vaccine: € 30
FeLV vaccine: € 35
Microchip: € 35
Visit: € 25
 

di and bob

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I pay between 150.00 -165.00 for a neuter/spay with all the shots. But it is balanced by the fact that he doesn't charge me at all for cats I bring in that are not mine (strays and ferals), when they need medical attention, he comes and does mass vaccinations when the 'colony' gets too big, for under a hundred, and has never charged us for euthanasia when it is needed. He calls himself a 'big' Indian', I call him an angel!
 

MeganLLB

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This is not my regular vet, but I took Artemis in for a neuter surgery plus a rabies shot and together it cost me either $65 or $75.

I would like to add also that VIP Vet Pet Clinic is extremely reasonable. You only pay for the services and you don't pay an office fee. They travel around to all of the Tractor Supply Co. Stores and usually have clinic hours in the store in the mornings.

It's great if you have a new kitten or puppy and have to keep coming back for their baby animal shots. So you only pay for the vaccine and don't have to pay for an office fee. Plus they give you a free bag or dog or cat food and a coupon for the store with every visit. I always go their for simple things like vaccines or microchips (which is pretty much all they do). It saves you a ton of money. Plus the free bag of food is great too.

My vet's regular office fee is something like $40/45, which I think is a lot. I think $20-35 is more reasonable.
 

Blakeney Green

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Full exam - $36
FVRCP vaccination - $17
Rabies vaccination - $15
Kidney panel - $40
CBC - $90
Microchipping and registration - $45
Dental cleaning (including pre-anesthesia bloodwork) - $105
Not sure about spay and neuter as I haven't had that done recently.

This is for rural Upstate NY. That said, I don't go to the cheapest vet in my area. I would be able to get vet care for less money, but I choose to go with a vet I trust and feel comfortable with.
 

Max's Human

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I was truly fortunate, someone donated $$$ to our local SPCA, so instead of $100 to neuter MAX it was only $10!!! And the vacinations were only $10 per vacine. We were truly blessed and if I knew it was that inexpensive I may have adopted more since my girlfriend had found 8 kittens/orphaned babies in the barn. Don't Tell Max though!
 
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sabian

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I was truly fortunate, someone donated $$$ to our local SPCA, so instead of $100 to neuter MAX it was only $10!!! And the vacinations were only $10 per vacine. We were truly blessed and if I knew it was that inexpensive I may have adopted more since my girlfriend had found 8 kittens/orphaned babies in the barn. Don't Tell Max though!
I just sent Max a text!:lol:
 
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sabian

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It's an interesting thought but I'm not entirely sure how we can do anything "official" with it. Sites with pricing databases and comparison options usually pull the data from online pricing lists. I don't think most veterinary clinics offer price listing online. Also, medical procedures can be complex so sometimes it would be like comparing apples to oranges. Some vets may apply different kind of equipment or anesthesia or medications which could mean a difference in treatment quality and in cost.

Having said all that, I think the basics - vaccinations and spaying/neutering - should probably be very similar across the board. I still don't think we can create an actual "official" database without the vets volunteering to somehow give us a price list but if members here want to share how much it cost them, that would be totally fine. It could provide new members with a sense of price range.

We've had threads about the cost of procedures before but sure, we can make this thread into one as well. As long as people understand the limitations. Remember to always check vets in your own area for recommendations and price comparison. With that in mind, please chime in, folks -

If you had a medical procedure performed on your cat in the past 3 years, please share the price here. Mention the procedure (spaying, neutering, check-up, vaccinations etc.) how much it cost and where you live -
Thanks Anne Anne for featuring this! I really do appreciate it! I understand what your saying about compiling prices. I was thinking more along the lines of a data base of vets that are in it for more than the money. This may be lengthy but let me see if I can explain.

In Feb my little guy passed away. I had been going to the same vet since like 1972 as a little kid with my mom. They were like miracle workers. I would take a pet in and it was like, yeah I know what that is you just need to do this and bam, problem solved! And, the prices were extremely reasonable and they were good about letting you make payments if needed. I noticed about 2 years ago things were changing. New faces and stuff like that. Prices didn't change. They were in an old metal building that I'm sure was paid for a hundred times over but it was clean and served it's purpose. Their practice had grown tremendously and near Lake Norman N.C. which has grown into a high income area.

