| xcel |
Hi All:
___We received a new kitty (actually my wife did) last month and it was time for its distemper shot … Being the cheap SOB that I am, I started calling around. My wife says no, take the kitty to Such and Such and that is that. I said are you nuts? Anyway, after calling around, the 2 Vet’s that we normally go to were charging a $40.00 and $25.00 checkup fee, $12.00 and $15.00 for the sample check, and $21.00 for the shot. 3 shots are needed in total over the next few months. The fourth vet I called (the second closest to our locale) charged only $21.00 for the shot and that was it. This fourth vet asked for the sample to check for worm’s ($12.00) and I asked how much the medicine for that ailment cost? They said $11.54. I asked if you checked the sample and found the medicine was needed, would it be $23.54? The Vet said yes. I asked if it matters if the Kitty receives the medication if it has worms or not and she said no. In other words, the medicine for that ailment is less then the sample check for it and you won’t have to purchase the medicine afterwards.
___After all was said and done, the first checkup, Distemper, and Worm medication cost a grand total of $32.54. Just a cost savings tip for those of you with animal’s that need simple but std. health care. It really does pay to shop around. Total extra time, 10 minutes, total savings, at least $40.00, smile on my face … Priceless :)
___For those of you traveling between Chicago and Portland, Washington DC, Boston, or Miami next month, I have another absolute steal of a deal but I will save that for another thread …
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| BlueStreak |
Wayne - Your point is well made and I'm glad Kitty is doing well. Sounds like you made a great decision. :29:
I'll share a related point with you. I have a female black lab and the vet I take her to is a large animal vet. His approach is to quit pumping animals full of drugs they don't need and try more natural approaches to resolving problems. Some vets like to be more aggressive with vaccines and there can be awful side affects. My sister's yellow lab reacted to one of these so called prevention drugs given too frequently and it almost killed her. And why do some vets do this; could it be related to $?
Animal medicine is following the trend with human health care, and that is there is a drug to cure anything, and I don't believe this is a sound approach . My vet costs are very reasonable and I wouldn't change vets if he doubles his price, as I believe he practices sound medicine, and my dog is in great shape.
It truly is buyer beware and do your research, and your example and mine proves this point. |
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| zafer |
| Hi Greg - May I ask who this vet is? We're always shopping for a more reasonable vet. Thanx! |
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| BLACK-BLING-MDX |
Sorry to butt in, but I'm a veterinarian. I had to interject because I hate it when people talk like that. No offense, but if it was your life that you were taking care of, would you shop around? Yeah, I think I have a broken leg, how much do you charge for an office visit? NO! So why do the same for your kitty? Again, not all doctors charge the same, but veterinarians do some of the same operations and make nothing close to what medical doctors do. I am not salty nor am I regretful of my field. I love what I do. But do not blast veterinarians for their prices. They're just trying to make a living and it is hard to justify their prices to clients sometimes because it's just a dog... right? right... just a dog... just a cat...
and you have to test for the disease before you can administer medicine! oh, well let's just give you this drug to clear up your genital herpes!
"did we test for that?"
"doesnt matter, here's the medicine, let's just give it to you in case"
NO! you can't do that! You have to check for the ailment before administering medicine. You can't just buy the medicine and give it to your dog/cat and hope by chance that they have it. |
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| xcel |
Hi Black-Bling-MDX:
___Hold on there. A veterinarian giving a Distemper shot is exactly the same as it is at another veterinarian. There is no difference that I know of? Maybe you can enlighten me if there is. As for worm medication, if there is no harm and it is less expensive, why not? Why did the first 3 vets charge $25.00 to $40.00 for the checkup when the fourth did the checkup for free? I will take that money and spend it somewhere else that is much more pleasing or a much higher priority then giving the local Veterinarian’s another $40.00 in which to spend on whatever he or she would like to spend it on. Maybe the more expensive veterinarian would spend it on better equipment or better trained personal. From what I saw today, the other 2 veterinarians I have seen in the recent past have spent it on fancier consumer goods for all I know.
___A similar but non-life example … Where do you have your VTM fluid changed? Is it your local Acura dealer or local Honda dealer at $0.65 - $0.75 on the dollar? Do you possibly DIY for just dimes on the dollar? Again, same fluid, same checkup, same performance.
