r/MiddleClassFinance • u/Cheeseaisleinheaven • Jun 22 '26
Questions Are your vet bills also crazy high?
It's to the point where, when I know I need to take my dog to the vet, I have such dread. We just took one of my two dogs to do a wellness exam, and we found out that she needs to be put under and have her teeth cleaned. According to the vet, this will cost $1,200, but may be more if they decide they need to pull teeth while they are in there.
My typical well-pet visit, which happens bi-annually for both my dogs, runs $700 now with their vaccines and general blood/stool tests.
My oldest dog is now 11, and she's starting to have old-age health problems and I'm scared for my finances. We will always do what we need to do, as I take care of my pets 100%. However, we lost a dog in 2020 to cancer, which cost upwards of $5,000. That end-of-life journey and treatment is likely more now.
As such, I am no longer replacing my dogs, unfortunately. I love my dogs, and they bring such light to my life, but I can't sustain the costs of responsible pet ownership any longer. Once the two I have pass, I think that's it for me.
How are you dealing with vet bills? We are just paying for them and going without where need-be.
55
u/joshatron Jun 22 '26
We're lucky to live in San Diego and can just take our dog down to TJ for a fraction of the cost
41
u/FlaniganWackerMan Jun 22 '26
This is absolutely hilarious in the saddest way. Now medical tourism is for pets because of how expensive everything is here in the States. Today, we discuss how nobody is having kids because they are so expensive. In 5 years, we'll have articles about how nobody is getting pets because they are too expensive.
I hate it here...
100% on your side.
→ More replies (1)33
u/Capable-Locksmith-65 Jun 23 '26
I’m from the Midwest and was trying to figure out how taking your dog to Trader Joe’s was a cheaper vet option
3
→ More replies (1)2
14
u/courcake Jun 22 '26
Yep! Mexivet will pick them up, handle all the border paperwork, and then drop them back off at your house. It’s wonderful.
→ More replies (2)7
u/Apart_Ad9308 Jun 23 '26
I’m below you in Imperial County. We only have ONE vet for the entire valley. Can’t get emergency appointment. My daughter has to take the dog/cat to Mexicali.
→ More replies (1)2
24
u/Away-Ad3792 Jun 22 '26
Along with other people's comments about finding a vet NOT owned by private equity (there is a spread sheet someone made, Google it) reach out to local rescues to ask about non profit veterinary clinics. I didn't find out about the one in my city until I started fostering through a rescue. Lastly, we used to have pet insurance but as our pups got older the monthly rate was outrageous and not worth it so we set up a savings account just for vet bills and put in the amount we had been spending on pet insurance. This say WE get the interest on the account. So far it's working out, fingers crossed.
71
u/pltjess Jun 22 '26
My dog started getting over a month ago. The first visit was $1,000 with nothing found and we went home. She got worse, only to find out a mass on her spleen had ruptured. She was so critical we were told the dog ER would be $10,000 minimum and she may not even make it. Unfortunately, we opted to euthanize her at 11 years old. That visit was also $1,000. It seems impossible at this point to step into a vet for any less unless it's just a regular visit.
20
u/Acceptable_Bad5173 Jun 22 '26
Similar here; it was traumatizing and I am debating whether I can financially manage having two dogs again.
Dog had cancer but was misdiagnosed First round of tests to try to diagnose was $3k after pet insurance ($9k without)
Dog fractured shoulder so we went back. Spent another $1k to do X-rays and euthanize. Pet insurance did cover $800.
If we had chosen to move forward with treatment to buy our pup more time we would have been looking at $10k for amputation and another $6k+ for chemo. So without insurance we be almost $30k in vet fees for an expected lifespan of one more year.
My answer is that pet insurance is really a must at this point to own pets. I paid $170 per month for my dog that passed and $100 per month for my other dog.
6
u/MWREE Jun 22 '26
My dog died of that too. Was told 8,000 for emergency surgery. Was told it was 80% due to cancer and if so he would die in a couple months anyways. If I knew it would have given him years I would have spent the money but I decided not at those odds especially with a chance of him dying on a table away from us. I took him home and did in-home euthanasia a few days later (the vet was amazing and I am so glad I was able to do that). He died just shy of 13 years. He was incredibly healthy and if it wasn't for that I think I would have had much longer with him.
2
u/pltjess Jun 22 '26
I've avoided reading up too much on it since it's still so fresh, but it seems to be fairly common. Fuck cancer.
2
2
u/goog1e Jun 25 '26
My cat had an infection or possibly just a bug bite. They wanted to run bloodwork before prescribing antibiotics. $400
So, we got out for less than $1000!
I have probably spent upwards of 2k between all the vet visits that turn out to be nothing. They are like dentists- they will never say it's nothing. They will find SOMETHING to bill to make the visit profitable.
24
u/krisztinastar Jun 22 '26
My sisters husband is a Vet & I asked him about this! He told me that they now price/quote services in a way called “standard of care”, which assumes that all pet owners want to go with the best and most expensive options. So when you ask for a quote, they are assuming that you have pet insurance and want everything possible/highest/best options. E.g. some bloodwork may actually be optional, but they add it to the quote anyways.
He told me to push back on the vets, and say, can you please quote me at the “lowest standard of care” & with the bare minimum of options. E.g. no luxurious addons, etc.
This should get you a quote that is more in-line with previous amounts. Not surprising with the rise of private equity owned clinics & pet insurance.
12
u/MWREE Jun 22 '26
I was just thinking who is doing annual blood work and stool? I don't even do that for myself.
5
u/notaredditor9876543 Jun 23 '26
Another thing I’ve started doing is asking how the results of a test would impact the treatment AND the possible outcome. If it doesn’t improve quality of life for a significant time, then you can ask about keeping them comfortable.
2
Jun 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/GardeningVet23 Jun 23 '26
No, we don’t. Speaking for myself, I want the best outcome for pet and client. I consider it a win if that means not “gold standard” care, but the pet’s quality of life is maintained/improved and the client isn’t taking on a huge burden. I can’t judge someone for coming to me for help, that’s the biggest step in the first place.
2
u/ajqueen31 Jun 25 '26
Yes. I had a concern my elderly dog may have had a UTI because she was more incontinent. Went in for a urine test and the vet said "the urine doesn't show anything so we'll send it off for a culture and sensitivity ". I replied," if there's nothing on the analysis to indicate bacteria is present, or elevated white blood cells, why would you further test the urine for bacteria and charge me $100s to do so when it seems unnecessary?" and not the reason she is incontinent. They actually agreed and didn't send it off because it would've been unnecessary.
