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11-18-2024 11:29 AM - edited 11-18-2024 11:30 AM
took new adopted kitten Jazzy for first vet appt this a.m. She is twelve weeks old. So they put her on their Kitten Plan which is $285. It includes redoing all the vacs she had at the spca shelter, another deworming, a Dr exam today and another at sixteen weeks, a set of booster shots. Also a topical flea and tick product even though this is an indoor cat. That's a lot of money. Yet we have been with this practice six years, very happy with the quality of care, would not want to change. I'm not really complaining as I understand the costs of health care for ppl and pets are through the roof. Just expressing some "sticker shock"
I can see why some pet owners don't take their pets to the vet. Hubs and I are fortunate to be able to afford it.
11-18-2024 12:04 PM
So true.
We have two golden retrievers and it costs a fortune at the vet. Soon I
will have to buy additional flea and tick and I purchase outside of our
vet. That will set me back around $300 for just a year of their monthly
pill.
I have one yet to be spayed next year and that cost I don't even want to
know, it's upsetting how much it costs to keep a pet healthy. Add in the
cost of really decent dog food, a huge bag runs us around $50 or more.
11-18-2024 12:17 PM
We have two dogs now. We took our 5 year old Husky mix to the vet a few months ago because she had been throwing up a few days in a row and was not getting better. I readily agreed to the X rays because she is known to chew up things around the house on occassion. Nothing shown there. I should have stopped then and left. But this Vet and Vet tech kind of make you feel like bad pet parents if you don't do every test possible. Long story short, we walked out of there with a bill over $1,000, and there was nothing wrong with her. A day or two later she was fine. They gave us 4 medications, of which we might have given her one pill once. One of the meds was 4 doses for over $60.00.
We have been going to this vet for a long time. He is very good. But they are in the process of expanding their practice for the second time. As a result, they no longer do boarding, which is a big strike against them as we have a trip in January, and we have not been happy with the two boarders we have used since. Our other dog is almost 15 years old and I want her staying at a Vet's place.
So, those two reasons, plus the fact that the Vet's place is like a circus, in more ways than one, caused me to switch. The new vet is a smaller, calmer place. BUT, I think her fees may be a bit higher. They do nail trims for free, which is nice. We shall see how it goes.
But yes, Veterinary care is quite expensive. Over the years with our 4 total dogs, we have spent many thousands of dollars for their care.
11-18-2024 12:24 PM
It is really getting out of hand. I just had a $400+ bill for one of the cats, (plus an urgent fee) but it did include an overnight stay for observation until the test results were in, and medications. Nothing was found, we do not know exactly what was wrong and we are still babying him. I love our vet clinic, when I call they all know us and work with us to get us in and I have faith in the practice. But it hurts the pocketbook for sure.
A few months ago an older gent came in with an elderly dog that had a massive growth on him, it was obvious that the poor dog did not have long and that he was in distress. They recommended euthanasia, when the man asked how much that would cost he started to cry and told the dog he was sorry but he could not afford it but went out to his car to talk to his wife. As I was paying my bill I had them add half of it to our bill if the clinic would waive the other half, my heart broke for the man and for his pup. (they did)
11-18-2024 12:24 PM
@smoochy - I can't see any logical reason for redoing all the vaccinations Jazzy had at the animal shelter.
We rescued a young cat (maybe 2 - 3 years old?) in August. We took her to our regular vet who did an exam and an internal parasite test, but that was it. Our vet had requested the medical records from the animal shelter and was satisfied that everything was good. Our kitty was given a clean bill of health.
I wouldn't like having a kitten like yours doubled up on vaccines, so I'd have declined that. And I'd ask them why they thought it was necessary. The staff at animal shelters who administer vaccines (at least where we are) are also professionals.
Our cats are also indoors only and, although I know it's possible to bring in pests from outside on our shoes, etc., it's never been an issue with any of our cats. We don't use any flea or tick products on them.
