Are these prices outrageous?

[lippylulu]

Just took my 10 month old rescued Poiner mix for his first check up and second round of shots. I knew it would be expensive but was shocked at some of the charges! I live in an expensive area (Bergen County NJ outside of NYC) but don't recall such high prices at my previous veterinarian in Staten Island. $75 for a fecal with test for Giardia? $65 for the first of two Lyme disease shots? $23 to clean out his ears? $15 for 1 heartguard chewable and a "free" 1 month dose of Frontline? $65 for 2nd set of puppy shots (already had rabies)?

Should I be looking elsewhere for more reasonable prices? I have 2 other dogs but the cost of the fecal and lyme shot really shocked me.

 

[CaliTerp07]

Lucy's yearly physical on a perfectly healthy dog is usually $400-500 (includes 6 months of heartworm/flea & tick meds though). I'm not sure the actual break down, though I can look it up when I get home tonight.

You should definitely shop around, or ask at your trainer/dog park for suggestions. I switched to my current vet based on recommendations from the park, and have been pleased. I think I probably pay a little premium, but I love our vet and the hours they're open so it's worth it to me.

 

[milos_mommy]

some of those prices (such as the ear cleaning, unless he had ear mites or an infection) are a little high, but most of them sound average for this area (I live in Manhattan now but used to live in Eastern Long Island). The prices sound average for vaccines and the fecal, but you can definitely shop around.

 

[MicksMom]

...$75 for a fecal with test for Giardia? $65 for the first of two Lyme disease shots? $23 to clean out his ears?...

Over all that sounds a little steep to me, but I'm not only on the other side of NJ, but also blessed with a vet who works very hard to keep his fees down. The $23 for ear cleaning is ridiculous, unless it was more than the routine pour the cleaner in, let dog shake and wipe.

...$15 for 1 heartguard chewable and a "free" 1 month dose of Frontline? $65 for 2nd set of puppy shots (already had rabies)?...

Those sound about right. Although, the Heartguard is about double what a singnal dose of Heart Guard Plus for a 51-100 pound dog would be from Dr Fosters & Smith. But if you divide that $15 in half, it would be $7.50 each for the HG and FL. That sounds resonable.

 

[lippylulu]

The ear cleaning was listed as "minor". Guess this is what to expect from a normal veterinarian int hs area. Thanks.

 

[Bigpoodleperson]

Those prices are Extreme!! I work at a vets and we are considered "high priced". The lyme vaccine should cost no more then 20$ a piece! 7-8$ for a large heartguard pill. 65$ for a fecal check?! You are seriously being robbed, and i Never say that!

 

[Brattina88]

That's crazy expensive, to me... but it could be your area / vet.
Cali your yearly is THAT much???

 

[MicksMom]

... Cali your yearly is THAT much???

I was wondering the same thing, but thought maybe it was just because my vet is so resonable. Yearly check up, including vacs and a year's worth of Interceptor runs me less than of that.

 

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

I only know about the prices on cats, not dogs, but I pay around $100 for my cat's yearly visit, which includes physical exam, vaccines (FVRCP and rabies), and basic bloodwork.

 

[CaliTerp07]

That's crazy expensive, to me... but it could be your area / vet.
Cali your yearly is THAT much???

I was wondering the same thing, but thought maybe it was just because my vet is so resonable. Yearly check up, including vacs and a year's worth of Interceptor runs me less than of that.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's been that much at both vets we have taken Lucy to. This is a highly priced area in general though. DC is on par with NYC/LA/SF. We also do all the recommended tests and vaccines though, and I know a lot of people don't do that.

Maybe I'm off, but I'll look up the receipt from the last visit and post the break down when I get home.

 

[Lolas Dad]

Last March I had Lola to the vet for her annual including shots and a fecal I walked out paying $150 and not only did that include the distemper and whatever else is in the shot but the bordatella nasal dose as well.

