Dear Readers,
A reader's email invited me to guess how much it cost to have her new cat spayed and vaccinated. I replied that I wouldn't hazard a guess because each situation is different and depends on so many variables.
She answered the cost was $400 and "If I'd know it was that expensive, I would have bought a cat from a shelter already spayed and vaccinated for less than a hundred bucks!"
Keep in mind that municipal shelters are publicly funded (paid for through our taxes) which is why adoption costs are low. The subsidies help pay for everything from staff, building, heat and hydro to the cages that house the animals, pet food and all veterinary needs. Only a "vetted" animal - meaning health checked, vaccinated and altered - is offered for adoption, which is in keeping with public health mandates as well as the community's concern for the health and welfare of animals, both domestic and wild.
People are often surprised at the cost of veterinary treatment at private clinics, but I suspect they wouldn't be so shocked if they compared it to the cost of their own medical needs, which are paid for through publicly funded programs such as OHIP or private insurance. I've tried several times in the past to find an OHIP fee structure that could be used to draw a comparison between human and veterinary health-care costs, but it's impossible to weigh since fees vary according to a number of variables.
Our reader's cat required all the basics - everything that would have been subsidized by the public at the municipal shelter, but since her cat wasn't adopted from there, our reader paid the bill.
Just like OHIP, however, the fees depend on a variety of dynamics including the clinic's overhead and cost of supplies and the cat's individual needs. For instance, if the clinic is located in downtown Toronto, its overhead may be much higher than those incurred by a rural clinic. What types of vaccinations were given? Did her cat require specialized attention such as additional care during surgery or recuperation? All of these variables, and many more, need to be considered.
Do veterinary clinics refer to a fee guide in the same way as our human medical system adheres to OHIP cost guidelines? The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) provides their members with an objective guide designed to help them provide affordable veterinary care to their clients while ensuring their business remains viable.
Buying veterinary services is much the same as buying dental services that aren't covered by OHIP or private insurance. Your dentist may charge more or less than someone else's dentist. You can shop around for cheaper dental work or you can choose to stay with your own dentist, discuss cost-effective alternatives then proceed based on cost plus whatever other factors are important to you.
It works the same way with veterinarians. Aside from emergencies, which don't always allow time to discuss fees in detail as you rush through the door, don't hesitate to ask for a cost estimate and ask for clarification for any items you don't understand.
Trust me - there will be many veterinary charges you won't understand, especially if you're a first-time pet owner.
When you've built a good rapport with the veterinarian and his or her staff, you'll feel more relaxed with how it all works and more confident to ask for cost-effective alternatives, just as you would with your dentist.
If you have more than one pet, ask if the clinic offers a multi-pet discount. If you're short on cash, ask if the clinic will accept a payment schedule. If your pet needs drugs, ask if a generic brand would be appropriate and if it can be purchased at a lower price at a regular pharmacy. Or, speaking of dentists, perhaps your pet needs dental work. If the animal isn't in pain, ask if the procedure can wait until you have enough money.
Yes, there are insurance plans for pets. Having a plan in place can be a great relief, especially for new pet owners who aren't aware of the cost of veterinary care. Your veterinarian can give you information on the companies offering these plans and can help you decide which one will work best for both you and your pet.
Jacque Newman is the editor of Dogs Dogs Dogs; a five-time Maxwell award winner from Dog Writers Association of America, and moderator of Dogs Diabetes online forum. Her writing has appeared in Readers Digest, Dogs Dogs Dogs, For Love of Cats and on several pet-related websites. She can be contacted at jacque-newman@rogers.com