11-18-2024 12:24 PM
I use to have pet ins., but as she got older and also myself, I had to drop it.
There is an organization that helps low income seniors to pay for blood and urine work. It helps alot, but xrays, meds, etc no. Every little bit helps, but I cannot afford 600 dollars for an xray. I try to keep her as comfortable as I can. The last meds cost me and made her very sick, so I had to discontinue it. I thought I was going to lose my baby that day. I look up the med given to her and was warned not to give, because some had lost their animal on it.
Now, I will go to the vets office and ask if I can give her baby asprin for her leg pain.
My vet that was so caring retired. The new vet rushed.
11-18-2024 01:39 PM
@Puppy Lips wrote:We have two dogs now. We took our 5 year old Husky mix to the vet a few months ago because she had been throwing up a few days in a row and was not getting better. I readily agreed to the X rays because she is known to chew up things around the house on occassion. Nothing shown there. I should have stopped then and left. But this Vet and Vet tech kind of make you feel like bad pet parents if you don't do every test possible. Long story short, we walked out of there with a bill over $1,000, and there was nothing wrong with her. A day or two later she was fine. They gave us 4 medications, of which we might have given her one pill once. One of the meds was 4 doses for over $60.00.
We have been going to this vet for a long time. He is very good. But they are in the process of expanding their practice for the second time. As a result, they no longer do boarding, which is a big strike against them as we have a trip in January, and we have not been happy with the two boarders we have used since.
"Our other dog is almost 15 years old and I want her staying at a Vet's place"
@Puppy Lips have you looked into the pet sitting businesses like mine i go to clients homes and stay 24/7 over the days and nights they are gone it is less stressful for all the animals i have cared for over my 10 year business
mrshckynut
11-18-2024 01:53 PM
@We rescue cats wrote:
A few months ago an older gent came in with an elderly dog that had a massive growth on him, it was obvious that the poor dog did not have long and that he was in distress. They recommended euthanasia, when the man asked how much that would cost he started to cry and told the dog he was sorry but he could not afford it but went out to his car to talk to his wife. As I was paying my bill I had them add half of it to our bill if the clinic would waive the other half, my heart broke for the man and for his pup. (they did)
What a thoughtful and caring gesture! 💞 It was nice of the vet clinic to waive the other half, too.
I'm sure the gentleman and his wife were extremely grateful they could give their beloved dog that final goodbye.🐾💔🐾
11-18-2024 02:34 PM - edited 11-18-2024 02:40 PM
Vet care has been expensive for quite a few years.
I already spent almost $5000 this year alone for my two dogs....that price includes a dental and surgery for one dog.
I would never allow any Vet to redo any vaccinations for any of my pets. That is dangerous and causes problems for our furry pets.
I don't even allow the Vet to give my dogs boosters after the initial " baby" vaccines except for the rabies vaccine that is mandated by law every three years.
Those vacinations are poison and many continue murcury. Most vacinations least 9-10 years up to a lifetime. It is better to have titers done to see if the vaccines are still effective.
I was fighting with my Vets every year. They are a husband and wife team. I no longer will go to the husband because he is pushy and always finds something wrong or something that needs attention to pad my bill....ear infections that don't exist, etc.
Their business expensives are so costly, they have to make money somehow. I understand, but I am not their ATM.
11-18-2024 02:52 PM - edited 11-18-2024 02:53 PM
We can relate to the high cost of vet care too. We've never had pet insurance. Fortunately, we can afford to pay out of
pocket. I have family and friends who can't afford regular checkups for their pets, much less needed procedures or surgeries. We've helped them some with their vet bills.
Our former dog, Wilma, had a lot of medical issues. We spent many thousands of dollars on her care, including surgeries and medications. Our current dog is much healthier so her vet bills aren't anywhere near those costs. Still, a regular checkup with shots and blood work runs a few hundred dollars.
Best Wishes to Everyone & Their Pets! 🥰
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