One day I drove by and I seen that they were building and BIG, NICE, NEW building beside the old building. I literally said to myself "I guess my vet bill will be going up"!

Tama got sick and stopped eating so I go to my vet and by this time they had moved into the new building. I go in and I didn't see anybody I knew. Whole new staff. My old vet sold the practice. I check Tama in and told them I don't care what it cost find out what is wrong. Blood test, x-rays, whatever it takes. I made that clear! I left and came back in about an hour or so. The vet had called me and I was on another call. I have the vets number in my phone but it didn't come up as animal hospital. She left a message and I called back but I had to leave a voice mail. I was walking in the door and got another call but still didn't come up as the animal hospital and a completely different number again. It was the vet and I couldn't get it before it went to voice mail. She left a message again. I walk up to the front desk to tell the girl I was there and the vet was calling me. There was another guy standing there and I just said excuse me. She in a most hateful tone said, I'm waiting on him right now I'll be with you in a minute. OK so, I finally got to tell her I was there. They take me back to an exam room. The vet comes in with an attitude and says , I've been trying to call you. I said that I have the hospitals # in my phone and I didn't know it was you and you called from 2 different #'s and neither was the number in my phone which I knew worked because that's the # I used to call that morning. She said , well it must depend on what ext. I use. Where I work we have a dozen ext. and it's on the same number and the name of the company comes up so, REALLY? You don't know this or how to have that done!? She tells me they done a blood test and it came back normal except for to things was slightly out of range but explained it away. They charged me for a blood profile, thyroid profile, fluid therapy, anti-nausea injection, antibiotic injection and a office visit and sent me on my way.$358.64. This was on Friday. So I had to wait and see what happens.

Monday he's no better. I call the vet. The girl answers and starts asking me all theses questions. The same exact questions that they ask me Friday. I calmly answer the questions but in the end I told her " My cat is dyeing, I'm sitting here and watching him die!" I answered theses questions Friday. I watched them right it down is it not on file!? She tells me to come on in. I get there check in and they take me to exam room. I tell them I want x-rays. The owner is my vet now. She's very nice and takes him back for x-rays. They get done and get me and take me back to look at the x-rays. He has a mass in his abdomen and you can't see all his intestines. She tell me it's either cancer or a tumor but they don't know for sure but it could be terminal. I told her nicely don't no for sure and could be isn't good enough what is the next step. She says ultra sound. OK let's do it. I can't, I have an ultra sound but no one qualified to use it. OK do you know another vet that can do it? We have a mobile vet that can do it. OK when? I'll have to email him and see. OK anybody else. She names another place which I've been to before and they are OUTRAGIOUS on their pricing. Rather not go there. She offers to find someone which I accept. They charge me for medical process exam, radiology 2 views, fluid therapy, lactose syrup. $228. Oh, the vet that checked him Friday was a "fill in" vet!

I go home and wait till 10am the next morning and I haven't heard anything. I start calling all the vets in my area and no one can do it. FINALLY, someone refers me to Veterinary Referral Hospital of Hickory. I call them and says they're backed up for like a month on ultra sounds. I just said, he'll be dead by then. She's say oh! If it's an emergency we can do it today. I ask about pricing and tell her I'm on my way. I call and get my vet to send his records to them so they'll be there when I get there. I get there check him in they do their thing and I get an answer and my options. It was terminal and to far gone. He passed away peacefully at home the night before I was going to take him and get euthanized. Which was 2 days later.

I got 2 raving reviews about this vet while sitting in the waiting room and got to talk to a lot of the staff as I was there a while. They had 3 scrap books there that people had sent in notes and cards thanking them for what they did for their pets. I talked to friends afterwards about them and they said, oh yeah, those guys are awesome. I wouldn't go anywhere else but there. They charged, referral consult critical care, biohazmedwastedisposal, ultrasound, abdominocentesis, mirtazapine susp 3.75mg/ml. $550.60 This vet is full service and you can just tell they care and are organized. They have a therapy pool. Who has that!? And, their in an old metal building. 24/7

I went back to my old vet after I got my rescue Manny to have him shaved. It went from $40 to $75 and I got a flea bath at $40 but not with $75. They told me they close at 7pm and then called at 6pm and wanting to know if I was leaving Manny over night! The girl told me wrong after I plainly asked" what time do you close". She told me wrong! See a pattern here?