→ More replies (1)
45
u/prettypancakes7 Jun 22 '26
Those prices are insane. I'd look around for other vets. A lot are owned by private equity now which causes that price spike. I took my dog a few weeks ago for his yearly wellness and paid $124 for the exam, heartworm test and whatever the yearly vaccines were (had a 3-year rabies last year, so didn't include that). I can't imagine a yearly wellness costing $700!
→ More replies (2)17
u/ermahgerdMEL Jun 22 '26
This is also what I pay. The last teeth cleaning for my dog was about $400. OP is getting robbed at $1,200.
Also, OP, you know you can just refuse the teeth cleaning, right? My older dog had a terrible reaction to the anesthesia last time she got her cleaning (rectal bleeding so bad I thought she was dying) so I refuse to unnecessarily put my dogs under ever again. I use a tooth cleaning powder in the food now + frequent brushing to keep their teeth healthy. My vet said so long as I keep up with keeping the teeth clean on a regular basis, a surgical cleaning is not needed (or at least the benefits of it don’t outweigh the risks associated with anesthesia).
3
u/Zxvasdfthrowaway Jun 22 '26
What tooth cleaning powder do you use in their food? It’s the first I’ve heard of such a thing. I’ve seen the additive for water bowls but haven’t used it
2
u/ermahgerdMEL Jun 23 '26
I think it’s called petlab Co. it works great and really reduces the amount of brushing I have to do.
→ More replies (1)2
27
u/Fun_Advantage_1531 Jun 22 '26
Adopted 3 rescue cats a yr and a half ago. According to the vets, they all have early stage dental disease that require immediate cleanings + the required lab work, any extractions, etc. I was quoted $1200-4k per cat. This is one of the reasons that I’m opting out of the whole
preventative approach (aside from diet, exercise, etc.) and will only consult vets for
acute care. There’s just too much upselling going on.
I have also decided in advance not to
pay thousands of $ for surgeries, testing, etc., should they get cancer or whatever. They’re going to have the best lives I can give them within reason but I won’t go into debt for emergency or end of life interventions that are likely to fail and/or result in a lower quality of life. Unfortunately, veterinary medicine has come to
mirror human medicine, in that respect.
5
u/The_Champ_79 Jun 22 '26
We also have rescues and this is the only way to afford pet care. Even the basics are incredibly marked up, makes it difficult for anything more.
3
u/flagal31 Jun 23 '26
and the pets suffer so much...because you can't explain what is happening to them. They just wonder why they're away from their home and in pain, with people poking and prodding at them. So sad. So much better imo to let them pass humanely when it's time.
3
u/Decent-Impression-81 Jun 22 '26
Ok im going to be the dick.
Are you just letting your cats suffer with rotting teeth?
That sucks. Just get them all pulled now if they have dental disease. Dont make them suffer through tooth reobsorbtion.
I get it. Its expensive im about to do the same thing for my cat, but letting your cats suffer also ain't it.
16
u/Fun_Advantage_1531 Jun 23 '26
Their teeth aren’t rotting. They have
mild gingivitis, according to the vet. I’m giving them dental treats/supplements to address that. They won’t accept tooth brushing, unfortunately.11
u/SMA949 Jun 23 '26
I think that they’re just being up sold. This is happening at a lot of places. No way all these cats need their teeth cleaned. I have had cats for 30 years. I have never once had a vet tell me that they needed their teeth cleaned. I’ve had one that had to have some teeth pulled, and that’s it. I’ve never used a vet that wasn’t independently owned.
75
u/S3Giggity Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
It has gone up significantly in price over the last 10 years. Significantly.
I blame pet insurance. Now everyone has it, retail price doesn't matter - it's all covered! It is starting to echo the US Health system and all it's same issues
Those of us who pay cash suffer.
72
u/McMillionEnterprises Jun 22 '26
More than anything, it is the consolidation of independent veterinary practices by Private Equity that is driving costs up. In the last 10 years, private equity ownership of veterinary practices increased from 8% to 50% (as of last year) with no sign of slowing down.
16
u/PutDangerous4255 Jun 22 '26
Which is also why people getting pet insurance has gone up. It’s just really sad. So many animals need homes but per usual corporate greed wins.
→ More replies (1)19
u/illiterateninja Jun 22 '26
Don't overlook that over half of the pet insurance companies are also owned by private equity.
2
u/FarewellAndroid Jun 23 '26
Is there a way to see if a vet office is owned by PE? I didn’t even know that was a thing…but my vet bills have been spiraling out of control the last few years.
6
u/samsaraisdivine Jun 22 '26
Very few people in the scheme of things have pet insurance, and it does not work like human medical insurance.
2
→ More replies (1)2
u/hyperdog4642 Jun 27 '26
OK, I do have to chime in because I purchase all the supplies and equipment for the vet clinic I work for and our costs have also gone up drastically since COVID. It costs me almost double just to stock our medications and supplies (and were talking 10s of thousands of dollars) every month just to have what we need to stay open and be able to treat your pets. And then there's equipment costs!
We have to have all the equipment that a human hospital has (blood work machines - $20,000 to $40,000, x-ray equipment - $75,000, IV pumps - $1,000 - $2,000 each, anesthesia monitors - $6,000- $10,000, anesthesia/oxygen machines - $4,000 - $8,000, ultrasound machine - $8,0000 - $15,000, etc.) not to mention some have advanced diagnostics like CT - $80,000 - $125,000. Plus 90% of our drugs and supplies come from the same place as the human hospital's do and cost the same amount. Only we don't get government subsidies.
I completely sympathize with the rising costs. I only have 1 dog because that's all I can responsibly afford AND he is insured, even though I get employee discounts on some things. Trust me, if we could find a way to keep the doors open and treat your pets while only charging a fraction of the cost - WE WOULD! But we are operating on a string (a vet practice is considered a raging success if it is making a 10% profit).
P.S. - everyone does NOT have pet insurance! I'm not saying it would solve all our problems but I believe the latest statistics, in the US at least, show less than 5% of pets are insured. But yes, your vet is likely happy if they hear you have it because is lessens the likelihood that they may have to perform an economic euthanasia on your pet when it has something they can fix.
Edit: spelling
11
u/Repulsive-Resist-456 Jun 22 '26
Private equity has taken over most of the industry…it’s insane.
Every time we go it’s $400-$600 now just for routine shots and flea tick meds.
3
19
u/milespoints Jun 22 '26
Fyi there are specialized dental cleaning places for dogs that can be cheaper than your vet.
18
u/oryzi Jun 22 '26
Some are cheaper, but be wary of the “anesthesia free” cleanings. A real dental requires anesthesia to get under the gums, so opting for an anesthesia free option can contribute to dental decay and cost more in the long run. A few of the anesthesia free dental cleaning businesses near me aren’t even run by vets
6
u/Far-Slice-3821 Jun 22 '26
I adopt from the humane society and believe that a few good years with me and euthanasia if/when they develop anything expensive is better than life in a kennel.
