Apparently either where I work is unique or else other vets are NUTS!

Where I work at you don't have the option of NOT getting pain meds. All prices already include pain medications/injections regardless of what type of surgery it is! We've had people even call asking if they could forgo some pain meds to cheapen it up and we absolutely REFUSE. I tell them, would you want surgery done on you without pain meds or anesthesia?? So maybe we lose a few clients due to price now and again, but the clients we do have know we won't let their animal be in pain even if it does cost a bit more.

If they are so cheap as to want to forgo on purpose pain medications then they are in no way going to take proper care of the animal in other ways either. If they are so financially strapped that they can't afford a few extra dollars that the pain meds cost then they don't need to be getting a pet of ANY kind!!!! IMHO

I really highly dislike vets who's pricing makes pain meds seem optional or more expensive than needs to be! Why not just include it in the price and be done with it, then pets don't have to suffer because people are cheap and heartless! I don't know how a vet can sleep at night knowing that he's doing surgeries and letting animals be in pain because he lets his clients dictate whether or not they want pain meds for their pets! It's his company and he makes the rules, not the clients!

KittyCrazy - I think what you did by paying for the pain meds for someone else's pet is wonderful. You shouldn't have had to do that, but I'm sure the cat will be much happier.