A Little Steep.....

[Guest IrskasMom]

Morty had a complete Check up yesterday and I was little surprised . $ 205 is just more then I expected . Yes, he got a Lyme Shot to . I was thinking about Pam in another Thread " No more Dogs ever ". I am not there yet, but that trend of Vets and their Prices is getting a little to steep.Morty is worth every Penny but my G... . In two Month I have to get a Distemper and Rabies Shot with another Vet Visit.... Wowww :blush :blush

Edited April 20, 2012 by IrskasMom

[krissy]

I posted this article on my facebook awhile back. It's written by a vet explaining why vet fees are the way they are. It may be little consolation, but I'm graduating school with a TONNE of debt, and while I'm not complaining about my starting salary... let's just say I'm still stressed about paying my bills. So at least know that we're not charging you an arm and a leg to make ourselves a lot of money. My boss' house is nice, but it's no mansion.

 

Ask the vet article

[greyhead]

Funny you should bring this up. Wanted to rerun a Babesia canis titer for Shane yesterday along with some other stuff, and was quoted $175 for that alone! And it's just an IFA titer, not a PCR. It's through the Antech lab, but a vet explained that they probably send it to another lab, and everybody along the route takes their cut. But still!

[Feisty49]

Costs of services, from vets to mechanics, vary by location. My Annie Bella went to the vet earlier this month, on April 2, for a ripped dew claw. Since her annual physical is due in April, the vet also did that, saving me a 50-mile round trip and the cost of another office visit. The total bill was $209.01, and I was very pleasantly surprised because I thought I'd be seeing a bill closer to $300. Here is the breakdown:

 

47.50 - Office Visit w/Annual PE

14.68 - Nail Avulsion

49.00 - Canine 4DX Test

25.00 - Bordetella (Annual)

28.00 - DA2PP Vaccination (3 Yr)

26.50 - Rabies Vaccination (3 Yr)

7.90 - Clindamycin Capsule (150 mg, 20 quantity)

9.26 - Interceptor (only one pill because their supply was short)

1.17 - NYS Sales Tax

 

BTW, the vet is in Albany, NY, the capital of New York State, and prices of all types of services are typical of a well-populated area (as the Capital District of NYS is considered). I don't know what other vets in the area charge so I can't compare.

[Guest BrianRke]

I took Diamond in for her yearly exam and vaccines and my total bill was $54.00. She didnt have to get Rabies shot this year but overall still pretty cheap.

 

$49 for the DHLPP-C

 

and $5 for the medical waste charge.

 

They rarely charge me for an office visit.

[Guest IrskasMom]

I posted this article on my facebook awhile back. It's written by a vet explaining why vet fees are the way they are. It may be little consolation, but I'm graduating school with a TONNE of debt, and while I'm not complaining about my starting salary... let's just say I'm still stressed about paying my bills. So at least know that we're not charging you an arm and a leg to make ourselves a lot of money. My boss' house is nice, but it's no mansion.

 

Ask the vet article

But so does everybody else have Bills to Pay.

[GeorgeofNE]

I rarely spend less than $200 at any vet visit.

 

It's incredible, really. I make sure to ask now before I agree to any tests, "How much is that?" They asked me once if they could run a clotting factor test on my cat because "we had a hard time sticking her for her blood draw." I said sure. It was $115. And of course it was totally normal. I was ticked off.

[Feisty49]

I posted this article on my facebook awhile back. It's written by a vet explaining why vet fees are the way they are. It may be little consolation, but I'm graduating school with a TONNE of debt, and while I'm not complaining about my starting salary... let's just say I'm still stressed about paying my bills. So at least know that we're not charging you an arm and a leg to make ourselves a lot of money. My boss' house is nice, but it's no mansion.

 

Ask the vet article

But so does everybody else have Bills to Pay.

 

Which raises the question: Who goes without money, or less money, with which to live? [Playing the devil's advocate here, but in a serious manner.] I certainly would not give up my salary that, when I worked (am retired now), I needed to pay my bills so that somebody else could pay their bills. Everything goes up: gas, milk, bread, vet services, car mechanic services, etc. There's no doubt that owning an animal is expensive and though I am being urged to adopt another Greyhound, I will not adopt a second one because I am not willing to pay vet bills for more than one animal. To adopt and expect the cost to stay the same would be foolish on my part.