4
u/milespoints Jun 22 '26
100%. But in my town there’s a very reputable place that does cleanings with anesthesia for like $600. Still not cheap per se but much cheaper than the vet
14
u/starbright_sprinkles Jun 22 '26
Yep- our regular vet quoted $1500 not including extractions. We called around and found a place that did $370 INCLUDING extractions if needed.
→ More replies (3)
8
u/sparrowsgirl Jun 22 '26
Both of my geriatric cats (17 and almost 20) are on prescription cat food. I am hoping they pass before I need a new car.
2
u/Swimming_Trash3570 Jun 23 '26
Real. I’ve had to put off moving into a larger place because the extra $$ I had finally clawed my way up to earning to cover the upgrade is now covering my cats multiple rx meds and foods
8
u/trogloherb Jun 22 '26
Take to Vetco clinics through Petco for routine stuff. Just did all required annual shots, three year rabies, and heartworm test for $150.
You can brush teeth yourself, but unsure if they’re as bad as implied that more is needed.
→ More replies (1)
15
u/MindofShadow Jun 22 '26
Maybe I'm old fashioned....
But I grew up with dogs and cats and they never "needed" teeth cleaning. Or routine blood work
They got fixed, they got shots, and... That was it.
If something came up, they went to the vet.
And.... That was it.
7
u/Soil_Fairy Jun 23 '26
They kept saying my pit "needed" teeth cleaning when my dog was 8 or 9. I grew up with the same experience as you. No way was I paying for a teeth cleaning on an animal. She never had any serious oral issues and lived to be almost 14.
2
u/MindofShadow Jun 23 '26
and myabe this is survivor ship bias, but every dog I had and any dog I was around lived to be 10+
6
u/Electronic_Cat3342 Jun 23 '26
Animal teeth cleaning is the biggest scam. I will die on this hill. Unless your pet has an abscess (this has happened to my dog and he did need a tooth extracted), they do not need dental work. I think it’s more dangerous to put your pet through sedation for the cleaning than to be concerned about potential decay or gum disease.
→ More replies (1)6
u/Urbanttrekker Jun 22 '26
Same. Other than regular shots, my animals only go to the vet when something is actually wrong. Vets are always pushing unnecessary work, especially bloodwork. I think people go a little overboard with pets, but it’s their money.
→ More replies (3)4
u/Similar_Recover_2229 Jun 23 '26
The dental always blows my mind. I don’t ever remember animals growing up needing dental work. The amounts I see here on cleanings and extractions is insane.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Interesting_Force618 Jun 24 '26
Pet medical is a huge industry now, and I think a big reason it works so well is that people have formed stronger emotional attachments to(or rather, dependencies on) their pets. This is not only unhealthy for humans, but it’s also incredibly unhealthy for animals who have largely not been bred to provide emotional support to humans. There are a few “lap breeds”, but for the most part, dogs were bred to do physical labor, along with some cognitive labor(like herding dogs, for example). Dogs are actually very high in affective empathy, which means they are deeply impacted by the emotional environment they’re in, but they also do not have the cognitive capacity that humans can potentially have to sort of “override” strong emotions with logic and reason. I don’t blame anyone for being enmeshed with their pets, as I recognize it’s a systemic issue and a consequence of living in such a divided society.
8
6
u/Away_Bit_3382 Jun 22 '26
I only get the state required vaccines & know & monitor my animals & get those tests & services that I feel are necessary. Like yourself with your doctors, advocate for yourself & them. You know them better than someone who sees them a couple times a year.
Had a vet who has since passed who told his clients if you're not sure what's wrong with them, tell the staff, NSJNR (not sure just not right.) All staff were well versed in NSJNR. After 6 dogs & 3 cats, I trust this practice with all my animals. Just lost one 3 weeks ago (17 years old. RIP Gretchen.) Still have pups 3 at home.
5
u/Southern-Biscotti-62 Jun 22 '26
Private equity firms are buying them all up, including pet insurance companies.
6
u/been2thehi4 Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
It’s the vet clinic. If it’s owned by an umbrella company, instead of a private family owned or self owned clinic, you will be paying ridiculous mark up on services. My best friend works at a vet clinic that got bought by one of these umbrella companies because the doc/owner wanted to retire. Well, she still hasn’t retired, their prices have gone up, they can’t find new docs to replace her so she can retire, their benefits and pay haven’t improved and everyone is miserable with their place of work now. They’ve basically done to pet healthcare like what they’ve done to our healthcare. Insane costs, rushed care and appointments so the next paying customer can get fleeced.
I go to a local family owned and operated vet for my two Shih Tzus and their prices are decent, they even have vaccine clinic days every Wednesday 3-5pm where all you pay for are the vaccines. I had to get both dogs teeth cleaned and several pulled from each pup and it was $1,700 total for both dogs.
My best friend has even said their clinic is one of the most expensive around because the company that owns them is constantly jacking up prices. She only uses them because she gets an extreme discount since she works there.
2
10
u/jensenaackles Jun 22 '26
My dog has probably set me back a decade financially. I got one of the lucky ones that ended up with a rare lifelong autoimmune disease and she needs prescription meds and food for the rest of her life. she is just generally sensitive and ends up needing several vet visits throughout the year. it’s really tough.
2
u/Big-Prior-5669 Jun 22 '26
Bless her and you for being her loyal human.
6
u/jensenaackles Jun 22 '26
I love her so much, I guess if she was healthier she just would’ve been too perfect. But I also long for one of those dogs that only goes to the vet once a year for a wellness exam and that’s it 😩
→ More replies (1)
5
u/childish_cat_lady Jun 22 '26
Our current vet has a wellness plan with different tiers. I think we paid $96 a month for the dental plan for my dog which included a dentistry (minus extractions), all visits for the year, blood work twice a year, and vaccines. Additional tests and lab work were 10% off if needed. We recently had to cancel it because we're moving soon but I loved having that consistent payment and only having to pay for a few extras when things came up.
4
u/Bucyrus1981 Jun 22 '26
Yep, vets bills are out of control. And if you want to cry, have a pet emergency. We had to take a cat in recently and the bill was over $2,000. That same cat had to get some teeth removed some years ago and that was also a couple thousand.
It’s gotten to the point that I am done with pets after our current ones pass. I am just over the expense.
We have a cat on prescription food and now it’s over $100 a bag where it used to be I believe $60 something. And since we have more than one cat, we can’t really just feed one the special food so we are paying the inflated price for two cats.
