Conference misery::feline

    
    	Neutering - marginally, post-med - okay, everything else - OUCH!!
    
    
    	

    
    Insane prices...(;
    
    L-

    My vet charges only $10 for the Felv shot.......but she does charge
    $40 for the Felv TEST.  So there is a difference......All the other
    shots (3-way, rabies, etc.) she charges $8....and this is a vet who
    is considered extremely high for this area.....  (but she's well
    worth it to me).
    
    Nancy

    Very very expensive!!   

    Thanks all!
    
    I'll pass the word on to my friend...
    
    Edd

    What state is this vet located in?  I'd expect prices to be higher in
    an area such as San Francisco but cheaper in Des Moines.

    I only paid $45 to have two kittens examined, wormed, and vaccinated.
    Not sure of the breakdown, though.  They got rhino nose/eye drops, oral
    worm medication, and distemper shot.  The exam was $20, so that comes
    to about $6.50 for each med.  And, they said neutering costs $20 each. 
    This is a low-cost spay/neuter clinic and vaccination clinic.

    The vet who quoted these prices is located in Nashua, N.H.
    
    Can anyone recommend a more "conservatively priced" vet in the area?
    
    Edd

    I take my animals to the Ferry Road Animal Hospital in Nashua.  It's
    located behind the Humane Society.  I've found them to be very
    reasonable.  I paid $56 to have two kittens examined, given shots, and
    deworming medication.
    
    The telephone number is 882-0087.
    
    Kim (and the furball gang)

    I paid $150 to have all four of my guys to be examined and have their
    yearly rabies/4-in-1 shots.  The breakdown is $19.50 per cat for the
    exam, $18.00 for the shots per cat.  They were neutered/spayed years
    ago and I can't remember the costs.
    
    Karen

    P.S. This is in Seattle.

    I second Ferry Road Animal Hospital.  Beth particularly likes 
    Dr. Robin Porter, who particularly likes Beth!  They're great and
    more reasonable than the prices you quoted.  I think a neuter is
    $35, but it's been a while since I did that route....
    
    Phone # is 882-0087....I've got 'em on my auto-dialer at home...
    It's nice having a vet on retainer.....
    
    BTW, I've never had a cat on post-neuter medication, and I've had
    4 boys done...and $12 is ALOT for a little Amoxi....I paid $5 for
    Biff's Amoxi tabs....
    
    Mary
    
    

Those prices sound a little high to me, too. I take my cats to Dr. Bishop 
at the Animal Hospital of Nashua. This is what I pay/have paid:

    	FeLv shot	$21.00
        Rabies 		 12.00
        3-way shot	 20.00
        Neutering        38.00  

I had Wrigley and Jumper neutered last fall. I don't believe I had to give 
them any medication at home after the operation (I assume this is what 
you mean by "post-neuter medication"). Female cats that I've had spayed 
had to take an antibiotic for a week, but I think the charge for the 
medication was included in the price of the spay. 

Also, if I bring my cats in for shots and a checkup, they charge just for 
the shots, not an office visit. An office visit is $20 per cat, I believe. 
At Bedford Animal Hospital in Bedford, NH you can bring in multiple cats
on an office visit for one $20 charge.

I like my vet and I believe my cats get very good care from him.

Linda

Unfortunately, they sound normal to me from my Merrimack, NH vet.
Which means I think the drive to Ferry Road may be worth it come
booster time!

Mary-Michael

Mary-Michael,

I also live in Merrimack and I REFUSE to pay for the new addition personally...

Looks like I'll be making the drive to Ferry Road as well.

It absolutely blows my mind the difference in price from one vet to the 
next.

The difference in price to get health certificates on 4 puppies was 
close to $100.00 from this vet in Merrimack compared to my new vet in 
Bedford NH.  You really need to let your fingers do the walking and call 
around and compare.  You also need to be a little street smart and not 
believe every thing your told.  After all they are in the business to 
make money.

I had the experience that I was told by this Merrimack vet that I needed 
to repeat the whole series of kitten shots on my very first cat I ever 
owned.  I guess my first mistake was to mention that I never had a cat 
before.  They told me that she recieved her shots too young at 6, 9, 
and 12 weeks and that they needed to be done over.  Questioning this, I 
immediately called the breeder and 2 other vets in my area to varify this.
They told me that the shots were correct and given at the proper time 
and there was no need for any additional shots.  I saved myself quite a 
bit of money.  That incident really turned me off.  I guess you have to 
educate yourself and not appear naive or you can really be taken advantage 
of.  

Valerie

    You noters in Merrimack might want to try the Amherst Animal Hospital
    on Route 101A.  I just had Mike in for his yearly check up and for the
    office visit, Rabies shot and 3-in-1 the total came to $36.  That
    included taking some plaque off his teeth.  Neutering last year was a
    total of $38.50 for everything - surgery, meds, hospitalization. 
    They're all good vets there but I prefer Dr. Mitterling.  He's a very
    caring person and has spent a lot of time in telephone conference
    with me as Mike is asthmatic and Hoover is a very sensitive FUS cat who
    has to remain on SD 50% of the time.  Anyway, tell him Hoover's mom
    sent you 8^)
    
    To the base noter - I too think those prices are very high.  The cost
    of my female, Sid's, spaying was inly $54. 
    
