Our puppy is 7 weeks old and I took her to the vet today for her first shot and checkup and all the good stuff. This is my first time being responsible for the vet charges and Im not sure what they should be on average. We live in northern Illinois if that has anything to do with it.
But she got her 1st of 3 shots (the bill says DA2PP) which only cost $11.10, and Im completely fine with that, the breeder I got her from said to expect to pay $25 for her first shot.
BUT I got charged $39.50 for a 'New-Patient Exam'. The vet checked her over and everything but it wasn't anything special. At the moment our finances are a little tight, and we have to take her back so frequently in these next couple months for all of her ruotine shots, Im wondering if this is a good price or slightly inflated.
There are plenty of vets around the area but I was recomended by a friend whom I trust because the Vet is good. Just curious what I should expect in vet fees. Thanks
Answers:
$40 is the normal, first visit charge for the examination of a new puppy. You might look into a first-year-of-life plan for all the shots she will need this year as they usually discount them all by like 15% (depending on the vet) when you guarantee to get all the shots that she will need with them. No, they will not charge you $40 each time you go but the different shots she will need over the next year will be pricey...
the cost varies from vet to vet . But the price you paid sounds pretty legit
Actually the office visit was very fair. The shots were even more than fair. I would not complain if I were you. This vet sounds like it was doing a good job at a fair price.
Usually when I take my dogs in to get they're shots I don't get charged an office visit, but I get charged for the series of all the shots they need. I would recommend looking for a new vet because I have never heard of anybody being charged for the shots and the visit, let alone a "New-Patient" Exam. I would suggest looking around for somebody new.
What you paid is just about right. You can buy dog insurance plans that are a small monthly charge and then your vet visits are free and the shots are cheaper. Depends on your vet.
It varies from one vet to another.
The vet I use for standard vaccines and general check-ups charges $35 for an office visit. The vet we use for urgent care (and it's not an after hours vet or ER Vet) charges $40.
I get charged $37.00 dollars for a vet checkup for my dog and my cat.
That's the normal price.
But here's something to ease your mind, after her puppy shots are done, you'll only be bringing her to the vet once a year (assuming she's healthy).
That's pretty good. Dogs cost:
http://www.bluecollardollar.com/funding_...
It doesn't sound terribly expensive, but you could ask your current vet if he/she has a payment plan for future visits.
You could also call around to other vets and ask their prices to get a comparison for your local area.
That's a normal price. Prices always vary and go up a bit, but the price was higher because they had to create a new file for your dog, so just like a people doctor, they had to spend extra time to make a new file.
It's the norm, like already mentioned. In fact, I had a biopsy done on one our *deceased* mice (tumor) and had to pay the $40 new patient/office visit fee too. (It's a part of having pets...it's not cheap.)
I pay quite a bit. It is 100 just for the visit (includes shots,fecal) and then another 45 for the heartworm medicine. It can be pretty pricey!.
$39.50 is actually pretty reasonable even for a first visit. Once the puppy has gone the first set of visits you won't have to go back for at least a year for the annual check up and shots.
The shots sound like the average price, and the "new patient" charge will only be charged once. Each visit afterwards will probably be about $15 or less for the exam plus any other charges, such as shots.
It's common for there to be different charges for different "degrees" of a call. Some will have a flat charge for the office and add on services, others will have different types of calls with grouped services included. I personally prefer the flat fee with itemized costs. In the long run I might pay a little more (hey, doc, take a look at this...) but I like having it all spelled out for me.
Farm vets obviously have to base their rates on the distance your place is from their office. But, even in your situation, it's really a billing preference on the part of the vet.
Ask your vet for an explanation of charges and how much to expect before the second shot. Write down how much and who you talked to. It is standard for a vet to do a "new patient" exam, and worth it in the long run. If your pet is deathly sick and it's Sunday night and there is no emergency clinic in town, you definitely want to be someone's regular client.
Those were normal charges. Call your vet and see if you will be charged an office visit for the rest of the shots. Most vets don't charge for office visits for shots once you've been there. If that vet does, check out low cost shot clinics in your area. Really the best thing to do is ask your vet's office staff. Congrats on your new puppy and good luck with it all;^)
That price sounds right. You should expect to pay nothing or a reduced rate for the follow-up visits. Vets know puppies have to come in several times in the first year. They aren't trying to milk you for money. I only pay something like $20 or $25 for the follow-up visits, which is about a third of the normal office visit price. You're in a lower cost area than I and it sounds like your vet is very fair, so I wouldn't expect to pay much more than the cost of the shots on your follow-up visits.
Yes, it varies from vet to vet but most vets charge an "exam" or "office visit" fee every time you go in. The costs of shots or medications gets added on to that base fee. The costs you mentioned seem reasonable. You have to understand that vets need to make a living, too, and are charging for their time, expertise, and it costs money to pay for the building they are in and keep equipment up to date, hire staff, etc. Remember the old axiom that "you get what you pay for" is often true. The cheapest vet around might not always be the best one. If you would like to save some money, most shelters and humane societies have clinics that are open to the public and charge somewhat less. My local humane society charges a $30 yearly membership fee and with that membership you can take your dog in for $25 office visits and medications/vaccines are discounted.
You need to learn about vaccinations and the duration of immunity for them. Read the University of Wisconsin
http://svmweb.vetmed.wisc.edu/articles/6...
also read Dr. Bob Roger's website, he's a vet in Texas
http://www.critteradvocacy.org
You don't want to be paying for more vaccines than you need.
it really all depends on where you go, at one place i got charged like over $100 for my puppies second shots, that didnt include the exam charge or anything i wasnt goin to pay that much so i went to my regular vets and got charged like $40 dollars, exam and shots included!
It sounds like a realistic price. If the vet was recommended, I'd stay with them. I took my dog to a vet that was less expensive than the one I take him to now. The medicine that they gave me was mislabled (wrong dosage) and the vet was harried and rushed. Sometimes, you get what you pay for!
usually first time visits cost about 100 dollars ( that includes getting rabies shots and and heart worm treatment.)
Yeah, that is pretty normal---better than normal. I pay over $50 just to have my dog checked.
She had a problem with her eye so she had to go to an eye specialist.each check up was at least $140.
My vet charges $55 for any exam walking in the door, just like a doctor does. I would pay this all day long, because I trust him to do the right thing by my 6 dogs. It all boils down to, do you want the best care for your dog and are you willing to pay for it? Don't compromise on a life just because it's a dog.
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