Hello friends, 

Indy is coming up on 6 months old. We are ready to get him fixed to avoid marking and aggression. Our vet will charge upwards of $270, while the Humane Society in our area provides a Fix-a-Pet service for $55. 

Our vet told us to be wary of low cost spay and neuter places because they do not offer as much pain medication and do not perform pre-surgery blood tests. I'm not sure if she is saying this because she wants business or has really had issues with this other service. 

I feel like Indy should be a typical case as he has been a very happy and healthy pup. 

What are your thoughts? Anyone have any experience with low cost spay and neuter places? I want Indy to be safe, but I don't want to spend over $200 unless it really makes a difference. 

Thanks in advance! 

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I definitely support humane societies and low cost spay/neuters, because there is so much overpopulation in many cities. I just think that people should know that there are certain risks involved when you go that route. I think if you're absolutely broke, and you can't scrounge up the $200-300 for quality medicine--then by all means just get it done anywhere; because it has to get done. But otherwise I personally would make that a last resort. You can save money by going to them for vaccines and heartworm tests. I also think they're great for trap, neuter, release programs for feral cats. Also I think the big humane societies tend to do a better job compared to the mobiles and small clinics.

I've used both the vet and a low cost clinic. The low cost clinic that I used provided pain meds. The biggest advantage to the vets office is that they provide an overnight stay and post op care. The clinic discharges the dog approximately four hours after surgery and the dog has not fully come out of the anesthesia. It was a nerve-wracking day wondering if this was normal behavior. By the following morning, she was fine and has been ever since.

Kaylee was spayed at a low cost clinic in the SW Virginia area which is a collaboration with the SPCA our local vet school and some other organizations. They were very professional and kind. I wouldn't have gone there if my vet and several vet techs had encouraged us. We went to the vet to double-check her health (no blood work though) a few days before her surgery. Kaylee got pain meds for two days, a collar (at extra cost), microchipping, Frontline and (accidentally*) heart worm tested. Kaylee stayed overnight after her surgery and came home the next morning. It was a long 1-2 weeks of recovery, but without any complications.

*With the carbon copy paperwork, the "Frontline" check looked like it extended to the "Heartworm" check box.

I'd say get the opinion of other vets/vet techs in your area, if they say steer clear, than go with the more expensive option.

I know this is a little old so maybe things have changed. I volunteer for a group that helps with low cost spay/neuter for qualifying people. I help with sign ups on Saturday mornings. I feel it's a great service because there really isn't much in our area, at all. We have one movie theater between about 4 cities, and about 6 wal-marts >.>

Anyway. The clinic the pets are taken provide after surgery pain meds and I believe do blood work. I'll have to ask that now, but I know they do something because they will call owners if they cannot do that surgery for any reason. Other than obvious outward issues I don't know how they would determine not being able to "fix" the pet without some testing.

Most of the vets here that work at the Humane Society do it out of the love of their hearts for the animals.  So I can't see them doing something that would hurt the animal.  Younger animals usually do fine with anesthesia- not absolutely necessary to do blood work before hand like it is with an older dog.  Not sure about the pain meds- I'd just tell them that you insist they are sent home with some.  

My local low cost clinic is in Noblesville IN. I took my other dog to the vet years back, to have this done. I took my Corgi to the low cost clinic. Not only did the wound heal better, but she did so much better. Love the place...

It would depend to me who was performing the procedure. You would want to make sure they know what they are doing. I get nervous everytime my dog goes under so I prefer to have her at the vet that she is used to and gets bloodwork done before. It calms my nerves, I would rather spend more to feel safer and have her more comfortable. She also has had other health problems so I want her to be with someone who knows her history. But go with your gut, if the people give you a weird vibe or you are having second thoughts go to your vet. I am also getting my pup microchipped during her spay so shes not awake for that.

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