___Throwing away money is plain silly and from the examples above, why is one vet different then another for basic veterinarian services? I am sorry that you think shopping for medical care for a pet or loved one is silly but in today’s environment, that not only seems prudent, it is happening in the human medical field behind the scenes as well (HMO’s/PPO’s). I don’t mean to take money out of yours or anyone else’s pocket but everyone is taking it out of everyone’s for cost reasons alone … If you work for a telecom, you know what I mean. If you work for an Electric utility, you know what I mean. If you work as a telephone service employee, you know what I mean. If you work for the Big 3 you know what I mean. If you work for a Steel producer, you know what I mean … If you want to work in an ultra-competitive environment, try landscaping sometime …
___When my son had Leukemia, we went to the best Hospital in the Upper Midwest (Children’s Memorial Hospital). When one of my family members has the flu or something less, we go to the drugstore first for a cheap OTC medication or the doctor prescribed in our medical plan because it saves hundreds if not thousands of dollars out of pocket vs. going to the Emergency Room.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| zafer |
quote:
Originally posted by BLACK-BLING-MDX
Sorry to butt in, but I'm a veterinarian. I had to interject because I hate it when people talk like that. No offense, but if it was your life that you were taking care of, would you shop around?
I'm just gonna give you the short answer - for preventative care sure, why not? For emergencies no. I've seen and heard too much regarding household pet vaccinations and the drug companies kickbacks/influence on vets. Household pets don't need anyway near as what vets recommend and want to administer. |
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| XStatic |
People generally don't shop price for medical care because it doesn't matter how much it costs since most just pay the copay. I guarantee you that if everybody had to pay their own way they would call around for price and decide if the difference in price was worth the difference in care between locations. I know I would...
For prescriptions that we pay for ourselves we go to Costco, pain in the rear, long lines, no drive through, but less than 1/2 the price EVERYTIME. For those I pay the copay on I go to the easiest, closest, most convenient location that hasn't made me mad because of their lame service. (My list is getting shorter - OT Why do pharmacies Suck?!!)
As far as the vet goes, just order the shots and inject them yourself. It is really easy. Get a nice vet to show you how. Chances are they would welcome the opportunity not to have to fight a cat giving it shots. :D |
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| BlueStreak |
I'm not going to make value judgements on what you charge for your services. I don't know anything about you, your credentials, your experience, or what the market conditions are in Cleveland. But asking for prices up front for any service is perfectly OK. Why are we afraid to ask what medical costs are? Are we afraid to insult someone? We seem to inquire for prices for everything else we buy.
What I can tell you is that I hear from the MD's in my family they get shopped on price all the time. One is an Orthopedic surgeon and the other is a Endodontist. With deductibles rising people all of the sudden care about costs since they have to pay for it. When insurance paid for everything who really cared what health care cost? Times have changed.
Sure, Dr's aren't making what they used too. I hear about it almost weekly and am routinely blamed (since I work for the insurance carrier lowering reimbursement levels). This is a whole separate issue that can be debated at length. I don't think anyone was trying to slam your profession. The point was made that it pays to ask questions and to make educated decisions, and I know you fully endorse that philosphy. |
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| MGTD |
While you guys and gals get caught up in the price wars of veterinary medicine I think you missed one big point. The "distemper shot" cannot just be given once. It is a series of shots.
quote:
http://www.randolphanimalhospital.c...inesForCats.htm
Feline Distemper
The Feline Distemper Vaccine (FVRCP) is a combination vaccine that is a mixture made to protect against multiple diseases with one injection. Healthy kittens should receive their first FVRCP booster at 6-8 weeks of age. This vaccine is boostered every 3 to 4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. This usually means about 3 boosters at 8, 12, 16 weeks of age. The vaccine is then given yearly. The mixture protects cats and kittens against the following diseases:
Panleukopenia (Distemper): This extremely contagious disease is caused by feline parvovirus. It is characterized by fever, loss of appetite, and vomiting and diarrhea. It is often fatal, especially among kittens.
Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR): Rhinotracheitis is an extremely contagious, acute infection of the respiratory tract and conjunctiva. It is characterized by sneezing, loss of appetite, fever and eye inflammation. As the disease progresses, a discharge is noticeable from both the nose and eyes.
Calicivirus (FCV): Calicivirus is another highly contagious viral respiratory infection that often occurs simultaneously with feline viral rhinotracheitis. Signs of infection are similar to FVR, but calicivirus-infected cats often have ulcers in their mouths, especially on their tongues.
So while a vet may chose to give away the cost of an office visit or have a lower price for their services, you cannot give just one shot and be done with it.
Chris
Not a veterinarian but I sleep with one |
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| evoge |
quote:
Originally posted by MGTD
Not a veterinarian but I sleep with one
Really? What's his name?:D
Feline distemper must make for interesting pillow-talk. |
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| xcel |
Hi MGTD:
___I posted that 3 were needed to start off this thread. The 4 vets all charged the same for each shot. $21.00 each to be exact but the Vet I chose didn’t charge an exam fee and gave the Worm medication for cheaper then the sample or medication from any of the other 3.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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