CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Redked on January 31, 2014, 09:34:15 PM
-
Not sure where to post this....sorry if it is in the wrong place.
We have booked Bonnie in spaying at the end of February. Our current vets seem very reasonable (charged around £17 last vist for anal gland empty, Milbemax wormer and also looked at her hystiocytoma). However, we have no idea of current spaying costs as our last dogs were spayed at least 10 years ago.
We have been quoted £190 to include 2 follow up visits after the spay. Is this a normal price to pay nowdays?
-
I would say that seems very reasonable, my Minstrel's castration is gonna be £170 if he is below 11kg when they do the deed (being under not likely as he was 10.8 just after Christmas :-*
-
Oh gosh....I think I'm still living in the 90's aren't I :005: I thought it was a lot at first but considering we have been pleasantly surprised at the other bills I didn't think it would be a rip off price. Plus Bonnie is 14 kilos now so she is not a little dog and i guess the bigger they are the more they cost. Just been a long time since we had it done on our previous dogs. Thanks for replying xx
-
Tbh Kerry i think that is quite expensive, we paid £85 for willow 18 months ago..... :o
-
Just paid £110 for Blue's castration this week - I must admit it was a little more than I was expecting! Vets are expensive, but then they have had to train for a long time to be one. Their prices really vary, judging by this forum!
-
I paid £250 for Honeys, but then it was a laparoscopy operation. It included pre op and follow up checks. I was told it was about £100 more than a conventional spay. Good luck x
-
Lottie's booked in for a laparoscopic spay in April - they have quoted £268, including collar etc, and I know it's approximately £100 cheaper for a traditional spay at my vets.
We live in Buckinghamshire, if that makes any difference :)
-
There is such a big difference isn't there? Though I'm reluctant to shop round as they are very thorough...always check her over, listen to heart, look in ears, eyes etc which our old vet never did. Think they are reasonable on other things but obviously a bit pricey on this. Thanks for replies everyone xx
-
I know if it were me Kerry I would rather pay the extra if you are at ease with the practice :D
-
I know if it were me Kerry I would rather pay the extra if you are at ease with the practice :D
Thats what I was thinking Maddy. I thought about shopping round but it worries me taking Bonnie somewhere I don't know just because of price. Think I'm going to have to suck it up and pay :005:
-
We paid £180 each for the girls, that included two follow up appointments. Bella had a reaction to the dissolvable stitches and saw the vet three times after her op. We were not charged ant extra for the additional appointment. I would not go to a different vet just on price, I would rather use the one I know and trust.
-
Our vet charges depending on the dogs weight. Think it's about £175 including follow up appointments for an average cocker.
I would stay with your usual vet as they know you and the dog and you are happy with the treatment you get :D
-
A vet in Hinckley does Boosters & neutering at a special rate, because they feel its a thing that is important to be done. When I enquired in 2013, just after I had paid-out £76 for her booster, it would have been 1/3rd of the price; guess where we are going in 2014 for exactly the same thing. >:D So the moral of this is "shop around" so long as the vet has a good reputation. All the other procedures are comparable.
-
Jinley was recently spayed and the vets had a special offer on for £120.00 and that included internal stitching so no need for the cone.
I was also pleased that they checked her ears, eyes and cleaned her teeth at no extra cost. She was affected quite badly by the anesthetic, but was not charged for the following 3 visits to get her checked out.
I would make a decision of what is important to you when making your choice. It is a relatively routine operation so all vets would be capable of carrying it out. Why not shop around and then ask your vets if they can match the cost?
I have always found very annoyingly, that once you are registered you dont get the special offers which they give to entice new customers. >:D >:D
-
I had Blod spayed a couple of weeks ago and it cost £149 (she's under 10 kg) plus 2 follow-up visits and any necessary meds. The incision was tiny with internal stitches and apart from being understandably a little groggy after the GA, soon recovered. I didn't shop around as it's our regular vets who both know my two dogs well.
-
The cost isn't an issue really as I would always pay (well I should say Des will pay :005:) for good care. Its just that niggling feeling that theyre trying it on. As Pat says, I think I might ring round and just see how it compares to others in the area to see if its a massive difference. Then give them the chance to explain if they are overpriced. I'll stick with them anyway as I do trust their care but I'd like to know if they are a lot more than others.
-
Sometimes interesting to get a friend to phone your vets to find out about cost of jabs / spaying etc on the pretense that they are getting a puppy and looking for a vet to register with. Could throw up some interesting results!!
Like you said its not about the money, just the principle.
-
I had 4 rabbits spayed last year and the difference in cost between vets was amazing.
-
So mission was quotes. Someone we know had their lab spayed at local vet for a lot less. Called them and price is £110.00. Called the big Vets4Pets for quote and they are £130.00. Called my vet to discuss and they will not reduce price but are happy for us to take her to be spayed elsewhere but stay registered with them. Oh I'm so unsure now. Vets4pets I wouldn't consider but other local vet has a good reputation and is £80 cheaper. What do you all think? I don't want to be a cheapskate but feel a bit 'ripped off' by my vets.
