As a veterinary technician I see many people that are shocked over the price of medical care for their pets. The main thing they fail to realize is that animal hospitals purchase the same medical supplies as human hospitals from the same high-priced manufacturers.
Another factor is that animals do not always cooperate as humans do, and therefore require additional resources to help. For example, using an ultrasonic polisher on a human's teeth requires about half an hour of work. Usually a small price at your dentist.
Imagine doing this on your dog! Because they obviously can't have this done while they are conscious, they need to be placed under anesthesia. This requires the placement of an endotracheal tube, administration of oxygen and anesthesia, placement of an IV catheter for safety, and monitoring equipment. All of this is on top of the cost of supplies, pay for the doctor, and pay for the monitoring technician.
If all of this was done for you, how much would you pay without medical insurance?
So next time you get a big vet bill, remember what is involved. Your vet usually does their best to keep the prices as low as possible.
