Bargain vet concern...?

My cats have used the same vet for years. He's a good vet and his prices are some of the best in the area. A friend told me about her vet whom she likes as well. My cat needs a teeth cleaning and my vet charges $110. My friend's vet charges $40. This is a huge difference but I spoke with the new vet and the procedures are basically the same. I'm just wondering why the prices would vary so much since both of these vets are in basically the same area and use the same procedure (which includes sedation). Should I be concerned for any reason with using the cheaper vet?
Both of these are private vet's offices, not SPCA or Humane Society clinics.
Both vets use sedation, not gas. I've had it done at my vet before and never had problems.
Some good feedback here. I will call my vet and ask for the better price and if I can't get it, I'll visit the other vet's office. It is too tempting not to check it out though, I could have 2 of my cats done for the price of having one done at my regular vet. I would definitely never look for a bargain if it were something potentially serious. Teeth cleaning being routine, I think it's worth checking into if the vet checks out in person.


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Wow that is a huge difference. if your friend has used this vet regularly, and is happy with how her pet was treated, then i'd say go for it!

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is preanesthesia testing included in that price? I would always recommend that people get the preanesthesia testing done to make sure that the cat is healthy enough to go through the anesthesia. I actually found out about some very slight liver problems in my cats because of this, it was safe to do the procedure, but luckily enough it was something that corrected itself I had another blood test done about a month later and it was normal.

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my goodness that is cheap, both of them, between the prescreening and the actual procedure visit it was upwards of $300 for our cats teeth last year

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My first thought is the anesthesia...I wonder if your friend's vet only sedates, or does he intubate and use gas anesthesia as is recommended? The anesthesia is usually the costliest part of a dental prophy. $40 is so incredibly cheap, that I can't help but be suspicious of that. Maybe he doesn't pay his staff enough...:) Seriously, though, I can't imagine how a proper prophy could be done for only $40. But, it is hard to say. If possible, maybe you can stop in your friend's vet clinic and meet the doctor and staff, look around a bit, that sort of thing. Get a feel for it. I personally wouldn't change vets, even for one procedure, if I was happy with my clinic, just to save $ (even though I do completely understand why you would be tempted!). Just my opinion.

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There could be a number of mitigating factors, and the most probable is cost of overhead. I have two vets, one is average, and another is a lot less. The cheaper guy is a general vet, and doesn't specialize in small animals, per se, and also deals with horses, cattle, etc. The cheaper guy also has a no-frills office is a less pricey neighborhood, and his wife is his main CVT, nurse, and bookkeeper. Love 'em both, use them for different issues. Teeth cleaning, I'd go to the cheaper guy. A major cat-specific health issue, the more expensive guy (my cheaper guy would probably refer me to him anyway).

So, if your friend likes this vet a lot, give him a try. These days, that is a huge, huge savings. Just make sure that is the total bill, and that the costs for anesthesia, recovery, etc., are included in that. I've seen a number of people complaining that they were quoted for a treatment, but nobody bothered to mention the "other" costs in the quote.

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In my area vets are starting to undercut each other according to my vet and people are heading for the cheapest treatment.

If the services are the same, could you ask your vet if he could match or come close to the price of the competing vet? Might be worth a try.

Our vet has been very good to us and our cats and several times has gone beyond what I would expect. She actively rescues cats and kittens, cleans them up and finds good homes. All shots, spay/neuter included......just give that kitty a good home. Our Gracie and Tommy are "graduates" and we are so happy to have them.

So when I find that something is a bit more than I think I should pay, I remember all she does for so many.

good luck!

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My first vet's visit I went to the vet that was closest to my home and she gave me "low estimates and high estimates" and not actual costs for her services leading me to believe that the real cost could be significantly lower. I didn't ask. When I had the time to do the spay/neuter for my cats I shopped around because I didn't have plans to part with another $600 for surgery and $300 for shots and visit ( total for two cats) I found a company that sold certificates for the surgerie I chose the one closest to me again and this vet told me he no longer participated in the program but would honor the price $100 for both pets. I went to the vet's office on the day of the surgery, it stank of disinfectant and dogs ( because it was also a kennel and boarding place) The vet himself was shabby looking and his assistant was surly ( the opposite of the more expensive vet) and the vet suggested that I declaw my cats ( maybe I shouldn't think he was disreputable for saying that, but any vet who says it to me will be in my low esteem) I stayed for the surgery because I had the feeling that the vet would say that my cats didn't wake up from the surgery and I also wanted to be sure that they were using new equipment, pain management things ( all things I was paying for) I took them home and my male cat did a song and dance about mating with my female,I noticed my femme didn't have her claws to fight him off ( not that I let them go at each other while the were convalescent). She is a known tigress ( I always describe the two like this "yao ming is a pet and mei mei is a cat." ) so I thought she must have impressed the vet the same way and he thought he was doing me a favor. I cried the whole night and the next morning at 8 sharp I phoned to query and was relieved to find that they were only filed and that I should go for booster shots in two weeks or so. I'm never taking them to this place again. I have no confidence in them or their care. I don't know if you'll feel the same way about your friend's vet but, I think if it's only a 1 time thing and you can save some money and you have the time be watchful while they are working do it.

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Hi Pretty Kitty,

That is a huge disparity in prices if the procedures are the same. I think I would talk to my vet about this and ask why the huge difference in cost to begin with. There may be something that your vet is providing that the other is not, as a routine service which actually may be quite important.

I may be out of line, but a bargain may not end up being such a bargain. I got burned seriously with a very simple biopsy procedure years ago. The vet, who was charging a far lower cost, had no idea that an Oriental Shorthair might be more sensitive to sedation ( I assumed she knew it, my bad) and we almost lost our cat to an anesthesia overdose.

Since you think your vet is good, ask the office for the reason, and compare the services included in the price, and then you will have more realistic and thorough information to help you make your decision.

Good luck to you,

Troublesniffer
Owned by cats for over 40 years
Member: Cat Writer's Association

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We see lots and lots of vets because of rescue, and the "cheapest" ones tend to have no vet techs at all, or their help is not certified techs. The one vet that we had who's speciality was $50 dentals did all of the work herself, which meant no tech to act as an anestheisiologist , which translates into no one to monitor the cat while the procedure is being done. That would be my biggest concern. That's a pretty wide price difference. Our one rescue vet (who's very good, has a staff of certified techs) charges about $110 for a basic cleaning, she's in a lower cost of living area as well.

Or is this just a new vet trying to build up their practise, and then will raise their prices to the going rate once that's happened?

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