Really? $600??

[Scooter]

 So, I’ve mentioned on here a couple of times that we’re having some troubles finding a vet that will take Bunners for his neuter.  I would really like to get this done, but today we were quoted $600 for the procedure. 

Am I wrong to think this is way too high?   I mean, I expected somewhere around $200, with some testing, etc, but $600?    

Suggestions, help, or just confirmation that this is legitimate would be much appreciated.  I’m being told it’s because he’s an exotic, which I agree with, but the price still seems odd. 

I REALLY don’t want to wait much longer, or not get Bunner’s neutered, but $600 is going to be rough. 

As Always, much thanks for your help!

 

Rach

[skunklionshow]

Where are you located???  I think that is very high.  I know that w/ pre-surgery appt, bloodwork, post-surgical meds….it still doesn’t seem like it s/b that high.  I think Leo w/ everything wasn’t more than $300 and Philly loves to think it’s NY when it comes to prices

[SophieBun]

I checked out various vets that did spaying for Sophie and the most expensive one told me $360 and I was like WHAT?! O_O and all the others were pretty much around the same range. The vet I started going to with Sophie that they know a a lot about bunnies and are very experienced charges $180 for the spaying. As soon as the babies are weaned I’m spaying her there. I think $600 is waaaaaaaaay too much. Also, the vet I go to told me that it depends how much they charge because of the location they’re at and other factors too. If they pay a lot of rent and other stuff they’re probably going to charge more for spaying and neutering.

[mrmac]

Where are you? That price is outrageous! My one boy’s neuter was $80!

[Lisa27]

We just got Spencer neutered last week. I contacted about 10 local vets and prices ranged all the way up to almost $400. Crazy. I kept asking, this is for a bunny, right? Not a 100 lb dog! Anyway, one of my hometown vets did the procedure for $150. I thought for sure I’d go there and they’d slap me a bill for $300. But I had asked them what the $150 included and it was everything. Spencer did great. By that evening, he was walking around like nothing happened. He didn’t try to lick the area or anything. I was very pleased. Now I am looking forward to the decreased horniness from the little guy!

[Balefulregards]

Coco was about 350 – and she is a girl and I am in Montreal. Jacksons neuter? 60 bucks.

Did you call your local SPCA/humane society? We adopted Jackson through the SPCA and their “charge” for the neuter was 18 bucks – The rest is the adoption fee – which was totally fine with me.

But 600 is high. And Yes, they are exotics BUT. Call around and chat with your local rescue people.

[Scooter]

I’m just north of Orlando, FL. Okay, phew. I thought that seemed high. I thought boys were normally less than the ladies, but thought maybe there was something I was missing. I’m going to keep looking, but I REALLY wanted to get this done soon. Today was Bunner’s 5 month birthday, and I’m concerned about what habits might develop if I wait.

[SophieBun]

I found this group while searching for vets in Orlando, it looks really nice!

http://www.orlandorabbit.org/

and this vet in orlando

Dr. Kerry Jackson
East Orlando Animal Hospital
7600 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando 32822
(407) 277-3497

http://www.eoah.com/

A few services that our doctors provide:

– Consultation for well pets to discuss nutrition and basic wellness, including vaccines as recommended by the veterinarian
– Surgery, including spaying and neutering for small mammals
– Routine or critical lab work
– Critical or emergency care
– Sexing for birds

and

James Bogan, Jr., DVM (AEMV)
Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Waterford Lakes
731 Alafaya Trail
Orlando, FL 32828
(407) 736-0196
Email: jim.bogan@banfield.net

Idk if you’re near here, I’ll post them just in case:

Beth Ferris, DVM
Debbie Butler, DVM
Village Animal Hospital & Bird Clinic
1340 Palm Bay Rd. NE
Palm Bay, FL 32905
(321) 725-9770

April Romagnamo, Ph.D., D.V.M., A.V.B.P.
Scott Martin, M.S., D.V.M.
Animal Health Clinic
5500 Military Trail, Suite 40
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 799-7717
24-hour emergency phone: (561) 723-0025

Dr. Heather Johnston , DVM (AEMV)
Native Palm Animal Hospital
10076 Indiantown RD
Jupiter Farms, FL 33478
Phone: 561-747-9991

and here’s a link with a bunch of vets in FL with reccommendations:

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11595&forum_id=9

hope it helps!

[Adalaide]

My local vet told me $146 will cover everything Freya needs. I did forget to ask though if that includes a follow up visit, I don’t even know if she will need one. Anyway, if a vet told me $600 I’d probably say something snarky and hang up on them. They must be high to be charging that much, or maybe they think they’ll get an idiot to pay it. I was actually going to call tomorrow to schedule her surgery, I’m definately double checking on what they expect.

