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| - Although it's not a perfect place to be with one's dog, (South) Veterinary Emergency Clinic (Toronto) is a specialty hospital first, and an emergency clinic second.
Specialists, in any field, are more expensive than general practioners. That's a given. Better facilities mean more tests are available. Tests cost money. (For example, my friend, a veterinarian herself, "warned" me that she couldn't do anything about, say, an MRI costing $1,500, since it wouldn't be done at her facility.)
My second time to VEC was for cancer diagnosis and treatment in my 11-year-old Great Dane. The total cost for the first diagnosis, surgery, subsequent diagnosis (for a new problem which developed during recovery from the first surgery), and euthanasia, was in the order of $10,000. The treatment my dog received was good. I was allowed to stay with her the entire time (an absolute must for me). The veterinarian who did the euthanasia was kind and patient.
I do feel for pet owners who can't afford these fees. And if you want to go to someone who's never done this surgery or treatment before, and experiment on your pet to save money, that's one thing. But I know I charge a fair bit for my expertise, and so should veterinary specialists. I'm afraid expensive veternary care literally puts money where peoples' mouths are, when it comes to what they're willing to do for the animals in their care.
You typically have to pay 85% of the estimate in order to start diagnosis or treatment. So, just be prepared. When you acquired your pet, you bought insurance or took out a dedicated credit card or created a savings account, or some other scenario to prepare for just this kind of situation, right? Well, whether it's VEC or another specialist clinic, it's probably going to cost more than $100.
While I was there, one day, a man in the waiting room started ranting and raving about how the clinic wouldn't treat his dog unless he paid a downpayment, and how unethical that was. I quietly asked the receptionist how much his dog's treatment cost, and she admitted it was just a couple of thousand. I was closing in on $10,000 at that point, and almost wished I could run out and tell him what I thought. Veterinary treatment isn't free. They're not running a charity. And as in most areas of life, some of us have it much worse.
It seems the high cost is the most common complaint, and I understand that. The access to specialists and diagnostic tools, along with the treatment, were good. Overall, I feel it is worth the money for these specialists.
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