Somerset: cost of spay

Hi experienced bunny owners... I need some help in finding a better priced vet for my family of buns.

I'm in Somerset and the vets I am with are asking £100 a spay, and though I will pay this for my girls I have read that some vets offer this cheaper. I'm just having a tough time finding one. There is now a vets at my local pets at home "companion care vets" who are offering spaying at £80...anyone use this vets company? I managed to talk to vet in charge and asked him outright how confident the practise was when treating rabbits... He looked surprised and then impressed with the question and responded that if I had asked 20 years a go,the practise would be unknown, but now he does x amount of spays weekly for buns... I'm just a bit confused. I trust the vets I am with as their follow-up care is very good, (when Harry stopped eating after his op, they phoned me regularly to check in) but they are expensive. At the same time, I don't want a "drive-through" experience with a vets just for the sake of a few quid (if you can understand what i mean...)
I have four girls waiting for their spays, Stanleigh really, really needs to get in by the end of this month as her behaviour has gotten awful lately; I genuinely think it is hormone related and I need to get it sorted. I'm desperate to get the ball rolling as I can't bear the thought of any of my baby girls suffering later on through cancer or some other nasty. Money is tight as it is for everyone, but I am determind to get it done, even if it means I only book in one bun a month - it will be done! Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated RU'ers. X

My local vet which is very good but not the cheapest is £69 all-in (i.e. including meds for a spay) so that does seem pricey.

HOWEVER, to be honest, if you trust that vet, I may be inclined just to go for it... for the sake of 20 quid or so it's probably worth it for the peace of mind.

Hesperus said:

My local vet which is very good but not the cheapest is £69 all-in (i.e. including meds for a spay) so that does seem pricey.

HOWEVER, to be honest, if you trust that vet, I may be inclined just to go for it... for the sake of 20 quid or so it's probably worth it for the peace of mind.

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This is what I was thinking... But £400 for all four? *faints* :lol:
Please, please don't "read" me wrong, I am totally prepared to pay it for my girls, I was just wondering if anyone had any experience/knowledge of the above mentioned vets and if anyone else from Somerset finds the same kinda vet prices in their area...

Schez said:

This is what I was thinking... But £400 for all four? *faints* :lol:
Please, please don't "read" me wrong, I am totally prepared to pay it for my girls, I was just wondering if anyone had any experience/knowledge of the above mentioned vets and if anyone else from Somerset finds the same kinda vet prices in their area...

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Oh gosh I didn't realise you meant 4 at once, yes I see totally your point then.

We pay Companion Vets (Pets at Home vets) £80 for a spay - and so far I have been very impressed with them. We are obviously in a different location to you though - and just because our vets here in Kent are fine - doesn't mean the one in your neck of the woods would be fine .

If it were me - I would probably stump up the extra £80 (£20 extra per bunny) and see you own vet whom you already trust. I know it's alot of money though. Are there any rescues near you? If there are - maybe they could tell you who they use? (for a small donation of course .

Sorry -not much help - hope someone else is able to give you more information.

Doughnut was spayed at Companion Care. They were very good. I guess different branches are different but seems that your branch do a lot of spays. They called me when she had been done and then I collected her a few hours later. They also gave me lots of pain relief for her, I think I got a weeks worth and I'm sure I also go antibotics too and maybe fibreplex.

I had to take her back about 5 days later to get the stitches out. The first internal layer was glued so there were just outside stitches.

Considering on here there has been a lot of posts about pain relief not being given after a spay, I now consider they did a great job. She was given the 24 pain relief injection and then I started her off on her meds the following morning. I was told to take her back the following day if she hadn't eaten and to call if I was concerned at any time.

It is a lot to pay in one go although, as you said, you knew it would be expensive and are prepared for that. Fortunately, it's a 'one-off'.

For the sake of £80 on a £400 bill, I would go with the vet I know and trust.

