Is it me, or are vets a lot more expensive then they used to be?

I took my cat to the vet to get a "check-up". He came out with his first shot and a blood test to make sure he didn't have AIDS. His bill was $288 dollars. I noticed every person who left had a bill of $300 or more, one guy paid nearly $500 when he left with a stack of pills that could have easily sedated his dog for the next year. Do you think vets are going over board now? Are there any good ones let that don't seem to rip you off?

As a recent graduate, I find it overwhelming when you now need to consider insurance for having a pet. I adore animals, and have always tried to do my part in giving at least one or two abandoned ones a home, but I always feel like a bad mother when the vet tells me $300 for a measely little check-up and I damn near have a stroke.

I don't think they charge more for standard procedures (allowing for inflation), but with advances in technology there are many more treatment options than before, none of which comes cheap.

Vets aren't trying to rip you off, for the most part. They just don't feel like they are doing their job if they don't tell you everything that is available. And, as a caring owner, you feel bad if you don't do everything possible for your pet.

Be sure to discuss everything thoroughly with your vet, and find another one if you're not happy with their anwers.

As for your particular case: bloodwork is always expensive, and it's a very useful diagnostic tool. Unfortunately, you don't know whether it's really necessary until the results come back!

More and more people choose to test for FIV. If your cat is a stray, you don't know where it's been, and it will come into contact with other cats, it's the only way to be sure that it won't make your other cats sick. But you could probably have saved yourself the expense if there were few chances of your cat having been infected, or if it's an only cat. FIV isn't transmissible to humans.

Be prepared to make many such decisions during your cat's lifetime. In that regard, pet health insurance can help budget your veterinary expenses in a predictable monthly payment, as opposed to taking a huge hit at unpredictable times. It will also give you peace of mind to know that you can provide your cat with necessary treatments.

On the other hand, it is expensive. In most cases, over the animal's life you will spend more on premiums than you would have if you had just paid for treatments as needed. Peace of mind comes at a price. Only you can decide whether it's worth it.

its not u because the vets use better treatment than befor so its more money to pay.

they all rip you off thats how they make a living.

i have insurance for dante... its only 20 a month, but it helps some and i get some money back. hes pretty active, so it will really kick in if he takes a flyin leap and whacks himself on something.

yes, vets cost a lot... but so do people drs.. dante is the one thing in life i never skimp on. i take better care of that dog than i do myself... and i think the vets are catching on to that, and taking advantage of us..

but do we really have a choice?

I totally agree. I went to my local vet becasue my cat was dying... it turns out he had a bladder stone and he actually died here but they brought him back. It cost me $1300, and he was going to need 4 surgeries because he was so blocked up whoch would total ober $2000 more. I had to give him up because I couldn't afford it. He was signed over to the vet and who knows what happened. I had to take out a line of credit to pay the $1300. I also have a pet monkey and his regular checkups cost nearly $1000. That is reasonable but with my cat... no way!

they do overcharge... my solution, was to find a small clinic, as opposed to the "cat hospital". The vet there often gives me discounts when he tells me the cost of a treatment, and I mention that I'm a student.

I'm sure there are alot of vets who take advantage of our love for animals, just like human doctors do to us. But in all fairness, the rents on their offices have gone insanely high - like rents for homes and every other existing building. Utility bills have shot through the roof and I'm sure pet drug companies are just as money-grubbing as people med companies have become. Lets face it...we live in a money whoring world...and no one is immune.

Everything's more expensive then it used to be....
Also, some vets are thiefs. They make you pay for unnecessary tests and medicines. Like an AIDS test? For a cat? I've never heard of that.
And try not to feel too guilty if you can't afford it. Nobody should expect you to take out a second mortgage or lose your life's savings or whatever for a pet. It doesn't mean you don't love them.

Everything is getting more expensive nowadays.
Many animal shelters give basic things such as vaccinations, heartworm testing, spay/neuter for very low prices.
Check into pet health insurance, there are many plans available. Emergency vets tend to be more costly than regular vets.