Vet Charges for Office Visit? (unofficial poll)

[kashtin's kin]

Sorry, but as 14+ can verify, aside from text and pic posting, my er, 'puter skills are sadly lacking (thanks again , for rotating my stuff, Catuary Gal), so thought I'd do me an unofficial poll. I'm planning to call the Ontario Vet College to check out their policy re: vets setting fees for standard practices, and will contact some vets themselves with regard to office visit fees.

I have no particular axe to grind, but have been intrigued by the disparity in fees, which in my own experience don't correspond to the quality of care offered. I've long been a 'beneficiery' and advocate of the care and reasonable costs at Queensway Vet Clinic in Simcoe (oops, now they'll read it, and eeee?! ).

There, the charge for an office visit is $38.00; by comparison, the majority of clinics I've checked out so far extract app. $60 the moment one crosses the threshold (unless one executes a u-turn). Procedures such as S/N are also commensurately less expensive, i.e. about half the cost at Q'way than most clinics.

(I do understand some S/N are more complicated, and if extra tests are indicated/requested, the final bill will reflect that.)

This isn't a Q'way ad by any means-if EVERYone goes there, I won't be able to get in!! And of course, everyone has different experiences, and opinions when it comes to vets/doctors/accountants/lawyers ET AL. I've speculated that Q'way's fees may be lower due to: competition in area/lower overhead (no mortgage?)/volume and so forth.

I've never felt, BTW, that our critters' health was at all 'compromised'; the original Q'way vet is very experienced, and his younger partner was first or second in his class at Guelph/OVC (a vet tech told me this, not the modest vet himself). But more of the above is subjective, than I'd intended !

I'm just objectively!! interested in how much YOU pay for an office visit to your vet...am anxious to see what sort of price range exists, expecially within Ontario-but would be good to see how other provinces/states compare, also. Apologies for the length of this post...such a simple question . Thanks!

[Tundra_Queen]

KK...from what I remember, I think we are charged 60.00 to 65.00 for stepping in the door.

Debbie

[quincymycat]

OK, the date on the invoice I am looking at is December 18, 2009.
physical examination was charged at $69.90.
A recheck exam or short visit was $49.40.
These are prices on my invoice. I would like to say that my vet gives me a 25% discount off the top for "multiple (haha) pets" and there have been more times than I can count that she has not even charged for an exam or recheck, so I think it depends on the relationship you have with your vet, but these are the prices reflected by her clinic.

I can't find the invoice for the Veterinary emergency Clinic when Quincy was paralysed and had to see a neuro, but I think it was about $79.00 and was called a "check-in fee." This was over and above vet fees. I will keep looking for it, but the poor guy has so many receipts in his file it is a search!

Hope this helps.

[Love4himies]

I think my vet charges 60 to walk into the door.

[bendyfoot]

I think about $55 for an initial exam, rechecks are around $35 or free, depending on the situation.

[ownedbycats]

From what I can remember, don't have a bill handy, the exam fee is around forty dollars, if you bring in 3 or more pets ata the same time you get a 10% discount for whatever you are paying for. Quite a busy practice, three vets, several technicians, and office manager.

[Chris21711]

The new Vet that I have started going to charges $43, so far he hasn't charged for any of the rechecks on Herbie...the old Vet - $50.

[Spatx]

I can't remember the exact cost, but I think my vet charges $55 for just walking in the door. Re-checks are about half of that.

[quincymycat]

Just out of curiosity, how many people get a call from their vet or vet assistant the day after the appointment to check on the pet?

[Winston]

To the first question 66.00 I think is just for walking in the door....Oh and a call back?????? not that I can ever remember! oh oh oh! they certainly do remind me by mail when I have not come in though! they send me the "Ooops you forgot letter!" funny how that works!

[Melinda]

Originally Posted by quincymycat

Just out of curiosity, how many people get a call from their vet or vet assistant the day after the appointment to check on the pet?

we usually get a call that night (of day we bring them home) and the next afternoon

I'm not sure what you mean by "walk in " charge, an exam/consultation is 32.95...if you don't need meds or fecal samples, rabies etc done, thats all you pay.

her yearly exam with rabies shot,nails, clean ears, booster, fecal flotation etc , is 74.50,

being I only get the rabies shot once every 3 yrs, each other yearly exam is 32.95

p.s. I get the rescue discount

[dollface]

In November I called numourous vets to ask about their prices and views on appropriate cat food.

The mobile vets were kind of expensive for visit price and recommended the a cat to be on both wet and dry.