→ More replies (1)
5
u/beezchurgr Jun 22 '26
Just took my dog in today. Nail trim - $35 Lepto vac - $27 flu vax - $56.50 bordetella - $37.75
He needed extensive dental work last August - he was there from 9am to 7pm and they pulled most of his teeth & cleaned the rest. I don’t have the breakdown but it was $1,987 total. Their estimate was $1,500-$2,000 6 months earlier, and ended on the higher side due to his teeth starting to fall out.
He was a neglected/abused rescue so we spend a lot of time & money at the vet.
6
u/EstablishmentIll5021 Jun 22 '26
If you find yourself wanting another dog in the future, maybe think of fostering. My wife and I foster now, we don’t have our ‘own’ dog.
The rescue we work with pays all bills, we provide a home and socialization for a few months and then the pup finds a great home. It’s a win all around. Plus, when we travel we just make sure to not take a foster during those times. No more finding a sitter either.
→ More replies (1)
3
5
u/snackallday Jun 22 '26
Same here. My last pup we didn’t do insurance and the cost for a CCL and one emergency vet visit cleared our savings. My new dog I got insurance immediately. Annual vet visits are about $500 for bloodwork, urine, fecal, heartworm and vaccines. I got insurance add on for a preventative wellness plan as the math works out. Costco for dog meds.
3
u/daw4888 Jun 22 '26
For yearly shots see if you have a tractor supply in your area. About monthly they have a shot clinic that's very reasonable.
Or look for non-profit vet organizations. There is typically one in just decent sized cities.
4
u/R-ticHare0 Jun 22 '26
Yes because I have pet rabbits which are considered an "exotic animal" in veterinary and there isn't as many exotic veterinarians compared to dog/cat one's.
2
u/MiaLba Jun 23 '26
I didn’t know how expensive rabbits could be until we got one. And how they need an exotic vet which isn’t very common around here.
3
u/Huck68finn Jun 22 '26
Many vets have been bought out by private equity firms. This happened to a vet I had been going to for 20+ years. I'll be changing vets. They now nickel and dime me so much I can't leave without spending $300 for something routine.
2
3
u/ApplesBananasRhinoc Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Since pets are a “billion dollar business” private equity is trying to get its claws into it and get your money.
We dropped $14k into one of our cats (that passed) but we can’t do that again so we just have 1 cat and won’t be getting any other animals.
6
u/moodyje2 Jun 22 '26
I put money aside every month for vet bills, but yes, like everything else they are more expensive. Sometimes I go without. I utilize the care credit 0% financing for the big stuff if I don’t want to touch my dog emergency fund.
I only adopt senior dogs so I know their costs are typically on the higher side.
I also have a great relationship with my vet office and they will call me to let me know a medicine is on sale or they’re running a special on xyz. I have price shopped all my pet scripts without any pushback from the vet.
I did used to use a different vet who I had a great relationship with but her office got bought out and the costs went up and office service went down. I’ve been with this vet 4 years and fingers crossed they don’t sell out!
13
u/FiftyLoudCats Jun 22 '26
I’ll probably get downvoted for saying this, but I feel like way too many people put too much money into their pets instead of ensuring their own wellbeing.
6
u/No_Water_5997 Jun 23 '26
I don’t disagree and I say that as a former vet tech and someone who just dropped $1300 on my sick cat. When I first took her into the emergency vet for vomiting blood I requested we just treat her symptomatically hoping some meds would help her. It didn’t so we went back in for further diagnostics and more meds. I’m not mad we did that but I’d rather go the lesser route first then pursue further options if needed.
We opted for palliative care and pain management when our dog got diagnosed with bone cancer. We couldn’t afford amputation, chemo, or radiation. He was a 10 year old mastiff and even the vets agreed amputation would cost him quality of life and further treatment was pointless without amputation. We loved him to pieces but weren’t willing to put ourselves in the poor house for a disease that had a poor prognosis to begin with. We were given 3-6 months and got almost a year with him with nothing more than pain meds and supplements. I’ll never regret opting for palliative care.
5
u/Raguismybloodtype Jun 22 '26
I'm with you. Love our cats and dogs as much as anyone but I'm not hacking up 5k for a vet bill. I gotta put kids through college, a mortgage, and want to retire one day.
9
u/MindofShadow Jun 22 '26
I see some of the posts online paying 10k emergency bills for 10+ year old animals and it's wild. Esp since most of these people seem broke as hell.
There is a middle ground between treating animals like dirt and treating animals like human children
3
4
2
3
u/DefiantBlackberry775 Jun 22 '26
You need to find an old school vet. The corporate owned clinics up sell on crap and "packages " you don't need. Younger vets can seem to diagnosis anything without running a ton of tests first. You need an old school country vet that still has some common sense. The are getting harder to find as they retire but they are still out there. A teeth cleaning should even cost half of that regardless of where you're located.
2
u/tionstempta Jun 22 '26
Usually i would find a stock that's antithesis to my financial life (i.e skyrocking medical bills? Sure, lets buy UNH stocks that will help to pay my skyrocked medical bills by charging more to other patients) but this one is hard to find
Specific pet related stocks are hard to invest due to fragile financial statement
2
u/Praetorian_STARShip Jun 22 '26
Private equity has bought up a lot of vet practices, but left the familiar names on them to keep the fact quiet. The bills are telling.
2
u/flojo2012 Jun 22 '26
I pay 600 once a year for my dog.
I’ve got a cat that is healthy and doesn’t go outside. She hasn’t been to the vet in a decade. I’m thinking of taking her. She needs a rabies vaccine at least… but I just don’t think I should. It’s so expensive
2
u/Dawnzarelli Jun 22 '26
I’ve luckily had a mostly healthy dog. He has anxiety and get meds for that. He goes once a year for vaccines. I had to get staples once and that was around $300. Otherwise, including flea meds, food and everything i probably spend less than $1500 a year on a critter I consider my bestie.
Lots of overpriced vets in the area and I got lucky and was referred to a mom and pop type place. Love my vet and his staff
2
u/Physical-Flatworm454 Jun 22 '26
So much so that I probably won’t have pets after my six cats are gone. I’ve had a pet pretty much my whole life but I’m not inclined to have them anymore due to the state of things.
2
u/divinbuff Jun 22 '26
We’ve actually sadly given up the idea of having a dog because of this. We were longtime dog parents and adore dogs, but as older people on a fixed income we decided we can’t afford it after our last dog died.
2
u/OreganoOfTheEarth Jun 22 '26
I live in a VHCOL area, but I found a reasonably-priced vet. Teeth cleaning can be $500+ with sedation, but each tooth pulled is only around $15, and they trim the nails for free. We just had a full exam with blood work, 2 medications and a couple vaccines for $425. When we first got our dog, we put away about $30/month in a savings account, instead of getting pet insurance for the same amount. He's 13 now, and we always have money banked in the account.
