[Travelinglady]

Wow, we took our cat in for her annual check-up--which consisted of a leukemia and rabies shot, weighing, fecal test, and some cleaning of her fur, where she got something stuff in it, plus "exam consultation." It cost us $115.00! Good grief!

[lizardlady]

Payne, maybe I can offer some perspective on this. It takes vets as long, or longer, to finish their training as a human doctor. Imagine if you had the same tests, etc done at your doctor's office. How much would that have cost?

[Vibe]

Just don't let her eat nails or get torn up. Surgeries can cost thousands. I pay extra on the kitty food to help keep mine healthy, and we avoid the vet except for annual check-ups.

[Travelinglady]

Yes, I understand that vets' training is extensive. I just hadn't gone with my husband in a good while to take an animal to the vet. I can see why insurance for pet medical care would be a good idea for people who have multiple pets.

And I don't even want to think about what surgeries would cost. We have been blessed that our pets have been generally healthy.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Yes, I understand that vets' training is extensive. I just hadn't gone with my husband in a good while to take an animal to the vet. I can see why insurance for pet medical care would be a good idea for people who have multiple pets.

And I don't even want to think about what surgeries would cost. We have been blessed that our pets have been generally healthy.

Payne, if you are thinking of pet health insurance, check the policy closely. Most do not cover routine care.

[mazing]

Some prices can be extreme, especially if you need surgeries or after hours consults. Our local vet does after hours consults and is the cheapest in the area at $220. And that is only the consultation fee!

I now have pet insurance for my two dogs as we recently moved onto property and they haven't worked out yet that they shouldn't try to attack everything in sight. Last cost was around $3,000 after one of them attacked a goanna. Luckily she only broke one foot (normally a lot worse apparently) but still involved x-rays, bandaging and numerous anti-biotics as the goanna's bite is poison to dogs and they often carry a lot of harmful bacteria in their mouths.

So insurance is definitely a good option if you have multiple pets, especially if they have a strong hunting instinct.

[lizardlady]

Mazing, I googled goanna. HOLY COW! Scary looking creature.Sounds like you pooch was lucky to get away with the injuries she had!

[Vibe]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Payne, if you are thinking of pet health insurance, check the policy closely. Most do not cover routine care.

Some cover routine care but they're incredibly expensive. You are right that most do not.

I prefer to have a rainy day fund for emergencies instead. I can apply that to any emergency vet care as well. There is a dog breeder I was looking into who says to either get insurance or have about $10,000 saved up just in case. Granted she is selling dogs for a purpose so most people would not want to euthanize if the dog could be saved by expensive surgeries. Still, I think it's worth considering. Planning for emergencies is part of responsible pet ownership.

It can be expensive to pet purrent! I know I really feel it in my pocketbook, too. Even just a bag of food, lycine treats and 2 feliways each month. Ouch!

I have to admit though, It sounds like the bill was pretty reasonable considering all the services. The consultation fees usually run anywhere between 35 to 75 dollars ... anyhoo, I can totally relate to the "ouch" factor!

but the good thing is that hopefully with proper preventative care and gen stuff, we will be with our furry family members for a really long time

[Travelinglady]

Wow, we took our cat in for her annual check-up--which consisted of a leukemia and rabies shot, weighing, fecal test, and some cleaning of her fur, where she got something stuck in it, plus "exam consultation." It cost us $115.00! Good grief!

[whenwillitend]

