$375 for a neutering operation?!

So Max had a vet appt late last month, and the vet says he can get neutered at any time. His testicles haven't distended yet, but she says they can still do the operation. I ask how much it'll be, and they tell me it'd cost $375! And when I asked, they said it wouldn't be any less when his testicles descend. Is it just me, or is that an outrageous price?

I've called around, and other vets have close to the same price. My only other option is to go through the SPCA, and their partnership with PETA, to get Max neutered there, and it'll only be something like $100.

Something about me doesn't like working with PETA, as I've had some very bad experiences with them in the past, but this seems like the only viable option at the moment. $375 just seems like price gouging. Is it just me? What would you do?

-Tim

All of my animals have been fixed at the not for profit humane society clinic. IF it wasn't for this place i couldn't have pets at all. I figure they have done it enough to know how.

That sounds very high. I just had a 3 year old female spayed (60 lbs.) for $165.

I've lived in NY and CT and never paid that price. I don't know what to say.

375$ does seem a bit high. I believe Milo was 150$ at his vet.

If I were you I would call other vets in the area and get a price quote. That seems really high to me. We got Benji neutered through a low-cost program and it was $95 or something, plus the pain meds which weren't expensive.

As for PETA, we can all agree with you about them being sucky, just do a search on this forum, you should come up with some interesting threads.

these are UNDESCENDED testicles. That is a way WAY more involved surgery than an outright neuter. What does your dog weigh?

Were they going to Ultrasound to FIND them first? They really should...unless they know exactly where both are right now. They can move MANY places. My cat had one on the inside of his hind leg!

I would wait until they descend, just to make it an easier operation with less recovery time. In the meantime, call around for more quotes. That's an insanely high price and to not lower it after the testicles have descended?? Crazy!

Things vary by state. I think Va is one of the higher priced placed to live...it all kinda goes together. Here in Tx it's around $85-$150 to spay a Beagle...that's without the pre op bloodwork some like to do. I know this would be A LOT more say in NYC...or Califas.

I live in VA and I can tell you that prices vary by vet. The major thing that factors into surgery prices is anesthesia - it is not cheap for vets to buy, so it drives prices up. Still $375 for a neuter is high, maybe not as high for undecended, but they said it would be same for descended??

some I know in Boston, paid $350-400 for a 95lbs Lab...that included take home pain meds and no overnight stay.

That's another thing...is there an overnight stay? That adds to the bill, big time.

Our vet quoted us $500 to get Seamus neutered. We went to a spay/neuter clinic and got it done for $100.

Well, we shelled out $500+ for Bella's spay... so uhm, I don't think that $375 is high at all. The factors contributing to the price:

1. Where we live. SF Bay Area, the largest and most advanced pet hospital in the East Bay.
2. Size of dog, she barely weighed in at under 100 lbs then.
3. Iv's, pain meds, anesthesia, etc.
4. I don't think there are any more, but I felt like putting a number 4.

Both boys came to us neutered so I can't speak as to that at all. I know a lot of people find spay and neuter clinics and I say that's fine for them... but I personally feel so much better knowing that our vet is a renowned surgeon with years of experience than I would with someone else. And there is a trauma unit right at the hospital.

I do know, though, that back in the are where both hubby and I grew up we'd only pay about $300 for bella's spay.. so location means a lot more than people give it credit.

Good luck on whatever you decide!

Neuters are less intrusive surgeries than spays, and Seamus weighed in at a whopping eleven pounds. I couldn't see how the $500 quote for his neuter was justified.

I'm perplexed as to how it would be the same price if his testicles dropped as it's a much less invasive surgery to do a straight neuter compared to a cryptorchid neuter.

$375 doesn't sound out of line to me for a cryptorchid dog. A lot depends on location.

Surgery is expensive. Running a veterinary hospital is expensive. Personally, I wouldn't want to go somewhere that is in the business of doing surgery as cheaply as possible.

Now I feel bad for complaining about our prices. Base price is $165 for a spay...much more for larger dogs. Plus, an additional $100 for IV and pre-anesthesia bloodwork. So....just under $300.

Why are you neautering him before his testicles drop? If you wait until they've already descended, it will be cheaper. But where I live, if you get a dog fixed that is over one year old, it's more expensive. For example, Molly was $80 at 11 months and Elly was $200 because she is four years old.

I just paid $225 for Wilson's neuter--no overnight, included pain meds. I'm in Upstate NY.

Sorry for the slow response, but my internet's been down all afternoon.

I never said I was planning on neutering him now. Personally, I want to wait for them to descend. I know how invasive it can be to go in there and have to find them if they haven't dropped yet.

As far as what's included in the payment, the vet didn't really elaborate, and I didn't know to ask any questions about it.

The PETA thing is that they pay for a percentage of the surgery. It's done through the spay/neuter clinic at the local SPCA. I have trust in their skills - we've had animals done there before - but if my vet's going to do a more thorough job of it, then I'll go with my vet.

I guess it's all just a matter of research now.

-Tim

Edited to add: Max is 6 months old, and weighs about 15 pounds.

I have to say, after looking at everyone else's posts, I feel bad for complaining about the price of Allie's spay! She was spayed at 7-8 months, about 35 or 40 lbs, an overnight, plus pain meds....a whopping $110. We have a great relationship with our vet, he's old school, so when something bigger than vaccs comes up, he discounts it. I live just outside of the state capitol....in Iowa. So I would say geography counts ALOT, but I also think that we have the right KIND of vet who really doesn't count the profits. He owns his own practice, it's in the lower level of his house and he has one full time employee. His wife is a vet tech, so it's almost like having two for one. He's great and has really helped us out a bundle with three dogs and two cats. His business is booming though, everyone in town goes there (there are about 30 dogs on my street!). So he's booked for months but will usually slide you in if you need something checked out sooner.
A little off subject, I tend to ramble....his one flaw?? He RECOMMENDS Purina, Iams, etc. UGH.

That isn't that far off price wise in VA. For me a neuter was in the high 200's Sucked.