CHECKBOOK: Best vets in the area not the priciest
If you have a pet, you want a good vet.
This is a decision you don't want to make based solely on price or location. The new spring edition of Puget Sound Consumer's CHECKBOOK magazine has a cover story on the best vets around town.
CHECKBOOK President Robert Krughoff says the magazine evaluated 195 vets in the Puget Sound area and found some striking vets who were accessible and gave quality care.
"The most striking thing, though, is that some of the best vets in terms of quality also had some of the lowest prices," he said. "(We found) no relationship whatsoever between price and quality."
The magazine price-shopped for a routine procedure of neutering a 30-pounds 6-month-old dog and found dramatic price difference.
“We found prices range from $69 all the way up to $469 for this very standard procedure,” he said. “And some of those who had the lowest prices also rated very high for every other aspect of their practice.”
So how did CHECKBOOK vet the vet?
The magazine surveyed the vets’ clients, and made undercover price-shopping calls over the course of a year.
When time comes for you to choose a vet, Krughoff says you might consider going to meet the vet.
“To go in is a good idea, because you want to meet the vet. You want to see the vet is easy to talk to, (whether) the vet seems to care about pets. And the place is clean, etc.” said Krughoff.
Krughoff says communication is very important to keep costs down as vets can help you keep up with preventative care.
This is a decision you don't want to make based solely on price or location. The new spring edition of Puget Sound Consumer's CHECKBOOK magazine has a cover story on the best vets around town.
CHECKBOOK President Robert Krughoff says the magazine evaluated 195 vets in the Puget Sound area and found some striking vets who were accessible and gave quality care.
"The most striking thing, though, is that some of the best vets in terms of quality also had some of the lowest prices," he said. "(We found) no relationship whatsoever between price and quality."
The magazine price-shopped for a routine procedure of neutering a 30-pounds 6-month-old dog and found dramatic price difference.
“We found prices range from $69 all the way up to $469 for this very standard procedure,” he said. “And some of those who had the lowest prices also rated very high for every other aspect of their practice.”
So how did CHECKBOOK vet the vet?
The magazine surveyed the vets’ clients, and made undercover price-shopping calls over the course of a year.
When time comes for you to choose a vet, Krughoff says you might consider going to meet the vet.
“To go in is a good idea, because you want to meet the vet. You want to see the vet is easy to talk to, (whether) the vet seems to care about pets. And the place is clean, etc.” said Krughoff.
Krughoff says communication is very important to keep costs down as vets can help you keep up with preventative care.
I hate those vets who charge $45 for an office call, and spend about 6 minutes with my pet! It's like they have one hand on the door handle as they are talking to us about our dog.