Inexpensive spaying

[snakemom1961]

I have a kitten that I have to have spayed.
There is an ad on craigs list that a local vet will do it for half their price and aedd in a 1 yr rabies shot.
I made an apointment for our kitten Zoe. The price was awesome and I know they are a great vet.
I chose not to go to that vet because I have gone to a vet for YEARS that was much les expensive. His philosophy was it shouldn't bankrupt you to own a pet.
So, I make an appointment with the vet offering the discounted spaying service. I then call my regular vet to ask if they would be willing to offer the same service for the same price. Their answer..NO.
I tried to explain that I had 3 cats and i chose them many years ago because of their care for animals and price. I've been with them for more then 20 years.
Yet they would not accept the same quote I got because "it is just a special they are running".
Am I wrong in looking to get the best price for something I need?
I have to add the clinic is a full time veterenary clinic thatI wouldn't go to otherwise because of their prices. Other then that, they are a very well respected vet in the community

 

[Kaminoke]

Every dollar counts. As long as you're getting the same quality of service for your animals, I see no reason why you shouldn't opt for the less expensive option while the other clinic is running that special. You can go back to your regular vet next time.

 

[_skittles_]

My vet told me about a low cost spay/neuter mobile clinic called Cat Snip. They are about half the cost and I will continue to use them. As long as you get the right service for your pet, you shouldn't feel bad about bargain shopping. I did have a few reservations about the "mobile" aspect of the company, but that's how they keep costs down. And they don't do the procedures in a van or anything, they just set up appointments to pick up your pet from vet hospitals and pet stores and take them to their "not open to public" office.

 

[Outcast]

I wouldn't worry about it. If I had a cat that needed spaying or neutering, which I believe in doing to all of the cats that I have had in the past because they were barn cats. I would go to the place that has the special because its cheaper.

It's not like the vet you normally go to will refuse to see your cat in the future because you got it spayed somewhere else.. And if they do, they aren't worth going to anyways.

I think that you have come across something that benefits you and you should take the deal. Who knows how long it will last.

 

[snakemom1961]

It bothers me that a vet I've used for almost 20 years would not match the price. After all I drive over 20 miles to him because of his prices. Yet this one time I can't get him to agree to the same price. I will let others know that he won't budge his prices and maybe in the end it isn't worth going to him at all.

 

[bekers71]

Every dollar counts. As long as you're getting the same quality of service for your animals, I see no reason why you shouldn't opt for the less expensive option while the other clinic is running that special. You can go back to your regular vet next time.

I have to agree with this. You can always use your regular vet for other services later. But if the care is the same and the price is lower, I'd go for it.

 

[Outcast]

My question is, does he do quality work on the other appointments?
If you like the vet, you shouldn't let this little thing bother you. I know that I would expect to see something for my 20 years of loyalty, going to the same vet for 20 years does show that you like him. I would have expected him to give me the same deal as the other place, but since he said no, that doesn't mean that he isn't worth going to ever again. He knows your animals better than the other vet does. He has the records and the experience with them. I would still go to my vet for everything, but just go get the cat spayed at the other place.

 

[snakemom1961]

My question is, does he do quality work on the other appointments?
If you like the vet, you shouldn't let this little thing bother you. I know that I would expect to see something for my 20 years of loyalty, going to the same vet for 20 years does show that you like him. I would have expected him to give me the same deal as the other place, but since he said no, that doesn't mean that he isn't worth going to ever again. He knows your animals better than the other vet does. He has the records and the experience with them. I would still go to my vet for everything, but just go get the cat spayed at the other place.

I can agree with that in a certain extent. I thought that since I have been a good customer(as it were) for 20 years he'd find a way to keep me a customer. In this day and age I'd think they'd all try to keep their customer base, but apparently not. I loved how he was with my animals abut know the clinic I made an appointmet with is also an awesome clinic and will probably go tothem in the future.

 

[Shiari]

I work at a veterinary hospital. ALL vet hospitals are having a hard time financially right now. Your vet may simply not be able to afford a discount of that much and as the other place is probably doing that for a limited time only it's really not fair. Especially if your current hospital bundles everything under one charge, and the other hospital charges for everything separately.