-
I personally would stick with a vet I know and trust; the practice I use is expensive for pretty much everything but I know our vet extremely well (he is also the official Hearing Dogs vet), trust him implicitly, and feel that the care, service and facilities they as a practice provide are worth it. They charge £235 for a medium-sized bitch spay (10-25kg) which includes a pre-op check-up, overnight stay in the hospital (staffed 24/7) and as many post-op appointments as necessary so I don't think what your vet is charging is excessive if you're happy with the service you get from them. It's like most things though, you'll invariably find someone offering lower prices, it just depends if you feel that you'll get the same level of service.
-
I have just had Autumn spayed this week, it cost me £206 which reading some of your posts seems a little bit expensive, I was happy with the vet and nurses though and they seemed to have done a really good job - I think with hindsight that I should have rang round for a few quotes but I had booked her in and just wanted to get it over with.
-
It is a dilemma isn't it?
If it was a small independent vets which has come recommended, then I would consider that one. A friend of mine, whose dog has recently had to undergo lots of treatment, was having to use 3 different vets - her own, from a PAH >:D who didn't have the expertise or equipment to do some of the treatment, which the other 2 local vets had. So it was all shared between them, for the best outcome of her dog.
Personally I prefer the old school type of vets rather than the more commercial ones that seem to come and go.
A spay is a very routine operation, so why not ask some other questions eg. are the stitches internal, therefore no need for a lampshade? Do you want to stay with her until she has had her pre-med? (I wish I had done this with Jinley) Does the cost include any painkillers and follow up visits?
I am sure others can give other questions to ask, which I haven't mentioned.
-
My Vet is 140-200
depending on weight.
-
Yes the cheapest quote is from a vets that has been around years. They are well known horse vets in this area and we meet lots of dog owners who use them. I wouldn't take her to a big chain like Vets4Pets but have to admit their hours of business are geared up for modern day...8-9pm all week then Sat and Sun! I know lots who use them too but they never get to see the same vet so I've discounted them.
Thanks for the replies. I'm still mulling it all over. If Bonnie's stay included the pre op check and an overnight stay like Nicola's vet I would think it was a very good price but the £190 is just the spay, collect her before 5.30 then 2 check ups. Plus, we're in Notts where things tend to be a little cheaper. Oh I'm talking myself in and out of it!!!
-
My vet practice is the one I used to use when I had my horses. They just seem more "old school", although there are some vets in the same practice that arent as good and can be a bit risk averse.
My friend whose dogs I mentioned earlier with PAH, their vet has no out of hours and they just get referred to another practice. Jinley wouldnt have settled overnight away from home in a crate, and I preferred to let her recover at home where it was less stressful, although everyones circumstances are different.
-
Do you want to stay with her until she has had her pre-med? (I wish I had done this with Jinley) Does the cost include any painkillers and follow up visits?
That's a good point, I was invited to stay with Autumn whilst she had her pre-med and it was so much better, she was less stressed and she curled up on daddy's lap (she's a daddy's girl lol) and gradually drifted off to sleep. The cost also covered everything, the follow up appts, painkillers, etc.
I was unprepared for how awful I felt doing it to her though, I felt awful for putting her through this, but I know its for the best.
Just a quick question - when they have their stitches taken out do they sedate them or just get on and do it?! Autumn is quite highly strung and I am a little bit worried how they are going to do this :o
-
Jinley had internal dissolvable stitches, so no need for removal or the dreaded lampshade
-
Jinley had internal dissolvable stitches, so no need for removal or the dreaded lampshade
I asked our vet if they could do dissolvable stitches and they said I can request it on the day. I'd like to stay with her for pre op too but that wasn't allowed; just a drop off at 8.30 am n pick up at 5.30pm.
I think they will be the 2 questions I ask the other vet before I make my mind up. If they will let me stay with her and do the dissolvable stitches I might swap I think and see how we go. I really hated taking our old dogs to have stitches out. It was more traumatic for them than the anaesthetic!
-
I know I'm not a cocker but I've had 2 knee replacements and having the staples out was definitely very traumatic despite nurses telling me you don't feel a thing. After the first leg when they tried to tell me that again for the 2nd I suggested they try having 26 staples in their own leg and taking them out again without feeling a thing! dissolvable stitches sounds much nicer.
-
Do you want to stay with her until she has had her pre-med? (I wish I had done this with Jinley) Does the cost include any painkillers and follow up visits?
That's a good point, I was invited to stay with Autumn whilst she had her pre-med and it was so much better, she was less stressed and she curled up on daddy's lap (she's a daddy's girl lol) and gradually drifted off to sleep. The cost also covered everything, the follow up appts, painkillers, etc.
I was unprepared for how awful I felt doing it to her though, I felt awful for putting her through this, but I know its for the best.
Ooooh, might do this in April if they let me stay with her during pre-med.
I actually chatted to my vet today - well, my new one as they have taken over my local vets, and I wanted to check they still were going to offer laparoscopic spays. He seemed a very nice man and I did find out that the £268 quote (so about £170 for traditional) does include two follow ups three and ten days later.
-
Daisy's spay (traditional) was £130 including overnight stay in hospital, two follow ups and all meds..she was very well looked after. :)
.I would have taken the option of staying with her had it been available.... :luv:
-
Not quite the same thing but.............my son lives in the countryside (Oxfordshire) & breeds Pygmy Goats; He had one of the male kids castrated recently & asked me to guess how much it cost, I was way out :shades: It cost £3.50 with local anaesthetic but done by a farm vet.