Vet Clinic Prices -

[Ravenbird]

I saw this on a big city community forum - someone looking to get a dental on their dog but they couldn't afford it and was asking for reference to a vet with cheaper prices. Lots of comments and almost all pointed to smaller towns/community vets 30+ miles out of the city and the majority were really angry with the corp-owned clinics.

$2K for a cat dental? Is this what the corporate owned clinics are charging now? When I worked at a vet clinic in the '80's the vet would anethetize the dog or cat and intubate it, and we "techs" would do the cleaning by hand. I say "techs" because we had no formal schooling, just trained by the vets we worked for.

John Q Public is going to be priced out of owning pets, or at least taking proper care of them.

 

[LifeofRubie]

So I have been seeing some scary stuff (have not fully confirmed through different channels) that yes, large corporations are buying and essentially privatizing pet health care. Specifically, Chewy, I believe, has just aquired a bunch of vet clinics. Chewy also offers pet insurance. Folks are very concerned pet care is headed the way of "in network" vs "out of network" vet clinics based on your insurance.

We've had very good experiences with our local VCA but *knock on wood* it's also been a minute since we've needed services outside what our normal vet provides during normal operating hours.

 

[Sunje]

And Chewy is owned by Petsmart.

 

[Js4fn]

I’m on gundog forum and guy took his pointer to trials and it picked up heartworm vet nor the company would stand behind product to help with recovery meds because he bought meds from 3rd party names been mentioned above

 

[BG1]

I buy my pet meds from my vet for this reason.

 

[JanS]

And Chewy is owned by Petsmart.

And they support PETA so it's a vicious cycle of all the worst ones trying to take over the vet industry.
There was someone just ranting on our local page about how our vet didn't really think the benefits outweighed the sedation on her 12 year old dog since it was just a little plaque. A local friend recently had a dental done on her Doberman and that included pulling a tooth. I think it was about $500.
The consensus around here is that a procedure done at Blue Pearl is going to run about $2,000 compared to a privately owned place who will charge about $500 for the same procedure.

 

[BG1]

Chewy went public in 2019 and 80% of shares were purchased by BC Partners, giving it control, drawing attention of DOJ antitrust.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-09/petsmart-chewy-overlapping-directors-focus-of-doj-complaint

VCA is owned by the MARS family provately, which also owns Banfield Vets.

Mars, Incorporated Completes Acquisition of VCA Inc. | VCA Animal Hospitals

Read the VCA Press Release

vcahospitals.com

VEG is owned by a private equity company.

Who Owns Veterinary Emergency Group Company?

Explore who owns the Veterinary Emergency Group. Learn about the investors and stakeholders behind this network of 24/7 emergency veterinary hospitals.

businessmodelcanvastemplate.com

Prices are going up because affluent pet owners are an attractive market with long term returns.

 

[Gelcoater]

a tooth. I think it was about $500.

I want to say 1999/200 or so Maxie had a tooth pulled and it was also $500

I about fell over. It was our last visit to that vet.
I told them I didn’t understand it at all.
A few years prior I had (4) wisdom teeth pulled, it was $1,000, and I do not understand how one tooth out of my dogs head could be half that number.

Corporations it seems are ruining everything, for everyone. Except their shareholders
Insurance too. And the government is helping them along by making it the law to have in some cases.
How long before it’s mandatory you must have insurance to have a dog, cat, horse, etc?

 

[Fladobe]

few years prior I had (4) wisdom teeth pulled, it was $1,000, and I do not understand how one tooth out of my dogs head could be half that number.

I know I am mixing threads but...
That is good question for ai to do a cost analysis of why ?
The next issue will be as a Vet recovers higher pay for procedures lawsuits for malpractice should begin to net larger and larger settlements.