Unreasonable Vet Fees?

[emerald42]

I admitted my cat to a vet in New Jersey after she was suffering from constipation for several days and lactulose/diet changes offered no relief. I am not being faced with a $800 dollar bill for 2 nights stay, enemas, fluids, and blood work. Is this excessive? Around two years ago I had the same procedure at a different vet and it only cost $250. Have prices accelerated this fast?

[Jade59]

I am facing the same excessive pricing to get my cats teeth cleaned.  She is over 5, so the vet wants her to have a check-up, blood work and update vaccines prior to the cleaning which I am 100% on board with.  Jade will need to be anesthetized vs awake because of severe gum disease and the price also includes extractions if needed.  The total price came to $700!  

I asked what the price would be if she didn't need any extractions...$40 less.  I just about fainted!

[PrettyKitty1]

I agree. It is abuse at its max! It is what you just called it: Unreasonable Vet Fees. Times have changed, and everything is more expensive nowadays, even in small towns. So it doesn't surprise me that vet bills are ridiculously high. *sigh*

[zodiacqueen]

Oh, yes those prices sound right.  I had my cat for a check up, and got charged $377.  That included blood work, the exam, urine test, and an x-ray.  The blood work alone was around $200.  I think that vet bills will continue to go up!  GRRRRRR!

[Maddie6]

One of my cats has a cavity, gingivitis, etc. and the estimate for X-rays, extraction, dental cleaning, anesthesia, meds, monitoring, etc. was between $600 - $700.  She already had the pre-op blood work, so it is expensive, but necessary.  

[Ecologic]

To Emeral42: One of my cats had to spend 3 days/2 nights at the vet in 2007, with fluids, lab work and medication, and it cost us $700.

To Jade59: $700 for a tooth cleaning, now I find that very expensive!
We have a cat with gengivitis, adopted him in December and he had his tooth cleaning in January, it cost <$300. Tooth cleaning alone under anesthesia is $170 + $100 for blood work and IV during cleaning = $270. This price does not include extraction but I think it's # $40/tooth.
If I were you, I would shop around to find a less expensive vet...

[Jade59]

I should have broken that $700 down better.  It's actually about $400 for the cleaning alone, the rest is for check-up, bloodwork and vaccinations.  And yes, $40 per tooth here too.  The vet said this $400 includes a new procedure of hooking the cat up to an IV prior to going under (I guess this practice wasn't done before?) because if something were to go wrong, kitty will go downhill quickly and it's harder to find a vein in that case.  I looked up our bill from 2yrs ago and it was $220 for a cleaning then.  When I questioned the vet, this was their explanation for increased rates.  

I should shop around, but this is overwhelming for me to deal with and our vet is only a few blocks away so I suppose I'm paying for the convenience as well.

Still outrageous, I agree!