 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / General Topics / March 2004Cost of visiting the vet?
What would you guys say is your average cost of visiting the vet and how often? My cat is only 2 on 3/19/04, and it has been 3 visits since 8/03, with an average cost of I think $100. It costs $30 just for the examination (takes the doctor only 1 min to do that). I don't know if that is a good price or not.  SignatureHilary Duff for President! We love you! "Temperament is tempber that is too old to spank." -- Actress Charlotte Greenwood > What would you guys say is your average cost of visiting the vet and > how often? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It costs $30 just for the examination (takes the doctor only 1 min to > do that). I don't know if that is a good price or not. The cost will vary greatly depending on the area where you live. Also, were these routine exams, or was there a medical problem? I checked my most recent bill, and the cost for one cat was $30.00. However, that was for the exam, rabies vaccination, and FVRCPC. My vet is very good, and I think his fees are very reasonable. MaryL > What would you guys say is your average cost of visiting the vet and > how often? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It costs $30 just for the examination (takes the doctor only 1 min to > do that). I don't know if that is a good price or not. There is almost always an office call fee (most vets waive that with major treatments or vaccinations) as there's little profit in routine care but lots of time spent. I spend about $75 per visit per animal. The cat's generally less, but she's a house kitty and isn't exposed to other cats *ever.* -- Emily Carroll Fluttervale Labradors: www.fluttervale.com CPG: www.geocities.com/cyberpetgame/ > There is almost always an office call fee (most vets waive that with > major treatments or vaccinations) as there's little profit in routine > care but lots of time spent. I think this is a valid question because my old vet *didn't* waive those fees with other tests and treatments done. It was getting to where I was spending no less than $200 per visit with my perpetually sick cat, sometimes every month. (he is FeLV+ and has IBD). His new vet is more aggressive with medication and he is stable now and only needing care from her every 6 months or so. The other vet would run bloodwork and charge me silly, and not address the problem. It is important to learn your vets limitations. There is a word for what you describe: racketeering. > I think this is a valid question because my old vet *didn't* waive those > fees with other tests and treatments done. It was getting to where I was [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > charge me silly, and not address the problem. It is important to learn > your vets limitations. > There is a word for what you describe: racketeering. I thought of it as incompetence. But hey, you could be right. The vet is part of a large veterinary chain so I doubt they are doing that to rack up charges, though. If they did this routinely they'd be turned in, right? >> I think this is a valid question because my old vet *didn't* waive >> those fees with other tests and treatments done. It was getting to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >> bloodwork and charge me silly, and not address the problem. It is >> important to learn your vets limitations. > > There is a word for what you describe: racketeering. > > > I thought of it as incompetence. But hey, you could be right. The vet is > part of a large veterinary chain so I doubt they are doing that to rack > up charges, though. If they did this routinely they'd be turned in, > right? Not necessarily; most people would rather just go somewhere else and not make a fuss about it, or leave things the way they are and keep paying. It isn't only prices that are key; it's how much you get for your money. Does the vet spend the time to explain things, return your phone calls, let you know if your pet really does have a terminal illness rather than trying to "cure" the problem (although some people insist on the vet trying to save their pet no matter what the cost), etc. My vet is particularly good about the last item, that is why I brought that up. Some places hustle you to bring your pet in for every little thing, for example, they won't even sell you a tube of Revolution without charging for a full office visit. Also, they insist on running tests that are either optional or not necessary (one former place insisted on TWO KINDS of blood-work just for a routine dentistry on a cat that was 6 years old and had been seen within the past 6 months at that place, giving a price of $360 for what I eventually had done somewhere else for $110). etc. etc. etc. Boy, could I tell you stories about this sort of thing, but I got other things to do tonight... If you Google Search for poofy_puff@hotmail.com in this newsgroup, you will find some more. I remember talking about this a couple of months ago. Michele > It costs $30 just for the examination (takes the doctor only > 1 min to > do that). I don't know if that is a good price or not. I also have cats who have to see their vet often. I was starting to get annoyed after switching to a vet who I thought was better at handling my cats various issues. The last time I took my allergy cat to have a shot I was going to talk to her about waiving the exam fee because all she did was look at him and inject him. Before I had a chance to talk to her about that, I saw the bill and she had waived the exam fee on her own. I yelled back to her "thank you!" and she /knew/ what I meant. > What would you guys say is your average cost of visiting the vet and >how often? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It costs $30 just for the examination (takes the doctor only 1 min to >do that). I don't know if that is a good price or not. I go to Companion Pet Clinic, which is a low cost chain of clinics in my area. I don't know how wide spread they are, but my cat's exam yesterday was 19.50, shots range from $10 to $30. They recommend annual blood work for cats over 8 and that is $77.95. I opted out of the shots (he's an indoor cat) and will bring him back for the blood work next time I get paid. pepsi My vet is pretty reasonable - but then again he's out in a rural area where his clients come from all walks of life (ie poor to well-off). I think visits are about $25. If you have a good relationship with your vet, some of them will waive fees if they can (some places will not allow it). Due to my numerous animals (and my fosters), with the inevitable vet visits, they know me quite well (so well it's scary - the receptionist can now recognize my voice over the phone). They have waived x-ray fees for me on occassion, or cut back on surgery costs. The better your vet knows you (good or bad!), the more willing they may be in waiving costs. I hope you have don't have to visit as often as I do! > What would you guys say is your average cost of visiting the vet and > how often? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > It costs $30 just for the examination (takes the doctor only 1 min to > do that). I don't know if that is a good price or not. | My vet is pretty reasonable - but then again he's out in a rural area where | his clients come from all walks of life (ie poor to well-off). I think [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] | | I hope you have don't have to visit as often as I do! Foster people here get 30% off their vet bills. Carola > Foster people here get 30% off their vet bills. > > Carola That's really good. Where do you live? Michele I have the same situation as you; I have about 25 cats right now and my vet still charges me normal for some things, but usually waives the office visit or hospitalization fee and gives me a big break on X-rays and extensive lab work & surgeries. One time I got a discount of $333 - about 65% for a cat that had some flesh-eating disease and ended up being put to sleep. I don't mind paying what I do pay because I get good service and personal attention (for my cats) and all my questions answered. I also get an initial visit through Feline Friends for new strays and rescues which is $65 for males and $95 for females including: FIV/FeLV test (I euthanize if positive), Rabies, 4-in-1 Distemper, spay/neuter, and physical exam with ear-clean, wound-dress, etc. I kiss my vet's a.s, too, and I have told him that I hope he NEVER moves or sells or changes his career, because I (my cats) would be lost without him (for a while at least until we found someone else). Yesterday I was buying supplies and the cashier asked me if I was a foster; I said "Yes I am, which means that I keep most of them permanently. Michele > My vet is pretty reasonable - but then again he's out in a rural area where > his clients come from all walks of life (ie poor to well-off). I think [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > "Temperament is tempber that is too old to spank." -- Actress Charlotte > > Greenwood |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.