So yes you did pay a high price but like you said you also live in an expensive area. Not only should you look elsewhere for a lower cost vet but you should get one that is recommended to you by a friend in the area. Just as their are good and bad doctors for people their are also good and bad vets for our pets.

 

[MicksMom]

...This is a highly priced area in general though. DC is on par with NYC/LA/SF...

AHA! For some reason, I didn't realize that you're in DC. That explains it!

 

[elegy]

Those prices are Extreme!! I work at a vets and we are considered "high priced". The lyme vaccine should cost no more then 20$ a piece!

really? ours are $35 i think. cost to the hospital is ridiculously expensive. lyme is an expensive vaccine, period. or at least merial's are, which is what we carry. (in contrast, our rabies vaccines are $18 and distemper around $15)

so much depends on where you live. so much.

 

[noludoru]

Cali, the farther out you go the cheaper it gets. I switched to a new vets office about 20 miles away from the old one that is quite a bit closer to me but farther "out" on a map, and my costs look like they will be halved. :yikes:

To the OP, those prices are ridiculous. If you're willing to commute I'd find a cheaper vet.

 

[SpringerLover]

Our wellness exam (exam that includes vaccinations) is $12.90, Rabies is $16.50, DHPP is $15.something, Lyme is $20.something.

Ear cleaning is $14.something

But... I live in the middle of nowhere, about an hour from the twin cities.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I'm in Annapolis area which is also considered pretty expensive and it's not nearly that much! Most appt's end up being about $100-$150. They charge $50 for the "exam" and the DHPP shot was $25. Bordatella was another $20. Giardia/Parasite test was $37.

I got him neutered at a clinic close to me and they are super nice in there and affordable. It was $65 to neuter my 15lb dog and $7 for rabies. Oh, and $20 for a wellness exam.

 

[MericoX]

Our vet charges us like $38 a visit, but if you are going for shots, one shot (either distemper or rabies) is included in that price. Nails are 11. I get HW somewheres else for $20 for 6 tabs, and I pay $12 a month for flea/tick (I split it up between the dogs).

Though for shots, we just goto the vaccine clinics, no office visit fee so we just pay $12-15 for a shot, depending on what it is. Recently I've decided the dogs are going to get yearly checkups (versus every 3 years) just for piece of mind (Kiba's suicide attempt has added stress to my life, and lessened it for 10 years lol).

 

[Southpaw]

Sounds expensive to me, but could be reasonable for the area. I don't have an invoice in front of me but the most we've paid for a vaccine is $20-something. And that was probably the Lyme vax. I wouldn't get a $65 vaccine... but again, maybe that's reasonable in your area.

All in all, a bare bones exam + vaccines is something like $100. The office visit alone is $42, so that's the bulk of it. This last visit with Juno though, we didn't need anything "extra".... no fecals, no HW test, no HW prevention, no ear cleaning or anal gland squeezing.... just a physical and shots.

 

[Saeleofu]

Where I work full annuals range from $90 - $150 depending on what a dog's due for. Exam is $41, rabies and dhpp about $18 each, bordatella about $15. Heartworm test $28, fecal about $25ish. So if a dog needs EVERYTHING it's closer to $50. Most dogs lately have not needed the rabies or DHPP (rabies because we just went to every 3 years in the city). A lot of people have been declining Heartworm tests and fecals lately, too, because of the economy.

Remember that if they're specifically checking for giardia, the fecal will be more expensive because they'll either have to run a SNAP test or send it off. That'll easily add $30 - $50+ to it, depending on what they do. You can sometimes find giardia on a regular fecal, but not always. If the dog's not having any symptoms, though, there's really no point in checking for it.

Frontline is $15-$18 per dose, Interceptor is $6-$9 per dose. So 6 months or a year of each can add quite a bit to the total bill.

 

[goldiefur]

I just had a fecal flotation test done on one of mine looking for worms/parasites and it only cost $14 but I live in Louisiana so even with your higher prices I would trade with you.:lol-sign: If you live in a great place you will pay more for just about everything.