[MimzMum]

I live in Alaska and my lop Mimzy was almost a year old when I had him neutered and it still only cost about $178. Follow-ups usually are included in that price I think, as a courtesy. It’s only if you’d need antibiotics for aftercare that I think you’d see a little higher charge, but certainly not $600.

Even my big husky who was 12 when I finally got him neutered this summer only cost about $500, and he’s easily a 120 LB dog!

[jerseygirl]

I think I once gave another member the orlandorabbit.org link that Giuly posted ^. Danielle, her screen name is Holly (rabbit’s name). She’s in Orlando also but uncertain who she saw in the end. Perhaps send her a message?

[Scooter]

Thank you much for the assistance/confirmation everyone! Giuly, super duper thanks for the links. One of my agreements with my boyfriend with the gift of my Bunners, was that he had to agree to take care of vet bills and visits, so he’s been doing the calling. I shot him that list, so hopefully we have good news soon. Those vets listed are all quite a ways from where I live, but I would rather have someone trusted do it, than be totally in my neighborhood. I figure driving an hour will be okay, but I would still like to find an emergency vet close. ugh… if only everyone loved the bunnies as much as we do, so they weren’t so exotic and more vets would be knowledgeable enough to take them!

[Monkeybun]

http://www.floridarabbit.org/html/vets.html

theres a florida rabbit site, might find one closer to you on there

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I want to chime in and say probably the opposite of what others are saying.

600$ is high-and for a neuter nonetheless. I paid 450 for a spay though.

BUT before you go bouncing into the nearest clinic that is cheaper or think your vet is a scam artist CHECK to see what’s included.

What you must not do without is:

*Supervision while your bunny is waking up from surgery My vet has a tech one on one with every animal who is under after surgery to watch. This is IMPORTANT, some anestetics cause them to wake up in ‘fits and starts’ and this is how *Some* rabbits become paralyzed after surgery.

*An up to date cocktail of anestetic. It’s expensive. Higher prices may mean you are getting newer safer anestetic then a vet who may just use ketamine. Your vet may use a tube instead of a mask-it’s more expensive but better when used properly. Find out what they use, and compare.

*Some kind of warming pad in surgery. Rabbits’ easily beocme hyporthermic. My vet uses a warming pad under all patients in surgery.

Some things that are good but you could pass on,

*Pain medication. Spays NEED it, neuters don’t. But it’s nice to have. Its generally metacam; If they don’t include it in the price and you want it, it’s generally inexpensive to request.

*An e-collar. Some bunnies need them. They are a pain but only need to wear for a few days. Some bunnies do not need them. This is up to you if you’d like.

*Pre anestetic blood work. This ups the price big time, and isn’t necessary per-se. But if it’s done prior you have more of a chance of knowing the anestetic won’t react with your bun.

I would think for 600$ they may be including an overnight hospital stay in the price. Find out, and see if you could take him home instead. It’s unnecessary for them to stay, and better that they get home and destress and eat food.

[bunnytowne]

There is a really good vet named Dr. Ferris in Rockledge too.   It looks to be the same Dr. Ferris that has another office in Palm Bay.  Palm Bay is farther than Rockledge.  I would try Rockledge first if you are going with Dr. Ferris.  She is good I know  lots of bunny people who use her for their buns needs.

Also in Titusville or Rockledge humane society charges 40.00 for a spay/neuter.  A friend of mine uses one of these mentioned humane societies  and DR. Ferris too.  They are good people to go to.

It is a little drive from Orlando about 1 hr 1 1/2 hours.  But it is worth it.  600.00  are they out of their minds.   The highest I ever heard of is 300.00

  Ohhh I know a Dr. Turner that charges 100.00 She is on U.S. 1 in Melbourne Fl.  People who I know use her for their spay/neuter and she is great.  The buns did great.

[bunnytowne]

jupiter fl    is very far from you  

my hubby goes to orlando sometimes

[Desma]

I used a very reputable vet that specializes in rabbits and to get Hunny Bunny spayed was $185.  She did really well and she kept her overnight too but I went nuts not having her for one night.  I wanted to bring her home like you can a kitty after they are spayed but I knew it was for her own good to stay a night. The vet told me that she was the best behaved bunny she had worked on and she was very sweet. Of course she knew that she had to butter me up about my bunny child. I think the vet knew how fussy I was over her! The gal I got Hunny off of had used this vet for years so I was pretty informed that she was a good bunny vet. When my kitty vet here in town where I take my cats told me that she didn’t spay or alter bunnies but would give it a try, I really knew not to take her to that one!! Yikes!  This area of the Pacific Northwest has better prices that vet charge than other parts of the county I heard but I don’t know why.