[krissy]

I posted this article on my facebook awhile back. It's written by a vet explaining why vet fees are the way they are. It may be little consolation, but I'm graduating school with a TONNE of debt, and while I'm not complaining about my starting salary... let's just say I'm still stressed about paying my bills. So at least know that we're not charging you an arm and a leg to make ourselves a lot of money. My boss' house is nice, but it's no mansion.

 

Ask the vet article

But so does everybody else have Bills to Pay.

 

I'm not saying it's good. It still sucks as a pet owner. Even paying just cost for my vet bills for the dog at the vet I volunteered and worked for (for 4 years) I was still looking at bills over $100. And that's no exam fee, cost of bloodwork, cost of medication. So I completely sympathize. I was just trying to point out that your bills aren't exorbitant and why they are what they are. Doesn't make it easier, I know. I just thought it might help to know that if we COULD offer our services for less we would. But if we can't make money then we can't keep our doors open, and then that means nowhere for pet owners to go when their pets need help.

[Guest june]

My vet is good about combining visits. If I have to take one in and it is almost time for their yearly physical she will do it at the same time. It is still expensive, but at least she tries and her prices are not out of line in spite of her going through a divorce right now.

 

The economy is affecting everything. We've got a grey being returned that I fostered before he was adopted. I love this dog and have often said if anything happened I would adopt him. Hard as it was I had to make the decision that I can't afford another dog. Not just food, routine shots and dentals, but I have one 8 year old and two who will be turning 10 shortly. I am potentially looking at some serious vet bills as they get older.

[Feisty49]

I posted this article on my facebook awhile back. It's written by a vet explaining why vet fees are the way they are. It may be little consolation, but I'm graduating school with a TONNE of debt, and while I'm not complaining about my starting salary... let's just say I'm still stressed about paying my bills. So at least know that we're not charging you an arm and a leg to make ourselves a lot of money. My boss' house is nice, but it's no mansion.

 

Ask the vet article

But so does everybody else have Bills to Pay.

 

I'm not saying it's good. It still sucks as a pet owner. Even paying just cost for my vet bills for the dog at the vet I volunteered and worked for (for 4 years) I was still looking at bills over $100. And that's no exam fee, cost of bloodwork, cost of medication. So I completely sympathize. I was just trying to point out that your bills aren't exorbitant and why they are what they are. Doesn't make it easier, I know. I just thought it might help to know that if we COULD offer our services for less we would. But if we can't make money then we can't keep our doors open, and then that means nowhere for pet owners to go when their pets need help.

 

Krissy, I don't think you have to apologize. Everything costs money, and it tends to be that the more education a profession requires the more the service will cost. People don't spend tens of thousands of dollars on education to be paid $30K a year, and don't most people want their children to go to college so they can earn a good, if not better, paycheck and have a better standard of living? You paid a huge amount of money to get your degree. You should be well compensated for the time, money and education you bring to your profession.

[tbhounds]

You don't know steep until you have lived in Northern NJ- everything costs more here including quality vet health care.

Everything goes up and up except my salary.

[JAJ2010]

Lol I actually drive to Mantua NJ to use a vet there. Not the priciest, buy not the cheapest. I'm content somewhere in the middle right now. You always have the option to vet price shop and to use the Spca clinics for vaccinations if needed.

[krissn333]

I took mine in two by two this year...all of them are seniors so I like to do complete bloodwork, UA, fecal, etc. All told this year's annual checkups cost roughly $1,400.

 

But, I know that everyone at my house is healthy and doing well, in spite of the difficult medical challenges we've faced this year. That's worth it's weight in gold! (And still cheaper than human children!).

 

I do know that vets don't take home much...but the care that we get from everyone at our clinic, from the specialists, to our regular vet, to the techs, to the front desk staff, is worth so much to me that I'm happy to pay what we do. To be treated like family and have your pets cared for as though they belong to the people that work there is so comforting-I am never apprehensive if someone has to spend the day at the vet.

[Guest HHHounds]

Vet prices can vary a great deal in my town. I drive past many more convenient vets to my favorite one who is a grey savvy, practical, wonderful and less expensive vet... I think that everyone needs to make a living, but I also have 3 teenagers to care for in addition to the 2 houndies!

