Vets4pets cost

smithers1981

My dog caught herself on barbed wire resulting in open wound under arm pit.

took her vets they put her under and repaired the wound.

total cost £806 wound fairly deep about 2-3 inches wide.

cost seems extortionate I had other dog spayed last month at same vet for £300 which I would consider a larger operation.

Do these costs seem right asked 2 different vets about cost comparison with spaying and wound repair and received 2 different answers I’m not convinced by any.

luckily dog is insured so should claim back most costs though as she older I have to pay first £50 then 20% of rest 

elsien

What is the breakdown of the costs? Any out of hours visits? Where in the country are you?

I’ve just paid about £750 for a dental exam and some shoulder X-rays. 

Of that, £70 is the pre-anaesthetic blood test because he’s an older dog so I was playing safe. The anaesthetic was £100. The dental charge was x amount per every five minutes so £170 to remove two already loose teeth and clean up the rest.

Then the final £400 was for six X-rays from varying angles. Which was more than I expected, but I was aware that they may need to do extra when he was under.

Plus another £220 already paid out for the initial consultation, a second visit, antibiotics, arthritis injection and a bottle of metacam.

So the best part of a grand for arthritis and dental issues. But I did have a proper conversation with the vet about the different treatment options and the cost of each before I made a decision. 

Slightly different to you because obviously it’s something that you couldn’t leave. I suggest you have a look at the breakdown of the costs and then see how you feel about it? 

smithers1981

Initial exam anti biotic jab and pain killer was £101
next day charged £500 for wound repair plus £100 for drip and another £100 for bits and bobs.

just seems crazy compared to cost of spaying.

it was on news recently that uk vets are ripping people off.

No out of hours visits and I’m midlands Kettering 

Savvy_Sue

You see, I'd disagree that spaying would be a larger operation. I don't really know what's involved, BUT it seems to me that it's a pretty standard procedure, pre-planned, in a controlled situation. You cut a nice straight line (or lines), do what you need to do, and stitch up. As a vet, you've presumably done one or two of these before, and yes there are variations but you're experienced and practised. 

Whereas a deep 'torn' wound having to be cleaned and stitched, you don't really know what you're going to find until you start. And you're dealing with an 'armpit' which may not be as accessible an area as a belly. 

But that's just my thoughts. 

sheramber

What size of dog?

Anaesthetic charges depend on the size of the dog and how long they dog is under  anaestheitc- how much gas is used and the cost of the person monitoring the dog's condition throughout the operation.  Older dogs are more risk  than younger ones.

A spay is a routine operation for a vet and is does not entail  making sure the wound is totally cleaned out and then stitching up  a torn wound rather than a straightforward cut. 

Vets are independent businesses who set their own charges, You can buy some items cheaper in one supermarket thn in another. Vet charges are the same .

I have three vets in my area and all charge different amounts.

If the insurance company consider the charges excessive they will query it.

kimwp

I imagine under the armpit would require quite careful stitching as there is a lot of relative movement of the skin there. Plus as the others have said, it was probably quite a jagged tear- it would be much harder to match the edges and I imagine every change of direction would require extra stitches. 

The stitches just keep the skin together to let it heal. A straight cut on a piece of skin that won't be trying to move apart as the dog moves won't require much to keep the skin together.

35har1old

smithers1981 said:

My dog caught herself on barbed wire resulting in open wound under arm pit.

took her vets they put her under and repaired the wound.

total cost £806 wound fairly deep about 2-3 inches wide.

cost seems extortionate I had other dog spayed last month at same vet for £300 which I would consider a larger operation.

Do these costs seem right asked 2 different vets about cost comparison with spaying and wound repair and received 2 different answers I’m not convinced by any.

luckily dog is insured so should claim back most costs though as she older I have to pay first £50 then 20% of rest 

Spays can be done using keyhole surgery 

Lavendyr

smithers1981 said:

cost seems extortionate I had other dog spayed last month at same vet for £300 which I would consider a larger operation.

Are you a vet?

If not then I suspect that you, like me, may not be best placed to judge whether the cost is reasonable in comparison to a spay. However I would say that a spay is a very common procedure which many vets will carry out on a regular basis, whereas the treatment of a wound in a complex area is likely to require more time and careful treatment. 

Katiehound

£300 for a spay these days is... a bargain

My friend was quoted £1000 for greyhound to have teeth cleaned & one removed. 

mymessages72

smithers1981 said:

My dog caught herself on barbed wire resulting in open wound under arm pit.

took her vets they put her under and repaired the wound.

total cost £806 wound fairly deep about 2-3 inches wide.

cost seems extortionate I had other dog spayed last month at same vet for £300 which I would consider a larger operation.

Do these costs seem right asked 2 different vets about cost comparison with spaying and wound repair and received 2 different answers I’m not convinced by any.

luckily dog is insured so should claim back most costs though as she older I have to pay first £50 then 20% of rest 

My dog has Epilepsy and I is on 3 drugs. I get a written prescription do I can order 6 months at a time (online and max legally allowed to order) last year these were £12 6 month ago £15 and today £19 each £57 for 3 prescriptions. They do not even give them to you now they just send them to the pharmacy. This is scandalous and just profiteering.

Haylbo

Vets4pets are absolutely extortionate.
I always used a family run private veterinary practice for years for my cats until I was let down with an error of judgement that cost my babies life that i just couldn't forgive.
I transferred to Vets4pets for my two new little kittens and at first I paid the £13.00 per month for the vaccinations and flea and worming treatments, but I cancelled after a couple of months once I also took out pet insurance.
Six months later I got the reminder for the boosters and the flea and worming treatment and took them both in.
It cost me £287!! 
For two boosters and flea and worming treatment. 
Absolute daylight robbery, won't be back
There is just no need for that pricing