Where should I take my puppy to get neutered?

[bumhouse]

I need some advice. I am looking into gettting my pup neutered and wondered if anyone has feelings about taking him to a shelter/humane society vs. a vet. My vet wants $320.00 plus $35.00 for a microchip. I can have this done at a local humane society for $60.00 and $20.00 for the microchip. I discussed this with my vet who was somewhat offended by the question explaining that "you get what you pay for" and she sees "all the problems and botch jobs these places do". She explained she has a degree from the University of Pennsylvania and all her techs are trained. I would love to have it done at the vet and want the best for my pup but $350.00 seems really steep to me. :yikes:

 

[girlbuffalo1]

Neuter

I would take them to the humane society to be neutered--if it were a spay I may feel somewhat different as that is fairly invasive. Wrigley was done in a van by a volunteer service which works with the no kill shelter we got him from. No problems at all--and it was included in the price we got him for. From what I understand in small dogs it's not a very big procedure so I wouldn't worry.

 

[moxiegrl]

Katie was fixed before we got her at the shelter, and they did butcher her. It looked horrible! I have seen many spay/neuters and you do get what you pay for in terms of scarring and stitches. But like said above, if its a male it is not nearly as invasive, so you should be fine at the HS. Good luck!

 

[SummerRiot]

$350 is a cheap price..

we paid well over $400 to get Crosbie neutered.

I'd want the best for my pup and take them to their vet clinic to have it done. That way your dog knows your vet and is familar with the place.

 

[bumhouse]

I had a feeling I would hear conflicting opinions on this issue!! So far, I hear 2 for and 1 against - keep the comments coming I'm still confused and undecided ......

 

[missbeckydee]

See if any vets around you have a special price....a vet around us had a $25 spay/neuter price because we got Jester from a rescue. They did an amazing job, and it was really cheap.

 

[elegy]

$320 sounds like a lot to me but stuff like that can vary drastically based on geography. personally, i'd never take my pet to the shelter or a cheapy clinic to be fixed. too much can go wrong, and shelters generally don't have the resources, the people, etc to give your pets the careful treatment they'd receive at their regular vet's. usually a neuter is a straight-forward procedure, but dogs can not go to sleep well, not wake up well, have funny heart rhythms while asleep, all during routine speutering.

 

[bubbatd]

I personally would hate to go the cheaper route then have to go to my vet to fix a botched up job. $320 does seem high ........but .... You can get your microchip at the HS though .

 

[sparks19]

$320 that seems awfully steep to me.

Our vet did Teddy for $150. Are there other vets in your area? perhaps check out their pricing as well.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

$320 sounds like a lot to me but stuff like that can vary drastically based on geography. personally, i'd never take my pet to the shelter or a cheapy clinic to be fixed. too much can go wrong, and shelters generally don't have the resources, the people, etc to give your pets the careful treatment they'd receive at their regular vet's. usually a neuter is a straight-forward procedure, but dogs can not go to sleep well, not wake up well, have funny heart rhythms while asleep, all during routine speutering.

I agree with elegy.

I think it's very important to find a vet that you are comfortable with so that you can be open honest with them. Concerned about the price? ask your vet why it's so expensive, what it covers and have them explain it all to you.

I would be much more comfortable taking my boys to our vet than some shelter where they don't know them or their history.

 

[bumhouse]

I have called 4 other vets in my area and they range in price from $199 - $465!!:yikes: $199 was the lowest price after the humane society.

Most vets do bloodwork and an EKG before hand to make sure the dog is OK to proceed and doesn't have any problems with their heart.

My instincts tell me my vet is the way to go - she said her price is higher because of her education and training and that of her techs.

 

[showpug]

I would go with your vet. It's not like the person doing the surgery at the shelter isn't a vet, they just aren't your vet. It's important to go the route you trust and feel more comfortable with, even if it is more $.

 

[ToscasMom]

Actually, the price of the actual neutering is not expensive. The price goes up because of anesthesia, the overnight hospital care, supportive fluids for recovery and other after care, some of which is optional but helpful to the dog, particularly post-anesthesia. I don't think I would be comfortable without those recovery options and overnight monitoring after the surgery, but then I'm a neurotic dog owner. I wouldn't take the risk. I would also worry about illnesses my dog could contract from a shelter.

I'm not sure what a microchip costs as Tosca came microchipped from her breeder. But neutering Tosca including the post operative support cost me about as much as your vet is charging.