    
    
    
    

    I'd be interested in your experiences with Mike's asthma (maybe we
    shoul dstart a new note), as my Sweetie has a respiratory problem.
    

    Hi -
    
    I second Dr. Mitterling at Amherst Animal Hospital. He truly saved
    Poppy's life when she came down with a raging fever in the middle of
    the night the day after we got her from the shelter. He's very good
    with her, even though she's the world's biggest crab, especially at
    the vet and especially when she needs to have her ears cleaned. 
    
    He was also great with my little stray visitor last fall. When I 
    said I was trying to find her a home,  he gave me this pleading look and
    said, "This is a great cat. Please don't take her to a shelter."
    (as if I could have). 
    
    Kate
    

    I almost dropped my teeth at those charges Edd!!  Yikes.  I would run,
    not walk to another vet.
    
    I think that if you cut all those charges in half, then you would hit a
    reasonable fee for the services that were provided.
    
    I just had Oppie neutered and it was $18.00.  There is usually no need
    for post surgical medication on a neuter unless the surgery had
    complications.  Neutering isn't the kind of invasive procedure that
    spaying is, and the cats usually don't even require stitches.  My vet
    charges $5.00 for a fecal exam.  I also cringe when I see what some
    vets charge for giving vaccines that only cost them a about $1.50 a
    piece (that is the 3-in-1, the FeLV and FIP vaccine run about $6.00 a
    piece, and the rabies is about the same).
    
    If you have more than one cat, ask about multiple pet discounts.  Most
    vet give them.  Our vet gives us 10% off the total.
    
    Jo

    
    	Some vets do put nueters on amoxi for a few days just 
    	as a precaution, but that shouldn't cost you more than $3.
    

    Hi all...
    
    When my friend told me what the vet had quoted (.0) I felt the charges
    were a bit out of line, to say the least.
    
    I relayed the messages to her, and an alternate vet will be found,
    probably the recommended one in Nashua.
    
    Edd

    
    I just had to take my cat to Acton Emergancy.  It was a Saturday and
    Nephra had cut her paw somehow..I knew it needed stiches...just to
    walk in the door after hrs it was $55.00 and the total came to $170.00!
    for 4 stiches in her paw....170!  gawd...it would be cheeper if I
    needed stiches.....
    
    Lou

Boy, off hours vets do cost, eh!  When Julie was a 4 week old TBK (Tiny
Baby Kitten), she injured her paw.  I had to take her to the emergency vet
and get xrays and all that.  It cost me a little over $200....YIKES!!!
But, you know what bugged me the most (and this is why I love my own vet),
I was nicely asked if I wanted to treat the cat or if I wanted to discuss
"The Alternative"!!!  The Alternative, as far as I was concerned, was to
put the cat in a kitty-sized wheel chair and build a handicap ramp into
her litter box.....  My own vet knows I'd be spending the rest of the weekend
building that ramp to make the box wheelchair accessible....

Mary

    Mary,
    
    Don't you just love it when they talk about the "alternative".  I
    caught a month old kitten in 1986 right after I got married.  Some jerk
    had set a trap and it had sliced right through his foot.  I rushed him
    to the nearest vet who took one look and said "well we'll put him to
    sleep immediately".  I promptly burst into tears and wanted to know if
    there was anything to do that would save him.  The vet was so impressed
    he only charged me half for the surgery to amputate Pumpkin's leg.  The
    other vet there thought we were both nuts for saving him.  He may have
    been a tripod but he was a loving cat.  I still miss him.
    
    Kim

    well, the neutering could cost that much if it were a female, and
    the medication after the neutering could cost $12 depending on the
    type of medication; the stool I think should be around $5; about the
    FeLv- isn't the first time a series of 3 shots which would then make
    the $33 okay (it's been a while since I had to give a cat a first time
    series) - after the series then it is a yearly  booster which would 
    be less. I suspect this is a first time series. The only one I think is
    out of line other than the stool - is the rabies and 3-way but I am not
    really sure what that costs as it usually gets lost in other charges
    on my bill - maybe $30.
         
    The other thing which come to mind is that maybe because we feliners
    have multiple cats and have been going to individual vets  of choice
    for long periods of time, perhaps we are getting some breaks which 
    aren't necesarily passed on to first time or one-time only patients.
    
    Just a thought.
    Pat
    

   	I am owned by one cat.  when I took her to the vets to be spayed 
    and do the shots stuff, I think I paid about $150 to $180.  That was 6
    years ago.
    
    Pat has a point, Possibly multi cat families are used to reduced rates
    from vets.  I also didn't see an office charge.  Possibly the office
    charge is factored in the other charges as well.
    
    Personally, I don't think these rates are too out of line.  Stool
    checks cost me $12.  I pay about $15 each for the other shots.  I've
    ben using FoA certificates to spay and neuter the ferals, so I'm not
    real sure what that would cost for a new client.
    
