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All,
I think this is a very healthy debate we are having. The common thread in all of our thoughts is that we hold our pets dear to our hearts and want the very best for them.
I practice in southern California where the "market" may be considerably different than othe areas of the country. Out here, a cesarean section during normal daytime/business hours, barring complications can be anywhere from $300-$2000. The end result of the $300 c-section may be identical to the $2000 c-section. The difference lies in the type of service you buy to get you there. For example, a c-section at my place will likely be $800-1200 because I believe x-rays, IV catheter with IV fluids, pain medication, appropriate monitoring during and after surgery, caring for the puppies as well as mom, and using the very best anesthestics is where my comfort level as a practicing veterinarian is. The guy down the road chargin $300 may be just as comfortable anesthestizing your pet with anesthestics that are much cheaper, making an incision, pulling out some puppies, and stitching things back together, then an hour later sending the whole "family" home to heal. There is no right or wrong way.
Care for the dog or cat is different than care for livestock. For example, calves are castrated with a head gate for restraint, the scalpel blade used on the prior 5-7 calves, a small incision and some twisting/pulling, maybe a screwworm bomb spray and a shot of penicillin for good measure. A dog castration at least entails general anesthesia, should include a sterile surgical pack used only on your dog, and I believe pain medication. It is an issue we refer to as standard of care. If a calf had a problem following a typical castration, the veterinarian wouldn't be liable for malpractice because he operated at "the standard of care." However if a veterinarian strapped you dog down to a table, hacked away without anesthesia or at least pain medication, used a used surgical instrument and that dog developed complications, I gaurantee that vet would lose his licence because he didn't perform at the minimum standards known as the "standard of care."
I think its important to realize that pet ownership is not a right. There are minimum standards that all pet owners are held to in our society. They include shelter, food, and minimal medical care (vaccines, treatment for pain/suffering).
Veterinarians don't charge what they do just to pay the rent, pay utilities, cover the cost of medication, pay their staff, etc. Believe it or not, they are in their career to make a living. They want to buy homes, raise families, give their children the best they can, etc. Price gouging aside, there is no crime in a veterinarian making a living.
Wolvie, again I sympathize for you and wish your experience would have been more positive. I wish you would have found a vet that would have gone out of his/her way to help you during your time of need. I understand why you feel you were abandoned by my profession but its important to not place ALL the blame on every vet. Perhaps the ones you talked with were less than ideal, but also, perhaps you share some blame too?
In the future, for all, if you run into situations where a dramatic decision needs to be made ASAP and major expenses are going to be incurred, most veterinary hospitals may have access to credit programs. Most of these are through outside lenders marketing through a veterinary hospital. I offer it. Not everyone gets approved though. My feeling, however, is if the crediting agency declines trusting you, on what basis can I?
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