affordable vet care in Utah (Salt Lake City, Cottonwood Heights: insurance, credit card, student loans)

[ekomaroff]

I went to the Vet clinic with my cat .. the estimate for their services was around $700 (which includes $40 for visit). It's not for the actual help, medication or surgery (which my cat may need as well), but just for urine test and couple of x-rays.
I haven't gone for a long time to the vet, so I wonder if the price went up so bad or ... does anyone know affordable vet care in Salt Lake area or close to it? Please, anyone enlighten me ... my cat needs assistance ASAP! I know "if you cannot afford a vet you cannot afford a pet", but this is more like reap off!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I like Sugar House Vet Hospital. If it's an emergency they make work with you on payments. No checks, cash or credit cards only (helps keep their costs lower).

[Mtn. States Resident]

Veterinary care is an interesting subject and one I think many will be discussing more in the near future. It's on my mind daily for multiple reasons, given the 3 surgeries, 4 major, major infections we've treated in one pet in less than a year. All the conditions needed attention they required; I want to be very clear, no vet was "looking for something to find and treat." And to their credit, they did a fantastic job with some very difficult clinical situations. I'm really not sure what various vets would have done with the costs, the diagnostic work ups and how the owner had to balance their human needs and ability to pay compared to what their pet needed.

Seeing a physician for a human, in some ways, is easier than having a pet see the veterinarian given the costs. Between state laws, ethics, insurance and other factors, a patient who really needs see will see some health care provider - even if it is at the E.R. That isn't the same for vets.

When I read the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) insurances send patients and providers and realize often primary care and certain medical sub-specialists who see chronically ill patients don't make as much as veterinarians, I'm discouraged. That is a hard fact for me to swallow knowing how many physicians have struggled in this state, and their pts. are clueless.

Most veterinary practices I know about work on a cash basis. Most physicians/surgeon must render care to humans and then hope they will be paid. I know vet school is expensive. Medical school is more expensive and requires a residency of all physicians before they touch a patient ( more years of not able to pay off student loans etc.)

ekomaroff, I'm not sure what to tell you without knowing more about the nature of the illness. I know very little about cats, but know there are certain DVMs in the SLC metro area who see more cats than dogs. Perhaps one who sees mostly cats could help? What I mean is less trial and error to see what treatment/treatments may or may not work. More experience of listening with that 6th sense and following hunches.

Maybe you could call the animal shelter and ask for names of affordable clinics. Also, a general Google-like search pulling up Veterinarians + Salt Lake City and reading comments clients have written may help. Complaints about costs are always listed. I've not found the Utah Veterinary Medical Association to be very helpful about many things. Although, I will give credit to a past president who did write me when I expressed concern about a particular veterinarian and the practice where that DVM worked.

There are some very over-priced practices in town. However, even in those practices are some DVMs who factor cost into everything and may not use all the digital imaging, labs etc. others in the practice do. Sometimes there is no choice but to run the labs to determine how the pet is doing.

Two things you might try are: 1. Getting an RX written for the meds your pet needs and getting them online where those meds are the cheapest. 2. Asking where the lab tests are being run. Smaller animal clinics often can't run many labs in house and have to send them out to a laboratory. Labs can be very expensive, depending on what is being screened. Ask what your lab options are. You may not have any others, given your specific situation; however, some may be able to get labs processed at less cost at certain clinics than others.

I think there is NOTHING wrong with calling the animal clinics and asking how much specific labs or imaging tests cost. I doubt many can answer that, or aren't use to even having clients ask. Maybe it is time we started asking more rather than feeling trapped when we've just been given a diagnose and treatment plan by a DVM.

I sincerely hope things improve for you and your pet, ekomaroff.

MSR

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Since my vet went to a credit card/cash only policy, I have had to call and ask prices of some things. They were very accurate on the phone about kidney blood panel, quoted $40 and it was $40.34.

[redkate20]

The vet we have been taking both our cats (one of which has chronic illnesses) to is wonderful and affordable. They are very up front and accurate with quoting prices and in some situations are willing to do payment plans. They Vet is called Dancing Cats. Their address is 1760 S 1100 E # 8
Salt Lake City, UT 84105 and their phone number is (801) 467-0799

[Katzpur]

Hillside Veterinary Clinic. Wonderful, compassionate team of four vets. They are in the business for the animals and not to get rich. They're in the Cottonwood Heights area.

[lemonjenny]

Veterinary care is EXTREMELY important to me, and so is having a Vet I can trust. Unfortunately there are people out there to take advantage of you, so always go off a reccommendation! I HIGHLY recommend going to University Veterinary Hospital. They are on 900 south and about 1000 east. The vets there are highly skilled, and the best in the valley. The also have the most modern up to date equipment in the state, including a cat scan machine! I have since moved about 20 minutes drive from there, but still make the trek there with my cats for their annual check up and anything they need. Totally worth it!!

[salvamexusa]

My 7 month old toy poodle needs a hip surgery that costs $800 to $1200. It breaks my heart to see him limping on one leg but i just don't have that kind of money. I dont even have money to replace a shot tranny on my car. Does anyone know how much it would cost me to put him down? I was told by a vet around $200 and up but I'm sure there's some place cheaper. We haven't decided on that yet but im just curious.

[steel7]

Originally Posted by salvamexusa

My 7 month old toy poodle needs a hip surgery that costs $800 to $1200. It breaks my heart to see him limping on one leg but i just don't have that kind of money. I dont even have money to replace a shot tranny on my car. Does anyone know how much it would cost me to put him down? I was told by a vet around $200 and up but I'm sure there's some place cheaper. We haven't decided on that yet but im just curious.

Contact your local humaine society. There is no charge to put down a animal. The vet who told you 200.00 is a greedy punk. I dont know what city you live in since you didnt post it. ALOT of vets are strickly in it for the money & not the animals. Stay away from vets who declaw cats. They are the worse. Also stay away from people who have their cats declawed. They are scum. Cat scratching posts save the furniture.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Call Dancing Cat and ask if they do dogs. They just euth's my friends' cat for $40. Also call around and ask. Maybe if you surrender him to the Humane Soc. they will operate and then adopt him out. So sorry about this.