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Lucky098 · Dec 8, 2012, 05:13 PM

Same here! Its rare that I meet someone who is good with animals and do the right thing.

Actually.. I really do like working in a hospital. I was kind of hesitant at first because I thought it'd be boring with shots and spay/neuters. But it really isn't. Its actually kind of refreshing when people want to actually take care of their pets. The sad and scary part.. most people my age younger than me and slightly older than me have such a bad and slanted view on what it means to care for a pet. The either don't want to pay the money or they simply don't have it.

Alty · Dec 8, 2012, 05:19 PM

Since you mentioned money, I have to say this. I'm actually giddy. The other day a lady came into my work. She was buying dog treats, so I asked about her dogs. We started chatting as I was ringing in her stuff. Her youngest dog is 7 months and she was telling me she was getting him neutered this week. I said "I wish! I just can't afford it right now, and it's making me sick. I've never had a dog that wasn't neutered at 6 months".

She asked why I can't afford $100. Um... what? I told her "I have two that need to be neutered, it's $300 plus per dog".

She said "No, it's $50 per dog at the spay and neuter clinic".

Um... I called them when Chewy was a puppy! They said they don't take clients, they only work with shelters. Well, apparently that's not true.

Now, it could take months to get in, but the lady, my customer, is calling them on my behalf (she knows someone that works there) and she's getting Chewy and Rascal appointments for the big snip, $100 total for both dogs! Yay! :)

Lucky098 · Dec 8, 2012, 05:49 PM

That's awesome!

We need more spay/neuter clinics! They are wonderful!

Alty · Dec 8, 2012, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by Lucky098

Thats awesome!

We need more spay/neuter clinics! They are wonderful!

I told a friend of mine, and he was concerned. He took his cat there to be spayed, and claims that they messed up the operation.

The thing is, this is two neuters. It's not hard to cut off a couple of nuts. ;) A spay is so much more involved.

Lucky098 · Dec 9, 2012, 11:19 AM

I'm not sure if the spay/neuter clinics are any different in Canada than here, but typically, this procedure is done in an assembly line for approximately 6 hours straight. Typically, vets from surrounding clinics/hospitals that agree to participate. To my knowledge, its not beginner vets. I have heard of many horror stories and mistakes can happen very quickly, even with neuters. I guess that's just the risk you take for low cost surgeries. And quite honestly, mistakes can be made at a bonafide veterinary hospital, too.

Just keep a close eye on both your boys and purchase the pain meds that are offered.. because part of the low cost part is they don't use pre-op pain meds.

But my mom's rescue has been using a local spay/neuter clinic for close to 10 years now, and we never had anything bad happen.

Alty · Dec 9, 2012, 11:56 AM

I do worry that because it's such a low cost, something could happen because it's done so quickly. I would never forgive myself if something happened to one of my boys just because I needed to save money on the surgery. Trust me, if I had the money I'd be going to our regular vet. Thing is, I want to get both dogs done at the same time. I figure this would be best, that way one dog isn't recuperating, and the other one bugging to play. This way they're both feeling crappy and not playful at the same time, and can allow each other to heal.

If I go to my regular vet the two surgeries will cost over $600, and that's just for the surgery, not the pain meds or anything else. I just don't have that kind of money laying around, especially right before Christmas. :(

Lucky098 · Dec 9, 2012, 01:50 PM

And that's my major complaint.. With the over population of pets, why are spays and neuters costing so much? I realize vets need to make their money, but there could be something in place for low income families to get their pets fixed.

It kind of floored me the other day when a little dog came in with an emergency c-section. Once the puppy was removed, the option of spaying came up.. but the owners couldn't afford the spay. I don't think a spay could be any cheaper with the dog already knocked out and the uterus already being exposed.. I really fault the vet I work for on that.. A spay shouldn't cost that much extra especially when the procedure normally runs $100 which includes the gas anesthesia and the spay itself. It actually pissed me off... For the greater good of that pet, the spay should have been thrown in for an extra $50.

I guess that's another reason why I want to leave this practice. She's a good doctor, practices good medicine.. but things like that shouldn't be an issue, and it was.

But, like I said, we've never had any issue with a low cost spay or neuter..

Alty · Dec 9, 2012, 01:56 PM

Thanks Lucky. You're putting my mind at ease. The customer that's setting this up, rescues a lot of animals. She currently has 6 dogs (she lives on an acreage) and all of them, and her past rescues, have been spayed or neutered at that clinic. She's never had an issue. That puts my mind at ease as well.

I just can't face losing another pet, especially not Chewy who's only 4, and Rascal who's not even 1 yet. Losing Indy at 16 was hard, but I could accept it. He had a good long life. Jasper at 10 was hard to accept, but he was very ill, and there was nothing we could do. But a 4 year old or not even 1 year old? I couldn't handle that. I wouldn't be able to accept it at all. Especially not for a surgery like a neuter.