Neutering dog - Vet vs. Humane Society?

[Brianne]

Am I the only one that finds the term "neuter scooter" very odd? I picture this drop off point in the middle of a field, a panel van picking up the dogs and then dropping them back off ...

Our dog was 6/7 years old when he was found as a stray and brought to a local shelter. He was neutered there and has been fine. The vet that volunteers as the shelter is his regular vet now anyway.

We found it pretty funny! Other than the field, your description is fairly accurate.

 

[pooh6890]

I am going to call the vet office tomorrow and talk with them about the charges. I have a good relationship with them and maybe if I tell them my thoughts about this, they will work with me on the price. I always say to ask....you have a 50/50 chance that way. I think that I will feel more comfortable with my vet that I know. She is very good and I want her to do it. That way if by any chance something goes wrong, I have someone to go back to that I have a relationship with. I think that is the way to go in the long run. Just in case.....thank you all for your help. I always feel like I can come here and get good advice and help.............

 

[2BigKIdz]

I had to make the same decision this week. Kona is 18 months old and my vet recommended neutering before age 2, I guess that is when all of their adult male hormones kick in? Any way, there is a place 90 minutes from me that does it for $35 and it will be $300 at my vet. I just had my other dog spayed last month and it was a little over $300 with the pre-surgical blood work, pain meds, antibiotics and so on.

I had an appt. at the place that does it for $35 tomorrow. It took 2 months to get the appt. as they are always booked. But the more I thought about it the more uncomfortable I became. I knew if something happened to him during his surgery I would never forgive myself for trying to save money. I think the place would probably be just fine, they have performed over 55,000 surgeries and a neuter is supposedly a very simple procedure but I just can't bring myself to do it. He will go to my regular vet just as his sister did.

My friend had her puppy done around the same time as I did Kali, but she used the humane society here ($85) and her dog was knocked out for a couple of days. Kali was awake when I picked her up, a little quiet that first night but the next day she acted completely normal. I mentioned to the vet tech when I picked her up that she was much more alert than I expected and she told me they have a very good anesthesia protocol.

 

[Alice1386]

Don't get me wrong, what the HS does as far as low-cost spay/neuters is absolutely wonderful... BUT they are low-cost for a reason. They have to cut corners where ever they can. No pre-bloodwork, minimal equipment, done with knives-no laser. The pre-bloodwork is EXTREMALLY important. It is the only way to know that the kidneys will do well in surgery, not fail, and if they need to be given more fluids to make it easier on the kidneys. Yes, the HS does hundreds of these surgeries each month, but each one is risky. Does your vet use laser in surgery? It costs more, but it reduces the pain and the healing time. If you can afford it, use your vet. It will be safer and possibly be done better (using laser vs. old school knife-not a slam against HS vets). With all that I should add that I have two dogs of my own and four foster dogs that were all neutered/spayed at the HS before they were put up for adoption or before they came to me for fostering (I also work with dog rescue and most of our dogs go through the low cost procedure-but in rescue we cut a lot of corners to try to save as many dogs as possible). Had I got them while they were un-fixed, I would have done it at my vet, hands down.

I know that everyone thinks that $300 is expensive, but let us all remember that these are living breathing beings and that this is a SURGERY. The animal is cut wide open and parts are cut out and then the flesh is sewn back up. The vets scrub in, instruments are sterilized, they wear gloves, masks, and the animals are hooked up to moniters, are on oxygen, have tubes down their throats, etc. Think of it as more of a Hysterectomy/Vasectomy for dogs, which for a human would cost thousands of dollars. $300 is cheap.

As far as your behavioral issues, seeing as the dog is 5, I doubt that the procedure will really have an affect (neutering really only effects behavioral issues if done before the dog has reached the age of a full adult (which is about age 2). It is something that you are going to have to work with on by training/and or managing his issues.

Regardless of what you decide, thank you for neutering (I wish everyone would do that to all of their animals and hopefully one day we won't need rescues any more) and best of luck!