So my contribution would be: Veterinary Referral Hospital of Hickory
126 US Hwy 321 SW
Hickory, N.C. 28602
828-328-6697
Website: vrhoh.com

I use Dr. Jeff as an example. He lives above his practice. He's battle cancer twice I think. He goes out and gives homeless peoples pets medical care for free. In one show he operated on a cat for $600 that another vet quoted like $2000. His practice is in a regular old building. Not the Taj Mahal.

Can we create a database like that?
 

maggiedemi

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Can we just post in general, not give our town name for privacy reasons? If so, here are the prices here in Upstate NY:
Spay: $145
Neuter: $65
Rabies Shot: $16
FVRCP Distemper Shot: $16
Drontal Cat: $8 per tablet
 

kobata1928

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Small town in Ohio:
exam $34
prcc vaccination $15
rabies vaccination $20
I'm pretty sure when i brought 2 cats for the above I was only charged for one exam.
Depo medrol shot $35
When i had to get an AeroKat i was surprised that the vet was actually cheaper than amazon.
The spay/ neuter is what surprised me. I can't find the itemized receipt but it was around $350 total for one spay and one neuter. There was a recommended optional IV fluids charge that I choose to do, so I guess it could have been cheaper, and I never did research if it was actually worthwhile.
 

Lari

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I've only been to the vet once so far since she was up to date on vaccines and spayed when I got her.
Kitten exam: $55
Stool test $39
New client records: $16

But then I got a $25 discount for being "referred" by my boyfriend. It may be higher than average, idk, but they told me it was good for my area.

Through the TNR she got her spay, vaccines and fiv/felv test for $120, but they may have discounts and stuff.

These are all the Chicagoland area. I'd rather not get more detailed than that.
 

segelkatt

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This being SoCal where everything is rather expensive here is my breakdown from yesterday's office visit of Panthera who was vomiting. I elected to have him stay overnight so he could be properly hydrated although the vet said I could take him home and wait for results the next day and possibly have to bring him back for more hydration. The trip is 12 miles one way.
office visit/consultation 39
radiology - 2 views 135
feline comprehensive 145
cerenia 35
IV catheter placement 15
IV fluid therapy 135
hospitalization 25
famotidine 30
senior discount 10%
vitamin D complex 25
total 500

If I had taken him to the local vet it wold have cost probably twice as much but I take him to Santa Ana which some people would not set foot into because of a bad reputation of drive-by shootings, drugs and gang activity of some years ago (as if a whole town or city was like that). I have gone to the same clinic for over 20 years and have moved twice and some of the doctors have retired and the clinic was finally sold to one of them but it's still the same. Still the same receptionists, the technicians change over time but there is at least one who has been there forever. The clinic has changed location once to a larger, nicer building and improvements in equipment have been made, everything is computerized, they have an agreement with the lab where they send blood or fecal samples for more thorough exams than they can do in the clinic. The clientele has changed from mostly Hispanic to more Asian and Caucasian and some of them, like me, have patronized them for many years. They will do declawing but only after trying to talk the "owner" out of it because the idea is that if they don't the "owner" will take the cat elsewhere and this way at least they know it has been done right and follow-up is included in the price.
So I will give this clinic and it's vet 5 gold stars.
After I look at previous bills I'll post what those cost.
 
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daisyd

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In London have a few however usually a stick to one she’s been going since tiny:

Kitten package £45: inc. first 2 vaccinations, health check, dewormer and flea, chip, and 2 weeks pet insurance.

spay operation about £50 home same day

Anti sickness injections were most expensive at £40 for the 3 jabs which she had a few times as a kitten as couldn’t keep food down.

Way pay £6 for her nails to he trimmed (as she won’t let us do it). However don’t have a car at the moment so had to go to a closer vet who charged £12 last week to do this. Wouldn’t mind but vet used same scissors I bought from amazon to clip them !

She has her year health check due and not sure how much that is yet. It includes an update vaccination and all other checks so will update
 

Graceful-Lily

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For me, it's not about the price but about the quality of work. I've been to vets who are cheap and do a wonderful job. But I've also been to expensive ones who I'd never dream of returning to.

Last year, Felix developed struvite crystals. The urine test, examination, and antibiotic shot and pills came up to a little past $200. I assume that's reasonable. He's been seeing this one vet all his life and I trust them more than any other.

Forgot to add: They also gave us a bag of food for urinary problems which was included in the $200.
 
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