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All surgeries are the same, right? Is a neuter for $30 the same as one for $65? How to choose?
I am asked this more and more each week. People mistakenly assume that all surgeries are the same. Same anesthesia medications, same suture materials and supplies, same surgical techniques and standards of instrument sterilization. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
To assume all surgeries are the same is a bit like saying a Yugo car and a Mercedes are the same- they both have 4 wheels and a steering wheel.
A medical procedure isn't something to be considered lightly, and I realize that not everyone is able to afford the best medical care and diagnostic testing. One big thing that you should be concerned with is your pet's follow-up. "What if my pet has problems after the surgery?" Surgical problems such as suture reaction or dehiscence of the incision site, don't occur right away, but days later. Would a person have surgery in a van parked next to the highway? Hmmm, somehow, I doubt it.
Why compromise quality of care if you don't have to?
One option to consider is pet insurance. It works just like human medical insurance and there are several companies that provide it. Some plans only pay for accidents and emergencies. Other plans pay for routine care, in addition to emergencies, such as vaccinations and neuters. It really is more affordable than you might think, and you don't have to cut quality standards of care to make owning a pet affordable.
Veterinary Fees are based on lots of factors. Cost of building overhead, cost of staff salaries, cost of surgical supplies. A veterinarian can perform spays and neuters very cheaply if they don't require a building and don't have to pay staff salaries. Better and safer anesthetic agents cost more than antiquated products. Suture materials vary greatly in quality and price. Not having to clean and heat sterilize surgery instruments between surgeries saves lots of time, and expense too, as autoclaves aren't cheap.
The state of Georgia also has the license plate program in place. It pays for a large majority of the fee for spays and neuters. It isn't based on financial need as anyone can qualify if funds are available.
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