How Does This Compare With Your Vet's Pricing?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jackdoodle had his annual exam today. The total bill was $371. You'd think I would no longer be shocked by that, but I always am, lol.

I thought it would be interesting to hear how these prices compare to other vets around the country. (I'm in the Northern suburbs of Chicago).

Here's the breakdown:

Annual exam- 38.00

Fecal parasite screening- 28.00

Bordatella vaccine (intranasal)- 37.00

3-Year Rabies shot- 65.00

County Rabies tag fee- 18.00

Heartworm test- 45.00

Titer for Distemper/Parvo- 86.00

Hazardous waste disposal- 3.00

(The additional 51.00 was for a B12 injection and Tramadol, which would of course not apply to most dogs.)

Hopefully this made some of you feel better, either because your vets charge less or because you were smart enough to get pet insurance. :) 

[Donna, Emma, Bender & Busby]

OK - so my three went to the vet on Saturday and all of the routine prices increased.  I don't even have prices for the Bordetella vaccine because they aren't due until next month or the Rabies vaccine, because they won't need that until 2017.   Anyway, here's the breakdown:

Annual exam:  $68.25

Lyme vaccine:  $38.85

Lyme,Ehrl/Hwt/Ana/I Snap Test:   $73.50

Medical Waste Disposal Fee:  $5.25

WOW 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Donna, is that per dog? 

[Donna, Emma, Bender & Busby]

Yes - per dog!  On top of the increase in individual fees, last year I was only charged one $5 waste disposal fee; this year the fee was increased by $.25 (negligible, to be sure), but I was charged for each dog. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wow, that's a hefty bill for all three!

Some vets do make a profit on those hazardous waste fees. Mine was charging something crazy like $9 and so many customers protested, they lowered it to $3. But the Veterinary Specialty Clinic in the same town charges $2. My DD used to work for a dental office in the area and said that the actual costs of hazardous waste disposal pickup charged to the practice per month are a fraction of what they take in. I believe it. My village gives people who need to do injections at home a disposal container for no charge, and when it's full, you bring it back to them for disposal and they give you another one, no cost at all. We use it for JD's allergy shot syringes. When I take him in for his monthly B12 shot, I bring the container with me and ask them to use that rather than charging me. :) 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good for you!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I get charged for each dog too.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle had her appointment today. Our first visit since the new vet bought the practice. The prices have stayed the same or are lower, so I am happy about that. The office visit was $30 so $5 cheaper. Anyway Annabelle has an ear infection so I still didn't get out of there for much under $200. The Easotic med for her ears was $38. She hates it and fights me to get it in her ear. She doesn't want me anywhere near her ears. For $38 Annabelle it is going you ear whether you like it or not. I noticed her scratching at them over the weekend so I guess it was a good thing we already had the appt scheduled.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope she feels better soon! 

[Laura and Angus]

I wanna live where you guys live! Any time we visit the vet, we pay $60 -- without doing anything. Our puppy is under a year, so all our visits were related to either an issue or vaccinations. 

[Stacy]

Don't hate me. I love my vet. I do live in an area with a lower cost of living. But I used to go to a "fancy" vet who liked to remodel his waiting room and the prices were approx 4 times more. Now I go to a wonderful vet who works out of a converted old house and we sit on old church pews in the waiting room. But I can walk in anytime I need to without an appointment and for the last 10 years or so I've been extremely happy with the quality of care (and prices!) 

Here's the breakdown for Katie since she came home in October.

exam - free

fecal - free

DHLP vaccine - 30

Rabies - 15

Bordatella 15

Spay 150

f/u visit for suture reaction - given injection of steriods and a week of antibiotics - free

6 months of sentinal - 41

Did I mention that I love my vet?? 

stacy

[Stella]

Annual Exam $129.50, included DA2PP, leptospirosis and bordatella vaccines. Plus oral dewormer (Dolpac) $68.05 and Revolution for six months $154.50. Plus sales tax at 13%. Total for two dogs $741.49. I live in Ontario in Canada.