Well again we were stuck with the power float and sedation. Unfortunately the horses seemed really sore after the work. And the ones that were the most sore were not the ones with ulcers. I do believe you can do too much at one time. This vet used a head stand and everything.
So at the end Peggy and Mom waited for the totals. Peggy got her bill first for Comrade and about died. They charged $220 for one horse. Mom was amazed and worried what hers would be with five horses. It was $995. That was almost 3x what we paid last year. Insane. Not happening again. We may use the other vet for dental and this vet for everything else. Or we may just use an actual dentist and pay for the vet to sedate.
It kills me because a power float is supposed to be a more accurate, easier method especially since the horse is sedated, but you pay so much more for it. Plus I can't understand why the sedation is not included in the cost of the float since you have to have it. If your horse needs more than average, okay charge extra.
So much about owning a horse has increased in cost, but somehow we make it work. I hope I can start taking a lesson a month soon. It's tough since for the price of one, I used to take four. Ah well, I don't plan on giving up the horses, so time to tighten up the finances.
I know what you mean about the costs. Sometimes it seems ridiculous. My vet (soon to be retired unfortunately), rarely sedates and uses hand tools. His daughter is taking over the practice and is really good but she uses the power tools and sedation. However, it is not that much!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I seriously can't believe the price.
DeleteThat is INSANE pricing! I personally won't let anyone use a power float on my horse. Not a fan at all. Hopefully you guys find a better option next year!
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan either since it requires sedation and I think in the wrong hands they can take too much, but we can't seem to find anyone who will do it the old way. My old guys fight the sedation and we have to be careful about the heat, which adds to the fun.
DeleteI believe I paid $220 last year - hand tools and no sedation. It went up $50 from the year before. :(
ReplyDeleteOuch, that is tough. We used to pay about $70 a horse for hand tools and no sedation. Changing dentists, we knew it would go up, but the jump was a shock.
DeleteDentist here is $180 not including sedation so I don't think $220 is that bad. But then, everything in CA is more expensive.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing the cost difference between parts of the country. I know we pay less for farm calls since we have so many vets in our area. I paid more when we vetted Rosemary in Indiana.
DeleteYeah, a float (with sedation and a mix of hand and judiciously used power tools) by a DVM with a special dentistry license is about $200. Horses are expensive. :(
ReplyDeleteSad but so true. Still think that is too expensive, but will suck it up if I have too.
DeleteIt's standard for a float (with sedation) to be $150-$200 here as well. My vet uses a powerfloat and I'm always really happy with it. But he was trained by Dr. Rach (who actually invented the powerfloat) and has extensive training in its use.
ReplyDeleteI can see the benefits in the right hands. Last year the horses had no ill effects and we paid only $300 for all five.
DeleteThat's really high. I use a super high quality dentist and have never paid more than $200 for a power float with sedation.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I miss our old dentist. Next year we will see.
Delete