 

[TashaRVT]

I think vets are raising their rates also along with the rest of the economy.

You can't be serious?!?! I have to tell you that I'm starting to get really tired of being accused to trying to scr*w people out of their money. I had a client the other week ask me how I could live with myself charging the prices that we charge in "this economy" - how do you think that makes me feel?? It makes me feel sick to my stomach.
None of my staff would accept having their salaries cut, and none of my suppliers have lowered their prices due to "this economy", so how am I expected to lower my prices?

I got into this business to make a difference in animal's lives, not to get rich. And trust me, rich I am not. Sorry for the freak out - but I take soooooo much abuse that it's starting to really smart.

 

[sunnyday123]

You can't be serious?!?! I have to tell you that I'm starting to get really tired of being accused to trying to scr*w people out of their money. I had a client the other week ask me how I could live with myself charging the prices that we charge in "this economy" - how do you think that makes me feel?? It makes me feel sick to my stomach.
None of my staff would accept having their salaries cut, and none of my suppliers have lowered their prices due to "this economy", so how am I expected to lower my prices?

I got into this business to make a difference in animal's lives, not to get rich. And trust me, rich I am not. Sorry for the freak out - but I take soooooo much abuse that it's starting to really smart.

I sympathize with you. I am at the vet on average once a month, when I had my dog, twice. My male cat is accident prone-he swallowed 6 feet of fishing line ( we don't fish ) and most recently got into a fight with his reflection, and lost. There was a woman in front of me complaining about her "high" bill. It was $107. I laughed and told her she could have mine instead, since my cat was 1/2 the size of her dog. Since I had doubled up and brought in my little cat for shots & a well visit along with him, it topped out at $250.

I EXPECT that. I'm visiting a DR who is prescribing medicine, giving shots, picking glass out of a paw and sewing up said paw.

To the OP, glad your going with the vet, given his age and weight challenges, he's safer there. Although it probably won't help his temperment if he's 5 and just started with the growling. Good luck.

 

[chisnpeke]

$300 to neuter a dog is insane. Have you asked around at other vets?

 

[horseshowmom]

You can't be serious?!?! I have to tell you that I'm starting to get really tired of being accused to trying to scr*w people out of their money. I had a client the other week ask me how I could live with myself charging the prices that we charge in "this economy" - how do you think that makes me feel?? It makes me feel sick to my stomach.
None of my staff would accept having their salaries cut, and none of my suppliers have lowered their prices due to "this economy", so how am I expected to lower my prices?

I got into this business to make a difference in animal's lives, not to get rich. And trust me, rich I am not. Sorry for the freak out - but I take soooooo much abuse that it's starting to really smart.

I apologize for the rudeness of that particular client. That was certainly uncalled for. You have expenses just like anybody else. I doubt that their costs have gone down at the grocery store, the gas station, the department store, etc. It's ludicrous that anybody would say anything like that, but since you deal with the public, I'm sure you know how unreasonable some people can be.

As far as being rich, my daughter had always planned to be a vet but changed her mind her junior year in high school and decided to go into pharmacy. The deciding factor for her was the fact that vets work much harder than the pay they receive. Are they low income, certainly not, but they have very large expenses that have to be covered.

Thanks for doing what you do!


OP, it sounds like you've made up your mind, and it's great that you can do whatever feels best to you.

In my case, I've had many, many animals spayed/neutered at the low cost clinic. I live in a rural area and am the recipient of many abandoned animals (currently have a dozen cats and 4 dogs). I once had to take in a mama cat and her 5 kittens. There's no way I could have afforded that at my regular vet. I've never had one that didn't do well after surgery.

I've got two new boys who are going to have to go very soon. My daugher is getting married next weekend, and she and her husband have already acquired 3 kittens and a puppy - abandoned near the house they are renovating to move into. I'll probably pay for those 4 too, so the clinic is a life safer for us.

