We've got a sweet Labradoodle named Duffy who needs some vet help. We took him in to our local vet who said he needs surgery on this eyelid mass. We don't know a ton about this vet, decent reviews, but just don't know what to expect pricing wise.

Here's a pic of his eye & the estimate from the vet. Does that seem like a reasonable price? He's a sweet boy, and we just want him one taken care of, but want to make sure we're not being taken to the cleaners on it.

Seems reasonable.

They won't see the dog at all without the shot and charge. It's their flu vaccine. That's part of what makes me skeptical. No where else that I've been does that.

It's their policy…. So kinda just gotta deal with it I guess.

Ask the other vets here about their policy's. This sure seems like a 1 office outfit and not a corporate owned shop so I'd still lean to moving forward.

Would you use a scalpel for that, laser, or one of those electric loop burning thingies?

I use a scalpel with a wedge incision and 6-0 Vicryl for closure. The suture is expensive, something like three times the other stuff we use(I believe it is still hand swaged onto needle vs robot). We're honestly double that cost(and not the most expensive in our area). Not necessarily apples to apples as we use sevoflorane gas for anesthesia which costs more, require labwork within 2 months, etc. I've done several whose regular vet doesn't do them and referred to ophthalmologist, but that cost is double ours.

Seems cheap.

Our previous dog had eye issues and the animal eye doctor was EXPENSIVE. Couldn't get out the door for less than $175 for just an exam, not including his drops.

I appreciate the input and expertise. The required flu vaccine is something they require to be boarded there, and with the procedure, he'll stay the night. That charge made me raise my eyebrow, but I truly have no knowledge in the veterinary field.

We'll keep the appointed operation and will have them run labs to be safe.

That was cheap for the vet I worked for in 2003-2006.

Is this vet anywhere near the DFW area?

Near Waco.

Just a thought: Don't know the condition of your dog's teeth, but while the dog is under, you might have the doc clean those teeth. Maybe get a little more bang for your buck in terms of not having to perform/pay for two separate procedures. If needed. Won't hurt to ask.

Pretty damn cheap. Wow...

This is coming for a vet, btw. Keep in mind, sometimes cheap is indicative of quality. Sometimes not. Don't decide on this vet or procedure based on price. Determine if you like the vet before using the price as a deciding factor. Ive worked at many places where low prices are low for a reason, with just horrible medicine that I can't be a part of. And others where I am frustrated because the prices are insultingly low while providing fantastic medicine, but then they can't pay their staff what they deserve. Plenty of places where prices are triple what they should be, but with equal or lower quality medicine.

Know the vet and facility and quality first, then focus on price. If you decide that the value is there and you're happy with who you work with, then price can be factored in. It's all about quality and value. Sometimes paying more makes a HUGE difference. Often the biggest mistake people make is focusing on the bill as the only factor in a decision, then regretting taking the cheapest option later.

RCR06 said:

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Agreed on the bloodwork. Friend of mine is a vet. He was telling me about a case where the dog he operated on died a few days after the procedure. He recommended pre op blood work and the client declined. Turned out the dog had a clotting issue that would have shown up in the bloodwork. It's rare he said, but they do find things from time to time In the bloodwork. The client turned him into the state vet board(probably out of anger over losing a pet), but he had a signed document from the client declining the pre op blood work.

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And THIS is why places make pre-an lab work mandatory more and more often. It's horrible, but medicine has stressed covering your ass over quality medicine, and it's getting worse and worse. And ironically, it's also driving the costs up. So...literally everyone loses.

Also, from another comment above, if this were a corporate practice you'd be looking at 1k minimum, but I wouldn't be surprised to see an estimate over $1500, even 2k. This surgery is basically free when accounting for time, supplies, and most significantly staffing costs. The only profit they'd see is probably in that vaccine, tbh. They probably can't afford to pay their people well with prices like that, but that doesnt mean quality is lower. It often means that the staff values their job satisfaction over income, which is why it is so incredibly frustrating and infuriating when clients treat support staff badly. These people, often kids, work their asses off and regularly take abuse by clients, while being paid way lower than unskilled labor done at much easier jobs. Our industry just can't afford to pay staff what they deserve, because people rarely choose to pay what should be charged. So even with costs going up, payroll is limited by what people are willing to spend on their pets. And we can't exactly put iPads out in the lobby and spin them around so that the client can be told, "it'l ask a couple questions" to pressure tips like what you see everywhere else.

Rant over, I apologize. Personally, having owned a practice, I don't mind taking abuse. It's a big part of my job, and ill make sure that every member of the support staff puts all blame onto me so that they hopefully won't take the brunt of nasty people. I don't mind being yelled at and blamed for things we didn't do, but I sure as hell will destroy anyone who makes staff members cry because clients are emotionally frustrated about things not going well that are out of our control. You make one of my girls cry, and ill make sure you never come inside my facility again.

If this is an independent place, and you like them and respect them, and they treat your dog well, I say go there. That said, there's nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. Because my estimates were often lower than the surrounding places, I actually encouraged that so that they can include value in their decision.