REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

lilgurl · 01-16-2012, 10:22 AM

Hey Everyone,

It’s time for my dog to get spayed next month and was just wondering what is a good place to get it done. Granville Island Vet is charging $445 for the procedure (fluids included - not sure what fluids are needed?). This sounds like robbery! I just checked out the SPCA website and they charge $139. Any recommendations/experiences out there?

Thanks in advance!

lilgurl · 01-16-2012, 12:13 PM

forgot to mention the $445 at Granville Island Vet includes the chip
whereas the $139 at SPCA is just for the spaying

Lil Bastrd · 01-20-2012, 07:21 AM

Fluids is an IV. This can be good for smaller breeds. It really depends on the dog. The surgery is so quick and most vets have done it so much that it is a simple procedure. I usually set it up so fluids can be used if there is an issue. Best thing to do is phone around $400 is high. Unfortunately where the vet is located can affect their pricing due to price of lease on the building.

Soundy · 01-20-2012, 07:40 AM

Cost was a couple hundred to get Groucho neutered, but that included painkillers, fluids, and pretty much everything else needed. For Dusty, a friend suggested another vet that was "only $65"... but by the time they added up painkillers, fluids, and pretty much everything else needed, it came to almost $200 as well.

Neither fluids nor painkillers are NECESSARY... but as Lil Bastrd suggests, IV fluids are usually recommended for smaller dogs during any surgery, because they can dehydrate easily while they're under.

And painkillers, well... that's just to alleviate the dog's discomfort. Groucho really needed them the first couple days as he really had trouble sleeping... Dusty never seemed to even know anything had happened; we gave him the meds the first night home but he never seemed to need them.

fliptuner · 01-20-2012, 10:24 AM

My Rottie, Kona is ready to get spayed. I just got pricing from the vet I use for her and my Yorkie, Buster. Eagle Ridge Animal Hospital, just West of Coquitlam Centre.

$176+tax for spay (under 1YO) incl. IV and pretty much anything else needed. They also trim her nails for whatever reason.

It's advised to get them either a tattoo or chip at the same time since they're asleep anyways and won't move around.

Tattoo $32+tax, microchip $60+tax. So $236 vs. $445 from your vet.

We spend a lot of money on our dogs from quality food, to toys, to professional training, to grooming. They've treated us and all our pets very well for the last 3 years - they just happen to be very reasonably priced.

Keep in mind that the overhead on Granville Island is a lot higher and I assume the clientele has more disposable income (in general), which would explain the higher cost.

Nlkko · 01-22-2012, 10:39 AM

SPCA is the cheapest around. I had a quote for my Daschund at Yaletown Pet Hospital for 400-600 so thanks, but no, thanks.

The experience at SPCA Vancouver was pretty painless. They took mine in the morning and he was ready in the afternoon (or it was overnight I don't even remember). When I pick him up, he wasn't even scared. He was very happy actually, although a bit dazed from the anesthesia. They took good care of him. The stitches were initially visible but were every clean. My dog didn't even bother licking at it.

Oh they automatically tattoo your dog if you do it at SPCA. Mine was very well done inside the ear (he has floppy ears) so it wasn't visible. They also ask to trim your dog nails free of charge.

I would also say the reception at SPCA Vancouver was mile better than the one at Yaletown. The receptionist girl at Yaletown gave me cold shoulders.