[brassy]

Its ridiculous they tell you 40 for spaying your dog then you get there and now there is medication charges and there not optional so you go from 40 to 100$ how is this right?

[Wondergirl]

I would find a different vet. If there's an animal shelter in your area, ask them which vet they use and if the shelter gives out certificates for low-cost neutering.

[shazamataz]

$100 is a very cheap spay/neuter anyway, I had my dog done for $140 and my b*tch was $180 both under 10kg and that was at the cheapest clinic in town, everywhere else wanted a minimum $250.

If they quoted you $40 then they should only be charging $40 or giving the option of medication (mine had no medication at all).

I agree, find another vet, although it may be hard to find another one who will do it for under $100.

[Aurora_Bell]

I agree $100 is cheap. I pais $200 for mine, but I have large dogs. Medications were optional, and they gave me alternatives. With my female's spay the meds were not optional as she had stitches.

But if they quoted you $40 and they sprung all kinds of hidden charges, I would call around. See if your town/county offers a spay and neuter clinic. I agree it is ridiculous when they quote one number and you walk out paying over double that.

[paleophlatus]

Here's some thoughts on the pricing dilemma, on both sides of the exam table.

I agree that it's a 'little' ambiguous, but then again it is accurate (the ambiguous part is the surgery only). Vets used to be victims of undercharging. Setting prices is difficult, if you have to go on is the old timer down the street who is still charging 20 year old prices. But then, he has his practice established and paid for... it's all 'gravy', or almost so.

New guy opens... what to do? Practice consultants say "Itemize your services, and charge cost plus some profit for each component." So, let's see what's involved. There is the office visit, an examination before surgery, anesthesia, preparation for surgery (someone has to do it), the surgery itself ($40 is probably not including the vet's fee) and some portion of the costs for all the instrumentation and equipment used in the surgical area. Then toss in all the time pre and post operation by the hospital staff. Sometimes, there is no visible vet's fee... it being built into parts of all the components of the surgery.

Added together you wind up with something far in excess of what you expected. There are variables that can crop up that further add, besides the 'small, medium and large' categories. The wise clinics will quote a complete price, with some wiggle room for unexpected major extras, like fluids, and itemize all the prices on an invoice, like a store receipt.

Medication involved with the procedure should be included somewhere already. If it's antibiotics or pain meds, I'd be leery of a practice which prescribed antibiotics as post-op medication. Why, you paid for sterility and expertise. Anything less and you probably do need meds. Also, suture removal is a no charge at most clinics.

Finding, or at least inquiring about, another clinic may be rewarding. But generally price is not the only feature we look for in making these choices.

Remember, human doctors have a hospital they send their patients to, and not one they have to either build or maintain.