Veterinarian Price Increases
 

Everything costs more today with inflation but my vet prices today for the exact services as last January are up 26% excluding the distemper Parvo vaccine which is up 46% over 3 years ago. The prices have skyrocketed since VCA corporation bought out Buffalo Ridge Animal Hospital. Basic 60 second exam now $70 and DAp2p vaccine now $67.75! Prices are now increased 2x yr to minimize the sticker shock.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a quality vet with more reasonable prices?

This is a little outside the box but we used to vaccinate our dogs ourselves, except for the Rabies vaccine. We still had the vet do annual examines but the other vaccines are easy to administer yourself. Our vet was OK with this.

I was curious to see if VCA is a private or public company. I was surprised to see that it is owned by candy maker Mars of M&M fame. They own over 1000 animal hospitals. Mars is a private company.

I advise spending a little time doing online research about veterinarian recommendations for dogs or cats and then search a little more for contrary opinions to those.

Bottom line: Most pets are waaayy over-vaccinated and medicated and it's been that way for a long time. You do not have to get every one that they tell you to particularly if your animal is mostly a house pet. The vets are hustling income as much as anything else in this era. Many of them subtly play the guilt card (doesn't work on me).

I've been giving my dog stripped-down, minimal vet care the last almost 7 years and she is cranking along fine at 14 yrs old.

Dr Amy Huff, leesburg 352-326-8940, get out of bubble

. 441 Hospital, rabies shots $5, but bait and switch on everything else.

Misfits in Tavares, neuter male dog, $75, dental prices high

i'd get as far away from a VCA vet as possible. just do some research on them, & you will see how your prices increase, & the quality of pet care. just my opinion.

I will never use a VCA clinic again. Orlando had one deny my dog who was dying of cancer of the soft pallet pain meds unless I did MORE blood work on their "care plan".

Buffalo Ridge, they wanted me to pay $900 for a "care plan" denying ANY care to my cat and charged $115 office visit for the denial.

I fought the $115 fee with BOA. Buffalo Ridge altered their records to attempt to win the dispute. I provided about 12 pages of docs and won the charge dispute.

VCA clinics put a human on a $$ wheel before providing pet care. 2/2 horrible practices. Never again.

I use Urgent Vet on 466 now. Hours are after 3:00 pm walkins welcome. No place is cheep anymore BUT at least they treat the animal with no mental weardown and up front $900 "care plans".

Btw, my cat... I bought otc homeopathic pet med and his issue was gone in 2 days!

We like Dr. Leah Girard. Takes care of our cat since she opened up.
Home | Veterinarian in Oxford, FL | Oxford Animal Hospital

Hi, Live Oaks Animal. Prices are fair, or use the mobile clinics at Pet Smart. Look it up or call them they will give u information.

Wow, how times have changed. 40 years ago, my wife and I owned two veterinary clinics in Georgia. Our average transaction amount was $35 per visit. The most expensive procedure was $300 to pin a broken leg, including all follow-up visits. But, many clients would opt for euthanasia rather than pay it. Cancer treatment was virtually non-existent, except at the University of Georgia. Still, we made a lot of money. At that time, most veterinary clinics were privately owned, but my wife eventually sold her practice to PetSmart.

I left Mulberry Vet for the same reason. I moved to PAWS at Laurel Manor. Dr Johnson is very good.

A second vote for Live Oaks. When we were at Mulberry, the vet wanted over $1,000 to clean our dog's teeth. Live Oaks charged a little over $300. They have great reviews.

Paws
 

Dr Johnson at Paws diagnosed the wrong amount of ear meds for my small dog and in 3 days my pet was completely deaf.
She did apologize but didn’t help my pet and she never regained hearing.
Plus if a pet needs dental Paws charges twice what Live Oak charges.

Since I am not a veterinarian, I can't speak for dogs. But I will say that in a human, there is no possible way that the wrong amount of ear drops would result in deafness.

Great Vet
 

Dr Timothy Porter in Wildwood is the best vet I have ever used.

You're wrong....about dogs, ear drops and deafness. Surolan® is used to treat otitis externa (infection and/or inflammation of the ear) in dogs caused by yeast and bacteria. Topical sensitivity and reduced hearing or deafness may occur. Other side effects may also occur.

Interesting - how did this work when you needed records for the dogs?
 

I have done this with with Kennel Cough vaccine, obtaining them from the local feed store, but it was tough getting the vet to add it to their records.

Just curious... :-)

Thanks for responding
 

Thank you for responding to my post. Your info has helped a great deal and also confirmed my opinion about VCA price gouging!

Corporate greed! Some Vets have done what some dentists have done - they are bought out by a corporation and now work for the corporation. They make money through incentives by the amount of work they perform. Shop around because there are reasonable vets out there. I have never heard anything positive about Buffalo Ridge.

Where do you get the materials?

Another vote for Dr Huff at Leesburg Animal Hospital. They have been very responsive and caring for our little dog.

I'm wrong? That's laughable. Like I said, I can't speak for dogs. But the human equivalent of Surolan is Cortisporin, and "the wrong amount" will in no way cause deafness.

And as far as dogs go, it is far more likely the side effects are idiosyncratic and not dose related, but I could be "wrong" :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

PS: feel free to look up idiosyncratic in the dictionary :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

We used to buy vaccines and syringes from Dr. Foster and Smith and a couple of the other on-line pet supply places. The vaccines used be (probably still are) a cocktail in one vial. Rabies is probably best left to a vet. The actual technique is pretty simple. If you haven't done it before there are YouTube videos. Inject in the pulled up skin by the shoulders and draw back to make sure you don't get blood. It probably makes the most sense to do it yourself if you have a couple of dogs.

