Vet fees...

[BlackRider]

Pippin (rabbit) was neutered last week, and I was very surprised the bill for his op was only £80 (which included metacam).

I'd had to take Rupert (hedgehog) to the vet a couple of months ago, to have a small amount of gas then they could trim his nails, he was under for less then five minutes and I was charged £60. (different practice)

Comparing the 2 - I don't see how the first vets can make that much money for a full operation which needed a lot more skill? The first vet is part of a nationwide franchise so perhaps they get some savings that way, the second is a lot smaller with a couple of branches.

 

[smolmaus]

I think your instinct is probably right RE larger franchise (V4P?) and smaller ones.

I'm actually not that surprised that a hedgehog anaesthesia was expensive though. They're one of the more "exotic" exotics so lot of vets will need to do more work figuring out dosages etc if they're not familiar with them? You do also pay for the security of knowing that a specialist exotics vet DOES know what they're doing with exotics. I personally wouldn't go to a nationwide franchise if any of the hamsters needed anaesthesia or surgery, I would be going to a specialist and expecting a big chunky bill.

 

[BlackRider]

Thanks - yes it was V4P, the only reason I went there is that particular branch are on the the Rabbit Welfare Society approved vets list. I'd honestly thought the neuter would have been double what I paid.

I did struggle to find a practice that had hedgehog experience - and definitely happy to pay a premium for it.

 

[Redders]

Neutering of most species is a loss leader in practice - it’s done at a loss. Various reasons for that, but that will be why it seems so cheap compared with other things

 

[BlackRider]

Neutering of most species is a loss leader in practice - it’s done at a loss. Various reasons for that, but that will be why it seems so cheap compared with other things

Thank you - that's very interesting (although explains why it was cheap!)
I'm guessing its probably because its seen as a way of potentially getting a client on the books for life?

 

[Redders]

It’s one of the reasons. One of the main reasons is that things like neutering are procedures clients are most likely to ring around practices to find out prices, so it makes no sense to actually charge what it costs if your competitors aren’t, completely price yourself out - if practice A charged £800 for a spay because that’s what it actually costs On paper with every thing priced up and including mark up to make some money on the procedure, and practice B charges £150 because they choose to do it at a loss, no one will go to practice A (and practice A will get slated for being money grabbing and that is so depressing and terrible for mental health and retention) Another main reason is that if we charged the actual cost then it would price owners out, and we want to encourage neutering (if appropriate, every pet is on a case by case basis) because of the health benefits and population control etc.
and yes, it hopefully bonds clients to the practice and starts a relationship with that owner and pet for lifelong care, which obviously is great for finances (which every practice needs to actually remain open) but also is great for knowing the pet and owner, having a full history etc.

 

[Redders]

There are other reasons that practice managers and people who know stuff about profit/loss and management know and understand - I am not one of those people!
I just understand enough to explain to owners why there is a price difference or why their emergency spray for pyometra costs a lot more than a standard spray or why a lab fee is more than when they had their cat spayed

 

[SO1]

In economics/marketing this is called a loss leader. This is common as it leads the customer to a certain supplier in the hope they will also buy profitable services as well.

Example might be a free call out on zone days may encourage people to sign up to use a certain vet practice. Once the vet has come out and identified the issue you may find the treatment or further investigations are more costly than a practice that does not do zone days. However most people do not call round other practices to find out if they will do treatments cheaper.

With small animals there is more competition as more small animal vets than equine.

For the hedgehog that would be an exotic. My sister took one of her chickens to vet and that was considered an exotic too.

 

[BlackRider]

Thank you @Redders and @SO1 - that's very interesting.