I am in total shock at the prices over here. I am a certified Vet Tech (in Germany), and I think it's ridiculous what they charge here. I have worked in Germany, and I have worked here in the US. So I know there is really no difference, other than the clinic in Germany I worked at had a MUCH higher standard for the quality of care than the one here. So, education of a Vet doesn't have anything to do with anything, since the Vets actually do a fraction of the work at an animal clinic. The Vet Techs run the place. The Vets do the main part of the more complicated surgeries, but I as the Vet Tech did the prepping and then took over when it was time to suture the animal up. While the Vet disappears and does who knows what. I, as the Vet Tech, spayed and neutered cats, did sutures, did surgery prep and aftercare, did all the dental care, all the lab work, took the x rays, developed the xrays, analyzed the xrays, put ivs in, drew blood, catheterized, did first aid/emergency care, did bandages, changed dressings, gave shots, shaved horribly matted cats, and the list goes on and on and on. The only thing I did not do was the more complicated surgeries like fractures. I only assisted in those. I did everything, and that includes front desk, appointments, billing, book keeping, ordering supplies and keeping the pharmacy stocked, dealing with company reps and manning the phone, and also training the apprentices. Almost anything you can think of that happens at a Vet Clinic, I was in charge of. The Vets did very litte.
Now, as far as prices, this is what we charged in Germany (the prices are in DM, US Dollars would have been about half):
- 20DM consultation fee (40DM for nights, weekends or holidays)
- 18DM fecal exam
- 85DM shots for dogs (includes 7 components and rabies)
- 85DM large xray
- 45DM small xray
- bloodwork: we only tested what was necessary usually, and it was 8DM per test
-180DM dog neuter, which included everything, iv, fluids, antibiotics, everything
- 360DM dog spay, again, including absolutley everything, even follow up appointments and suture removal
- 16DM blood draw
- 10DM health certificate, unless current client, then free
We NEVER charged an exam fee on top of vaccination fees, that was included. And ANY visit with us included complimentary nail clipping and such. ANY injury or surgery included things like dressings and bandages. The price of medications got adjusted every time we got a new shipment in. If we got a good deal, we passed that on to the customer and the meds got cheaper, and vice versa.
It was extremely rare for us to have a bill of any kind for 500DM or more. And nobody had to pay cash right away. The life of the animal came first. Every client had the choice of paying right away or be billed. Payments were no issue, we had a lot of regulars that had pretty big tabs, and they paid what they could, when they could. No biggie. Was everyone honest and paid their bill? No. But about 96% were. And the other 4%, oh well. And nobody had health insurance on their pets, because it was simply unnecessary.

I think the prices here are absolutely ridiculous. And really, $22 for a bandage after my cat had a toe amputated??? Wow. I feel like they are milking it for any last drop they can get out of their clients. And I feel like the Vets here care more about the money than the animal. They'd rather let an animal die than provide needed emergency care and worry about the cash later. Not everyone has access to small fortunes in the middle of the night. (Like me, I don't have a debit/credit card, everything I do is in cash.)
I'm lucky to have found a Vet that seems to really care, they do work with me when I need a few days to pay. They are far from cheap either, but I feel comfortable with them.

I think the ridiculously overpriced health care for pets is one of the reasons why the shelters are so full and people are simply unable to keep and care for their pets. People are not heartless and dumping their pets, like so many like to claim. They just can't afford the care.

Okay, I'm stepping off of my soap box now. I just had to get that off my chest. Oh, and if you've ever wondered, neutering a cat does not need iv's, or fluids, or bloodwork, or intubation, any somewhat knowledgable Vet Tech gets that done in five minutes. No suturing required. Just a small amount of anesthesia, since they don't need to sleep very long. Spaying a cat, same thing, and should not take more than 15-20 minutes MAX. 10-15 minutes is the average. There is absolutely no reason to ask hundreds of dollars for something so quick and easy. (I'm talking about routine ones of course.)

[Pikku Myy]

With my farm of animals..... vet fees are fairly minimal compared to the upkeep, feed, vaccinations and misc. other problems... my daughter was bit by a "wild" dog several years ago, while getting on a school bus.... thanks goodness we had insurance... Rabis vaccinations for a little human girl around 6K......

[Vibe]