[Guest itsagreytlife]

I posted this article on my facebook awhile back. It's written by a vet explaining why vet fees are the way they are. It may be little consolation, but I'm graduating school with a TONNE of debt, and while I'm not complaining about my starting salary... let's just say I'm still stressed about paying my bills. So at least know that we're not charging you an arm and a leg to make ourselves a lot of money. My boss' house is nice, but it's no mansion.

 

Ask the vet article

But so does everybody else have Bills to Pay.

 

Which raises the question: Who goes without money, or less money, with which to live? [Playing the devil's advocate here, but in a serious manner.] I certainly would not give up my salary that, when I worked (am retired now), I needed to pay my bills so that somebody else could pay their bills. Everything goes up: gas, milk, bread, vet services, car mechanic services, etc. There's no doubt that owning an animal is expensive and though I am being urged to adopt another Greyhound, I will not adopt a second one because I am not willing to pay vet bills for more than one animal. To adopt and expect the cost to stay the same would be foolish on my part.

 

I admire this. Very rational and responsible. I too would like to adopt another grey, but because of my girl's time-consuming & expensive skin condition and the high maintenance of an elderly cat, I must tell myself no, at least for right now. We all must make the right choice, not just for the animal but for ourselves and our family. And yes, I agree, vet costs are high, and I am fortunate that we can afford our payments. But I recognize that we are paying for the millions that went into the R&D of all this stuff (& future care/cures!), as well as the expertise of these doctors who went to school for a long time so they can take care of these precious creatures--not a lot different than human care and medicine. We are a terribly affluent culture (think back 50-60 yrs ago & how normal it was to go without stuff we now take for granted) and with that has come an unfortunate assumption that we should just have all the stuff we want. I'm guilty of this. Hard not to be.

[Guest Mom2Shiloh]

I'm retired, widowed and my retirement plan is that I got a reverse mortgage.... that being said, my car is paid for and I can make my bill payments.... So why am I choosing to go back up to 4 greyhounds -- well, it's because i still can. In a few years, I'll have to cut down to two -- but I've had four for ages and I like being able to leave 2 at home together when I take 2 with me.

 

Sure, it would be easier to save for a vacation every year if I had two. And I would be able to get a massage maybe once a month instead of 2ce a year, or have a Reiki treatment more often... but you know what --- once I'm really old and can't have 4 hounds any more, there's no going back. Right now I can walk my dogs.. maybe not 2 or 3 miles but up to a mile, and I can love them and enjoy having such incredible companions.

 

They get their Rabies shots (every 3 years now) at the holistic vet, who is more expensive but who gives a homeopathic nosode after the shot which minimizes the bad effects. We don't do annual distemper -- in fact, after the initial series, we don't do distemper. We don't do Lyme vaccine because i don't believe the vaccine is very effective; don't do Bordatella -- I get an in-house pet sitter, I won't board. For very routine things.. for getting heart worm tests or tick-borne disease tests, I go to a competent but less expensive non-holistic vet. I have 3 different house call vets who will come to the house if needed.

 

And I wish vet care didn't cost so much -- but you know, everything costs too much.... I'm just thankful I can scrape by and keep my best friends healthy (or at least try to!!)

[Guest FullMetalFrank]

In my area, vet care seems to be reasonable by comparison to what others have quoted on GT. There are some anomalies; one dentist charges a HUGE fee but I believe she is regarded as one of the better canine dentists around. I have to take Chelsa in to the vet next week; she is battling chronic ehrlichia and not doing as well as we'd like so we are looking at lots of tests, most likely, and dreading the bill but we do have insurance on her, and this vet does allow payments to established clients.

Vet bills may be high, but the services are very much needed. A good, inexpensive vet is as valuable as gold as far as I am concerned. Still, though, it would be nice in today's harsh economic climate to have a low-cost "clinic" like they have for people, that covers routine things other than just spays, neuters, and vaccinations.

