When I called to make a neuter appointment the vet presented me with a few options to add onto to the $110 base price for Chuck's neuter - blood work to ensure his liver/kidney can handle the anesthetic, and pain meds to help with pain post operation. The options were each $30-40, so if I got everything it would be a bit under $200 total.

I'd like to get experiences and opinions on these options and their prices. I trust this vet overall but curious what others' experiences is on the necessity and price of these things, including the neuter itself.

In addition to this - are there any questions I should ask the vet on how the intend to take care of the operation? It's scheduled for Friday, and I told them I would get back to them on the options. They said they plan on taking him in the morning and I can take him home in the afternoon.

In addition, what home preparations do I need to make?

Thanks all!

Does Chuck have a retained testicle, or is it a normal neuter surgery?

That sounds right about what I paid for Siku, I might of even paid a little more. I also did the blood work, I figured I would rather be safe then sorry since he had never been put under before.

I can't think of any questions for you to ask, if both of his testicles have dropped then it should be a pretty simple operation for them to do.

What I will say though is the anesthesia is the worse part of all it. They cry and whine like they are dying (understandable) but I swear once it wears off, they act like nothing ever happened. Its really sad to see, but just know it will all pass within a couple of hours.

I would say just get him home, and let him lie around on his bed. Bring it downstairs if, it isn't already and just kind of let him relax. They will give you discharge papers as far as medicine goes, and food after the surgery. I would say take the next day off from work if possible, if not just keep him crated.

The best recommendation I got was to get a comfy cone. I ordered mine from amazon. He still hates it, but its a lot softer and more comfortable than a hard plastic one.

I didn't do pre-neuter blood work, but I did get pain meds. I only used them one day. Erica is right about the anesthesia being the worst part, it's heartbreaking! You could always wait on the pain meds and see how he does, as long as the vet is open on Saturday. The hardest part is keeping them from being active!

Definitely get the pain meds. They will need it.

Blood work is optional. I got it because I wanted to make sure she was healthy (paid $50). Juneau's whole spay only cost about $161 total.

Before the neuter, you are supposed to make him fast I think. They should give you instructions.

Afterwards, make him as comfy as possible. He probably won't want to potty or eat/drink anything. That's normal. Use ice chips instead of water so he doesn't drink too much at a time.

Also - be aware of the farts! OMG! Juneau had the worst farts afterwards. She'd even prop up her leg and let one rip lol.

Get the comfy cone. I don't have one, but I've heard good things about it. I used a small bath towel to keep Juneau from messing with her stitches.

Mishka's neuter was a little over $200 and that was just the cost of the surgery and pain meds. So it definitely sounds reasonable to me.

Thanks for the feedback folks! I feel better already. Except financially, that still hurts

Do remember that a lot of vets go by a weight scale because of anesthesia. So the bigger the dog the higher the cost for the procedure. If Mishka would have weighed anymore by the time his surgery was scheduled it probably would have cost well over $300.....

So yeah it definitely hurts the wallet. Lol.

Saber's neuter was over $300 and I didn't get blood work or pain meds. He didn't need the pain meds at all, and I never had to put the cone of shame on him because he never touched his incision. That being said, each dog is different. If I had to do it again, I would probably get the blood work and pain meds to be on the safe side.

Yep... The cut off limit for our anesthesia weight was 41 pounds. It was $30 more if 41 lbs +. Guess who weighed 41 lbs on the dot. LOL.

Well he went under yesterday. As predicted, he whined non stop, but he's better already this morning, lots less whining.  I did both the blood work and pain meds.  

The only drama is the price the quoted me over the phone (110 base, 40 each for the two options) turned into $250 after it was done.  They ended up nickel and diming around things like the actual anesthesia. Needless to say I talked them down to the quote.  They're otherwise good, I'm not going to overreact to a bad quote, and they made it right, but still frustrating to talk through when Chuck is stumbling around running into people in the reception area with his cone!

He's already back to his excitable self and I'm having to try to restrain him from going bonkers. About to go on a trip the pet store to get some chews to offset the boredom!  

Much cone. Very shame. Such neuter.



I actually took off the cone of shame because he was flipping out rolling around trying to get it off. He's not really licking the wound, luckily.

Yeah I love when vets tell you to keep hyper animals calm and they always say they should just want to lay around. It has never worked that way for me.