Speying of small dog

[WW.]

Seems about average cost wise. It always amazes me that people advise shopping around on cost but never recommend also seeing what the facilities are also like in these other clinics.

Yes you may get a cheaper bill. But are the facilities, monitoring equipment, number of nurses/staff to look after your pet equal/similar? Maybe most folk aren’t bothered about this but something to consider.

I could be wrong but I suspect most practices would also likely expect you to register with them longer term if they’re doing a spay/neuter on your pet.

Price doesn't always correlate with equipment or with the skill of the surgeon. A good vet and a good nurse (or two) are the two most important pieces of equipment.

You are right, historically practices offered neutering procedures at a lower rate, often as a loss leader, to both encourage people to do it (reduces unwanted litters) and to hope people would register with them, in the days when people tended to stick with one vet. As people shop around more, use multiple vets and as corporates take the 'get as much as we can as soon as we can' approach instead of the long game with practice bonded clients where the vet is part of a community, I can only see things getting worse. Sadly some of the CMA's suggestions may do more harm than good in the long run (some are good, some show lack of understanding of the sector and its flaws).

 

[wildfowler.250]

Price doesn't always correlate with equipment or with the skill of the surgeon. A good vet and a good nurse (or two) are the two most important pieces of equipment.

You are right, historically practices offered neutering procedures at a lower rate, often as a loss leader, to both encourage people to do it (reduces unwanted litters) and to hope people would register with them, in the days when people tended to stick with one vet. As people shop around more, use multiple vets and as corporates take the 'get as much as we can as soon as we can' approach instead of the long game with practice bonded clients where the vet is part of a community, I can only see things getting worse. Sadly some of the CMA's suggestions may do more harm than good in the long run (some are good, some show lack of understanding of the sector and its flaws).

Yep. But my point still stands that people often don’t see past the consulting room door. All they are judging on is a price point. Clients generally have no idea regarding costs and differences of multiparameters vs a pulse ox. Gloved and gowned or not etc. A lot of folk sadly just judge on the cheaper the better. With the exception of those who seem to drive a long way to find a lap spay

 

[WW.]

Yep. But my point still stands that people often don’t see past the consulting room door. All they are judging on is a price point. Clients generally have no idea regarding costs and differences of multiparameters vs a pulse ox. Gloved and gowned or not etc. A lot of folk sadly just judge on the cheaper the better. With the exception of those who seem to drive a long way to find a lap spay

Yes... I'd agree generally. I've also seen places without multiparameter monitors that I rather have operate on my animals compared to others with- I wouldn't want clients thinking shiny kit means better care because it doesn't automatically follow- and higher prices don't guarantee it either. Still can't get my head around lap spay popularity.

Although surely everyone knows a pulse ox only exists to beep randomly and frequently to distract whoever is monitoring the anaesthetic!

 

[Bomag]

We paid less than £300 for each of our two to have keyhole speying, both the WCS and Patterdale were 5 or 6 iirc originally we were going to breed from them but a change in my health put a stop to that.

 

[Ben_10]

The cancer risk is mammary tumours and that risk drops if the bitch is spayed before 2nd or 3rd season. After this, there is no appreciable change in risk. Uterine cancer is almost unheard of in dogs. There is an advantage in neutering as the glands swell with each season, so if they swell after spaying, one knows to get it checked in case it is a tumour. Most mammary tumours are benign, thankfully, but can get massive and be a pain to remove.
Pyometra is a real risk if they have never had pups and if they have ever had a false pregnancy, it occurs late in life, sick dog and more difficult op. So more expensive.
That fee is probably about ball park these days. We use better anaesthetic drugs, better monitoring and better suture material - and better pain relief than humans get!

have just been advised by a vet to get my 7yr old spaniel x Lakeland spayed after a false pregnancy once it all clears up, I believe around £500 although the cost isn’t my concern. They mentioned Pyometra. Is this a real risk as she gets older? I asked the rough chances of any issues arising as she gets older if I didn’t get her done but didn’t really get much of an answer. Im uncertain as what to do for the best. I feel neutering and spaying are pushed quite a lot now and wonder if it’s just for targets??? Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Buchan]

have just been advised by a vet to get my 7yr old spaniel x Lakeland spayed after a false pregnancy once it all clears up, I believe around £500 although the cost isn’t my concern. They mentioned Pyometra. Is this a real risk as she gets older? I asked the rough chances of any issues arising as she gets older if I didn’t get her done but didn’t really get much of an answer. Im uncertain as what to do for the best. I feel neutering and spaying are pushed quite a lot now and wonder if it’s just for targets??? Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

From my experience each false pregnancy increases the risk of pyometra. Although I suspect it is actually each season that does it. Spay when mid season will be cheaper than I pyo op.
The push to spay - well there is a general move to not spay at present, as there’s some evidence that it is associated with more behaviour problems which, personally, I feel are due to poor training and choosing dogs for stupid names! In terms of targets and income, I’d make a lot more by treating ill animals than preventing disease.

 

[Ben_10]

From my experience each false pregnancy increases the risk of pyometra. Although I suspect it is actually each season that does it. Spay when mid season will be cheaper than I pyo op.
The push to spay - well there is a general move to not spay at present, as there’s some evidence that it is associated with more behaviour problems which, personally, I feel are due to poor training and choosing dogs for stupid names! In terms of targets and income, I’d make a lot more by treating ill animals than preventing disease.

Thanks for the reply, I don’t think behavioral problems will be an issue she’s pretty well behaved. Just wanting to make the right decision for the dog. Wondering what the real world chances/probability are of her having issues if I didn’t.

 

[Buchan]

Thanks for the reply, I don’t think behavioral problems will be an issue she’s pretty well behaved. Just wanting to make the right decision for the dog. Wondering what the real world chances/probability are of her having issues if I didn’t.

Honest advice? Get her spayed now while fit and young, not old and sick.