Hi! So I have a cat who's been coughing for a few days and I would really love to take her to the vet, however, most places I've called around me (central jersey) are charging $300-400 for an x-ray and another $400-500 for bloodwork.
I understand that having a pet means also taking care of the medical bills, but does anyone have any vets they know that are a bit more affordable? I'll be paying for everything out of pocket so I don't think I can spend just $800 on two tests.
Yup, and i have to say pet insurance has really improved in the last 10 year or so since we had our lest dog. I had it back then, and it was more akin to dental insurance.
Our new puppy arguably has better insurance than i do, and I have pretty good insurance.
Thank you! I'm definitely going to get pet insurance for her, I just wish I had gotten it sooner that way I wouldn't have to go through a waiting period for now
well that and now you potentially have pre-existing conditions. So be very cautious when you shop around.
I'm not going to name drop, but there are basically 3 carriers you want to look at. Which one is right for you depends on a bunch of things. Anyone outside the 3 are a scam, or, as i mentioned earlier, akin to dental insurance (will chop down the bill a bit for something minor here and there, but not save you from a big unexpected expense).
Edit: failed to mention nobody will cover the current situation, so don't look at it as a way out.
Also i'm not a cat person, my experience with it is with dogs, and i know the numbers for cats are very different.
Do you remember which local shelter you had called? I just called around 6 of them and they all said no to low cost medical work
Try giving Tabby’s Place a call they are a cat sanctuary. They don’t do care themselves for cats not in there care but they might be able to point you the direction of someone who could help.
I’m getting a cat at the end of next month. Can you tell me what insurance you have? How much does it cost monthly? Thanks!
I use healthy paws. I pay $57 total per month for three adult cats.
Out of curiosity has an actual vet told you he needs x-rays\bloodwork? Or are you just assuming?
I've had stuff in the past with pets where i go down the rabit hole of, "oh crap i'll need this" online, only for the vet to hand me a few pills and say "try this a couple of days and lets see how it goes".
/my stool firmed right up
The vet we've gone to (which we don't really feel comfortable with) said that she might need an x ray & bloodwork or her cough is just a hairball. But I've been giving her hairball gel for a few days and it's not clearing up or getting better and I've paid for a fecal test so I'll take some of her stool in today or tomorrow to get tested and wait to hear what the results are, but I'm just really nervous her cough is going to get worse
Maybe try People for Animals in Hillside
I’ve tried! They just said they don’t do any x rays or blood work :( thank you for commenting!
Sorry to hear that, friend. I take my cat to Somerset Veterinarian Group in Bridgewater and I've found they are reasonably priced.
Home Vet in Belford. My large dog’s xrays and bloodwork came to $400 total along w pain pills.
Just called and they said they aren’t taking new patients :(
Touchstone Vet in Morganville. She said they have fair pricing but isn’t sure about x rays. Give them a call.
Let me ask my sister about her vet’s pricing and location.
Greenwood lake animal hospital
Just called them and they said they don’t do X-rays or blood work :((
A week ago today I took my dog to a Vetco Animal Hospital in a Petco store. He got bloodwork, a fecal test, updated vaccines, meds for a bellyache, new heartworm and flea/tick meds, and A LOT of attention from the vet. I made it out of there for $300. I saw signs stating that they do x-rays, although I don't know how much they charge for them.
I was able to make the appointment online. I picked one that was a little further from my house than I would have liked, but I wanted him seen that day. The hospital was clean and ran smoothly, and the vet was kind and patient in explaining so much to me. I was very impressed.
All that done in $300 sounds amazing!! I called to get an estimate on the X-ray and will wait to hear back on what they say! Thank you!!!!
You're welcome! I hope it works out for you!
Here the thing though: it sounds like the blood work performed for your pet was a standard heartworm snap test (around $60) so that they could renew your heartworm preventative. The blood work that they're likely recommending starts at around double that price (if it's a CBC CHEM).
Rads can be kind of pricey for sure, especially if they are requiring several views, but based on the price ranges that OP quoted the total sounds about average for a blood panel, exam, RADS and medication (factoring in if full sedation may be required to touch kitty in the case that kitty is demon kitty). It is definitely a little bit of sticker shock but sadly totally average as far as cost goes.
Have you tried applying for Care Credit? You can only use it at the vets office and as long as you qualify they normally run deals where the first 6 mos to a year are interest free. If you're looking for insurance after this episode try hitting up Pawlicy advisor....it's like KAYAK for pet insurance.
You're not wrong.
But I called my vet and explained what I needed and as they told me the costs of everything, I realized that I would be paying upwards of $600.
The Vetco Animal Hospital was half of that. And, as I mentioned before, they took great care of my dog. My thought process was that, perhaps, the prices for all of their services would be more cost effective.
Amity animal hospital. It’s not a high end facility at all. He’s an older vet but his prices are fantastic. You can’t beat his prices and his knowledge.
I’m little nervous with his reviews! But thank you for your suggestion!!!
Whitehouse Vet Hospital
If you can’t get to a vet asap, call St Hubert’s
Also most places will give you payment plans
Anywhere in NJ?? Pet Check Urgent Care. One in deptford Twp. One in Washington Twp. (Gloucester county)
I had to take my dog there two days before Christmas when she ate a sock. They did X-rays and it only costed $160 + a cheap exam fee. They’ve done blood work on my dog before too. If you make the hike, I’d call first to make sure they can do what you need.
I called them today! They said $200 for the x ray and $250 for the blood work if that needs to be done, I’m gonna call one more place tomorrow morning and just take her to pet check if nothing else works tomorrow
Fingers crossed for you! I can’t say enough good things about pet check. They really have been life savers for me and my pets.
Village Animal Clinic in Union is reasonable (at least compared to others in the area), but the last time I tried to get an appointment for my dog, the wait time was... prohibitive, at least for the issue she was having.
Also, best of luck with your cat. I hope it's benign and that they feel better soon.
What kind of coughing? I had a cat who was coughing and it turned out he was having late stage heart failure. Later on when I googled that, it was the same kind of cough.
I go to Carnegie cat clinic. They’re expensive but not that expensive I don’t think. Worth calling at least.
Also try house paws- they’re based in south jersey but I think they have a Bergen county office.
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