Do you agree that veterinarian fees are getting out of hand?

Question

I used to take my kitty to an old country veterinarian. He'd just listened to the lungs, heart and palpate the abdomen. Everything okay - $30. Now that he's retired, I've started going to this new clinic with young vets. Take kitty in, wait 2 hours in reception area, taken in to exam room. Wait another hour. Vet comes in. Weights kitty, listens to heart and lungs, palpates abdomen, checks ears, checks for flea dirt, looks in mouth and under tail, takes rectal swab to check for parasites and draws blood for more tests. Now kitty, who seems perfectly healthy to I'm told needs: flea repellent, antibiotic solution for scratch on ear, some kind of medicine to put in ears for infection/mites, medicine for intestinal parasites, vaccinations for rabies, leukemia, distemper and feline enteritis. Gets teeth cleaned and claws trimmed. Bill now over $200. Is this the norm now or am I getting soaked by over-excessive and unnecessary tests and treatments?

Answer 1

It's the norm and no, you're not getting "soaked".

Do you realize that vets go to vet school just like human docs go to medical school? This is a specialized, professional field, not unskilled labor. Do you realize that it's harder to get into vet school than it is to get into medical school?

Try going to a human doctor and get the similar amount of work done on your yourself that you just had mentioned in your question. I guarantee you it will be way more than $200: I just went to the doc for a basic exam plus blood drawn for 2 different tests and the bill was nearly $500 to my insurance company.

This person is dealing with your cat's health - this should be a serious, important matter for you. You do realize that in life, you get what you pay for and the cheap always because expensive?

Answer 2

I would say it is high but it varies in different areas.
A way to beat some of the costs is to buy from someone other than your vet. Such as ear cleaner and for mites can be bought at a pet store for a fraction of the cost and so can flee and antibiotic solution. If you have the vet give you the names than you can even buy them online from a good and safe site. That is what I do. Rabies vaccine can only be given by a vet but the others can be purchased at tractor's supply stores and stores like them. They are easy to give and only cost about 7 dollars for the mixtures and the shot.
I would say the vet is uping the price a lot.

Answer 3

Well, I'd argue that the old country vet wasn't doing everything he should, but that said, I wouldn't accept the kind of waits you are experiencing at the new clinic.

As for fees, vet hospitals are expensive to operate - they have rent or mortgage on the building, a staff to pay, expensive equipment and meds to pay for. An expensive education to pay for. Liability insurance to cover when Fluffy's owner sues because something didn't go right (their fault or not).

For all you got (flea repellent, exam, shots, other meds and treatments - inlcuding teeth cleaning) - $200 isn't bad.

Answer 4

Some of those treatments seem just a tad over the top. But if you think about it, what happens when you go to the doctor for yourself? the same thing. Vets have to make money too. Some of their services are way undercharged. and they have to work long hours for less pay than you would think.

Answer 5

They are ridiculous. Also...you would think, the smaller the animal, the smaller the bill. In most cases it is the same or even opposite.

Unfortunately...look at the vet's point of view. :) Where else will we go? They know we have to pay no matter the cost.

Answer 6

There are 2 straight forward procedures to bypass with this,seek the internet for a stable on-line source and ask the vet for a script for the insulin,or come across a vet that costs a extra resonable cost for the insulin.even however you're able to be able to apply your vet for many of your canines care,discover one for the cost reducing activity of insulin

Answer 7

I think the vets these days are taught to take people for what they can. Our vets in our town have become so high that we can't take our animals in anymore unless they are bleeding to death or dying! It's a travesty. And don't even get me started on the idea of "pet insurance!" My own insurance premiums are through the roof, there's no way I want to get into that racket with a veterinarian!

Answer 8

That's a little too expensive...I think you should find a different veterinarian who won't pay you that much. I mean, let's say your kitten was literally sick and needed extra treatment? I wonder how much that might cost all together!

Answer 9

I'm going to be a veterinarian and I plan on making bills affordable and sensible.

Answer 10

Go to a different vet!!!!!!!