The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Dagmar Steele — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:18:38 GMT

interesting stuff. What does a consult fee include? (In Germany we have set prices by the state, one is general examination which always gives stuff for discussion, customers think it's a full examination of all systems, most vets define it as "can walk, looks fit, nice coat, is bright and alert" and then the examination of heart, limbs or whatever follows).

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Pete Wedderburn — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:42:35 GMT

.... by the way, other vets in the USA are equally shocked by these prices. I'm still in Las Vegas, and I was talking to one from Minnesota today - her consult fee is $50 and this seems to be more typical. The only way rock bottom prices are possible is ultra-high client numbers per day. Most areas wouldn't have a high enough population density for this to work. Maybe the combination of high people-pet numbers and many low income households in the Los Angeles area has created an unusual type of market.

Pete

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:51:22 GMT

Some states have a sales tax, yes - nowhere close to 20%, though!

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:42:33 GMT

Also do they have the dreaded VAT whacked on top of everything?

Wynne

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Richard Carter — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:38:16 GMT

don't think a vet is restricted by cascade or equivalent in USA - if you are a professional, you use what you think will do the job so their drugs bill will be easily half the equivalent of a UK practice.

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:23:09 GMT

[quote user="Richard Carter"]

Pyo is on the list. Working a shift to 11pm is what scares me!

[/quote]

Ah, so it is. My bad. Not an outrageous price - £820 all in (taking his upper end of the meds and op.) Aside from the consult fee being lower and the vaccinations being cost price; these aren't crazy prices. Volume probably makes up the difference, and I would imagine that they either run their operations cheaper than we do or they make up the difference somewhere else. (I feely admit I don't know how...but if it didn't work, they wouldn't do it!)

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Richard Carter — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:09:21 GMT

Pyo is on the list. Working a shift to 11pm is what scares me!

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:54:03 GMT

[quote user="Alan Tevendale"]

I really can't see how any decent level of care can be offered and still make a profit. Agree with Mark on the

[/quote]

Well, most of those prices were loss leader prices, as well. Bet you a pyo costs more! :)

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Alan Tevendale — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:37:23 GMT

I really can't see how any decent level of care can be offered and still make a profit. Agree with Mark on the

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Mark Rowland — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:50:52 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

How on earth are 3 vets doing 30 neuters per day? We don't even have the kennel space for that.....!!!

[/quote]

I thought that, that must be one dreary job (unless you get off on the "I can do x neuters per day" thing)

Triple combo and wak up in cat carriers could be the order of the day here

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:53:55 GMT

How on earth are 3 vets doing 30 neuters per day? We don't even have the kennel space for that.....!!!

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:32:53 GMT

The tax structure is different in the US. Bet that has a lot to do with it. Wonder how many are corporates and how many are private?

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Alan Tevendale — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:37:52 GMT

At some of those prices I wouldn't even cover overheads.

Re: The latest from the Western Veterinary Congress in Vegas

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:54:20 GMT

Bump!

Thought you might be interested in Pete's latest blog in particular ...

http://www.vetsurgeon.org/blogs/pete-wedderburn/archive/2012/02/22/cheap-vets-in-usa-a-price-list-from-wvc.aspx