How much does aspirating a pee sample cost?

[Corygal]

One of my fellow chazza volunteers, a slave to her Siamese, has just forked 99 quid for the pleasure of inflicting this on her baby, which took all of 10 seconds.

She is an OAP and wondering whether to change vets. Especially as the little cuddler has nowt wrong with her.

I'm not sure what you mean, but I had to get a wee sample from my cat recently. The vet sold me some non absorbent cat litter for about £3. I had to clean out his litter tray, put in the other stuff and wait. It really works!!

I mean at the vet - how much would a vet charge would one know?

No idea, I'm afraid. I just use the old saucer under backside method which has always stood us in good stead. (With the exception of during his GA dental where they did a urine extraction to be going on with as he was out for the count already.)

It's a professional skill to obtain the sample in a sterile manner (cystocentesis) - just because someone is skilled enough to do something quickly and efficiently doesn't mean it shouldn't be charged for. We charge about the same as obtaining a blood sample, and then the cost of the tests themselves & handling/courier fees as well.

Are you sure the cost wasn't the cysto + tests themselves? Depending on what tests requested that could easily be £100

The aspirate is them getting the pee directly from the bladder to test.
Ours had it done as part of a senior screen so blood and urine tests to check various things and cost £135 but our vet do that as an "offer" at MOT time. Was money well spent as it turned out! The

Our vet charged £100, and wanted us to have one every six months. We changed vets to one who has a more rational understanding of our aged cat's health.

So take of 20% VAT that's £82.50. Depending on lab tests were ordered there could be up to £60 of lab fees there so £22.50 for a professional to correctly palate and identify the correct organ and obtain a sample in a safe and sterile manner - cystocentesis takes skill it looks easy, but it is not.

You're also paying for the vet's brain to interpret the results and recommend what action to take next, unless you just want a list of numbers !

Presumably, though, you would exercise a degree of discretion about when a sample testing was really needed Lone? It would be an awful lot of money - especially for someone on a set or resricted income - for an 'Oh - and just get me an X while we're at it.'

Cystocentesis is the best method of determining bacteria involved in cystitis ( no possible faecal contamination) and best method for obtaining protein:creatinine ratio for staging kidney problems. Very often with elderly cats you want to do both.

Six monthly I would say is over kill, but after repeat UTIs or staging kidney problems is very, very useful to determine treatment.

Just notice the nowt wrong with her. Can I ask why the cat was presented to the vet cory?

Because her elderly owner is, naturally, over cautious and thought the little kitty looked peaky.

She was charged 99 quid + VAt for the sample alone, not the tests or anything. Is that OTT?

Ah Yes - Siamese are very good at the dying duck in a thunderstorm routine - usually through a sidelong yet soulful look of the eyes.

Hmm, I suspected as much Cozie. What is worse is that Dreamies have been disallowed: her SIL told her they were bad for cats.

No wonder the tiny furry princess was a little droopy (when audience available).

Just for sampling and no tests £99+ VAT is excessive. If cat is teenage and of colour a urine sample maybe appropriate.

Thanks a million Lone I will pass that on. Thing is, neither she nor the kitty want to move vets, but equally she doesn't want a second mortgage either.

Have just been adopted by a 12yr old cat! (Her ex owner told me her age)! Full of problems! Initial vet costs £401. Just been told of results from blood test & biopsy... possible kidney failure (which requires wee test & BP) & removal of open inflammed tumour on head (depending on her gallop rhythm of her heart)! Her teeth are in an awful state ...plaque, 2/3 or more extractions required! Possibly looking at another £1,000! How lucky am I? I'm only on my state pension, i can't afford to get my own teeth done! Lol! Only found all this out earlier, just having a moan helps. Any suggestions? Ex-owner doesn't want to know.& I can't kick her out now, she's been with me 4months now