 

[pooh6890]

So I called my vet office and told them my feelings. They will do the entire procedure with pre-op and meds after for $280. I didn't even tell them I was not going to go there for the operation. I just said that I know the HS does these things day in and day out and they agreed with me that was true. My feeling is that I love my dog so much, I could never forgive myself for making this a money issue instead of a health issue. As far as going to another vet, I would not do that either. I have a good relationship with this office and they with me. I feel like they go the extra mile to make us feel good about their services. I am going in next week to have it done and feel good about my decision. Thanks again for all the help and support.

 

[Shmily1]

I just had 6 cats spayed or neutered at the vets for about $140-$170 each, depending on male or female. This included two nights stay at the vets. I could have sent them to the local (30 miles away) HS but they don't do it there. They send them in crates on a truck to a place that only does the spay/ neutering and charge $20 each for it. DH said no way!!! Not a chance they were being loaded on that truck!! My friend does that to all her pets and they seem to be fine, but he said it was too risky for the animals here.

 

[Disney Doll]

Truthfully, I wouldn't trust my pet to be operated on by someone I didn't know and trust.

DSIL bought 2 cats...brothers...through a rescue group. Included in their purchase price was neutering through a local vet who worked with the rescue group. Sounds very altruistic of the vet, right? Not their own vet, another vet. Let's just say it didn't go well, and they ended up with one cat. Come to find out later that the vet wasn't too busy (does that tell you something) so he worked out this deal with the local rescue group to do their spaying/neutering at areduced cost so.

I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for" especially when it comes to healthcare...animal or human.

 

[DianeV]

I totally agree. The vet I work at charges between $260-$300 for spay/neuter but that includes everything. And they go home the same day which means alot to many owners. The anesthesia they use is very controlled and they usually are waking up pretty quickly and are already getting pain meds.

We had someone call (one of our clients) and ask us if she could just get some pain meds for her dog who was just spayed because she seems in pain. I asked her why didnt she get some where it was done at? Because it wasnt 'included' in the low cost.

 

[Terry36]

$280 is what I recently paid for my 6.5 month old Maltese to be spayed; this included bloodwork and meds. I also opted to have a chip inplanted into her in case she gets lost.

 

[bethy]

Ack, we are about to adopt an adult dog. She is under 25 pounds and my vet has quoted me $575 to get her spayed. I had NO idea it would be that much. I was thinking maybe $200-$250. I haven't told my husband yet. I know that vet bills will be expensive but it's harder to accept when I don't own the dog yet and she hasn't bonded with our family, etc.

 

[Disney Doll]

I would also add that pets are an expense, and if one thinks that it will be an expense that one cannot manage, then one should reconsider getting a pet. The time to decide "we cannot afford this" is not after one gets a pet.

We had Ted to the vet twice a year, did all the recommended vaccines, monitored him very closely, he needed eye surgery, he swallowed a parking token necessitating some GI work, he had a wheat allergy so his food cost $40/bag and his "cookies" were $12/bag because they too needed to be wheat-free, required flea prevention, bathing, grooming....you get the idea. We were fortunate that we did not have to board him...my parents always watched him for us when we travelled but had they not been available, boarding could be another added expense.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Are dogs more than cats? I paid less than $200 at the vet with all the extra fees and crap for a cat. The APL does it for like $45 here. I remember seeing that.

Dogs must be harder than cats.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I would also add that pets are an expense, and if one thinks that it will be an expense that one cannot manage, then one should reconsider getting a pet. The time to decide "we cannot afford this" is not after one gets a pet.

Not all pets are a decision that you've made.

Some pets were just starving animals that you fed because you didn't want them to starve to death. And they kept coming back. You kept their kittens in the basement so they didn't get eaten by coyotes or whatever. And the pet hung around. And you liked it. Eventually you got attached and decided they'd be your pet.

You didn't think of anything before you considered getting the pet, because you never considered it. It just became your pet.

It happens.

