How much does spaying cost?

[musicposy]

Our dog is around 10kg, our vet's quote for spaying her is just over £220. (Annoyingly if she was under 10kg it was £180 but she weighed in last time at 10.2kg and so came in the 10-25kg bracket)

Does this sound about right to any of you? It seems an awful lot to me. Our dog was about £75 to have castrated, but that was about 8 years ago and he is a dog.

Not that it will stop me doing it, just that I wondered if it was a bit of a rip off and I should shop around.

Would it be wrong to shop around? Should I go with the vet who knows my dog?

[musicposy]

First paragraph should have made it clear our bitch, sorry. Re-read it back and got confused myself!

[louby86]

Not sure if it's any sort of comparison but we have a lab and have been quoted £160 for him to be neutered when he's past 6 months old. I've heard the vets in pets at home are a lot cheaper but we've chosen to take our puppy to a local vet who has a really good reputation and is maybe known for being a little bit more expensive than others. Hope this helps until someone more knowledgeable comes along!

[thisisyesterday]

well it cost me £120 to get my rabbit spayed.
i nearly choked when they told me.


it IS more expensive than neutering a dog/buck/any male because it's a far more invasive procedure.

[gothicangel]

ive been quoted £160 for my cocker bitch and she is 12.5kg
x

[toboldlygo]

My 24kg bitch cost £180 to be spayed, our vet is usually fairly pricey so yes, what you've been quoted seems quite high.

[Slubberdegullion]

It cost about £200 to have my lab spayed.

[musicposy]

Interesting responses, thanks.
We're South of England in a place where most things are extortionate, mind you. I might see what Pets at Home charge, a couple of people I know have gone to the local one and found it OK.

One thing worried me which I don't know if it should have done. We took her to be spayed before (it didn't happen because vet suspected she might be coming into season and wouldn't do it). At the time I said I was just so worried about her dying in the op (have been scared by kid's experience, among other things I've read and am so terrified of losing her) and vet said, "well, it's rare but you just have to keep your fingers crossed".

Was this good - ie, being honest, or bad ie they have bad outcomes?

Is there any way of finding out the surgery outcomes of these ops? I really don't want to do it in one way but am aware she really ought to be spayed and that outcomes for other things are better once it's done.

[Slubberdegullion]

Well it's a slightly blasé way of saying it but yes, all surgery and general anaesthetics carry a risk. Can't help on stats sorry, but if your bitch is in rude health and the vet does a thorough pre op assessment I would imagine the risks are low.

Am not a vet, but when I looked into it reducing or removing altogether the risks of some canine diseases was very compelling, that and the risks to my bitches' health should she get pg.

There are quite a few threads in the archives about spaying and health benefits/risks.

[Lizcat]

Prices will vary a lot depending on area and also how the practice weight bands we have less than 7kg and then 7 to 15kgs.
I am always honest there is a risk with every anaesthetic we do what we can to reduce this risk with pre-meds, keeping anaesthetics short, keeping animals warm etc however, there is still a risk. Any vet who says there is no risk is foolish.
There are no stats kept. Personnally I have lost one perfectly healthy pet in 13 years a rabbit that just stopped breathing and despite all our efforts we could not revive it. Making the call to tell the owners was truely awful, but it does happen.

[superslim]

I live in West Sussex and my vets charges approx £170 for that size bitch and no vet can say any anaesthetic is safe. It is not ideal to shop around as some larger businesses in this area don't have ideal after care ie if an OOH emergency happens you have to travel 40 miles to get to the on call duty vet, so if you are happy with your usual vets and they know your dog stick with them - maybe ask for the senior vet (lots of experience and quicker at operating so reducing anaesthetic time) to do the op but the risks are definiately out weighed by the risks of not spaying.

[superslim]

Sorry meant to say no vet can say any anaesthetic is 100% safe.

[OhDoAdmit]

music I have found the vets based at Pets at HOme to be very reasonable. I dont like the shop at all but the Vets are called Companion Care and I use them for everything now.

I really rate them. They are not pushy and there are no hidden expenses in my experience with them. In fact I have been suprised at how much the do not charge for.

I dont work for them honest!

[deste]

Can I ask if it costs the same for males or is it cheaper.

[Lizcat]

Males are usually cheaper as long as both testicles are present in the scrotum as it is a quicker more straightforward surgery.

[musicposy]

Thank you so much for all these comments. I know that with the risk of pyometra etc, I do need to get her done. Plus her being in season wasn't great for any of us, her included. I think she'll be happier. I just need to be brave. (which is stupid because both our older dog and cat are neutered)

Cost is interesting as I too am West Sussex, superslim, so it does sound as though ours is a little pricey. It also sounds as though we are just a bit unlucky with the weight bracket. However, I do know them and they know Poppy.

[MoaningMinnieWhingesAgain]

Our Border Collie , male, was done last week and it was £115, includes two post op checkups. Off for a wound check shortly!

[ThingsThatGoFlumpInTheNight]

Jeez I had no idea it was so expensive! Just makes me realise how much money I have saved with getting rescue pets over the years

Sorry, off topic a bit...