We used to just tell our vet what vaccines and when and he would mark it down.

We used to do kennel cough when it was a liquid sprayed up the nose. Not sure what it is now. Every time, except the first, was a struggle ;-) Apparently our dogs had an excellent memory. The injected vaccines are a piece of cake.

I have been hearing “horror stories” about vets in the Villages area for the last three or four years from neighbors and some friends. No different than dentists, car dealers, plumbers, landscapers, etc. where there are no “checks and balances” other than word of mouth.

Let’s face reality!! The average income for residents here is well above average and it’s a perfect place to charge residents what ever the market will bear for the services needed for 140,000 paying customers. The only advise worth giving is what has already been said. Shop around and ask others for information on whatever service or purchase you are going to need or make. Otherwise, be prepared to be scammed or ripped off. Seniors Against Crime may be helpful.

Country Oaks Veterinary Clinic, just past Del Webb on 441/27. You must pass it and make a U- turn a short ways past the clinic.

Used to clean all our greyhounds teeth with toothbrush and paste daily, and give them a marrow bone to gnaw once or twice a week
Never needed a vet for teeth cleaning.

We recommend Dr. Timothy Porter, as well. Animal Care Center of Wildwood on 301. Been going there for years. He is caring, calm and gentle with our pets. I find the cost reasonable compared to others in TV.
Prior to him, we had used Mulberry on Route 42, until they sent our blind friend's very ill seeing eye dog home with her when they should have hospitalized her dog. When they got home, the dog started seizing and died a horribly traumatic death. No care, no accountability. We lost all trust and switched vets.

i've heard nothing but good things about this practice :coolsmiley:

agreed. he's our guy, too. the kind of old fashioned vet who is caring & somewhat affordable. i also use the mobile vet for our older, larger dog

Find a vet that is AAHA accredited

Just look online
 

Check these guys out Canine Spectra 5 Dog Vaccine Durvet - Single Dose Pet Vaccines | Vaccines | Pet

Not really.

Becoming part of a corporation/association.........there are less administrative headaches.

Vaccination in dogs/cats
 

First off, your pet does NOT NEED to be vaccinated every year. There is a test called Titer and it tests the levels of your pet’s immune system as well as the level of the vaccines in their bodies. Most people do not know this as veterinarians make most of their money through pushing vaccinations that are not necessary. When a 8lb dog gets a vaccination it is in a vial that is given to a 140lb dog, therefore your little 8lb dog is getting over vaccinated which leads to cancer amongst other things.

Do your homework and check out Titer Testing and if your vet disagrees, well then it’s time to move on to a vet that really cares for your pet’s well being.

Don’t get me started on Mulberry Vet. The vets are great, their prices are ridiculous. When I was charged over $60 to have my small dog’s nails clipped it was time to move on. I even called to speak with the office manager with a lame excuse to justify the charge. Shameful. Guess they have to pay for their renovations somehow.

In college we started every economics class with "Ceteris paribus". A Latin phrase means "all other things being equal." In economics, it acts as a shorthand indication of the effect one economic variable has on another, provided all other variables remain the same. Of course, all variable never remain the same. All variables are never even taken into account (municipal pay offs, local police involvement, makeup of local unions).

Vet costs
 

Most difficult to discuss at this time, as we just put down our 9 year old golden just two days ago, But feel my opinion and current costs are very relevant to this discussion,
She had some arthritis in an elbow but otherwise seemed healthy. Was at a vet up north just three months ago for annual check. All was good. The day before we put her dow, she wouldn't eat, wouldn't get up, etc. next day we got an appointment at Paws Animal Hospital. Actually called us back and got us in sooner. Dr Johnson was the Vet. Very nice, caring, and informative. We feared the worse, having been thru this with several other Goldens over the years. Our other golden was with us and she allowed us to bring her in so they could be together. Long story, short was she had a mass on her spleen which ruptured, causing it to bleed. common with Goldens. She could do a red blood cell count to see if surgery was allowable $40. Surgery was approx. $2500, removing the mass and spleen. But only if it had not spread to the liver. A liver scan was $450. Which in past experiences it already had. We decided with a heavy heart and tears raining that she would be best served to letting her go. If, was a very hard decision. Here I am crying again. But, both my wife and I agreed.
Dr Johnson and her staff were excellent, Our Morgan drifted off without pain or discomfort.
So, we did not have all the costs listed above. But, that was not the reason for our decision. Stress, quality of life and age all factored in. Tuff, Tuff day. I'm sure many of you have been thru it.
So, here is our final bill, Level 3 exam - $59. 2 views digital radiographs of abdomen - $159, Euthanasia - $179, Cremation 51-85 lbs. w/ returned ashes. $296. Total $693.00.
I've been thru this before. It's difficult, my wife and I had had previous talks on what we would do, if this occurred again, making a cleared and conscious decision. And, not making a wrong decision while under stressful and upsetting conditions at the Vets.
They were excellent, and I'm comfortable with the Invoice. Hope this helps.

you are correct! animal workers are frequently encouraged to get a rabies vax, esp if rehabbing wildlife. i had mine over 40 years ago, & instead of getting boosters, i get my titer checked. last i knew, about 25 years ago, my titer showed i did not need the booster. i havent been checked since out of the business

am so very sorry to hear. losing a companion is heartbreaking & i wish you all the best. is very, very sad. 😔