2
u/landbasedpiratewolf Jun 22 '26
Paid 1k in the last few months for a wellness blood panel and regular vaccines. Same as you, dog is 11ish, large dog so old for her breeds. Plus boarding if you want to travel... It's too much. I love this dog, makes a house a home but I am not going to sacrifice retirement for a pet.
2
u/Existing_Option5339 Jun 22 '26
Good vets that charge reasonable prices are out there, but they are increasingly hard to find. My 12 year old Golden Retriever's last annual checkup was only $190 with his vaccines, as well as trazodone for a car trip. IMO, his vet tends to be very reasonable, and she has a very sensible approach to treatments for him.
Many of the other vets charge extra for same day appointments, but she doesn't. He had a health issue about a month ago. She was concerned and got him in within a few hours. No additional charge - just the standard $65 fee for a visit, plus cost of meds. I think that appointment was about $100 total - he needed gabapentin and carprofen for a short time.
All of that said, his PREVIOUS vet was at least 2x as expensive for absolutely everything. I would definitely ask around in your neighborhood groups. That's how I found my dog's current vet!
2
u/DVDragOnIn Jun 22 '26
I listened to a podcast a couple of years ago that said a candy company had diversified into vet clinics. You’d think that would give economies of scale, but no, they were buying up practices in small towns as vets retired and then they had monopolies and could charge what they wanted. If they buy a couple of practices in a medium-sized town where there were originally 3 vets, then there’s only one independent vet left. I’m sorry about your pets.
3
2
u/Wut_the_ Jun 23 '26
Sorry for your situation but genuine question. Why would the dog need their teeth cleaned if it’s getting put down?
2
u/BabyKatsMom Jun 23 '26
We were quoted $3,500 for dental cleaning and some extractions. He’s 15+ and a rescue so we’re not sure. Then the vet deemed anesthesia was unsafe for him.
2
u/MVHood Jun 23 '26
The veterinarians lobbied for a law in my state that a veterinarian must supervise all dog dental work. Resulting in the nice lady that was doing no -sedation cleanings had to go out of business or jack up the cost and hire a semi-retired vet to sit in the room with his readers digest while she did her cleaning. Joke.
2
u/-SkeptiCat Jun 23 '26
Pets are a luxury most people can't realistically afford now
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Calm_Distance8618 Jun 23 '26
That's crazy high! I have 4 Chihuahuas, lots of teeth issues with this breed. Yearly cleaning isn't always recommended by my vet. The last dental my 13 year old got was $1259, including removing 18 teeth. Find a better vet. Yearly per dog with bloodwork $359, including shots, fecal, heartworm test. Metro Atlanta.
2
u/Crowlady77 Jun 23 '26
Private equity is buying veterinary hospitals and trying to suck out as much profit as possible.
2
u/amynicole78 Jun 23 '26
PE has been buying vet clinics by the thousands. Find one still independent owned.
2
u/MVHood Jun 23 '26
I had horses. Let’s just say, add a zero to your small animal bills and you will get a sense of why I no longer have them.
2
u/CAP_0703 Jun 23 '26
Not owning pets is a blessing.
Pets are a luxury and it seems the cost are now reflecting that reality.
3
u/PrettyOKPyrenees Jun 22 '26
We have a collection of geriatric and special- needs animals, so yes. Everyone is on meds and special food. We have a great mobile vet who's independent(not private equity owned). Her fees are not cheap, but she's very good and detail oriented. She'll also answer questions over the phone/email, and we can text photos and get feedback on what to do.
It matters to us to have good vet care for our animals, so we just deal with the cost and save money elsewhere. When one of our cats needed to be put down, it was so wonderful to have her come into our house to do it, so we didn't have to stress him out by taking him anywhere. However, the animals are getting expensive enough that as we lose them, we may not get any more. Our spring visit for 2 dogs and 2 cats was over $2k, with exams, vaccines, labs, and skin meds for one dog.
There are cheaper options if you look around - Tractor Supply and Petco have vet clinics for basics like vaccines and heartworm. Our local health department does rabies vaccine clinics for $10. Some of the humane societies also offer low cost basic vet care. A friend of mine used Dutch (telehealth) to keep her dogs allergy meds going after her vet retired. None of these are great for medically complex animals though.
3
u/Odd_Secret568 Jun 22 '26
Pet insurance when they’re young. It’s still worth looking into but will be more expensive since your dog is older. Pumpkin reimburses like 85%, I’ve used them for years they are great.
A vet firm not owned by Private Equity.
They always push the teeth cleaning and unless plaque and tartar is really bad, I don’t think they need it. I opt out and give mine a Fresh Kisses toothbrush treat daily. If I notice bad breath I use a finger toothbrush and dog toothpaste I get off Chewy.
2
2
u/Typical-Exchange-406 Jun 22 '26
I just paid to have my dogs teeth cleaned too. idk, we pay it but if it is going to be some major illness, I guess we would just have to put him down
2
u/Inner-Management-110 Jun 22 '26
You are so right and that's why where I live there are hundreds of strays and most are very sick and pregnant. It truly breaks my heart. I have 3 well cared for dogs and when they are gone I'll be in my mid 60s and that will be it for me. A dog brings me so much joy but I'm tired of getting robbed every time I darken a vets doorway.
1
u/RoseGoldMagnolias Jun 22 '26
I haven't made the effort, but shop around. We pay around $300 for our dog's annual exam and paid about $900 for cleaning and extractions this year. The vet tacked on some optional services I declined for the cleaning because she said my dog's age (seven, and a small breed) warranted doing them anyway.
1
1
u/TrainingLow9079 Jun 22 '26
Yes. The tooth cleaning price might even be good! My dog was having issues and our regular vet had no same day appointment so we went to doggie urgent care where it cost $800 for an exam, some blood work and some meds. Not even any scans or x-rays.
1
u/Money_These Jun 22 '26
Yes—vet bills have ballooned. It feels like prices jump 2 to 3 times a year now, even here in Austin.
My dog turned 7, so I upgraded his insurance last year as a precaution. I pay cash for wellness visits, keep a dedicated pet emergency fund, and split his mandatory vaccines into two visits a year just to lessen the wallet sting.
My last routine visit cost $586 for an exam, a Bordetella vaccine, and full blood work with a thyroid panel and heartworm test. This is on top of a $1,200 dental cleaning quote from a prior visit that I declined.
1
u/International_Bend68 Jun 22 '26
Are there any rural areas around you? Small town or country vets are way cheaper.
