Spaying at the Vet or Clinic?

Travis · 08-14-2008, 06:28 PM

The average price from a spay at a vet's office over here ranges around $200-$250.

The Humane Society offers spaying at $50.

All of Amanda's pets have been spayed/neutered at the humane society and all of my pets have been spayed at a Vet's office.

Is there a big difference between the two?

**berkshire** · 08-14-2008, 06:42 PM

Not an impartial party, but I think the quality is much better at an actual veterinary clinic. I've participated in low-cost spay/neuter clinics. You get what you pay for. Often, the more expensive surgeries include advanced monitoring during surgery, better/safer drug protocols, and more post-op monitoring.

In my experience, the spay/neuter clinics sedate with Ketamine/Valium (sometimes not even that), don't place IV catheters and fluid lines, don't monitor vitals during the procedure, and don't have much post-op monitoring.

It's a totally different type of surgical practice. However, with all that being said, most spay/neuter clinics have a relatively low rate of surgical complications.

**ellenm** · 08-14-2008, 07:19 PM

I'd go to your regular vet. They have your records, know you and your dog, and I would think have a better protocol.

My daughter helps with spay/neuter clinics where she is in vet school, and that is where vet students learn to spay/neuter animals....they may be under longer etc as a student is not as skilled or fast as a older veterinarian. I would not chance it with one of my precious Dobermans. Peace of mind is kind of priceless in my book.

** Meant to add, I'd never take my healthy dog over to the Humane society with all the worms, viruses, etc over there with their strays. Who knows what may be there the day your dog goes in for a routine procedure?

**dobermansrule** · 08-14-2008, 07:55 PM

the others have answered your original question.. may I also throw out another thought... if you are on a tight bugdet and you are looking for where to save (who wouldn't?), I know from experience raising a well bred doberman puppy from 9weeks old, normal 'healthy' dobermans are expensive to maintain - just the baseline stuff but also the unexpecteds.. case in point, puppy likes to eat blankets- $2000 gone in one weekend for obstruction procedure. So you might save a few bucks on a spay/neuter and compromise your pets health when there's a potential $1000 iceberg just around the corner you need to be prepared for as well. It 'aint cheap unless you are really lucky.

Zoeberry · 08-14-2008, 08:04 PM

While I'm not rich, I'm not poor either. I figure if I can afford to spay/neuter my pet, I should do it at my vets and leave the clinic spots for low income owners.

Travis · 08-14-2008, 08:05 PM

Definitely understand that.

The budget isn't really tight, we have enough to be comfortable in case of most emergencies.

Just trying to gauge the pros and cons on saving an extra couple of hundred dollars or not.

**Colorado Dobes** · 08-14-2008, 08:16 PM

Zoeberry is right about leaving the humane society spays/neuters for low-income families. The humane society here asks the community not to utilize their services unless they are low income.

Thanks for your input, Berkshire. I have noticed that some veterinarians in my area charge around $90 for a spay, while my clinic and a few others charge around $200. I asked some questions and discovered that the lower-priced ones do not include having the dog hooked up to machines and monitored while they are under. When I was a vet tech (in college, with no formal training), I monitored spay/neuter patients during surgery with a stethoscope and my eyes! All they told me was to listen to their heart rate, tell them if it dropped. I also had to keep my hand on their chests and let someone know if it didn't move much (breathing). I wondered how I would feel if it were my pet being monitored so primitively. I specifically asked my clinic during my dogs' appointment and again when I called to make her surgery appointment if machines would be monitoring her vitals instead of a person, and they told me yes. That makes me feel so much better, and I'd rather pay the extra $110 for the peace of mind. But I've been told that I'm an idiot for that...

changa · 08-14-2008, 08:26 PM

200 to 250 for spay/neuter? You're lucky...our vet charges over 400.

I'd prefer to take mine to my vet only because she will also be testing him for VWD. I'm afraid of taking mine to a clinic without the testing and something bad happening to him. Truth be told though, I find it hard to take that I could save close to 300 by getting the procedure somewhere else.

**greenkouki** · 08-14-2008, 09:13 PM

I think it depends on the vet... When I worked in an animal hospital I saw some pretty bad suturing by one vet in particular... In one case one of the surgeons actually had to take over and finish up the suturing (although it was not a spay) and she was pretty pissed at the job that had been done. Not to scare you

I do know the vet at the HS Charlotte is a doberman person herself so maybe that means she would take extra care with your puppy :shrug: A spay is a pretty invasive surgery so I'm glad you're weighing your options.

hrd2gt · 08-15-2008, 12:19 AM

I got Karma done at my vet. Mainly cuz i THOUGHT she was going to do other things such as check to see if she had potential for hip dysplasia, (apparently there is something that can be done when they are young to prevent it, something new i guess), have her stomach tacked... and see if she can fix her tail as she has a bald half inch.

all i got was a spay and nails done. Mind you, she did a FABULOUS job suturing her... i mean it was like she stitched a pillow closed. was perfect. But i did pay over $300!!

I had other dogs done at a spay/nueter clinic on WHEELS... everything was fine. Had boy done at vet... high dollar. So i dont know. I cant knock the discount, as i did save money and the only difference i think i saw in the aftermath was perfect sutures.

Mind you, I guess dobies are more sensitive, so a blood panel was recommended first to make sure she would be ok. and knowing dobies are prone to anything, i guess thats why i went with vet (that and i didnt know how much it was gonna cost me!)

ok, i was no help. i guess if you can afford it, go to the vet. BUT TELL THEM NOT TO GO CRAZY SHAVING!!!!!! I WAS FURIOUS!!! they shaved practically all the way to her front legs for a freaking 3 inch cut between her legs!!! i was so embarassed for her

poor baby girl, took forever for it to grow back, and it wasnt even faded, just choppy line.