[uC4F0NVL]

I want to have Bailey's hips and knees x-rayed. Lately she seems a bit uncomfortable when sitting or standing. I figure if something is wrong with her-it's going to be wrong with her-there's no changing it. But if we can do something to make her more comfortable I want to know, and I want to do it the right way.

Today I called my vet and asked how much, the tech said the Dr. needs to make an appointment, do an evaluation, and then give us an estimate. I don't understand. Why does that need to be done? If I'm asking for these services there shouldn't be any eval because no matter what the Dr. finds I want the x-rays...and what's the deal with an estimate. Are some x-rays harder to take than others? She couldn't even give me a ballpark figure. So annoying.

[Turbo-ip]

I'm not really sure, but I know our Member Vonkromhaus had her dog judge done. Hopefully she'll chime in!

[uC4F0NVL]

I know it's going to vary region by region, but I also know that a lot of people have this done so I have to be able to at least get close to a price.

I recognized the tech on the phone, and so far I have not had good encounters with her...not enough to file a complaint but just little shit, things that make me think-why do you work in customer service if you don't like people.

I like my vet, I know a lot of people don't like the Banfield Hospitals and think their "plans" are just another way to get money out of people, but it's never really been like that for us. There have been multiple times where we've gone in there and not paid a single penny. The majority of the staff recognizes us and our dogs, and I really appreciate that. I really feel like the Doctors care.

[Flerdourdyged]

your entitled to your own opinion, I know here banfield SUCKS, and they charged me 100$ for giving a dog a shot that I did not ok, they don't allow you to go back with the dog for anything more than normal shots, say that if you didn't have the plan it would be like 60 bucks for the shots...at my vet its 25 flat for the shots and a check up with them, they know me and my dogs when I come in, they don't remember my last name but they remember Goren's 1st hehe...I know they charge more for spay/neuter than most in the area but I think the require the blood test...anyhow I know that a local vet charged me 50$ for like 2 exrays then didn't charge for the 2nd 2 they took 2 days later...it was back exrays but still might give you a little bit of a ball park number

[XiWm9O9S]

I don't know why you think a vet giving you an estimate is so weird. If the vet evaluates the dog and doesn't feel a need to x-ray the knees, that saves you a lot of money. The estimate provides you with an idea of how much you're going to spend.

For example, if I gave you an estimate for your dog at my clinic, you'd have a $40 exam fee, and you would need at least 3 radiographs for the hips and as many as 5 for a complete knee evaluation. You're looking at close to $400-500 for xrays right there. Wouldn't you want to know that prior to going into it? Wouldn't you want the vet to do an exam and determine if all of those x-rays are really necessary? Wouldn't you rather have the vet go "you know, I feel some arthritis, here's a joint supplement, if it doesn't help we'll take x-rays and go from there".

Honestly, if I were you, I wouldn't get the x-rays done. I'd try joint supplements and go from there. You can also inquire about adequan injections, they seem to work wonders for our patients. It doesn't help with disk issues or lumbosacral issues, but knees, elbows, hips, it works wonders.

[uC4F0NVL]

I don't think an estimate is weird. I think not having a price for x-rays is weird. Each time they take an x-ray it costs them a certain amount of money. If they tell me hip and knee x-rays are $100 a piece, and then follow up with we could have to do up to 10 then I understand that estimation. The vet tech made it sound like the dr had to look at the dog to estimate. After talking with some friends I realized, sedation can be part of an xray-and I didn't realize that. I can see how with that there is some estimation as well. The dog weighs 59lbs so we need this much sedation, if the dog weighed 100lbs then we'd need this much...but the chick couldn't even give me that. I asked her-what would cause the price to fluctuate, she said the doctor had to decide. That's bullshit.

I don't care how much it costs-I want it done. Obviously I don't want to pay out the ass just because they can charge me X dollars, so that's why I'm asking what the going rate is.

It shouldn't be such a weird request right? People have their dogs xrayed all the time for sports and pedigrees, why can't I? I too want to know how much I can do with my dog and where I need to be careful.

