Cat Needs Surgery - Best Rural Vet?

[Draug]

Over the years, I've had pretty good luck finding very good veterinarians in the small towns around Calgary. They used to be quite a bit cheaper than in the city, but I am not sure that is the case any longer.

Does anyone know of a more remote vet, say anywhere in AB, that is good and also affordable?

Our cat ate a large nerf bullet! We had an x-ray done at our vet, which is still a bit inconclusive, but it is looking like the the foam is lodged in the intestine. This will require surgery, and the quoted cost is $1800-2000. I cant really afford it.

If anyone knows of a good vet, that is low cost, please let me know!

[Coach]

Not sure about rural ones, and I haven't lived in Calgary for a few years so things may have changed, but..

I always took my dog to Cambrian Animal Hospital in the Confederation Park area. I felt like they never over charged me or had me paying for unnecessary things. Even when I had to go to an emergency vet for an issue, coming back to them after the fact likely saved me thousands.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't know if this helps, but Alberta does have a veterinary fee guide here that might help with the breakdown of the quote based on the four digit revenue codes


https://www.canadianveterinarians.ne...ee%20guide.pdf

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't know where you live, but here are yelp reviews for low cost vets in the Calgary area


https://www.yelp.ca/search?find_desc...=Calgary%2C+AB

[Sammymydog1]

Dog recently required surgery. Regular vet was quite high. Tried Okotoks & was even worse - both price & service. Was referred to an office in Dover by a groomer & couldn’t have been happier with the service, procedure, results & price. Office is nothing ‘fancy’ but everything else was great. Will definitely use again should the need arise.

http://www.spayneutercalgary.ca/

[CaptainYooh]

Check the clinic in Nanton. They are quite a bit more reasonable than our local vet in Calgary, if you don't mind the drive.

[Draug]

Definitely dont mind a drive .... we are using one an hour north of Calgary right now, and live in Calgary. Used to seem really cheap, but not sure they are any more.

Thanks so far! I will check out some of these.

[Harry Lime]

A large number of city vet offices were bought out by one chain, which caused a lot of problems on decision making and cost control. You are probably finding better and cheaper options outside of the city because they are individually owned. There are still quite a few vets not a part of a large organization inside the city limits, but you have to do some searching.

[Jake]

I don’t have a recommendation for a rural vet, but don’t sit on this for very long. The longer you wait, the higher the risk of complications and the higher the cost may become.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by Draug

Over the years, I've had pretty good luck finding very good veterinarians in the small towns around Calgary. They used to be quite a bit cheaper than in the city, but I am not sure that is the case any longer.

Does anyone know of a more remote vet, say anywhere in AB, that is good and also affordable?

Our cat ate a large nerf bullet! We had an x-ray done at our vet, which is still a bit inconclusive, but it is looking like the the foam is lodged in the intestine. This will require surgery, and the quoted cost is $1800-2000. I cant really afford it.

If anyone knows of a good vet, that is low cost, please let me know!

I have 3 dogs and 3 cats, so we make frequent vet visits..

I can't recommend Didsbury vet clinic enough. Good prices, but above all, the vets have all been very good. Dr. Andy, is awesome if you can get in to see him.

It's a big vet clinic, they deal with farm animals as well, they've always been great, I've recommended them to several people, all of whom switched after.

Fire me a DM if you would like more info!!


Unless you're referring to Didsbury as being expensive! Lol.. I've always found their prices to be very good.

[Draug]

Yeah, Jake, agreed. It was Monday morning when he first started acting different, and puked out half the Nerf bullet by Monday afternoon. He continued trying to puke our the rest through the day, and was acting pretty normal. He never did get it up.

So Tuesday, we took him to our vet, where an x-ray and physical exam, blood test, and anti nausea medicine cost about $400. The x-ray showed no gas or solid blockage yet, but also doesnt pick up the foam. The physical exam showed everything nice and soft still.

Our instructions were to wait 48 hours to see if he could pass the rest of the foam. He is just sleeping, but his breathing is normal. He will only eat if we force it on him, but we were told to keep doing that to help his digestive system pass the foam through.

Hopefully, he passes it, as he isnt trying to puke it up any longer. So if he doesnt pass it, surgery (or euthanasia - a real shame as he is 100% healthy, fun loving, active and only 4 years old) is the only option.

[Aleks]

Barrett veterinary in dalemead

[Sr. Mints]

Without question Riverstone Vet in Sundre. I'll drive 90 minutes in a -20 blizzard before anywhere in Calgary. The vet is about 1/4 the price of my Calgary vet, and frankly I like him and I'm an exceptional judge of character (I actually liked my Calgary vet, too, for what it's worth.)

Example: Dog 1.) Torn knee. Calgary vet charged me $600+ to tell me he needs a $3600 operation. Three days later Riverstone vet charges me $200 for an entire workup, diagnostic imaging and tells me he'll probably get over it without surgery, but it would cost $1100 if I did opt for it. Four years later, no surgery and he is fine.

Dog 2.) pug needed extensive dental. Calgary vet said it would be $2200 (!) because she's old (14-16 maybe?) and has a heart murmur and cancer. Riverstone vet charged me $600 for an entire workup, blood work, 10 extractions, and talked me into not putting her down (she has a tumour the size of an apple on her neck). i think that was was last spring. She has like three teeth left, is happy, and is doing ok on liquid slop food