Excessive Vet costs?

juliev wrote:
Thanks Dr Doug!

I thought the Banfields were franchises, didn't realize they were corporate owned. That explains a lot.

I did get an estimate, they quoted me $203.22 (and I paid that up front when I dropped her off). When I went back to get her they charged me another $752.00. They also pulled one of her teeth that was cracked (not with my approval!) and did a dental exam for which they charged me $300.00. I see online that the dental exam charges are supposed to include anesthesia, so I wound up paying for that twice - once included in the dental and another $260.00 for the anesthesia for the sutures. (I did not approve the dental exam or the tooth extraction- that had just been done about 6 months ago by our old vet) They claim that they tried to call me for authorization but my phone was in my pocket and never rang.

I also required about 25 stitches from this same incident. My stitches cost a total of $185.00, (no anesthesia) and that was at Mayo Clinic!

dturm wrote:
Banfield is a corporation, the individual vets most likely are employees and have little input as to prices, what is done, how it is done and charged and ultimate cost to you.

Just a couple of comments (I can't resist). There is no such thing as a little anesthesia. Maybe short in time, but invariably things that go wrong do so at the start. Many of the costs are the same whether it's 5 minutes or 60 minutes (preop blood work, catheter, induction drugs, inbutation,). About the only variables with time are related to personnel costs and inhalation anesthetic supplies.

That being said, last Friday I had a laceration in a geriatric patient with a severe heart condition that we thought couldn't withstand a general anesthetic. I did a local (very nice Chi believe it or not :B), cleaned the wound and placed about 15 staples. With pain meds and antibiotics she went home MUCH less that $1000.

Always request an estimate in writing before agreeing to any surgical or involved lab or medical procedure. If your vet doesn't provide it or cops an attitude, walk.

Doug, DVM