Costs Involved in Specialized Veterinary Care

We are committed to providing you excellent care for your pet at a reasonable cost.

As a premier regional medical center, Veterinary Specialty Hospital is staffed by highly-skilled, board-certified veterinary specialists and very qualified certified technicians. Our equipment and technology is state-of-the-art and upgraded as technology gets better. Many treatments and procedures are complex and involve the attention of multiple skilled professionals. Additionally,VSH operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week, so that your pet receives high quality, continuous care. All of these advantages incur certain costs, over and above what a non-specialized animal hospital needs to invest.

Like in human medicine, care has become more effective and faster, and at the same time more complex and often more expensive. Even so, the equivalent treatment for the same disease in a person typically costs far less for pets.

Sometimes, specialty care can actually save money. Advanced diagnostics can save pet owners money by pinpointing a problem quickly and early, enabling use of the most effective treatment. Without these diagnostics, veterinarians must guess at the problem and may have to re-treat the animal several times.

Ways to Manage Expenses

We help you manage your costs in three main ways:

• Keeping our fees reasonable in relation to the quality of care received.

   

• Giving you estimates as early and as accurately as possible.

   

• Giving you choices on payment method.

   

We will provide you with an estimate of the cost of care for your pet, to the fullest possible extent. Often, because of the unpredictable nature of some conditions, the course of treatment and outcome, along with costs, cannot be fully predicted. Before treatment begins, the medical team will provide you with a recommended treatment plan and expense summary. Once you agree to a plan, you will be asked to sign the estimate and make a deposit if required.

If the actual services needed exceed the treatment plan, we will make every effort to keep you informed of the additional care and cost during the treatment phase.  In some cases, this may not be possible given the patient's condition and need of immediate care.  Please share all of your questions and concerns regarding costs with your doctor or technician before treatment begins. It is important that your medical team have a clear understanding of your wishes before any course of treatment is undertaken.

Payment for services is expected at the time of discharge. A deposit will be required if your pet is hospitalized and for certain procedures and treatments.

Veterinary Specialty accepts cash, check, debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Citi Health Card is available as an additional option.