The ones I called ranged from $40-$75. The $75 one was a cat only vet and they had no preference as to what a cat should eat "whatever the cat prefers" was the answer I got. And the others were more pro-dry food.

Our current vet is pro-dry food but charges $55/visit.

Hope this info helped you.

[the gang]

always the vet calls herself, the visit is 45.00, plus i work at the vet as a fill in so i get a little discount, with 5 pins and 2 srs. plus a diabect i need all the help i can get, they know if they need me im 5 min away, brenda and the pins

[Tig's mom]

I just finished making a rather long post, and it said I wan't logged in?
Anyways, Vet Consult fee for any visit. $78.00, Internal Med or other 'Specialist Consult fee $125.00, Emergency visit fee $125.00, always get callbacks from our Vet.They sent out mail reminders, and day before appointmment calls, regular updates on 'who is new there, birthday cards, and thank you cards,ect. They are an awesome team, and all of the staff are great.
Tiger loves his Vet, and I wouldn't go to anyone else, (unless it was an emergency).

[Tig's mom]

Originally Posted by dollface

In November I called numourous vets to ask about their prices and views on appropriate cat food.

The mobile vets were kind of expensive for visit price and recommended the a cat to be on both wet and dry.

The ones I called ranged from $40-$75. The $75 one was a cat only vet and they had no preference as to what a cat should eat "whatever the cat prefers" was the answer I got. And the others were more pro-dry food.

Our current vet is pro-dry food but charges $55/visit.

Hope this info helped you.

We have three "Cat Only" vet clinics in Calgary, that I found, it may be more.
They charge 83.00-98.00 per reg visit, and only ONE in the city is an Actual Board Certified? Cat Specialist? or who went to 'Vet Cat Univerisity?'Vet on staff.
I know that may not be relevant, But they do offer many things that other Vet Clinics don't , Diet Counciling, cat massage therapy, and have a 'behavior specialist'. Their office hours are limited, and some are not open on weekends. The place their website says to call . in case of an emergency is Tiger's Clincic.
They are one of the 4 24/7 Animal Hosptial Emergency Facilites, and have all of the major specialist, and DX equipment, (CT, MRI, on site pharmacist and other stuff). I am not familiar with a Pro-dry food medical/vet preference,
I do know that Tiger, and Ginger (RIP) have always been on Veterinary only diets of hard and some soft foods. Thanks for the info.

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by Tig's mom

We have three "Cat Only" vet clinics in Calgary, that I found, it may be more.
They charge 83.00-98.00 per reg visit, and only ONE in the city is an Actual Board Certified? Cat Specialist?

I go to one of those cat-only clinics (Calgary Cat Clinic, since it opened in 1993). Not sure what a "regular visit" entails, but the cost of my cat's last wellness exam was $67. That doesn't include all the blood work, etc. of course, just the "exam" part. Follow up visits for the same problem are free, and the vet always calls (or emails, which I prefer) to discuss results or check up on how kitty is doing. There is a discount for multiple pets and seniors (senior cats I mean, not people - although maybe there is for people too, I don't know).

The CCC is certainly one of the more expensive clinics in this city, but they sure know cats! I love that they have Feliway diffusers in every room, and don't push prescription diets down your throat. And they have great hours (open all day Saturday and till 9pm on Thursdays).

I also take my cat to a holistic vet at another clinic for his arthritis. Charges for that are $80 per 20 minute session.

[bj601]

My vet charges $52 for an exam. If I remember, the annual visit is around $94. Last year we didn't get vaccinated, we did blood titres instead and had them sent to Cornell University to be tested. I think the fee for this was the same as getting the vaccine as I remember the bill was about $94. Neesa is on the 3 year vaccine but I opted to have the blood tested just to see the levels. The vet said based on the levels she is actually good for more than 3 years lol.

I have taken her to the vet on an emergency appointment. She had what turned out to be a serbaseous cyst. The vet tech lanced it and drained it and it cost me $22. My mom didn't use my vet (I have been bugging her forever to switch to mine) but when she had an emergency and couldn't get ahold of her vet office I gave her the number for mine. My favorite vet was working and spoke to my mom, calmed her down and said it was something that could be dealt with at home. She didn't mind my mom not being a patient at the time (she is now lol) and even called back the next day to see how the dog was doing. I have always gotten calls from them to see how Neesa is after any procedure and they send christmas cards as well lol. They also did a few things when she was being spayed and didn't charge for them. They extracted 2 puppy teeth that they felt were not coming out properly, clipped her nails, gave her a shot of demerol before she came home and charged for none of it. She is also more forward thinking abut nutrition than some in the area.