Originally Posted by whenwillitend

I am in total shock at the prices over here. I am a certified Vet Tech (in Germany), and I think it's ridiculous what they charge here. I have worked in Germany, and I have worked here in the US. So I know there is really no difference, other than the clinic in Germany I worked at had a MUCH higher standard for the quality of care than the one here. So, education of a Vet doesn't have anything to do with anything, since the Vets actually do a fraction of the work at an animal clinic. The Vet Techs run the place. The Vets do the main part of the more complicated surgeries, but I as the Vet Tech did the prepping and then took over when it was time to suture the animal up. While the Vet disappears and does who knows what. I, as the Vet Tech, spayed and neutered cats, did sutures, did surgery prep and aftercare, did all the dental care, all the lab work, took the x rays, developed the xrays, analyzed the xrays, put ivs in, drew blood, catheterized, did first aid/emergency care, did bandages, changed dressings, gave shots, shaved horribly matted cats, and the list goes on and on and on. The only thing I did not do was the more complicated surgeries like fractures. I only assisted in those. I did everything, and that includes front desk, appointments, billing, book keeping, ordering supplies and keeping the pharmacy stocked, dealing with company reps and manning the phone, and also training the apprentices. Almost anything you can think of that happens at a Vet Clinic, I was in charge of. The Vets did very litte.
Now, as far as prices, this is what we charged in Germany (the prices are in DM, US Dollars would have been about half):
- 20DM consultation fee (40DM for nights, weekends or holidays)
- 18DM fecal exam
- 85DM shots for dogs (includes 7 components and rabies)
- 85DM large xray
- 45DM small xray
- bloodwork: we only tested what was necessary usually, and it was 8DM per test
-180DM dog neuter, which included everything, iv, fluids, antibiotics, everything
- 360DM dog spay, again, including absolutley everything, even follow up appointments and suture removal
- 16DM blood draw
- 10DM health certificate, unless current client, then free
We NEVER charged an exam fee on top of vaccination fees, that was included. And ANY visit with us included complimentary nail clipping and such. ANY injury or surgery included things like dressings and bandages. The price of medications got adjusted every time we got a new shipment in. If we got a good deal, we passed that on to the customer and the meds got cheaper, and vice versa.
It was extremely rare for us to have a bill of any kind for 500DM or more. And nobody had to pay cash right away. The life of the animal came first. Every client had the choice of paying right away or be billed. Payments were no issue, we had a lot of regulars that had pretty big tabs, and they paid what they could, when they could. No biggie. Was everyone honest and paid their bill? No. But about 96% were. And the other 4%, oh well. And nobody had health insurance on their pets, because it was simply unnecessary.

I think the prices here are absolutely ridiculous. And really, $22 for a bandage after my cat had a toe amputated??? Wow. I feel like they are milking it for any last drop they can get out of their clients. And I feel like the Vets here care more about the money than the animal. They'd rather let an animal die than provide needed emergency care and worry about the cash later. Not everyone has access to small fortunes in the middle of the night. (Like me, I don't have a debit/credit card, everything I do is in cash.)
I'm lucky to have found a Vet that seems to really care, they do work with me when I need a few days to pay. They are far from cheap either, but I feel comfortable with them.

I think the ridiculously overpriced health care for pets is one of the reasons why the shelters are so full and people are simply unable to keep and care for their pets. People are not heartless and dumping their pets, like so many like to claim. They just can't afford the care.

Okay, I'm stepping off of my soap box now. I just had to get that off my chest. Oh, and if you've ever wondered, neutering a cat does not need iv's, or fluids, or bloodwork, or intubation, any somewhat knowledgable Vet Tech gets that done in five minutes. No suturing required. Just a small amount of anesthesia, since they don't need to sleep very long. Spaying a cat, same thing, and should not take more than 15-20 minutes MAX. 10-15 minutes is the average. There is absolutely no reason to ask hundreds of dollars for something so quick and easy. (I'm talking about routine ones of course.)

Very interesting! Has the job been the same in Germany and the US? Are you allowed to do exactly the same stuff? How does the pay compare?

[Travelinglady]

While I wouldn't put things as bluntly, whenwillitend, I was surprised that you see American vets and their services the way you do. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes, but I do hope most vets here are better than what your experiences have been. I do appreciate all responses to my thread, and I am glad you did take the time to share your perceptions.

It was nice to hear another perspective from you, too, Rose. I am feeling a bit better. I have heard that vet schools here are even hard to get into, and my impression has been that folks go into the field because they truly want to help animals. I do hope that mission doesn't change as they get into their careers.

[optimize990h]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Wow, we took our cat in for her annual check-up--which consisted of a leukemia and rabies shot, weighing, fecal test, and some cleaning of her fur, where she got something stuff in it, plus "exam consultation." It cost us $115.00! Good grief!

I read that there was a time when the people who were vet school rejects became MDs. I do not know if this true today.

There are some vets who may charge $5-10 less and still provide excellent care. I guess it depends on their overhead sometimes.

[Vibe]

Well, our economic system is different here. It would be interesting to look into how that seriously affects the vet industry in different parts of the world. Do they charge so much out of necessity or greed.

I have worked in vet clinics and I can vouch for what you say about techs doing the majority of the work. The vets mainly did exams, made decisions, and provided more serious in depth care (like major surgeries). The techs ran the place though and they did it for almost nothing.

I know there are some vets and facilities which don't care and are absolutely horrid. Then there are some which really do try and care. Most fall somewhere in between. I have seen clinics turn down emergency care until the credit card was slid, and it was absolutely sick. Like most industries, there is a lot of hit or miss.