Or so I've heard.

 

[Sweetfamily]

You can't be serious?!?! I have to tell you that I'm starting to get really tired of being accused to trying to scr*w people out of their money. I had a client the other week ask me how I could live with myself charging the prices that we charge in "this economy" - how do you think that makes me feel?? It makes me feel sick to my stomach.
None of my staff would accept having their salaries cut, and none of my suppliers have lowered their prices due to "this economy", so how am I expected to lower my prices?

I got into this business to make a difference in animal's lives, not to get rich. And trust me, rich I am not. Sorry for the freak out - but I take soooooo much abuse that it's starting to really smart.

Tasha, I feel your pain. I'm an LVT from Southern Maine, the economy is bad here and the cost of our supplies are still going up. We do what we can to keep costs even, but with a decrease in "extra" procedures, we are not breaking even most days. Our vets did take a pay cut to keep the Clinic open, and we are on a skeleton crew of techs. (3 Vets, 2 techs, 1 OM who was a lab tech in a former life and picks up where needed).

I feel that some low cost programs are great, especially the ones that give you a certificate for your own vet. Some shelters recieve donations so they can afford the better anesthetics and equipment for their surgeries, but some do not. If you can afford it, avoid the super crowded spay/neuter clinics. I've seen animals lined up on the floor recovering from surgery with one or two people to watch them while their getting the other pets ready for surgery. These clinics are great for keeping down the unwanted pet population. The volunteers are trying to do a good thing, but they have to do the best with the money they have.

The higher cost reflects things such as better anesthesia with a quick recovery time, staff to monitor your pet before, during, and after their surgery, bloodwork to make sure their organs are working, pain control prior to and after surgery, properly sterilized surgery packs, monitoring equipement...you get the picture. We are doing our best for your pet, and that's what your paying for. The variation in cost may have to do with the type of the above listed things that your vet is using, or maybe the area you live in. My friend works for a vet whose clinic is in a small split level house. His mortgage is paid off and he doesn't have a lot of overhead. He can afford to charge less than some clinics who built new a few years ago when the economy was better, and now are trying to pay an 800k mortgage.

Okay, I'm babbling. I hate money. I hope the surgery goes well Pooh6890. He may calm a little, and his drive to run off and find a female to mate with will definitely go down. But the aggression could be a permanent "habit" now. An obedience trainer could probably help if it doesnt' improve--but that would cost more money!!!! Ahhhhh...

 

[Disney Doll]

Not all pets are a decision that you've made.

Some pets were just starving animals that you fed because you didn't want them to starve to death. And they kept coming back. You kept their kittens in the basement so they didn't get eaten by coyotes or whatever. And the pet hung around. And you liked it. Eventually you got attached and decided they'd be your pet.

You didn't think of anything before you considered getting the pet, because you never considered it. It just became your pet.

It happens.

Or so I've heard.

Well, I agree that sometimes one "happens" upon a pet, but at a certain point, you (the universal "you" not specifically you CB) makes the decision to keep the animal and it becomes your pet.

 

[horseshowmom]

Ack, we are about to adopt an adult dog. She is under 25 pounds and my vet has quoted me $575 to get her spayed. I had NO idea it would be that much. I was thinking maybe $200-$250. I haven't told my husband yet. I know that vet bills will be expensive but it's harder to accept when I don't own the dog yet and she hasn't bonded with our family, etc.

bethy, please check into whether there is a low cost spay program in your area. As I said in my post, I have had numerous animals done this way (I currently have 4 dogs and 12 cats and have had many others too). I have never had a problem. They also generally offer very low cost shots at the same time.

The dog that you're looking at despartely needs a home. I can certainly understand the idea of $575 being somewhat of a shock, but you do NOT have to pay that much. We're in a very rural area and have programs available to us (granted I do have to drive some distance, but it's doable), so you probably have some in your area too.

FWIW, our vet even suggests this program to clients who have to consider monetary issues.

Good luck!