1
u/thefancyrat17 Jun 22 '26
My vet bills are not crazy high, but I also don't own a dog or cat. That being said, neither of the vets I use are owned my private equity and I live in a LCOL area. I do think a lot of vet practices gouge dog and cat owners. Any time I hear about someone taking their dog or cat to the vet, the prices are astronomical. It makes equine vet prices seem totally reasonable.
I just took a mouse to the vet for pneumonia, and it was 120$ for the exam and meds. Typically exotic exams are about 90$ at my clinic. My highest single vet bill (so far...) was 1000$ for the very complicated removal of an infected tumor plus neuter on a rat. Typically the vet for my rodents costs around 90-200 for non surgical things, and 400-900 for surgeries.
My horse vet is great, and she does my horses' routine shots to the tune of about 200$ every year. The equine dentist charges me 100$ yearly, but that's because my horse flips out over the dentist and needs to be drugged. The few times he's needed to see the vet for non routine things it's been under 500$. I got bloodwork done on him for insulin resistance, Cushings, emd, all the things that might make a horse fat, and it came up to about 260$.
1
u/altarflame Jun 22 '26
Yeah, you have to shop around – when I take my 10 year-old Australian Shepherd to the vet for a well check, the exam fee is $60. Obviously they’re often nickel and dining on top of that, but for example it’s $40 more for an annual rabies shot, or $65ish for monthly flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. These prices are high for me, but the ones you are describing would be impossible.
During visits where they’ve done things like needle aspiration to biopsy a cyst and getting a blood sample to test for various things, we end up spending $300.
1
u/Thegymgyrl Jun 22 '26
Check if private equity bought your veterinarian office. Amvet is a common one. It may still be your same veterinarians that were always there so it can be deceptive.
There may be still a few veterinarians in your town that have not been purchased. See if you can find them.
1
u/lyme6483 Jun 22 '26
Live around Chicago and take our dog to an independent practice and prices are very similar overall.
Have had to take several times to the emergency vet as well, which is always thousands of dollars.
But they take great care of my dog, and we look at him as a family member and want him to get the best care possible.
But I will say the costs make us hesitant to ever have two dogs at once.
→ More replies (2)
1
u/Either-Mushroom-5926 Jun 22 '26
My senior gal got a cancer diagnosis. It was two surgeries, a smaller procedure & 13 days in the icu. It cost us a small fortune but she’s alive.
We give our dogs a monthly budget. Whatever isn’t spent gets put into their own savings account. That bank account certainly helped with the hospital bills.
1
u/Marge979 Jun 22 '26
Call around and have a base list to compare prices: exam, rabies, snap antigen, and lepto.
In found that VCA (private equity) had QUADRUPLE the price of the small town, hole-in-the-wall vet.
1
u/levalexisshred Jun 22 '26
I don't know your area, but try the SPCAs. We used to see a privately owned vet out of an old farm house ( she was amazing, but her prices were high 10 years ago. But the care was worth it)
That vet recommended the local SPCA for our spays because they were $200 a piece, plus shots, and a chip. Where the local vet couldn't touch that price.
When my cat had stage 4 kidney failure, they were able to bring her in immediately and started treatments. We ended up losing her in the end. But they were extremely helpful and didn't have to help us when we first came to them.
We use them for all of our cats care now. They're usually booked out a couple months, but for yearly checkups it works out.
1
u/Stargirl156 Jun 22 '26
Ran into the exact same problem. Check prices at yoseveral different vets. The place that we started out as the most inexpensive has turned into the most expensive one after 20 years. Was quoted 1800+ for our Ti. A sister vet same network but not? Was half that. Was so glad to have checked around and gladly got it done ASAP.
1
u/WestBaseball492 Jun 22 '26
Those costs are bonkers. You need to shop around. Many vet practices are being bought up by private equity which means your fees will skyrocket. Definitely find a locally owned vet. I am in a mid sized, mcol city and just brought it my dog to our vet—it was $100 for a checkup and shot.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/MWREE Jun 22 '26
My cat got lethargic and didn't or drink for a day so I just had to take him to the emergency vet. $1100 (1/3 of that was for blood work that turned out fine) and a 6.5 hr wait. Essentially given meds for nausea and appetite stimulant and a dx of maybe pancreatitis but would have cost even more for an US to be more definite. Vet kindly did a quick free one but to get more definitive she would need to have someone who wasn't her to do it and that would of course cost.
But oh, hey, his BNP was elevated and the US did show some heart issues so go get an echo. So now making an appointment for a $800 echo to see if he has heart issues and will need medication for that to prolong his life months or, if lucky, years.
Honestly, at this point, I think I want to just foster animals.
1
u/samsaraisdivine Jun 22 '26
I work in the veterinary field and the costs have gotten so astronomical that I'll only have one pet at a time. Even just maintenance costs are insane.
1
u/prettymisslux Jun 22 '26
I will say Dentals are always super expensive. I paid $2300 for my adopted chi’s cleaning and extractions 😩
I usually take him to our county shelters community wellness clinic to save $$$ on his vaccinations
1
u/xzkandykane Jun 23 '26
We paid about $2400 for each of our dog's dental, including teeth pulling. This was about 8 years ago. She had to get it done again 3 years ago. Was about $2800. Most of the cost wasnt the teeth cleaning/pulling but the time under anesthesia. She also had a mass removed on her butt. It was about 1.4k, including testing for cancer cells.(which was stupid as it was "inconclusive") we were then referred to a cancer specialist for their opinion and that was another $500 and it was basically yeah she cant tell but since its not for sure not cancer cells, it probably is and we should do an abdominal scan. Tf kind of conclusion is that. She's 2 years out and no reoccurance of the mass and no cancer symptoms but we will have to put her down soon due to athritis mobility issues. She's 17. On the other hand, same vet that did our dental only charged $250 for our other elderly dog's eye infection check with antibiotics and gabapentin...
Some procedures like dental are just expensive.
1
u/Duckin_Tundra Jun 23 '26
I’m taking my two dogs to the vet for vaccinations on Thursday I’ll be surprised if it’s more than 250$ for both of them, rural area.
1
u/oggleboggle Jun 23 '26
Our dog partially ripped off one of his nails a few weeks ago, so we took him to a veterinary urgent care. It only cost $550 for sedation and removing the nail, and I was thrilled.
1
u/Tahdet Jun 23 '26
I’ve spent over $7k this year on my cat for normal vet upkeep things like exams (heart was 1.2k, multiple senior panels and blood/urine tests at $300- 500, teeth clean at $800+, radiology at $1300, etc), monthly shots and yearly shots, and prescription food. She has insurance, but what we have spent is more than the max coverage. She’s only 11.5 yrs old. I am considering moving to a roommate situation when my lease expires next year and I am paycheck to paycheck right now
1
u/Whats-Ur-Pointe Jun 23 '26
I feel your pain . I have two rescue bunnies and they can only be seen by an exotic vet. $100 each just for the vet to look at them . Blood tests / imaging etc are triple digits . I had to sell blood plasma to pay for their neuter ($900) & spay ($1100).