[Travelinglady]

I guess just like people doctors, some vets are not very nice either. Like with people docs, I'm sure it pays to shop around. Sigh.

When I had hand surgery awhile back (carpal tunnel), I know the nurses/assistants got me ready for surgery. After I was snoozing away, the doc came in (I assume) and did my surgery. When I woke up, the assistants were wrapping my hand with an ace bandage. The doc had already gone. Hmmm. We never know for sure what IS going on while we are knocked out!

[Maven]

I have mixed feelings, but I'm leaning a little towards the softer ones now, about pets and expense. I developed my opinion from shows like the Animal Cops shows on Animal Planet, and still feel basically the same way: If you can't afford regular vet checks and have at least some money put away in case of need of medical care, you shouldn't get a pet. HOWEVER, I also think animals are better off in loving homes than on the streets if they get sick or injured. I absolutely will not accept the excuse of not having enough money as a reason not to take a dog, cat or other pet to the vet. (Contact the ASPCA, shelters, vets, etc., and at least try to find help.) It's when the harm is intentional or due to negligence, abuse or carelessness that I'm not sympathetic. ON THE OTHER HAND, if you get a pet and have the money at the time you got it, but then fall on hard times, I will be much more understanding. I also am understanding if you rescue a pet, without knowing the financial situation you'll need...at least you're trying to help. I think we need to help each other when it comes to other humans OR pets.

I just wish there was a national 911 call for animals in emergencies. Who do you call in an emergency? I mean, a vet, yeah, but what if it's the middle of the night? I think there are some emergency hospitals and vets who will come anytime, but it's not all over the country (and I'd like it to be all over the world). I dream. Maybe some day.

[nicoleb2]

I have 4 guinea pigs, so luckily we don't much have to see the vet. One of them had something wrong a while back. Between the exam and all the medicined he needed, it was nearly $300

[Maven]

Nicoleb2, that brings me to another thing. I know it has nothing to do with me, but I appreciate that you took your guinea pigs for medical attention when needed. Some people don't think that smaller pets (like hamsters) should be taken to a vet for checkups or when ill, and that saddens me. It's expensive, but they're worth it.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by Maven

I just wish there was a national 911 call for animals in emergencies. Who do you call in an emergency? I mean, a vet, yeah, but what if it's the middle of the night? I think there are some emergency hospitals and vets who will come anytime, but it's not all over the country (and I'd like it to be all over the world). I dream. Maybe some day.

Maven, in my area the local animal control has a 24 hour number you can call if you find an injured animal. They take it to the shelter where it's evaluated to see if it can be saved or should be humanely put down.

If it's a personal pet, there's a 24 hour emergency animal clinic and some vets will see established patients for emergencies in the middle of the night.

My large animal vet obviously comes to the farm to see the horses. He knows me well enough to know that if I call after hours it's truly an emergency and he comes out.

[Travelinglady]

I wish there were more places like those ones, Liz.

[seeker1950]

I agree with all of you...pet care is expensive. I have two dogs and one cat. If I even go in for shots, I expect the bill to be over $100. One time I bought all the shots at Tractor Supply and administered them myself. The only shot I couldn't get there was the rabies vaccine, and there are yearly rabies vaccines offered at various locations (outside, like at a park) for free. I haven't taken advantage of that before, but I plan to in the future.
I tried buying the more expensive dog food but I just couldn't afford it.

[whenwillitend]

Originally Posted by Maven

Nicoleb2, that brings me to another thing. I know it has nothing to do with me, but I appreciate that you took your guinea pigs for medical attention when needed. Some people don't think that smaller pets (like hamsters) should be taken to a vet for checkups or when ill, and that saddens me. It's expensive, but they're worth it.

i have to second that. when i was a teenager i had guinea pigs. one of them got sick. we took her to the vet, got meds and were sent home. i had to go somewhere that afternoon. while i was gone, my piglet got worse. my mom's "therapist" (my mom had depression too) had told her that "you dont' take small animals to the vet, they either live or die". so when i came home, i found my mom sitting on the couch, watching my guinea pig die a slow and very painful death. i lost it, i screamed at her to get ready so we could take her to the vet. she did, but it was too late. miss piggy died in my arms.

i never forgave my mom for that, nor her "therapist" (and my mom listened to all the bs that woman told her). and it still hurts when i think about that evening.

it is wonderful that you take such good care of your piglets.

[Pikku Myy]

Don't ask.... in past 25 years...