[Sarita]

I think a vet that is pricing $600 for a spay or neutering is pricing it that way because they do not want to do these types of procedures.

[KatnipCrzy]

It is not a bad idea to call around to get prices- but keep in mind when you get really low prices- you often get what you pay for.  A private vet (no a rescue or shelter) does not spay and neuter pets and charge so they are making NO money.  They are a business and they have expenses and employees to pay- so if you get a low ball quote- it is most likely to good to be true.  Make sure that pre-anes bloodwork is included, pain meds injection there and pain meds to go home, and what type of anesthesia they are using- injectable and gas.

Yeah you can still make money charging a very low price on a neuter- IF you don’t do bloodwork, use cheap injectable anesthesia only and hope the pet stays asleep the whole surgery and then hope they wake up from it.  And eliminating any other injections for pain, sedation, atropine (for heart rate) and only give a shot of Penicillin if that.  So if all the vet does is give a shot to knock the bunny out, do the surgery, give an injection of Penicillin (if that) and toss him back in a cage to wake up (or not)- that could be done pretty cheaply.

I am not tyring to scare you- but you need to find a middle ground.  $600 sounds high- but choosing a vet to neuter a bunny is way different than buying something else- there is a lot to a bunny neuter that you CANNOT SEE- so you have to ask about it in advance.

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yeah you can still make money charging a very low price on a neuter- IF you don’t do bloodwork, use cheap injectable anesthesia only and hope the pet stays asleep the whole surgery and then hope they wake up from it. And eliminating any other injections for pain, sedation, atropine (for heart rate) and only give a shot of Penicillin if that. So if all the vet does is give a shot to knock the bunny out, do the surgery, give an injection of Penicillin (if that) and toss him back in a cage to wake up (or not)- that could be done pretty cheaply.

That’s a more succinct way of saying what I was trying to say-you get what you pay for. A middle ground would be better. But don’t go for the cheapest vet.
You want to see what their procedures are and what they do.

Like I said, I paid 450$ for a spay, but 600 is not unheard of and they may be using VERY good very safe procedures that are worth it.

Also-you could ask if they take payments

[Adalaide]

I guess I get the bang for my buck with my vet. It’s $46.50 for her bloodwork and $145 for the surgery. The vet is very experienced with buns, so no worries there. They will keep Freya overnight for observation. Someone will be there to care for all the pets that are there overnight. Pain meds for when she comes home will be extra, but they aren’t expensive so no worries there. I guess I’m just super lucky here.

[Scooter]

 I thought this might be part of the case as well.  It would have been a Sunday appointment, per their request, and no stayover.  

 

I agree absolutely with what everyone is saying here.  KK, I totally appreciate your breakdown of the must haves v the possibilities.  I think that’s what I’m waiting to hear from the vet, why so much. 

I don’t think we’re adverse to the $600, if it’s legitimate, it just seems odd. 

I’ll keep you all posted on the findings.  It looks like we might have found a couple more today that were more open when we mentioned the Orlando Rabbit people. 

 

Rach 

[Sarita]

Wow! I cannot even believe you can get a Sunday appointment! My vets don’t do any surgeries at all on the weekends so that’s pretty cool.

[Adalaide]

I had no idea that vets did surgerys on Sundays anywhere. Maybe if you could do it on a different day the cost would be affected. I do know that unless it were a life and death emergancy there is no way a vet would ever do surgery on a Sunday here. (I’m in Utah.) Maybe they only do it on Sundays as an excuse to jack up the price? Just ask what the price difference would be to have it done on a Tuesday or something. The fact that they are requesting it be a Sunday is shocking and suspicious to me.

[Balefulregards]

Coco was a bit over 350 when it was said and done – but that was with an overnight stay and follow up AND I am in Montreal. Jacksons neuter was done at the SPCA ( also here in Montreal) but it is driven by adoption fees.

I suspect you will find vets more comfortable with rabbits, and priced more reasonably.

[MooBunnay]

I agree with everything K&K said, but $600 does seem really high, I have not ever been quoted that high for even a spay, which is usually more expensive.

Good luck on finding a good vet, definitely do take the time to make sure the vet is very familiar with bunnies. The good thing about spending the time now to find a good vet is that you will always have someone to go to in the future if there are any medical emergencies.

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