Veterinary prices can vary widely. This is a rough guide to what you can expect to pay for these types of Veterinary procedures in Hilo?
Hilo Veterinary Costs
Office Visit: $35
Emergency: $100
Dog Neutering: $90
Cat Neutering: $100
Dog Spaying: $105
Cat Spaying: $100
Declawing: $125
Stitches: $75 (for a small injury)
Teeth Cleaning: $125
Microchip Implanting: $35
(Please keep in mind that the costs of these veterinary procedures are just estimates. These rates can vary significantly based upon your pet’s unique case history. But if the vet that you are considering gives you a number that is significantly higher you might want to get a second opinion.)
What Determines Veterinary Costs in Hilo, Hawaii?
Veterinary costs in Hilo, Hawaii can vary dramatically depending on the veterinary clinic that you visit, the veterinarian that treats your pet, the type of pet that you own and the veterinary treatment that your pet requires.
The average pet owner in Hilo can expect to spend $505, which is the national average that pet owners spend on veterinary care. If your pet is unfortunate enough to have a serious illness you can expect to spend an average of $1,092.
Surprisingly whether you own a dog or cat the cost of veterinary care is roughly the same. On average dog owners can expect to spend $537, while cat owners can expect to spend $558.
What Other Factors Influence the Price of Veterinary Care in Hilo?
The Type of Veterinary Treatment
The type of veterinary treatment that your pet needs has a huge bearing on your veterinary bill. If you were to go to a doctor, you wouldn’t expect to pay the same amount for open heart surgery versus a routine checkup, would you?
The same holds true for the cost of veterinary care. A simple routine checkup will cost much less than a complex and difficult veterinary procedure.
Advanced Diagnostic Testing
As veterinary care has progressed through the years more and more new diagnostic tests have become available. These new tests cost money and of course they detect new problems that cost even more money. Nowadays we have ultrasounds and MRIs for pets. While this allows us to detect more diseases and veterinary problems, they cost a lot of money to perform. These costs contribute to veterinary costs in Hawaii.
The Hidden Cause of High Veterinary Prices in Hilo
The single biggest reason for high veterinary prices in Hilo is the amount of school debt that veterinarians graduate with. In 2010 the average veterinary student graduated with $138,000 in student debt to fund their education. To pay back this massive debt they have to charge high prices for the veterinary services that they offer.
Low Cost Veterinary Care in Hilo
There are several ways to obtain low cost veterinary care in Hawaii. First, contact the Hawaii Humane Society. They often offer low cost spay and neuter programs vouchers. These vouchers can reduce the cost of spaying or neutering your pet. As you well know there is an explosion of feral cats in Hawaii and these vouchers can lower the cost of making sure that you are not contributing to the problem.
Second, ask your veterinary clinic if they offer payment plans. If they do this can lower the monthly cost of veterinary care for your pet. If your veterinarian doesn’t offer a payment plan, look around for another veterinary clinic. There are a number of veterinary clinics in Hilo, so there are other options for your pet’s veterinary care.
Third, look into pet insurance. This can be another good way to lower the price you pay for veterinary care in Hilo, Hawaii. You wouldn’t dream of walking into your doctors office without health insurance, now would you? The same can be said about veterinary insurance. If your pet needs advanced veterinary treatment, pet insurance can keep the cost of veterinary care lower.