Vet Surgery Prices

[Amber]

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right section, feel free to move it elsewhere if not Also I don't want to preach so please don't take this the wrong way.

In my job, I regularly talk to people on the phone who are phoning around for prices for various surgeries; be these neutering, dental procedures or more major surgical procedures.

Of course there will always be some variation in prices, and the area that we live in often has a lot to do with this. However, there are a few other things to consider:

• Does the practice routinely use intravenous cannulas during anaesthesia? These are invaluable during anaesthetic emergencies and ensure a stress free induction.
• Will your pet have an endotracheal tube placed during the anaesthesia?
• Will the surgery be performed in a seperate sterile theatre?
• Will the surgeon be appropriately 'scrubbed' using sterile gowns and gloves?
• Will your pet's anaesthesia be monitored by qualified members of staff?
• Will your pet be left alone during the recovery period, or will they be properly monitored?
• Will your pet be given an adequate pre-medication to ensure good pain relief post operatively?
• Will your post operative checks be included in the surgery price?

In an ideal world, your answers to all of the above should be yes.

To many people, vets are all alike, and the vets charging more are only doing so because they don't really care about the animal and are purely there to take money from unsuspecting owners.

As with all things in life - you get what you pay for! So next time you enquire about the price of a surgery and you come across a particularly cheap practice - stop and ask yourself why, or better still, ask the staff themselves

[lynz85]

Good point raised there. I would take for granted that the above is done by any good vet, but then again you never know. I trust my vets completely with my cat or dog but I will now be taking my rats elsewhere especially for ops as my vets just arent experienced enough. They do try, but I need someone who's been there before. When I did go to a more rat savvy vet I did ask q's like what anaesthesia and stitches would they be using, then the price came up but tbh I want caring along as I knew they were doing it right.

[Velvet]

Before we moved last year we went to one of the top practises with equally top charges however we didnt mind as at the end of the day we knew that the animals were getting top notch care. Had been going there for 10 years. Particularly liked the fact that there was cover 24 x 7 - nurses were on during the night.

We fully intended to keep using them however it is a 60 mile trip there and for a while we did continue but it soon became apparent we would have to look elsewhere.

Still wanting the same level of care and expertise we looked around at our options. The local vet is a country vet with a small animal practise and we have used them on occasions - its just 15 mins away however really wanted same level as we had before so we choose a Vet in the nearest town - 40 mins drive away which is still quite far. These ones have a big farm practise, big pet practise, vet who specialises in exotics and they also look after the animals at the Zoo.

So far we have had no complaints and have been with them about 7 months. They finished off Ambers initial vaccs - did her spay, Tim's neuter + both dogs boosters. It was also them doing their own tests that discovered how ill Katie was. Ironically they are much more reasonable as well and genuinely do seem to care

If you are there to collect meds or food [I go regularly] and the vet knows you are there, they will come out to have a word. I think that is good PR, you would not have got that at the other vets

I will keep a note of what you have detailed as its always good to know what to ask

Is it a big practise where you work?

[Amber]

Yeah its definitely worth a bit of travel for the right vet sometimes

The practice I work for is only small, 1 vet and 4 nurses.

[Velvet]

Must be busy Amber when there are 4 nurses.

Heres a link to vets we go to now

http://www.jubileevetcentre.co.uk/

[Lumboo]

Very helpful thread.

My kittens are 12 weeks old and I have now had them for 3 weeks. I called up 3 local vets around us to check their services, their prices for neutering and what they suggested we carry out in the first year etc. One of the favoured vets was the one where the Cat Protection League had arranged for the 2nd set of vaccinations to be carried out.

I instantly felt comfortable at this practice. The Vet answered all my questions, she throughly examined the kittens, she discused how the neutering would take place, including the blood and allergy testing before the general anesthetic.

I didn't think to ask the above questions although I know they are not left alone during recovery. They are also checked again on Day 3 and Day 10 after surgery. Is this normal practice?

[Nuttygran]

Because I no longer own a car I take Missy to the nearest vet. They have been OK in the past but today I took Missy to have her teeth cleaned & the vet there suggested that she has blood tests too, as she is now eight years old. For some reason I just did not like the vet we saw today, I felt that she was just to brisk & businesslike. We have seldom seen the same vet twice, it's a large practice.

Thank you Amber for your post, I had no idea what to ask. When the vet asked me questions I just took her advice, for one thing she seemed to rattle things off so I had no time to take in & consider what she said.

They are going to ring me when Missy is ready to come home. For some reason, today I am more anxious.

[dandysmom]

Nutygran, is Missy home yet, how is she?

[Nuttygran]

Originally Posted by dandysmom

Nutygran, is Missy home yet, how is she?

Thank you for asking. No she isn't home yet, they rang me at lunch time & said her procedure had been postponed until this afternoon. I can only think that there was some thing more urgent to attend to. I have just rung them & was told she had finished but wasn't out of the anaesthetic yet & they will ring me when she is ready to come home. She has been there since 9 am, it's now 4.20pm.

[dandysmom]

Poor Missy. What a pity you can't get to your former vet; this new one doesn't sound like a good fit .......