Cost of Veterinary Medicine
Everything is expensive. Hulu just increased their price, so even watching Bob's Burgers is getting ridiculous (just kidding, I stole the subscription from my mother-in-law like a true American). Don't even get me started on the price of eggs! Like everything else, the price of veterinary medicine is not cheap, and costs are increasing. Pets are expensive! Yes, this is going to be a touchy subject. I'm going to explain the price of your bill, how veterinarians/vet staff are paid, and even what you can do to help lower your bill in some cases. This is going to be a long read, so brace yourself!
In recent decades veterinary medicine has changed for the better - we have become a service that can offer advanced specialty care with breakthroughs in new technology and medicine almost daily. From a business aspect, however, the veterinary field is a hot mess. Graduating with $400,000 with 6+% interest in an industry heavily influenced by emotions has caused a massive toll on mental health in the profession. For better or worse (mostly better), there are fewer Dr. Pol's and old-school vets, but unfortunately, the staff and the clients feel the cost of that.
First, veterinary medicine is a business. If it is not profitable, the business will close. Vet med is also one of the most emotionally charged professions. We deal with life and death every day, going from the euthanasia of a pet that has been a part of the family for over a decade, to a puppy visit, in all 15 minutes. Arguably, this makes our profession one of the most complex and stressful professions to be in. On top of that, the amount veterinarians involved with the business side of things varies from one vet to another.
ACL vs. CCL repair - In this blog post, I discuss the difference between ACL repair in humans vs. CCL repair in dogs. Here is a price breakdown of ACL repair in humans: https://calv.info/the-cost-of-an-acl. The total for this repair came to around $69,000. I just tore my ACL…again, and I will have surgery later this month and will update it with my cost. For our dog Opie's procedure by a board-certified surgeon, the total came to $3,800. In humans, the ligaments are reattached. In dogs, the bone is cut and reshaped. We run the same bloodwork as humans at about 1/10th the cost.
How the veterinary business works - The veterinary profession has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. Most vet clinics are owned by corporations, and each has varying degrees of influence over how a clinic is run. Mars (yes, the candy bar company) is by far the largest owner of veterinary practices. However, ours is owned by Mission Veterinary Partners. Being owned by a corporation has its pros and cons and is another subject altogether. Still, it allows the veterinarian to focus more on practicing medicine and less on the financial aspect of running a business.
Where your money goes - Approximately 50% of what you pay goes towards keeping the business running (rent, utilities, bills, etc.). The rest is divided by the cost of goods, and 20-30% goes towards paying the staff. This is a rough estimate and varies by location.
I saved the best for last - "How can I save money at the vet's office."
When you check in, tell the staff of any financial constraints and how much you can reasonably afford. This allows the team to prioritize how diagnostics will be run and if we should offer referrals. For example, in-house bloodwork can be done in less than an hour, but the cost is usually higher than sending it out, which may take a few days. This also helps us to plan for surgery/advanced diagnostics vs. referring to another clinic. If we get done with our tests and/or treatment and hear, "I only have $20," congratulations, you have contributed to my rapid hair loss/greying.
Get pet insurance. I was recently stuck with a nearly $4000 bill for CCL repair for my pet which could have been easily avoided with insurance. We ended up getting Embrace pet insurance and have liked it so far. Be aware that pet insurance usually doesn't work like human insurance, and you will often be re-embursed rather than the company paying upfront.
Most veterinary clinics do not offer payment plans if you cannot pay. Our clinic has been burned many times by providing them. Instead, we recommend scratch pay or Care Credit (which we used to pay for the CCL repair).
Ask for the cost of diagnostics/treatment before approving it. We do not mind financial questions. However, your veterinarian is usually not in charge of the finances. We will ask for another staff member to make an estimate.
You can ask for clarification regarding your bill if you feel something is off. We all make mistakes. Hospitals can be extremely busy, and sometimes things are missed.
Consistently show up on time, be courteous, come in for routine visits, and pay your bill on time (in general, be a decent human). You'd be surprised how far that can get you.
Don't get upset with the staff. They usually have no control over the prices. "The rate of suicide in the veterinary profession has been pegged as close to twice that of the dental profession, more than twice that of the medical profession (2), and 4 times the rate in the general population (3)."
Have routine checkups and procedures performed. Routine spay: $200-500. Infection of the uterus (pyometra) due to not having your pet spayed at an appropriate age: $1000-3000. Distemper hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvo, parainfluenza vaccine: $35. Management of parvo: $500-2000. Dental cleaning: $250. Dental cleaning with extractions: $250-3000. These estimates are for our rural clinic and can vary wildly based on area, but you get the idea.
The most challenging part of getting a pet is the realization that you will outlive them. Our role in the veterinary profession is to make the time you spend with them the best quality possible for as long as possible. Unfortunately, we have not yet discovered the fountain of youth, so eventually, they will grow old and get sick or injured. They will sneak that piece of dark chocolate you swear you put away, slip and tear a CCL at the most inconvenient time or have a life-alternating illness that requires medication you can bearly pronounce (seriously, even we have trouble with some of them). When you decide to have a pet, it is your responsibility to know your financial limits for their care so that we can help them the best way we can.
So, next time you are confused about prices or need clarification, ask! Most of the people you encounter in this industry are genuinely invested in your pet's health and in ensuring your experience with us is worthwhile. We put a lot of pride into what we do and love the satisfaction of being able to help!
Huge thank you to Dr. Andrea Walker, Tayler Eggleston, and Lauren Alsvig for all their support with the blog and helping me write more better.
Here are some more resources:
https://topdogtips.com/pet-ownership-costs-rise/
Stoewen, D. L. (2015). Suicide in veterinary medicine: Let’s talk about it. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 56(1), 89-92. https://doi.org/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4266064/
https://drandyroark.com/bad-economics-veterinary-medicine/