Before the appt check out everything they're going to be doing for your cat. Are they placing an IV catheter and running fluids for the whole procedure? Are they using pre- and post- analgesia? Are they going to send you home with any pain meds if she seems uncomfortable? What are they using to monitor your cat while under anesthesia? Do they have a dedicated technician paying attention to *only* your cat while she's under?

The Humane Society near me does cheap spays. They use no pain meds, they don't place IVs, they have only basic monitoring equipment and the technician has other concurrent duties to deal with.

 

[Outcast]

The Humane Society near me does cheap spays. They use no pain meds, they don't place IVs, they have only basic monitoring equipment and the technician has other concurrent duties to deal with.

Are you saying that they aren't really that humane? Who would have guessed.

 

[snakemom1961]

Are you saying that they aren't really that humane? Who would have guessed.

Nice catch there. I know our "humane society" is much better then moset but they still don't offer free or low cost spay/neuter events.

 

[LBoz]

Nancy, I understand what you're saying, but I would also warn you to be very careful with the discount procedure and get as much information as possible. On the flip side, kudos to you for doing the best for your animal, even though you're going through your own financial troubles. That speaks to your integrity as a pet owner.

If the discount vet is reputable, (can you ask for referrals?) then by all means, go for it!

 

[Shiari]

Are you saying that they aren't really that humane? Who would have guessed.

This is not the HSUS we're talking about, but a local, mostly-donation run humane society shelter. They are trying. The area they're located in is quite poor, despite being in the Silicon Valley. I did an internship at a vet hospital near it. The vast majority of dogs I saw while there were unaltered... but many of the cats were, specifically because of the low cost. The cat population around San Jose is insane. Because of the lack of fosterers, most kittens brought in under 5 or 6 weeks of age without the momma cat are humanely euthanised. I'm currently taking care of a pair of such kittens. However, by getting volunteer vets, and cutting those corners, they can offer spays for $15.

 

[insomniac101]

As Shiari said, not all services are equal. I volunteer with a low-cost vaccination and spay/neuter animal welfare group. Keep in mind that most of these organizations are funded by private donations, and retired veterinarians who donate their time. We also have a huge number of volunteers. I can understand why your regular vet cannot match their prices because they have to pay their staff, building rent, insurance, etc.

Personally, I have my dogs vaccinated at our community outreach events - I pay $10. Any other services, I go to my regular vet because I want my animal closely monitored, and I opt for IV fluids and pain meds. The low-cost clinics have such a high volume that it's almost like assembly-line medicine. Obviously, they use anesthesia for procedures, and they will administer IV fluids and give pain meds, but you have to ask for, and pay extra for it.

I'm just grateful that so many animals are getting vaccinated, and spayed/neutered so they're not making more animals that have to be euthanized.

Kathy

 

[susang]

Well I tried the cheaper vet once, over the vet we have used for 30 years. It was for a seven toed female cat. When I went in for pre-op they asked about cutting off seventh toe on two front paws, I declined. So take her in spay done pick her they had cut off the two seventh toes, but said well we didn't charge you UGH and UGH. The cat was in pain, had bleeding problems from incision in tummy one not-toe got infected. Never again I'll stick with my tried and true a little more expensive vet.

 

[ceduke]

I took my cat to a low cost clinic for her spay, and take my animals to low cost vaccine clinics, but still adore and have a great relationship with our regular vet. I realize that the service I got for our $10 spay was NOT the same quality as what we would have received had we gone through our regular vet, but I had to balance that against the fact that my hubby was unemployed at the time. Do what's best for you and your animals.

Shiari is right...vet clinics are having a rough time right now, and they probably just can't afford to drop their prices. When I was working as a tech I noticed that most people don't seem to have any idea how much medical services actually cost, and all day we had to listen to whining about the prices of services rendered. Anyone who has spent time without health insurance for themselves realizes that medical care is EXPENSIVE, and it's harder with an animal who can't tell you what they're feeling.