[tbhounds]

They do have low cost spay and neuter clinics here in NJ They are funded by state grants. The problem I find with them is they only offer bare bones medical protocols ie no pain meds, no IV cath, no IV fluids....... Bare bones

Edited April 23, 2012 by tbhounds

[jaym1]

in boston. standard yearly exam at my vet, with no diagnostics, is $140. just had an exam for a problem my dog is having. with full blood panel, plus TBD tests and a prescription for tylan, the visit ran $365. dentals around these parts, with no extractions are $700-800 (if anyone knows a cheaper one in the area, by the way, LET ME KNOW!). its a pretty crushing financial burden, though the animal hospital i go to is top notch, and i am happy with the level of care. plus i am sure its quite costly to run.

[3vagreys]

But why do they automatically go for the most expensive medicine first?

[Hubcitypam]

Wow...and I'm complaining

 

As far as shots we are at every 3 years for 5 way and rabies for Barkley and only 3 year rabies for Poodle (now ~14). Buddy will be 10 when his 5 way comes due and I'll probably just do rabies for him then.

Here is what we pay at the "shot vet". These are three times a week shot clinic prices...add $10 and get them anytime.

Rabies.....................................................$7

DHPPC......................................................$10

Lepto 4..................................................$10 (we don't get)

Bordetella..............................................$8 (we don't get)

Heartworm test.................................$18

Waste fee.................$1

 

Our vets in both Dallas and Lubbock have been tremendously good to us...I think in part because of my GH placement work and my uncanny ability to find wandering canines literally on my doorstep. I asked one previous vet if he could be so good to me because of the "purse dog" people. He winked and said "we get a lot of purse dogs".

 

My current vet clinic of over 5 years is the best vet in the world. Hands down. Dr. Joe is Oklahoma State somewhere around 1980 and Dr. Josh is Ohio State 2010. Office call is $42.50 and if you take 2 dogs at once it's $67. Recently we had to wait a long time for our appointment and Dr. Josh said "I know you hate it when I try to give you stuff free BUT..."

 

As far as low cost spay/neuter when Barkley was dumped on me he went to the SPCA for $65 and there was an option to buy pain meds but I had enough here. I felt comfortable taking a terrier mix there but would not do it for a greyhound.

 

I'm sure I'll eat my words on no more dogs ever, but it won't be more than one and nothing that has to get groomed. I'm just in sticker shock over Bella's tab Poodle's special needs and the Barkley's ear infections which appear to be an ongoing lifelong problem.

[Feisty49]

Even the most intelligent, practical people don't always think ahead to the costs of owning a dog when their heartstrings are being pulled, which is why so many dogs -- of any breed -- are returned.

 

One of the things my adoption group made sure I knew was that owning a dog, and of course in this case specifically a Greyhound, was not a cheap undertaking, and they started with vet bills (annuals, vaccinations) and moved onto the cost of food (which I think is very expensive but that's another post), flea/tick meds, treats, toys, coats, leashes, collars, etc. Add all these together and you're looking at easily well over $1,000 a year for one dog. Some of these things are optional, obviously, but going to the vet is not, IMO.

 

I can't (and don't) complain about the cost of my vet bills if I'm willing to spend (which I'm not often) $$$ on the stuff that satisfies the human in the relationship, such as fancy leashes, collars, clothes, etc. If I can afford those things, I can afford at least an annual checkup for my dog.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Feisty49

[greytpups]

Today we picked up meds, no vet visit.

 

Advantix, Revolution and Prednisone came to $512.02 with tax. Our vet won't give out scripts and I don't want to order on-line meds because I don't want to put our pups lives in danger. But there must be other options for us.

 

 

 

• do not attend GIG since the ticks are horrendous
• do not move to a warmer climate, HW meds are only needed 6 months of the year here
• do not adopt a grey with Pannus

Ok, since none of these are options I need to get back to work now so I can keep my babies in the style they're used to since they are priceless

 

I thought this might make all of you feel better.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest kellygreyhound]

Just chiming in to say, I feel your pain! It's the same here in the DC Metro area--everything is more expensive (and my salary isn't budging) That's one of the main reasons I'd love to get out of here. We get amazing vet service at our vet, but geez it's expensive, and price shopping really won't get you much besides poorer service.

 

You don't know steep until you have lived in Northern NJ- everything costs more here including quality vet health care.

Everything goes up and up except my salary.