Anyone Ever Use a Low Cost Spay/ Neuter Clinic?

I still don't have a vet. Rate this is going I'll never have a vet I like I don't think. People from dog sports praise their vet and then I don't get the same answers to things that they do.. which is the reason they love their vets.

I'm starting to contemplate taking Smudge's parts. We have a low cost clinic, but I don't want anything to happen to him. On the plus side.. if all they do are spays and neuters they are awfully practiced in them..

Anyone used one?

We've used a low cost clinic for 1 male dog, 1 female dog and several female cats. We've never had a bad experience. That's my feelings as well, they've done so many they should be pretty well practiced!

Yup. used one for both the beegs. Chance only went to a vert because I got a voucher for a free neuter through the county.

The ONLY issue I had was one of Baileys stitches didnt dissolve right and started coming out of her incision. We pulled it out and all was well. Didn't require us to take her back in or anything.

I have always had great experiences, partially I think because they cater to the people that may not be able to afford the TOP NOTCH stuff, but still care about their dogs, people are ALWAYS friendly, IMO

Thats all weve ever used and never had a problem same with the rescue I used to vol. for and the greyhound group.

I used them for rescues, and I've never had a problem with them. Actually, the only "complication" that was due to surgeon error I know of was a spay don't at a very expensive regular vet's office.

They are doing a lot, so they have a lot of expierence... but they're also not just some person of the street... they've gone thru vet school, and a LOT of them are regular vets who work at/own their own places but are just volunteering some time.

I have not used one personally, but I know people who have and no one had any problem. The way they generally run (at least in places I have lived) is that area vets contribute their services to the low cost spay/neuter clinics. So it would seem it wouldn't be any less service then you'd get if you actually used one of those vets by going directly to their offices.

In some geographical areas though (like the one I live in now), low-cost spay/neuter clinics are limited to those who can prove they are low income. In other areas I have lived the low-cost clinics were open to all. I guess it depends on access to funding sources in any particular area. Might be something to check before deciding to use one though ... to find out if any particular qualifications are necessary. If you don't qualify then the decision is pretty much made for you that you won't use the clinic.

I got Jose` and Lyric done at the humane society clinic. It was pretty darn reasonable. And I figured like you...they do an awful lot of spays and neuters. They are licensed vets, so I wasn't worried at all. Everything turned out fine. I think Jose` cost $17.00. Lyric was more, but I forget how much it was for him. But still less than a regular clinic.

I personally wouldn't use one, only because of two bad spay experiences I've had in the past as well as my Dobermans' sensitivities to certain sutures. Those experiences were with an actual vet clinic, and not a low cost clinic mind you, but it still makes me overly cautious. I'm paranoid now about where I take my dogs for surgeries... even if just routine spays and neuters. That said, I have known people to take their dogs to low cost clinics with great results!

We've used the same low cost clinic for both Ozzy and Enzo, two of my sisters dogs, my brothers dog and my mothers dog, and we've never had a problem.

I have used them for cats/kittens but never dogs.

But the one I usually use here picks them up and then takes them to a local vet that volunteers to do it that day cheaply. Don't know if I would do a dog in the bus type situation though.

personally, i wouldn't use one unless i truly had to. the idea of high volume, assembly-line surgery makes me worry. i'd certainly be asking questions first- does my pet get his own sterilized-just-for-him surgery pack (some places re-use surgery packs), does he have somebody monitoring his anesthesia at all times? what kind of monitoring does he get? iv catheter? bloodwork? pain meds?

are all of those things truly necessary for all pets? probably not. most pets come through spay/neuter surgery just fine, even when corners are cut. but some don't. and it's when something goes wrong that it really matters what kind of hands your dog is in.

ymmv.

We used one for the cat a couple of years ago. The reason we went there instead of my regular vet was the cost. Almost a $150.00 difference. Where I took Hazel, they only did a limited number of spays/neuters each day. Only so many cats and so many dogs.

I asked all that at the one I went to. Both dogs were supervised the whole time. And they only accept a certain number of dogs per day, to make sure corners arent cut.

I know several people who've used them, and more than once. I've gotten shots for the rescues a couple of times. I feel it honestly depends on who is doing them. One I've been to was like an assembly line. No interaction or health checks just slap them on the table and run them down the line, jab jab jab, pay, done. I'll never go to them again
But the other one, the vets actually cared, took their time, seemed to enjoy helping the animals. I've recommended them to others, always heard pretty good things.

*nods* My Mom used them for her cat. I know several people who've gotten their dogs fixed through them, and have nothing but good experiences. Actually, they did a much better job than the vet that did Missy's spay when we got her from the fremont dog pound. And at about 1/4 of the price.
But, personally, the main guy has horrible people skills

We have one in town that I've not used (I work at a vet, thus get a decent discount) but I've not heard of any issues with dogs done there. They do take only a limited number of patients per day, so it is not a mass of animals with no one to monitor them. I've seen their surgery notes on dogs who come to the clinic I work at for other issues and they seem thorough. The surgeries are done by a vet who donates their time.

I'd just, as above, ask their practices..are their pre and post pain injections given, what type of monitoring do they do, etc.

Thanks guys.

Only clinic around is a 12-16 WEEK wait just for them to call you back and another few months after that to get an appointment so I doubt that is going to happen. Was curious about the options though.

Come down here and stay a week.

Join us when the poodles go. LOL.

All my animals (save one cat and one dog) were done at the HS just like the clinics are (same doctors, probably doing the same amount of animals) they all made it out fine.

BUT you don't get the option of antibiotics or pain meds


if I had a "normal" animal, young, no sensitivities...I'd use one absolutely. I paid $100+ at a vet office for my cat and it was a nightmare...they wanted to vacinate him for everything under the sun AT THE SAME TIME, right before surgery... Som'times the 'in and out" "no questions asked" is better IMO.

Yep, I got the cats done for 10 dollars for one and 30 for the other. No problems at all. the staff was very nice, the place was clean, and I was happy.

I've gotten V, a barn cat, and some other fosters done at two different spay/neuter clinics. Was about $35 for each.