Not sure what they charge for a re-visit. Knock on wood, Neesa has only had to see her annually and the one emergency trip. I know when she was a puppy, they had me stop in monthly to weigh her for her heart worm drops as she was borderline on the weight limits. We would stop in, they would put her on the scale and then sell me a month at a time until she grew to the next size dose. Never charged me for that.

I love my vet lol, I could rave about her for hours! I would happily pay more for her services, I don't think she charges enough compared to others in the area. I also have to stop recommending her to people though or we won't be able to get through the doors

[ownedbycats]

Our vet (or the tech) does call backs, at least for anything major like spay/neutering, or an injury.

[dollface]

I meant to add that I was trying to find a more educated Vet regarding food, and it was disappointing to find almost all prefer a dry diet for a cat

[Frenchy]

My new vets charge $41 for a visit. My ex vet , $35.

I do live in the boonies

[kashtin's kin]

Wow, very interesting to see BB'ers responses...the more, the better!! Definitely a subjective issue for many people, i.e. trusting, and feeling comfortable with level of care the vet is providing (we DO want our furkids to be treated well, in every sense of the word).

I'm still curious regarding the vet college/body in states and provinces, with regard to the top/bottom of the scale with what they may allow vets to charge for specific items or procedures. Reminds me a bit of human meds 'dispensing fees' charged by pharmacies.

Over 10 years ago, a newspaper in Ontario compared dispensing fees in one large city, which at that time ranged from $2.99-10.99 (I believe senior have the charge waived...not sure if folks on a drug plan have to pay this fee). I switched from a 10ish buck place to a 2.99one; now, I think $10 is pretty standard (NO cheapo deals anymore).

[HelenNutmeg]

I am surprised by some of these especially the ones close to me.. as a rescue with a discount I pay $80.00 first visit.. vaccines extra..

[Tundra_Queen]

Originally Posted by quincymycat

Just out of curiosity, how many people get a call from their vet or vet assistant the day after the appointment to check on the pet?

If our cat/dog went it cause they are sick, then the vet calls later to see who they are doing.

[dollface]

I've never heard of a vet calling to for a check up after visit. That would really show how much they care about their patients IMO. It seems most of them just care about getting paid and pushing their diet food on you so they make more of a profit

[rainbow]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

My new vets charge $41 for a visit. My ex vet , $35.

I do live in the boonies

You are so lucky.

I live in the boonies too and we have to pay $60 just to walk in the door.

[kashtin's kin]

I don't want to sound like a 'bah humbug' type, but even though a follow up call from a clinic IS a nice courtesy...in the final analysis, I'd prefer a lower office visit fee (if affected/reflected by call). Then again, I've just received a $750ish vet bill-NOT the one for 'Goose!'-so I'm a tad sensitive , I guess!

p.s. DH is in the process of changing careers, and planning on applying for a 'cardiologist tech' sort of college course, but right now I'm wishing (no pressure, DH!!) it was vet school-sigh. At least he has the brilliant stats/anatomy/biology etc. credits from university; I'd go, but I am alas merely a flaky 'artistic' type (along with my critter poop collection skills)...

[dollface]

^^ I'd love to provide this lovely forum with proper vet advice, but gotta get some money in first after I finish my medical office assistant program.

[Blueswalker]

$1800 (US) for my chihuahua to have a c-section becuase she couldnt push out her big baby

[luckypenny]

I know, I've said this a dozen times before but, I love our vet clinic .

Consultation fee is about 55$. If we bring all our dogs in, I'm only charged for one (meds, vaccines, blood tests not included). Also, no need to bring our dogs in for check-ups if we need to pick up flea preventatives and dewormers. We can drop off stool samples for analysis without having to bring our guys either, nor does the clinic charge for writing prescriptions to be filled on site, or at a regular human pharmacy. Not only do they call after a visit, but they even let me stay right by Lucky's side for his neuter until after sedation and intubation. And I was allowed to be there as soon as he woke up and remain with him until he was ok to leave.

They don't push over vaccinating. In fact, they are pretty up-to-date with the latest research and vaccination protocols.

We are extremely fortunate.

[Melinda]

like luckypenny's vet, mine doesn't push vaccines and doesn't believe in yearly ones, he also admits vets don't know about nutritional values when it comes to dog food and has often asked me about certain foods or different ways to feed our pets.