Just wondering what every one pays for yearly check-ups. I think our vet is a little high. $23-office visit, $28-heart-worm test, $40.70-heart-worm meds. They had a vet clinic at the fire station & a vet from a town about 80 miles came.,  all three dogs total bill- $197.00, my vet it would have been $377.00. I think the drive might be worth it.

one vet I use their office call is $48

the vet in town that I use I think she is around $20

I spend more on my dogs than I do on me!  That's expensive!

Having a dog isn't cheap.  I think that's why so many don't get proper medical care.  Too bad there are so many people who would love to have a dog and can't afford one!

I think the point that dogs aren't cheap is also important. Many people dont think of that when they get a dog, and then when bills get tight the first thing to go is vet bills on a 'healthy' dog.

It's really helpful to have an idea of what annual checkups should cost, although it will definitely vary around the country and between vets.  It's like going to a mechanic- he'll charge you for various things, but unless you get a second opinion or know something about cars, you have no idea whether that is an appropriate cost for what he did.

I love my vet. She is the most helpfull loving person I have ever met. She always knows my animals by name and they love her too. All the staff treat me and my gsp like family! She is a bit more expensive than one that is closer, but I don't care. For the service she gives I will not ever change. I would reccomend her to anyone I know.

It is $40 for a thorough checkup. Normal heartworm test is like $30 but on heartworm day it is $15. She sent my dogs scripts to foster & smith and it is alot cheaper that way. I bought the first one for each dog through her though. If I wasn't doing 5 of them I'd just buy from her too.

She has always made time to sneak us in if there is a problem. She will even come to the house if it is something that I can't travel for. She went to my friends house to put a dog down so she was at home with her mom when she passed. Just thinking of that scares me because I know someday I will be in that spot myself.

Anyways, yes it is expensive but all her schooling and I imagine all her product prices went way up too. So remember that. Our babies are worth every cent.

That's my 2 cents worth!

It has taken me awhile to find another good vet since mine moved. I actually lucked out and got in with 2 great vets. One was a class mate of my dad and grew up in the same town where I live The other is my friend's brother-inlaw. They are both great and personable. Star has a thing for one of them and is not happy until he lets her lick his face and gives him a hug.  

When it comes to check-ups is about $25 and there is a discount for each additional dog you bring in. From my last bill he only charged me $15 per dog. Shots are general around $15. I just had their heartworm test a little while ago and that was  $18 and the meds depend on what you want to have them on.

It is always a given that I spend at least $100 or more each vet visit.

I live in suburbs of Chicago and last week we took our three GSPs to get their annual check up, heartworm tests, mini blood panels, etc.  For the tests, three sets of May - Dec heartworm and flea meds, and one dog's lyme vaccine it was $570.  I'm not sure if that's expensive relative to other areas or not, but I do absolutely love the vet we go to and am willing to pay whatever to have her be there for our "babies."  

As a side note, our vet's office is right outside of our subdivision and when I drive by at night and on the weekends, our vet's car is always there.  I know ours works really hard for her patients, so I don't even question the cost when we have to go.

One question while we're on the topic of vets...our female's mini-blood panel came out showing low glucose and low platelets (this was last Saturday), so we are going to take her back in a few weeks to get another panel just to make sure it was nothing.  The vet doesn't seem to be worried about it, but I did go online and searched and found very serious health issues that "may be" linked with low glucose and/or low platelet counts.  Has anyone ever had a panel come out with inaccurate information (maybe because they had eaten recently, were stressed at the vet's office, etc) that later was found to be a fluke?

Thanks

Having read the thread I had to go back to my records to for comparison.  My vet who I have been using for years and is absolutely the best charges the following for an annual exam:

Wellness Exam is $69.57 and includes all the shots/tests (rabies, DHLP Booster, Parvo Booster, Heartworm test, Fecal Exam).  Then I usually do an annual lab test (full blood panel) for 72.12,  Bordetella for 18.01.  I do the full blood panel as I had a dog that ended up with Cushings and the way we found it was through the annual blood work (not a GSP). The vet then adds in 4.00 for bio hazard disposal.  I buy Interceptor and Advantage for two dogs (94.15 and 101.80 respectively) for a total of $366.33. 

I have recently started buying the Advantage through dog.com as it is a lot cheaper and will probably get a prescription from the vet to send off for the Interceptor next time I go in.

I am very happy with my vet and don't mind the charges.  My fur kids get treated like royalty and they love the Doc.  We were her first GSPs although she was very familiar with the breed. 

Just like Ace I just love my Vet too She has been our Vet for 20 years. When I first starting going to her clinic which was in her home, her prices were too low. Now I think she is charging what she should and may be still too low. I am very happy with the service and care of all our pets thur the years she has given us. And if it was not for my Vets good reference she gave about me to the GSP Recue WI, I would not hvae been able to adopt Rocky

Geographics play a big part in costs, as well as comfort level with the relationship and care when it comes to the charges.  In PA, the eastern vets charge more than the western part of the state.  We have a volunteer on the PA/NJ border that uses a NJ vet whose charges are very high. 

Deb Orpen, Pittsburgh PA