If you haven’t checked with them yet, ask VetweRx. They have a lot of modern technology and are reasonably priced compared to some of the other big clinics. Their PRP treatment for both stifles was $600 less. They are north and south of Denver.
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@SLW --according to my farrier who works occasionally with the Big Name Clinic, the long term plan has been to squeeze out the smaller, “one person” large vet operations. In doing so, the BNC can set the prices for things like Health Papers --and they have been successful to some extent. According to my farrier, the BNC attracts interns from the large university in the state that offers a veterinary degree program (only one in the state to do so). After hiring the intern for what is more than the usual amount of compensation, the gleeful intern is asked to sign papers that include a non-compete for 5 years within x number of miles. In a way this makes sense since the BNC has a vet on staff who does some cutting edge treatments that are probably his “invention” or are proprietary.
Result is no new vet clinics have opened in our area for the past 30+ years.
BNC has made efforts to buy out the remaining clinics --and since many of the vets are reaching retirement age, they are unable to find vets to take over their practices as the best graduates have signed the no-compete paper and must move away to start/buy clinics. Large animal vets graduates are not as prevalent as they once were --student loans and all that . Small animal make more $.
According to my farrier, they did try to buy out my cow doc who told them to F-off.
Because they are the only game in town, they can charge what they want to. The break down is $150 for a farm call (must be within 10 days of needed paper), $40 for Health Paper (electronic and hard copy) and $10 office fee. Of course one can haul said horse to BNC --but it’s $100 to have an appointment for anything at all --my buddy is a surgeon and to haul her horses there means she has to take off work --she would lose more than the $140 farm call by not doing a hip, knee, or shoulder . .
There is some blow back in the wind --my cow doc is offering Saturday hours once a month at his clinic, and one travelling vet (does only Amish horses and works out of his car), has offered to go to the area once a month if folks get together and pay him to do so.
Don’t get me wrong. I use the BNC when my cow doc is stumped --they are great to have for a second opinion. There are some truly talented vets there (two from Rood and Riddle). But for the most part, I use my cow doc.
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Well that really sucks. Like someone said above I definitely should be, and am, grateful that there are so many choices around here!! And I don’t feel like our big university clinic is like that at all either… they seem very friendly with other vets.
So I just had a vet visit with my regular vet. We decided to do Prostride in both stifles next week… Times are pretty hard for me financially and my vet told me I can make payments no problem. Another reason why I love her and use her as much as I can (sometimes things are just out of her scope.) I’ve been with her since I was a teenager and now I’m in my 30s. It feels like we’ve been through a lot together honestly, there hasn’t been any longer horse related relationship that’s been so closely maintained as her.
I am very grateful to have a lot of competent vets around here. And also grateful that I can “shop” around at times when needed and save $500 or more at times.
What an interesting way to gain control of services (and prices) in one area.
We have a BNC equine only in our area and while quite expensive they are so good and do supply options. For example, had my mature mare in for a lameness exam. Head lameness Doc said she was off/short in both hind legs and recommended hock injections. He said he would shoot radiographs to confirm arthritis but was 100% confident doing injections sans rads. Same thing when my donkey had a torn ligament. He gave me 3 treatment options and said the #2 options provided questionable repair. The #3 option was way above my budget. We did treatment #1- 9 month layup.
My primary care small & large animal vet moved away so I had to find a new clinic to use. The pricing is so different. The new vet exam fees are $20 more than my previous vet but they sell the drugs at just $4-5 more than Valley Vet. Previous vet had a 100% markup on all drugs & goods.
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