    Semi-flame on(it's Friday):
    
    I get upset when people rank on vets becasue of their rates.  They went 
    into megadebt to go to school, and the equipment overhead for state
    of the art equipment is probably out of this world.  We do like to
    patronize vets who stay current, don't we?
	
    Flame off.
    
    The prices may be a little higher than what I pay, but I don't think I
    have enough info to make a final decision.
    
    Michele & Nippa

    With 9 cats.....my vet gives me exceptional good rates and
    also allow me to have a running Tabby Tab!!  I do not get that
    much of a break when spaying/neutering...but I can't complain
    about the prices of shots, check-ups, emergencies, stool samples
    ect.    He even comes to my house once a year to give boosters/rabies
    to the crew and won't charge me anything for the house visit.
    But...I do keep him in business!!!!  They were going to name the
    waiting room after Van Gogh!! 
    
    Sandy

Well, in a way, I agree with you.  It does cost a fortune to go to school
and set up a practice.  There is a list of prices right next to the
receptionists' desk at my vet's, so it's easy to see what the prices are and
what I'm going to be charged.  I don't think they give me much of a break
because I'm such a good customer--perhaps on Beth's surgery, as that was
alot less than VONE quoted.  Usually, in most medical practices, charges
are "reasonable and customary for the service area".  If one doc charges
50% more for the same service as a doc down the road, then I'd be concerned,
providing the doc down the road gives me the same quality of care and service.
I started out with Honey and a wonderful vet who had VERY low prices.  His
care was wonderful.  When I had Honey neutered, I arrived to find my vet
rocking a sick puppy in a rocking chair, trying to sooth him.  Great vet.
The problem was that he was in Pepperell, a good 20-25 minute drive...and
with a screaming Honey next to me, I couldn't take it.  Ferry Road is 5
minutes away, and although the prices are higher, it's more convienent and
the care is wonderful.

I think it's really a personal decision.  I love VONE, even though they
charge me $75 to walk in the door.  But when it comes to Chauncey's and
Beth's eye health, it didn't matter.  Truth be told, I had my own vet do Beth's
eye surgery because of the difference in price.  I trusted her and that in
the end is what matters.  If you think you're being charged too much, then
the trust is broken.  If you think the prices are very reasonable and you're
not happy with the care, then the trust is broken.

I'm a firm believer in being one's own advocate.  If price is a concern,
I'd call a few places, get their prices, compare their locations, etc.,
listen to a few recommendations from fellow feliners, then decide.  If I
wasn't happy, I'd be somewhere else next time.

It is Friday, isn't it.....
Mary

    I'm with Michele.  Are you sure that felv price doesn't include the
    cost of the test plus the shots?  A lot of new cat owners misunderstand
    the vets when they ask for prices, and then think that they are getting
    ripped off.  I would feel more comfortable stating the prices quoted
    were too high if I knew exactly what services were attached to them.
    
    Vets are people too, and have their own bills to pay.  While my vet
    does give breaks for multi-cat households, I do not expect her to only
    charge me the bare minimum.  She is fair.  She will also allow me to
    make monthly payments or postdate a check if I don't have funds readily
    available.
    
    On the flip side, there are unscrupulous people in all professions, so
    it is important for the consumer to educate themselves before they take
    the plunge and make a purchase.  I think it is wise for your friend to
    do some comparison shopping before making a final decision on a vet.
    

    I realize it costs a lot of money to go to school, build up a 
    practice and then expand and update that practice.  But, on the
    flip side, if I pay for a Cadillac, I don't expect a Chevy.
    
    The vet I had in Plaistow (Plaistow Animal Medical Center) was
    absolutely wonderful.  They cared about my cats, gave me a 
    multi-cat discount, and charged reasonable rates.  Yes, the
    rates went up a bit when they expanded and updated their facility,
    but not a lot.  Their day boarding was very reasonable.
    
    Here I have similar circumstances but *much* higher rates.
    I like my vet very much, but don't feel that the overall 
    staff or facility is any better than others I have experienced.
    The day boarding fee is outrageous.  I bring my cats there
    because I love my vet.  She is kind, cares about the cats very
    much, and was absolutely wonderful with Misha.  I hear she
    may be leaving the area, and if so, will consider changing
    vets at that point.  My primary concern is to have a vet that
    cares as much for the animals as I do.  That's worth some amount
    of $$$'s to me. But vet care that is so expensive that I can't
    afford to bring my cat in if it gets sick is worthless.
    
    Mary-Michael, Mips & Belle

    I hope this note gets some updating.
    
    I would like to take my youngest kitty (3yrs old) to the vet to get
    groomed.  I know that she needs shots too and this is the breakdown
    that I got from Carlson Vet in Westford:
    
    $31.00 exam
     14.00 Furcp
     16.00 Rabies
     30.00 to 40 for actual grooming, depending on how bad she is 
     15.00 sedate - if needed (and I doubt it would be)
    
    How is this?  Any other ideas if its high?
    
    Thanks..
    cj