 

[ToscasMom]

I meant to say Spay not neuter.

 

[AnimalLoverCatRescuer]

I need some advice. I am looking into gettting my pup neutered and wondered if anyone has feelings about taking him to a shelter/humane society vs. a vet. My vet wants $320.00 plus $35.00 for a microchip. I can have this done at a local humane society for $60.00 and $20.00 for the microchip. I discussed this with my vet who was somewhat offended by the question explaining that "you get what you pay for" and she sees "all the problems and botch jobs these places do". She explained she has a degree from the University of Pennsylvania and all her techs are trained. I would love to have it done at the vet and want the best for my pup but $350.00 seems really steep to me. :yikes:

I have had dozens of animals altered at the low cost clinics and mobile clinics, dogs and cats, and I never once had a problem. The cheaper places sometimes have a longer incision mark with the spaying, but I don't see that as a big deal. It isn't like the vets at the cheap clinics are untrained idiots off the street. Most that I go to are trained professionals, they are licensed vets and know what they are doing. They just want to help out with the shelters and the low income people. I have never had issues with the low cost clinics. I am all for it. I also do not like when vets keep the animals overnight...

 

[mlee]

My vet charges $165 for neutering and all of their vets have graduated from Michigan State University's vet school (which is a great program). So, i feel that nearing $400 for a routine procedure such as neutering is a little outrageous regardless of what school your vet went to (as long as it is accredited.) our vet also said that an overnight stay should not be necessary unless there are complications with the anesthesia.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I would not trust anyone but a vet with my dog.

I recently saw one of those spay/neuter vans and the sign outside said they were selling those "please spay and neuter" magnets. I knocked and the door and the person came to assist me, she had been in the middle of a procedure she said, so the animal was now laying on the table waiting?:yikes:

I dont like the idea of it. The vet is more, but I would go with them, plus the bloodwork beforehand is important, they found something abnormal on my cats when she was spayed and they put an IV of fluid in during the procedure to be safe. They would not have known to do this if they had not done the bloodwork.

Go with a vet, its safest.
However, if you feel you vet is not right... try another vet in the area.

Elissa

 

[moxiegrl]

Actually, the price of the actual neutering is not expensive. The price goes up because of anesthesia, the overnight hospital care, supportive fluids for recovery and other after care, some of which is optional but helpful to the dog, particularly post-anesthesia. I don't think I would be comfortable without those recovery options and overnight monitoring after the surgery, but then I'm a neurotic dog owner. I wouldn't take the risk. I would also worry about illnesses my dog could contract from a shelter.

I'm not sure what a microchip costs as Tosca came microchipped from her breeder. But neutering Tosca including the post operative support cost me about as much as your vet is charging.

When Katie was spayed at the shelter, I picked her up hours afterwards and brought her home for good. At least there, they did not see the need for her to stay overnight, or really have any post-recovery. they did tell me to keep her calm for the next couple days, but thats it.

And PoodleMommy, any shelter/rescue group is only going to let a VET operate. They dont let any wack job on the street slice and dice their animals. With katie it did look like she'd been butchered (longer scar, etc), but so far shes had no problems.

bumhouse- IF you can afford it I would take the dog to your vet. IF its going to be a problem, then take the dog to the HS. Both will do a good job.

 

[bubbatd]

Each HS is different . When I went to see Hunter for EliN , he had just been neutered and didn't want him bothered until the next day . Yet when we got him 2 days later his was swollen like they had implanted 2 tennis balls ! Sure , he had good care , but you never know who's doing the surgery !!! It's a perfect place for students to start .

 

[bumhouse]

I appreciate all of your comments!!

The Humane Societies (there are 3) in my area all have a good reputation and I have never heard of any horror stories myself. The worst I heard of was a friend who got their dog there and she was spayed at a young age and had bladder problems that they attributed to the spay. The shelter spay and neuter all dogs that come in, no matter the age. They do all of the same things my vet does and neither place keeps your pet for an overnight stay.

And this is a neuter - not a spay, a little less complicated of a procedure although still with anethesia and all. Honestly, we really can't afford to pay the vet fee. We love Colt and don't want to harm him but I can't see paying this for a procedure that is so routinely done. Please don't think I don't care but I am a stay at home mom, wife of a firefighter with three young children. If I didn't care or was neglectful I wouldn't neuter at all and wouldn't worry about it either. We just can't swing the vet so it is off to the Humane Society on Nov.8. I'll let you know how I make out. Say a prayer for us.......