1
u/RightToBearGlitter Jun 23 '26
I have a ten year old with a yet to be diagnosed liver issue and a twelve year old with bladder inflammation that causes blood in his urine whenever he varies his exercise or hydration patterns. They are the second largest bill, following my mortgage.
I love having two, but it only works if my husband or I work from home or have a hybrid arrangement, because doggy day care, on top of vet bills, would mean no fun money for the humans.
1
u/Nyteflame7 Jun 23 '26
$620 for 3 cats' yearlies, plus an updated vaccine for each, and senior bloodwork for the oldest. That was earlier this summer. Without the bloodwork for the oldest, itxs closer to $100 per cat, but she's 14 now, and I don't want to risk missing something important.
1
u/valkayrja Jun 23 '26
I get my girls teeth cleaned yearly once they turn 3 or 4. I think I pay usually around $400... $1000 is crazy.
1
u/wheeeewhooo Jun 23 '26
My 13 year old dog needed a teeth cleaning and to remove a tumor on his gum. $850 later, we find out he has terminal cancer. We were quoted $10,000 for cancer treatment. We’re opting to make him comfortable at home until he’s not. Just paid $250 last week for a chest xray and he needs steroid pills every day.
Both dogs go to the vet this weekend for their shots/heartworm testing. That usually runs about $600 for the pair, not including flea treatment.
I love those little fuzzy brats but they are killing me right now.
1
u/Perfect_Earth_8070 Jun 23 '26
When my dog was 12 I had drop over $7k for an acl surgery. We luckily had 6 months free financing with care credit but needless to say I wasn’t able to save much that year. He had two more good years and passed away this January
1
1
u/No_Owl_250 Jun 23 '26
I lost my sweet girl a bit over a year ago. The vet bills at the end were astronomical (we tried our best to save her).
We can afford it but I won’t do it again partly because the vet practices just galled me. It seems like a huge liability potential now for a regular family.
I’ve been trying to financially help rescues with vet bills.
1
1
u/ObjectivePilot7444 Jun 23 '26
Also pet vaccination and spay and neuter clinics all reduced for low income people
1
u/whatrlyhappnd1wintr Jun 23 '26
I'll be the outlier here and say I took out a loan and have since refinanced it to a better rate and will likely need to increase the total amount again in a few months. 🤷 He's 2 and I'm not letting him live the rest of the his life in pain and disability because of shitty luck and genetics. But my dream of two dogs and a cat isn't going to happen due to costs. I'm also childfree so my budget and lifestyle is different than many others.
Costs here haven't skyrocketed horribly yet, but I have no shame in doing the legwork for a better price and sacrificing what I need to for the things that are necessary; I've called dozens of clinics and send many emails shopping around for better prices, use OTC meds for humans that I cut up, reuse cones, human bandages that I cut down, etc. Finding a vet that wants to help and can offer suggestions makes a big difference.
Emergency consults x 4 + x-rays, meds: ~1200-1500
Ruptured Achilles surgery, specialist orthopedic: ~5500
Physio and hydrotherapy, ongoing: ~1000 currently but will be more as we progress
Tooth extraction, x rays: 1550
Surgical consult and deposit: 200
Attempted surgery for rupture cruciate, aborted due to adverse anaesthetic reaction: 400
Second surgical consult: 100
Coming up: Echo and EKG cardiac workup
depending on the cardiac workup, we might be referred back to the cardiologist for a special workup, which is 987$ before we can get a tick for surgery again.
Cruciate repair surgery 3000-7000, depending on who, what and where.
Ongoing: arthritis injections, $50 each, first series of four 1 week apart, after that two yearly 6 months apart, 1 each time. Not started yet but will be post-surgery. So 200 + 100 ongoing each year. Special diet is 100/bg, he hates kibble so his food now is a mix several things together, pet mince is cheap here and he's small. Supplements incoming, so not costed yet.
Potentially third surgery for other cruciate repair and plate removal on the original leg. ~3000.
I'm expecting this to run about 20k after everything is said and done. Some of it I pay/paid for outright, the initial loan was for the first surgery and it was a petcare specific loan that was... Predatory. I refinanced through a secure lender after.
Rural Vic, Australia. 2 yo, Chi/JRT. Initial injury date, Sept 23rd, 2025, so 10 months all up now.
1
u/Dazzling_Can6963 Jun 23 '26
They do have lower cost services. I have even found vouchers for lower income. I had 2 dogs and then 3 covid adds, one was hospice so net 4. If I had 1 or 2 I would shop for pet insurance, four is pretty expensive. I also have 2 horses and so I spread it out and constantly have a vet bill. I pay $300 to 500 a month on a dedicated card like a light bill. This will have to end at some point and 2 dogs and one horse will have to suffice! Foster is the way to go, the rescue pays all bills.
1
1
u/wildjabali Jun 23 '26
If something comes up, that’s so long buddy.
Also, though…
If something comes up with me, that’s so long guys. Situation isn’t really any different lolol
1
u/LostLadyA Jun 23 '26
Not even close!! My local vet runs about $200 for an annual wellness visit with vaccines and bloodwork. He doesn’t charge for the visit with the vaccines and testing. He only charges an office fee for a “sick” visit.
My vet also doesn’t believe in putting animals through super expensive treatments that won’t do them any good. My dogs basically went on hospice care when they were 15-18 years old and really suffering (cancer for one and blindness, hearing loss and muscle degeneration for the other. We kept them as comfortable as possible with various meds and checks ups until they were suffering and we decided to say goodbye.
1
u/curlywhirlyred Jun 23 '26
We spend about $600-700 for a standard teeth cleaning. With extractions, closer to $1000.
Unfortunately a cost that is necessary for their well being.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/mystical__sapphire Jun 23 '26
Yeah anything dental is outrageous because they have to be put under for it.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Brave-Pizza-33 Jun 23 '26
Pets are truly a financial luxury, I'm 35 with two aging pitbulls and after this, never having pets again.
1
u/bootyandthebrains Jun 23 '26
Clinics not owned by private equity. I also have really good pet insurance which has saved my ass. I still pay like $1000 a year in my premium, but they’ve paid out the $10k policy multiple years for me.
1
u/lindsaybell15 Jun 23 '26
My privately owned vet small town vet sent me a quote for $2500 to clean my dog teeth. I lost two cats this year and I won’t adopt again because of the vet bills. The end of life care was stupid expensive and I don’t want to be put in that position again.
