Veterinary Price Shopping by Jakki Papp

We get many calls daily from people looking for prices. Park Road Veterinary Clinic wanted to put together a list of questions that will be helpful to know when looking to visit a new pet hospital for the first time. Veterinary clinics are given guidelines for pricing, but there is no specific pricing enforcement from the veterinary college.

Pricing Variations Among Clinics

Most clinics in the same area tend to be close in pricing, but some may be significantly cheaper. Pet health care costs can be shocking to new owners, especially if initial or annual appointments aren’t planned for or there is no emergency fund. As Canadians, we are used to paying very little for our own personal health care, so it can be tough to understand the health care costs for our animals.

Why Are Some Clinics Cheaper?

When one clinic is much less expensive than another, we need to ask ourselves: How are they able to be that much cheaper? Are there hidden costs? Are corners being cut? What is the experience at that clinic? Do you feel like a number, or part of a family? Hidden costs are a common stress for pet owners, so when calling around for veterinary pricing, here’s a list of suggested questions to ask:

Looking to Book an Examination

• What is the cost of an exam?
• What does an exam include?
• If my pet has more than one issue, will everything be addressed at the same appointment, or do I need to schedule one appointment per issue?

Annual Exam with Vaccines

• Will a full examination be performed on my pet?
• What vaccinations are included in this price?
• Will the vaccinations be tailored to my pet?
• Are there any other vaccinations that may be recommended, and what is the cost of them?
• Are any additional services performed that are included in that price? For example, a nail trim?

Surgery Pricing: What’s Included?

• Does your price include:
  • I.V. fluids?
  • Pain medication (at the clinic and to go home)?
  • Pre-operative bloodwork?
  • Microchip and registration?
  • Follow-up appointments?
  • Is a Registered Veterinary Technician monitoring my pet during anesthetic and recovery?
• How long will my pet stay, and is this included in the price?
• Is there an additional charge if I drop them off the night before or leave them the night after surgery?
• Am I able to watch the surgery?
• Would my pet need to wear a “cone” (Elizabethan collar) after surgery? Is that cost included?
• If any of the above are not included, what would the additional costs be?

Asking the Right Questions

As you can see, seeking price information should be more than just getting the cost of a procedure for your pet. You love your pet as if they are one of the family, and you want them to be treated as such. While asking questions about prices, feel free to ask about any concerns you have regarding your pet’s health!