Cost of visiting the vet?

"Emily Carroll" <carrol82.RemoveThis@nospam.msu.edu> dumped this in
news:c2bj4c$1ki4$1@msunews.cl.msu.edu on 05 Mar 2004:

> 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.
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

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
> 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.
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 03:57:21 +0000 (UTC), Ablang
<HilaryDuff4President DeleteThis @ablang-duff.com> wrote:

> 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.

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
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

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!

"Ablang" <HilaryDuff4President DeleteThis @ablang-duff.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94A3CB325A73A03052004@195.131.52.135...
> 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.
>
> --
> Hilary Duff for President! We love you!
>
> "Temperament is tempber that is too old to spank." -- Actress Charlotte
> Greenwood
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

"poofy_puff" <poofy_puff.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> dumped this in
news:jMOdnbBujed9o9fdRVn-ug@comcast.com on 06 Mar 2004:

> 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
>> 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.
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

>
> > 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.RemoveThis@hotmail.com in this newsgroup, you will
find some more. I remember talking about this a couple of months ago.

Michele
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

"JoJo" <zookeepr.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:FtKdnXQfO5W58Nbd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
| 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!


Foster people here get 30% off their vet bills.

Carola
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

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 ass, 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



"JoJo" <zookeepr.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:FtKdnXQfO5W58Nbd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> 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!
>
> "Ablang" <HilaryDuff4President.TakeThisOut@ablang-duff.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns94A3CB325A73A03052004@195.131.52.135...
> > 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.
> >
> > --
> > Hilary Duff for President! We love you!
> >
> > "Temperament is tempber that is too old to spank." -- Actress Charlotte
> > Greenwood
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet? 

>
> Foster people here get 30% off their vet bills.
>
> Carola



That's really good. Where do you live?


Michele
 >> Stay informed about: Cost of visiting the vet?