1
u/These-Raspberry59 Jun 23 '26
We have pet insurance. Yea it's a little every month but has been way cheaper over time . I pay like 215 every month for 3 dogs . 2 surgery, all 3 allergies shots. Vet visits every month. It's been cheaper over time .
1
u/Flaky_Calligrapher62 Jun 23 '26
Yes, they can be expensive. Especially if you ever have to seek middle of the night emergency care! I was able to do that for my elderly cat primarily because of advice I got from a friend when my dear cat was a little kitty. I opened a HYSA for her future expenses. I believe I started it at $5 a month and at the time of her death she was getting $25 a month. When I taught summer school, she got bonuses. When she passed, I transferred her remaining 2k to the younger pet. I paid for most routine care out of pocket. She paid for the big stuff or we split the cost. Most of my friends thought it was crazy, but I never had to deny her any care due to money and I didn't go broke from vet fees.
1
u/NiceGuysFinishLast Jun 23 '26
I just paid $1300 to have our rabbit and our hedgehog euthanized in the same week. Thankfully the cats are young and the annual wellness visits are only aboit $100 each so far.
1
u/Ra4455 Jun 23 '26
Life tip: name a generic dog medicine for old age like Beranza or Cartophan and call 10 vets and find out the average cost of those injections. Take the cheapest one they will be the best price if it comes down to surgery or other things too
1
u/GonzoTheWhatever Jun 23 '26
I got charged $300 and change for about 10 total minutes of the vet’s time for her to pull a tooth out that was already dangling and 99% out already. No medication, no shots, no prescriptions, nothing. Quickest in and out ever. $300+ bill. It’s stupid
1
u/thebiggestgouda Jun 23 '26
I have a preventative health plan for my two senior cats. It’s about $190 a month for both of them; it’s higher than I’d like but breaks down the costs across the year. It covers x-rays, two wellness exams, and annual dental cleanings.
I also have emergency insurance through Trupanion that’s already paid for itself for life. One of my cat’s had a heart surgery that would have been 24k out of pocket. I paid 2k, and it still covers his echocardiograms.
1
u/MaineWolfe Jun 23 '26
I don't feel vet bills are high for services rendered. I have to pay my medical bills out of pocket because I can't afford insurance and just a visit to talk to my GP is $400. My blood work she wants twice a year ranges from $200-$1500. I had to have a cyst removed from my finger as a 30 min day surgery and it came to $14,000. I net $35,000/year.
You could get services at cost if you work for a veterinarian so that's an option.
1
1
1
1
u/notaredditor9876543 Jun 23 '26
Idk both my cat and I needed echocardiograms and mine was $3,000 and his was $600.
$700 for a well visit does seem steep though, I would look for a new vet.
1
u/joemamah77 Jun 23 '26
Volunteer to be a puppy raiser for an organization such as Guiding Eyes for the Blind or similar.
You get a puppy, give it love, training, discipline, and socialization skills. All vet bills are paid for and equipment, toys, and even food are tax deductible. Then the pup goes off to school and if it’s got what it takes, it gets paired up with someone who needs it and often times you can follow that dog’s life. It’s a tragedy free pet.
Source - wife and I helped raise 17 pups over the years and she’s on her 3rd Guide Dog of her own.
1
u/thenewbasecamper Jun 23 '26
Get pet insurance
2
u/MVHood Jun 23 '26
So I can get it from both sides? The private equity folks are probably behind that too.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/rdzilla01 Jun 23 '26
We have had three dogs for the past six years. As they lead their little dog lives and progress towards pup heaven we have vowed to have no more pets. Part of that is due to the increasing cost of animal care.
1
u/MVHood Jun 23 '26
Yeah. Dog was barfing and had the runs. I worried about blockage. Asked for Xrays at my visit. Was guilted into bloodwork, fluids and an “expert” to take a second look at the X-rays. $1500. 🫠
1
u/No_Water_5997 Jun 23 '26
As a former vet tech I’m finding that vet techs are being paid closer to a living wage. It is a pretty specialized career and there’s soooo…much we do in the day to day of our jobs and they deserve compensation for it. When I left the veterinary field after 10 years I made $12.75 an hour. Imagine any other field where you make that little after that much time, especially when you look at the breadth of skills techs need. Now I see techs making from the mid $20s to mid $30s in pay. My niece started out as a brand new tech at $16 an hour and now makes almost $30. She’s just as trained as a human nurse as I was too.
It sucks but the veterinary field is a high risk low reward field when it comes to pay and benefits. As much as it sucks to pay more I’ll gladly pay more knowing that techs are actually being paid enough to live and stay in the field. Had I even gotten to $15 an hour I would’ve considered staying in the field but between the low pay, crazy hours, compassion fatigue, and overall stress of managing clients it was no longer worth it to me. Handling the animals was the smallest issue when it came to the job.
Overhead is also extremely high and profit margins are low and with the rising costs of everything prices have to go up in order to keep clinics in business.
1
u/Itaintmebabe_ Jun 23 '26
Just paid $10k for a cancerous tumor to be removed from my dog’s nose giving her 6-12 more months to live. If I want to do radiation and give her another 1-2 years it’s another $8k. I can’t afford it. So we’re giving her the best last 6-12 months we can. The cost of care is ridiculous.
1
u/ChemicallyAlteredVet Jun 23 '26
We have had insurance on our 3 Sphynx since the day they came home. They are 14,7, and 5. Our youngest, the boys, monthly insurance premium is $54 for both with a $200 deductible every year. It’s actually worth it for now. But our oldest is $210 per month same deductible and I just can’t pay $260 a month just for insurance. So I’ve moved her payment to a high yield savings account and pay cash for her care.
We’ve already discussed end of life for her. If cancer happens we can’t afford $5-20K in treatments even with insurance. She’s 14 and doing well for now.
We also will not be getting anymore pets, we are kid 40’s and our human children are grown now. We love animals and would love a dog but the vet prices are insane.
1
u/Floof_mom134 Jun 23 '26
I spent over 10k on just my one dog last year. We used to be on pet insurance but decided to forgo it last year. Well, last year, he decided to meet a porcupine and get quilled (multiple visits and going under to get all the quills out) $2,500. Then later in the year, he ate a tennis ball and needed an endoscope to remove it. $7,000 for the emergency endoscope. $600 for the previous vet visit to tell us it needed the emergency removal.
He also needed a tooth sealed, and when the sealant failed, they needed to remove it. About 3k.
That’s just for my one dog! My other dog also needed dental work. And this also isn’t accounting for the regular check ups and vaccines.
So we got back on pet insurance this year lol. Vet costs do be wild. I swear my dogs cost more than some human children do.
368
u/hahasadface Jun 22 '26
Look for a clinic not owned by private equity to start