Vet Bills

[sherile47]

I took Isabel to the vet today because she has a skin issue. She was with the vet maybe 15 minutes, rec'd a shot of antibiotics for the skin infection and we bought some vectra. $83.00. My vet charges $16 just to walk in the door and sit in their little plastic chairs waiting to be seen. The office visit was $28, the rest was for medication. I'm sorry, I think the $16 just to walk in is excessive and I have heard others say the same thing. I keep saying I'm going to switch but they are only a block away and so convenient. I don't even like them that much!
The vet who established the practice retired and sold to a younger husband and wife. They are ok, but the other vets they have working just don't impress me.
Just wanted to express this.

[bj1]

Yours is 16. for the visist plus whatever the vet does plus meds. Mine is 40.00 just to walk in plus whatever the vet does and plus meds if any. I also got mine on insurance, it does help out some. I just can't believe the prices myself, it's awful

[Love_Capone]

I agree vet bills are expensive but thats pretty reasonable compared to where I live. My vet charges 41.00 just to sit in the pretty plastic chairs. I spend so much money at the vet it's unreal. Good luck finding any cheaper though.

[Karrie]

We pay $35 to sit. Not to brag, but the plastic chairs in our vet's office have cushions....

[ladyjane]

My vet charges $44 for an office visit and I see no problem with that at all. It is not for sitting in a chair....it is for seeing a professional for whom I have a lot of respect. She has taken very good care of my pups for about 6 years and I dread the day she retires.

I think it is strange that they word it like that...sitting in a chair and an exam as being two different things; but the total does not sound out of line to me at all.

I hope you find a vet you are happy with. Just remember that the skill of the vet should be of utmost importance....over the cost. Sometimes bargain shopping can lead to lesser care. Not always, but just be careful.

[TOY]

Originally Posted by Karrie

We pay $35 to sit. Not to brag, but the plastic chairs in our vet's office have cushions....

LOL...I love the comment...so funny!

Hmmm...I don't have a clue as to what our vet charges. We've only been there for shots and she was spayed at the breeder's vet while we traveled. I know that the spay, teeth pulling, etc. was $101 which I thought was extremely reasonable. (She had an entire extra set of extra teeth!)

We have a little wellness check-up appointment in November so I guess I'll see then what our vet charges. (You'd think I'd have paid attention before but I was so nervous for her that I don't recall.)

[rwprivette]

I love my vet... if you go in with let's say... my cat has a scratched eye and can't open it (this happened to mine before) EVERYTHING would cost me MAYBE $35... visit, rinse the eye, meds, etc. I love him!!! And he's fast too!

[amandawash]

I never understand... Why do people expect free or minimal charges for veterinary services? These are doctors, who have been through many years of school, usually have acrued thousands and thousands of dollars in student loans, have worked their butts off in internships and residencies and attend x-amount of continueing eduaction hours per year, yet they are supposed to operate on a shoe-string?

If you don't like the vet, leave and find one you like. $16 for an office visit is miniscule, and they just may have to save your precious baby's life someday. These fees pay office staff, vet techs and equipment costs. Of course that often triggers the "I can't pay for it" thread where people shame the vet for not working for free.

Yorkies are a high maintanence breed and require LOTS of $$ to maintain. But those big, brown eyes make it all worth it in the end!

[sherile47]

That's the issue - $27 for an exam is great and I don't have a problem with that. But no matter what you go in for, if you see a vet, you will pay the $16 and the Office visit. The vet that retired was just wonderful and one of the vets is also good, but she had been with him and worked with him for several years before she and her husband bought the practice. I know I am getting off cheap compared to other places; again, it's the $16 that bugs me.

[Ellie May]

I think it's ridiculous to charge you just to walk in, but if you add that $16 and the office visit at $28, you are only at $44 which isn't too bad. The antibiotic was probably $20 or $30, so I guess it depends how much Vectra you got.

[Darlene68]

I am sooo envious, it cost me $75 just to see my vet, there is only one in my area, so they can basically charge what they want because there is no competition

[my2boyz]

Originally Posted by Karrie

We pay $35 to sit. Not to brag, but the plastic chairs in our vet's office have cushions....

Then I would say your vet is charging way too much if they can afford cushions on their chairs!

The vets in our area charge anywhere from $28.00 to $48.00 for an office visit and that is before anything is even done. What gripes me though is when I take both girls at once and we use the same amount of office visit time but they charge me for 2 office visits...that's not right.

[Love_Capone]

Originally Posted by amandawash

I never understand... Why do people expect free or minimal charges for veterinary services? These are doctors, who have been through many years of school, usually have acrued thousands and thousands of dollars in student loans, have worked their butts off in internships and residencies and attend x-amount of continueing eduaction hours per year, yet they are supposed to operate on a shoe-string?

If you don't like the vet, leave and find one you like. $16 for an office visit is miniscule, and they just may have to save your precious baby's life someday. These fees pay office staff, vet techs and equipment costs. Of course that often triggers the "I can't pay for it" thread where people shame the vet for not working for free.

Yorkies are a high maintanence breed and require LOTS of $$ to maintain. But those big, brown eyes make it all worth it in the end!

I don't think people expect vets to work for free, but the costs do add up. I've been to the vet twice this month and spent $200 each time and will probably be going again soon. When it's unexpected its hard on your wallet. I don't think anybody is saying they charge too much, just that it can be very expensive.

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by Love_Capone

I don't think people expect vets to work for free, but the costs do add up. I've been to the vet twice this month and spent $200 each time and will probably be going again soon. When it's unexpected its hard on your wallet. I don't think anybody is saying they charge too much, just that it can be very expensive.

You haven't been around long enough ;-) watch the emergency section around the holidays this year- someone's new baby will be seriously injured or dying and the people come on about how they can't afford it, the vet's so expensive and so mean for not saving their baby for free. Very frustrating.

I get a 'lil sensitive 'bout that.

[KimberlySRN]

Originally Posted by my2boyz

Then I would say your vet is charging way too much if they can afford cushions on their chairs!

The vets in our area charge anywhere from $28.00 to $48.00 for an office visit and that is before anything is even done. What gripes me though is when I take both girls at once and we use the same amount of office visit time but they charge me for 2 office visits...that's not right.

I know it's kind of odd. We are taking our 3 in soon to a vet that was recommended by many. I called expecting to hear a large amount each, but it was fair and I think if I take all three in at the same time I get a discount. It comes out a little under $100 for the checkups. Which I expected to pay about $150. The prices at vets are what they are, but I can't stand when they are super expensive and they are not that great. So I am excited to see this one.