Obscene care costs

[Nitro]

Having just returned from getting Nitro neutered, it bugs me to no end what my normal vet was going to charge. They wanted $80 for a ketamine neuter and $200-250 for a ketamine-free neuter. They even strongly suggested I get blood work done, at a cost of $85!

So instead I looked up low-cost neuters, finding one that was $40 and would do ketamine-free for $65.

Can anyone give me one good reason that my normal vet wanted $120-170 MORE for a ketamine-free procedure?

Also, with the blood work - I thought I had them perform it when I took him for his initial checkup, but apparently they only checked for viruses and didn't tell me about this other test! Should I perform this test?

 

[Patty]

I know that here, it is more for the gas vs ketamine, but not sure why other than gas is more expensive, more equipment needed perhaps. Vets almost always want blood work before surgery, but because he is so young, I would have refused it also. I only get blood work done on senior animals. I'm sure that others do it all the time, but I think it is a waste unless they are in because they are sick.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Yes, I think the additional cost likely is the equipment and gas costs versus the injection of ketamine.

The blood work is a safeguard, and depends on how you feel. Generally speaking, the risks with anesthesia are for older cats so it is well worth checking out their bloodwork before putting them under. In general, I don't do it with kittens as I am confident they are healthy and will be fine.

 

[Dantes]

I posted about the same thing when I got Duma neutered. Vets were charging $300 and up--and I didn't even think to ask about ketamine at the time. Got it done at the ASPCA for $60, they used ketamine (again, at the time I didn't know it could be a problem), he went bonkers for a short bit but was perfectly fine in a few hours.

Also they trimmed his nails for free. I'm certain the vet would've charged.

 

[Samber]

the vet down the street from me wanted 450-600 for a spay. i had to ask if she said that right and she did. i got it done somewhere else for 80$.

 

[Nitro]

Wow. Is it possible that some vets are using their prices to just say "I don't want to do this procedure"?

 

[Trish Allearz]

No, they charge it because they can get it. Vets are usually of two minds (at least here)- they charge an obscene amount for spay/neuters, but less for routine care OR they charge more for routine care, but less for spay/neuters. For the higher priced spay/neuters, it seems that they assume the client won't go elsewhere since they have already established a rapporteur with the client- and that seems to be the way it DOES usually work. Most people may complain, but they are either too lazy or too concerned to switch vets just for a spay/neuter surgery.

 

[admin]

No, they charge it because they can get it. Vets are usually of two minds (at least here)- they charge an obscene amount for spay/neuters, but less for routine care OR they charge more for routine care, but less for spay/neuters. For the higher priced spay/neuters, it seems that they assume the client won't go elsewhere since they have already established a rapporteur with the client- and that seems to be the way it DOES usually work. Most people may complain, but they are either too lazy or too concerned to switch vets just for a spay/neuter surgery.

yep - I just pay it...it is pretty expensive here...

 

[Per Lausund]

Males: sedative and local anaesthetic, females are quite a bit more complicated as it involves invasive abdominal surgery. And ketamine is NOT DANGEROUS provided you combine it with a sedative!!!

 

[Nitro]

Males: sedative and local anaesthetic, females are quite a bit more complicated as it involves invasive abdominal surgery. And ketamine is NOT DANGEROUS provided you combine it with a sedative!!!

Per, thanks for chiming in. I definitely read up on your posts regarding ketamine not being dangerous before getting my feline neutered. However, one of the things I have heard several times is that ketamine can have a longer hallucinogenic effect on SV's due to the (relatively) smaller liver trying to flush it out of their system. Feel free to correct me on this point if I am wrong.

In my opinion, it was worth the $25 extra to avoid this hallucinogenic effect...but certainly not the $120-$170 more.