Unnecessary Vet Bills???

IHAVE NEVER WENT OTHER THAN MY VET FOR SHOTS THANKS FOR THE INFO..

Your Vet isn't exactly ripping you off but is adding EXTRA's that can be optional. Basically, ask your Animal Control what shots they require for dogs. Most need proof of Rabies shot once a year. That is to get them licensed which most cities require.
Now there are MANY optional shots. Rabies is pretty much required and should cost less than $20 at most offices. Heartworm medicines are expensive. They are optional but many people are convinced otherwise. I know people will argue with me on that statement! However, if there are no Known cases of heartworms in your area then you can avoid this cost. Heartworms are contagious but can only be contagious if they exist!
Other Parasite shots: Round worms are contagious by animal feces. They get it through their feet or noses. This isn't a required shot but the exam for checking the dog for it is just as much as the shot itself.
Find out through walking what illnesses the neighborhood animals have had recently. Those are the ones you want to make sure you protect against the most.
There are shots available at your County Co-op for less expense. Those you can give yourself. If you don't want to do it, then atleast check out the prices and compare.
My cat was given her first shots and I asked questions! I asked HOW DOES THE ANIMAL CONTRACT THESE DISEASES? If the disease is caught by direct contact from another infected animal then maybe vaccinate. If it is something contracted that is somewhat controllable or limited access to catching then treat that shot as optional.
Example: My cat was offered a shot for Feline Luekemia. I was told the shot was $35 and would have to be given EVERY 6 months to a year! I was a poor college student at the time... I found out that Feline Luekemia is ONLY transferred by OTHER cats infected. That was great news since my cat was NEVER going to be exposed to other cats. I wasn't allowed animals in my apartment and I was hiding her! That meant no exposure risk.
Also ask if the animal DOES catch this disease is it TREATABLE? Heartworms, and parasites are treatable but expensive and heartbreaking to deal with. Just make sure you get your animal vaccinated for things that could end it's life. (Parvo, etc..)
Good luck and Shop around for Vets. I recently started that and have found some good results and some expensive ones as well!

as others said it depends on where you live and what your feeling on the suject are, as others know I only vax for parvo, and Blair will be getting his Rabis only because he bits people he does not like, and we wold rather he be quainteined at home rather then some kennel if he ever bits hard enugh to get reported. in most places a rabis is required, here is is not. in most places some sort of heartgaurd is essential, this depends on where you live, where I live heartworm is nonexistant, so we dont need it. you may also choose to go with titres instead of vaccinations. BUT I dont know what it is like where you live, so you will need to decide these things yourself.

I just wanted to point out that sometimes there are HUGE differences in the charges at different vets.

I've been taking my dogs to the same vet for years. I just assumed all vets up here were as expensive as mine. The yearly necessary vaccinations, exam, etc. added up to $250.00 per dog.

Once I had to bring Max in for quill removal during daylight hours and she charged me over $300.

One night Max got quills in his chin again, and my vet wasn't available, so I called a vet about 50 miles from here. The quill removal at 3:00 am there, including anesthesia, was less than $150.00. The annual vaccinations/exam are about $100.

The new vet also is much better than the old one - it's a larger facility, with several older and more experienced vets who are always available, and generally more professional overall.

So - if you think you're being overcharged, don't be afraid to shop around. You DON'T necessarily "get what you pay for".

Just my two cents.

Well, I now work in a Vets in the UK. They do not carry out any treatment that isn't necessary as they value the clientelle.

Here in the UK puppies have 2 vaccinations, the first at around 8 weeks old the second one is two weeks later. The cost being around £75

They then have an annual booster which usually equates to around £60.

Vets are like any other business whereby if you shop around you can get the service cheaper.

I agree with most of the replies, if you aren't happy with that price (which seems fairly reasonable), definately look around. Call different clinics, ask other dog people around you, and compare prices/services. Some vets charge *insanely* high service/sitting fees. We had a local vet who used to be great, but they moved and our town has gotten really big since we were going to him 10 years ago, and his services just got horrible. The last time we went, we waited 2 hours (we had an apointment weeks in advance) for a check-up and our usual HW/flea prescription, and he charged us $75 for the sitting fee alone! He also got very rude with us, so we changed to a vet thats about 20 minutes away who charges $20 for the check-up and is always fair with prices. She's also very nice and Gonzo loves her. His HW and flea for a year, blood tests, Parvo booster, and rabies vaccinations cost around $150.. which I consider pretty reasonable for my dogs health.