OMG, $150 for LP surgery?!?!?!?

[Yorkie_Love]

We have an apt next week with a vet specialists office for my Yorkie, London, to have surgery on her LP. I was quoted about $2800-3200 (for both legs). I was just talking to the owner of her father who told me to go to a place pretty far south from me. She told me the vet there does them all the time and charges $150 ($200 max if it is more difficult than originally thought)!!! I almost fell off my chair!!! WHY the HUGE cost difference??? I am almost ready to cancel my existing apt and drive the 6 hours to the cheaper vet. I worry though that he may not do as good of a job. Ugh!!! I could get a hotel and stay the night and even with the cost of that and gas it is still cheaper.

Has anyone had this done? What has been the average cost for the surgery? Do they cast legs after? The cheaper vet does not cast....the other one does. Does it make that much of a difference???

[lulababy]

I think the one thing that people should definetely spend top dollar on is surgery. spending that extra money is probably worth it in the long run.

[deb22]

I think I'd have to agree. I understand a little cheaper. But that's extreme. Makes you wonder.

[Gracie2006]

Are you sure that was the surgery fee and not the consultation fee? That seems ridiculously low, not even enough to cover the pre-op x-rays, labs and anesthesia. Gracie's bilateral LP surgery was about $3400.

[mypreciouspups]

I do see a huge difference in this LP surgery from state to state.. Maybe you should give the vets name and where he is.. maybe another yter will know something about this vet.. I know here in florida.. there can be a huge difference in vet bills from one vet I go to and to another I also use depending..so this is worth it to check it out.. I was once told in texas.. it is cheap compared to other places..anne

[Gingergirlsmom]

Can you research this vet in any way? Have you googled the vet's name? What about calling yourself to talk to them about it and find out the actual costs. Do vets give "references"? Could you talk to some pet owners who had used them for this surgery?

Anything is possible. Bernie just had surgery for something else. My vet told me it was probably going to be pretty costly....but when we took him to his original surgeon, he did it for free. I don't mean to imply that Bernie's situation has anything to do with ayours, but don't assume that your only option is to pay $3-4000. See what you can find out.

I wouldn't just jump on it, but I would do some serious research.

[stedmansmommy]

WOW Honestly, either the person that told you this has the price WAY off, or the place that is doing it for $150 I simply would not trust But usually, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I just don't know what "kind" of place would do an LP surgery for $150...I mean, that is just insane If I were you, I would have your babies surgery done at an Ortho Specialist and no where else. My little girl will be having LP surgery soon and there is no way that I would take her to my "normal vet" - I just don't feel comfortable with it.

Do some research on LP here (and on the net as well)....you will find TONS of helpful information

[a2luckygirl]

Do you have a university vet. school near you??
I would do some research on all vets in your area!
The $150- well, that sounds way to cheap.You need to do some major checking out one this!

Banjo's chipped bone in his leg =$1,500 and still going!

[TLC]

Something doesn't sound right. Maybe that's the consult?

I would ONLY trust a Board Cert. Ortho Specialist to do LP surgery. Once they get in and see the actual 'stuff' going on in there, they may need to be very experienced and artistic - which most 'general vets' are not - so I wouldn't take the chance.

[MyFairLacy]

I would only trust an orthopedic surgeon to do LP surgery on my dog as well...$150 REALLY makes me wonder...

[Shelby&Seymour]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

I would only trust an orthopedic surgeon to do LP surgery on my dog as well...$150 REALLY makes me wonder...

I agree about the orthopedic vet....... we really were glad that we went with one............ we had to travel a little ways, but well worth the effort. Shelby's surgery was a success.

[PunkinPie]

Punkin's LP surgery was just under $600. An orthopedic vet did the surgery but my vet assists. That included everything, meds, x-rays x 2 and 5 follow up visits. Our vet is amazing and does not overcharge for anything.

