Vet fees

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of a good, reasonable vet in VA? FFX county preferably or Loudoun. I just want to get my dog's teeth cleaned and extracted for under $700.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know of a good, reasonable vet in VA? FFX county preferably or Loudoun. I just want to get my dog's teeth cleaned and extracted for under $700.

I'll be honest, in this area it would be tough to get it done for that price. If you can take a day to go down to Richmond, plenty of people here have recommended Helping Hands in Richmond.

http://www.helpinghandsvetva.com/contact/

[Anonymous]

Unless your dog is huge (bigger dog=more expensive procedure) that sounds really high to me. Also, I don't think dental needs to be yearly either. The dispensing fee sounds like BS. Ask your neighbors where they go. Visit the local dog park and ask people there.

[Anonymous]

Also, Consumers Checkbook ranks ranks vets by price and quality too.

[Anonymous]

There's a Groupon for a $199 dental package from VetWerx in Arlington. Some mixed reviews but it seems like most people were happy enough.

I had mine done at P Street Pet Practice, which was brand new at the time and running an amazing special. Just keep an eye out for them.

A lot of vets also run specials in February for "Pet Dental Month."

[Anonymous]

Do you really want to use Groupon to find a medical professional to put your dog under anasthesia and basically do surgery?
A dispensing fee is completely normal. It covers the cost of staff and having the drugs at a vet. Typically, you don't see this fee broken out but the margins are so small on drugs that veterinarians would not carry them if for not being able to cover their cost.
$1300 is more than reasonable for extractions and a teeth cleaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really want to use Groupon to find a medical professional to put your dog under anasthesia and basically do surgery?
A dispensing fee is completely normal. It covers the cost of staff and having the drugs at a vet. Typically, you don't see this fee broken out but the margins are so small on drugs that veterinarians would not carry them if for not being able to cover their cost.
$1300 is more than reasonable for extractions and a teeth cleaning.

says the vet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really want to use Groupon to find a medical professional to put your dog under anasthesia and basically do surgery?
A dispensing fee is completely normal. It covers the cost of staff and having the drugs at a vet. Typically, you don't see this fee broken out but the margins are so small on drugs that veterinarians would not carry them if for not being able to cover their cost.
$1300 is more than reasonable for extractions and a teeth cleaning.

Its definitely not reasonable to refuse to give an accurate estimated cost upfront.
Dispensing fees are not the usual practice in any office that I have ever used and I'm pretty darn old. I have also foumd that the cost of meds at most practices is not much, if any, higher than Costco/Sams or a reputable internet pharmacy. If the OP is describing this accurately, yes, she is being taken advantage of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you really want to use Groupon to find a medical professional to put your dog under anasthesia and basically do surgery?
A dispensing fee is completely normal. It covers the cost of staff and having the drugs at a vet. Typically, you don't see this fee broken out but the margins are so small on drugs that veterinarians would not carry them if for not being able to cover their cost.
$1300 is more than reasonable for extractions and a teeth cleaning.

Its definitely not reasonable to refuse to give an accurate estimated cost upfront.
Dispensing fees are not the usual practice in any office that I have ever used and I'm pretty darn old. I have also foumd that the cost of meds at most practices is not much, if any, higher than Costco/Sams or a reputable internet pharmacy. If the OP is describing this accurately, yes, she is being taken advantage of.

+1. I've gone to some expensive (and in some cases, I would argue overpriced) vets over the years but never felt taken advantage of because they were up front about the costs. Doesn't sound like that is the case with this vet.

[Anonymous]

My dog was once given an injection of Rimadyl -- once -- when she was in such severe back pain that she could not really walk. That was the only time we got an injection in addition to pills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really want to use Groupon to find a medical professional to put your dog under anasthesia and basically do surgery?
A dispensing fee is completely normal. It covers the cost of staff and having the drugs at a vet. Typically, you don't see this fee broken out but the margins are so small on drugs that veterinarians would not carry them if for not being able to cover their cost.
$1300 is more than reasonable for extractions and a teeth cleaning.

Hello, OP's vet!

[Anonymous]

My vet isn't cheap but they always provide a printout of the treatment plan with prices and options clearly listed. Only the emergency vets make you sign upfront since no one knows what procedures will end up being needed. Meds are always cheaper outside your vet's. They can be reluctant to write you a prescription so you can shop on your own but don't feel embarrassed to do this if cost is a concern.
Dispensing fees are a crock. Especially per medication. I would like to know what vet does this and if it were me I would leave them a poor review on Yelp.

[Anonymous]

Get an online subscription to Consumer Checkbook. They rate DMV vets by price & quality. Difference can be up to $500 per procedure (not your specific procedure). I'm going through the list now. Quite interesting to read comments - you find people who drive from DC to Silver Spring and elsewhere for pet care.

[Anonymous]

Value Vet.

[Anonymous]

Dentals are ridiculously expensive. And dental problems can cause so much pain and other health problems for dogs. It's sad.
I tried these people last fall, they did a fine job and were much more affordable:

http://manassas.anicira.org/