[tetMitshisk]

My vet charges 65-75 for a hip xray, cheaper if he does not have to sedate the dog. Knees, he usually palpitates. However, if you get a large enough xray, you should be able to see the knees in it. We live in low income state, so things like that are cheaper.

[Munccoughe]

Keep in mind that they often do hands on diagnostics such as moving the joints in various directions, etc. Hell when I went in for PT for my torn meniscus the guy did a very through physical diagnostic exam on my knee even with the xrays and shit the hospital had sent over for him. And incidentally was much better able to explain the why and how of my injury pain and how to care for it with conservative management. I would hope a good vet would do the same.

That said, my 60lb dog costs about $50 to be sedated at the vet. Like a year and a half ago she had to be sedated to check for cheat awns in her mouth/throat.

Normal OFA radiographs for hips/elbows usually run $150-350, but like others have said diagnostic views for hip/knee issues can and do run a lot higher.

[XiWm9O9S]

I don't think an estimate is weird. I think not having a price for x-rays is weird. Each time they take an x-ray it costs them a certain amount of money. If they tell me hip and knee x-rays are $100 a piece, and then follow up with we could have to do up to 10 then I understand that estimation. The vet tech made it sound like the dr had to look at the dog to estimate. After talking with some friends I realized, sedation can be part of an xray-and I didn't realize that. I can see how with that there is some estimation as well. The dog weighs 59lbs so we need this much sedation, if the dog weighed 100lbs then we'd need this much...but the chick couldn't even give me that. I asked her-what would cause the price to fluctuate, she said the doctor had to decide. That's bullshit.

I don't care how much it costs-I want it done. Obviously I don't want to pay out the ass just because they can charge me X dollars, so that's why I'm asking what the going rate is.

It shouldn't be such a weird request right? People have their dogs xrayed all the time for sports and pedigrees, why can't I? I too want to know how much I can do with my dog and where I need to be careful.

PennHIPs around here run around $400, and $200 of that includes the anesthesia and monitoring processes throughout the procedure. OFA is around $200-$300. A normal price for exam and 3 hip x-rays (2 lateral, 1 VD) would be around $250. The cheapest you'll get for knees would also be a 3 view price (2 lateral, 1 VD) for another $210+. For an exam and 6 GOOD x-rays, you're looking at at least $460. That's without sedation.
I got Lily PennHIPd prior to doing any sports. I understand your concern. You just seem very angry over something that is probably a communication error.

[uC4F0NVL]

You just seem very angry over something that is probably a communication error.

Sorry to come off this way. I am in a bad mood today. So maybe I was less tolerant of the tech than how I normally am.

[DoctorTDent]

We did x-rays for Owen when he was limping and the vets thought it might be his hips or knees. It was $45 for the office visit and $80 for the first x-ray with the 2nd being $65. Luckily, he was suffering from Pano (fancy long word for growing pains) and his hips and knees looked great.

[Mereebirl]

mine was 200? or 300 i dont remember. i see why youd think the not knowing the price thing is weird, when i ask for something i want that done. not anything else. but i also didnt trust any of my vets.

also if this helps

http://leerburg.com/hipart.htm

[BypeVupyide]

I know this is an old thread but would like to say thanx because it helped answer a lot of questions on pricing that I was wondering and also taught me what to look for in proper hip positioning!

[corkBrobe]

No matter what you find out, DO NOT let them do anything to your dog that you dont personally sign off on. If they get a chance to charge you for something unnecessary they will.

[BypeVupyide]

Our vet. is pretty good about not doing that, which is nice.
She checked out Dozer's joints and didn't feel any swelling, he wasn't really limping anymore and that the popping that he's always had in his hips when he jogs on the treadmill is a tendon.
She said we could get x-rays but she didn't think they were necessary because she didn't feel there was an injury to really look for.
I'm sure in the future we'll get hip x-rays but just wanted him to get checked out since we thought he may have been hurt from the way he was acting after he slipped and fell.
Glad to hear that all was good and so we came home and let him have his play time... he was becoming a little punk ass without his exercise.