She has a very unfancy office and takes in lots of strays and rehomes them. One day she even had a baby porcupine. Animals are definitely her passion.
Many times we go for visits and we pay nothing for her time, just the medicine etc that we need.

I think the main thing is to see if there are extra's and how much those will be also to ask around and see what people have to say about the vet. Word of mouth is important.

[Yorkie_Love]

I called the office 3 times and talked to 2 different people about it being $150. It is NOT just for the consult.....that was the first thing I thought of and asked a lot of questions. The WHOLE thing is $150, or $200 max. London has some extra baby teeth and they said they would even pull those for free. I guess the story is that the vet who does it was actually retired and didnt like not working so he came back to work a couple days per week at first and now is working 7 days a week. The gal I talked to said he wont charge more for it.

So regardless I am not taking her there, its still over 6 hours to get there and I have a 1 year old baby here (actual child, not covered in fur) and I cant take him on that far of a drive or leave him overnight. The vet doing it here is an ortho specialist, and even though its going to cost me quite a bit more I would rather pay more and know its being done by the right person.

Funny thing though.....the person who reccomended the $150 vet to me (http://rondelkennels.com) is a reputable person!

[kathy785]

I know there is a big difference for certain areas of the country for vet fees. Also it depends on if the vet is an orthopedic surgeon or not too. They charge more.

I LOVE my vets. They truly care about the dogs, take time to talk with me, are available 24 hours a day (I have called them in the middle of the night before!) The bonus is that they are very reasonably priced since we are in the midwest and a rural area. The Vet college is only an hour away also, my vets do not hesitate to call and conference with them or offer to send us there if needed. (Easier to get right in if you have a referring vet.)

In general these are the fees I have paid:
puppy shot --$5-6 per puppy
adult shots --$15-30
dew claws/tails --$3/puppy
neuter w/ teeth pulled --$60
spay -- $70
teeth cleaning --$70
patella surgery --$140ish
C-section --$120ish
clip/bathe --$28

Did I say I LOVE my vets?! They are both the greatest people not just because of their pricing practices. I would still go to them if they charged more. All of the office staff is so nice too. Many of them I know because we had children in the same activities (small community)

The office I use to go to changed vets when the original ones retired. The new vets do not care. They are not happy to come in after hours, they will not tell you how your pet is doing if it is left over the weekend and you call. I have heard too many horror stories about pets dying to ever go back to that place. (again small community and everything gets around.) It is 9 miles closer, but I don't care.

[Zanders' mom]

Hi, I went to an orthopedic specialist, his fee is 6,000. both legs. Judging from the xrays and the written consult, Jazzie has a complicated medial LP. Her femur is curved 17 degrees, so it will have to be corrected as well so that later the LP does not recur. He mentioned she may have a ruptured acl as well. Sadly she will have one leg done, then recover, 2-3 months later the right leg.
I have gone to other vets, one was cheaper but not board certified, another was 2,000. but only did LP surgeries three times a month, another one was a general surgeon $4,000. both legs, he seemed hesistant when talking about repairing the femur. The 6,000. is extreme yet the surgeon has a good reputation, and inspired confidence. I'd like to find him for a lot less.

Good luck to your baby London.

Originally Posted by Yorkie_Love

We have an apt next week with a vet specialists office for my Yorkie, London, to have surgery on her LP. I was quoted about $2800-3200 (for both legs). I was just talking to the owner of her father who told me to go to a place pretty far south from me. She told me the vet there does them all the time and charges $150 ($200 max if it is more difficult than originally thought)!!! I almost fell off my chair!!! WHY the HUGE cost difference??? I am almost ready to cancel my existing apt and drive the 6 hours to the cheaper vet. I worry though that he may not do as good of a job. Ugh!!! I could get a hotel and stay the night and even with the cost of that and gas it is still cheaper.

Has anyone had this done? What has been the average cost for the surgery? Do they cast legs after? The cheaper vet does not cast....the other one does. Does it make that much of a difference???