With today’s economy, people tend to price shop for a number of things, including veterinary care. However, it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. When it comes to healthcare, it’s important to choose carefully and not base selecting a vet solely on cost.
So what goes into a veterinarian’s fees?
Everyone’s first thought is salary. Many people think that veterinarians and their staff are on a similar pay scale as human doctors and nurses.
Starting Average
Small Animal Veterinarians $50-65,000 $80-90,000
Medical Doctors Family Practice $120,000 $165,000
Registered Veterinary Technicians $25,000 $30-35,000
Registered Nurses $50,000 $65-75,000
Veterinary professionals treat a variety of species (who cannot talk and tell them what hurts) and go to school about the same amount of time as medical doctors, who treat one species. While both professions must deal with angry patients, veterinarians and their staff are more likely to get bit and kicked by their patients.
Next to consider is overhead costs to operate a facility. Businesses must pay utilities (electric, gas, phone, internet) and such just like everyone else. This includes various taxes, and also includes land or building rent or mortgage.
Let’s look at some of the common costs associated with caring for pets.
There’s more to the cost of a vaccine than just the vaccine itself. Figured into the price you the owner pays is the vaccine, syringe and needle used, storage (must be kept in refrigerator), and the administration of the vaccine. Then there’s the charting and record keeping whenever a pet receives a vaccine, as well as disposing of the syringe and needle as medical waste (separate than regular trash).
Lab work prices include the cost of the test itself, as well as courier cost (if going to an outside lab) or machine maintenance if run in the clinic. Then there is the cost of obtaining the sample (time and supplies), storing the sample until it’s analyzed (most typically are stored in the refrigerator), disposing of used supplies and excess sample (medical waste). Then the veterinarian must review the results and contact the owner.
Surgeries and dental cleanings can get expensive quick. Pet owners often look for a lower cost place to get their pets spayed and neutered. All facilities have the cost of buying and maintaining instruments and equipment, including anesthetic machines, sterilization units, and monitoring equipment (we hope-not all facilities use machines to aid in monitoring vital signs). Facilities must also pay their staff to do the procedures.
Not all clinics utilize registered technicians. Some use assistants who do not have the schooling that technicians do because they can pay them less. Technicians are very valuable to a practice. Like nurses, they take classes and learn techniques in school, then practice those during internships under supervision of a veterinarian. Technicians are trained to be anesthesiologists, surgical assistants, laboratory technicians, dental hygienists, x-ray assistants, and more. Technicians also play a key role in educating pet owners about preventative care as well as various procedures and medications recommended by the veterinarian. While assistants can be trained, and some are very good at what they do, it is not the same as professional schooling, and legally assistants cannot do all the tasks technicians can.
A few more key points to consider in regards to cost:
1) Vaccines: Most veterinarians will do an exam at every vaccine appointment. This is important because we do not want to vaccinate a potentially ill pet. Also, many health conditions are discovered during routine exams when the pet appears healthy. Technicians and doctors take this time as well to educate pet owners on preventative care. Not all low cost vaccine clinics will do a full nose to tail exam.
Check out our blog on wellness exams: http://www.suburbananimalclinic.com/the-ins-outs-of-the-exam
2) Surgeries: Surgery and anesthesia isn’t as regulated in veterinary medicine as in human medicine. Not all facilities recommend pre-surgical blood work. Not all veterinarians gown up for surgeries. Not all facilities properly sterilize instruments between patients. Not all facilities utilize trained registered technicians, along with machines, to properly monitor vital signs and anesthesia. Some facilities may have one assistant recovering several patients at once in one large room. Not many facilities place IV catheters or offer IV fluids during procedures (IV catheters give quick vein access in the event of an anesthetic emergency). All of the above factors could affect the health and safety of your pet.
(Note: Suburban Animal Clinic practices human-grade anesthesia and sterile procedures for surgery. Patients receive IV catheters, most receive IV fluids, & receive pre-anesthetic workups. Registered technicians stay with your pet from pre-op through recovery monitoring anesthesia and vital signs. Doctors are gowned and completely sterile for procedures, and all instruments are properly sterilized before being used on the next patient. See our blog on anesthesia at Suburban: http://www.suburbananimalclinic.com/anesthetic-safety-at-suburban)
Now, all of this isn’t to say that one facility or veterinarian is better than, or worse than, another. It is to advise you on key areas in veterinary medicine where choosing based on cost can affect your pet. Human medical facilities have the same things to consider cost-wise as veterinary facilities, however most people have insurance and pay only the co-pays or a set fee. Prices are more noticeable in veterinary medicine because pet owners must pay the full cost at the time services are provided. Pet insurance plans are available, but pet owners still pay at the time of service, and insurance will reimburse the pet owner according to their plan. Care Credit (www.carecredit.com) is also available with plans to help delay paying the full amount.
For additional information, please click the following Suburban Animal Clinic blog links:
http://www.suburbananimalclinic.com/blog/pet-store-vaccines
http://www.suburbananimalclinic.com/pet-care-cost-planning
Pet Insurance:
ASPCA: www.aspcapetinsurance.com
VPI: www.petinsurance.com
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