Someone on here is from Somerset and may be able to advise - just trying to think of her name :roll:

sun_city_girl is in Somerset, Babsie :wave:

I've lived there too but moved before we ever had to find a vet. I'm now with Companion Care up here in Newcastle. Not been here that long, my girls were spayed elsewhere (for £65 and wouldn't ever go back!) but they've all had their jabs and a check-up there and I must say they seem very knowlegeable, almost like a specialist vet really. I would definitely trust them with a spay.

bethepoet said:

sun_city_girl is in Somerset, Babsie :wave:

I've lived there too but moved before we ever had to find a vet. I'm now with Companion Care up here in Newcastle. Not been here that long, my girls were spayed elsewhere (for £65 and wouldn't ever go back!) but they've all had their jabs and a check-up there and I must say they seem very knowlegeable, almost like a specialist vet really. I would definitely trust them with a spay.

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Thank you - been racking my very addled brain! :wave:

Where in Somerset are you?

It's a bit of a big ask, lol.

I'm in somerset, and spays were ~£90 i think inclusive of pain relief.

Hello guys, sorry I disappeared for a while oops not 100% today, but I wanted to respond and say thank you to everyone who has responded to my thread after driving hubby nuts/talking the situation through, we think it will be best to stick with the current vet. Stanleigh Rose is booked in for her spay tomorrow morning, and though it is a relief to get the ball rolling; I'm starting to feel jittery.. I have never had to go through the after care of a spay, so worried about how she will cope/giving her pain relief etc.

Stanleigh is also the bun who kinda sparked my love of buns again: my first since I was 10 years old. We have a special bond so can't help feeling nervous for her...

GrahamL: I am located in Bridgwater, it seems pretty pricey across the county... :?
Fellie: I never thought to ask the rescues in my area (duh :lol

Huge thanks for responses.xx

Schez said:

Hello guys, sorry I disappeared for a while oops not 100% today, but I wanted to respond and say thank you to everyone who has responded to my thread after driving hubby nuts/talking the situation through, we think it will be best to stick with the current vet. Stanleigh Rose is booked in for her spay tomorrow morning, and though it is a relief to get the ball rolling; I'm starting to feel jittery.. I have never had to go through the after care of a spay, so worried about how she will cope/giving her pain relief etc.

Stanleigh is also the bun who kinda sparked my love of buns again: my first since I was 10 years old. We have a special bond so can't help feeling nervous for her...

GrahamL: I am located in Bridgwater, it seems pretty pricey across the county... :?
Fellie: I never thought to ask the rescues in my area (duh :lol

Huge thanks for responses.xx

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I'm just up the road, in Burnham.

As you are in bridgy, have you tried Blake veterinary group? They are down by the mini / BMW garage before the motorway roundabout / services?

I can recommend several vets there as that's where the emergency surgery is for my branch

GrahamL said:

I'm just up the road, in Burnham.

As you are in bridgy, have you tried Blake veterinary group? They are down by the mini / BMW garage before the motorway roundabout / services?

I can recommend several vets there as that's where the emergency surgery is for my branch

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Hehe, that's who we are with :thumb: they have been fab with us so far. And they were very supportive when our pair of giants went to the bridge...
It's nice to know someone on here is close by... :wave:

Schez said:

Hehe, that's who we are with :thumb: they have been fab with us so far. And they were very supportive when our pair of giants went to the bridge...
It's nice to know someone on here is close by... :wave:

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Who do you see there?

GrahamL said:

Who do you see there?

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Bumpity bump!

Schez said:

Hehe, that's who we are with :thumb: they have been fab with us so far. And they were very supportive when our pair of giants went to the bridge...
It's nice to know someone on here is close by... :wave:

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I'm in minehead which is pretty close too No advice on that but thought I'd say that as it seems hardly anyone on the forum is down this way!

GrahamL said:

Bumpity bump!

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Oooooh, sorry Graham... I didn't realise you had asked me another Q (poor thread management?! :lol We don't actually get to see one particular vet with Blakes, seems to be whoever is "on" at the time and I don't ever catch their names, (even more "") we have seen both a male and female vet, but both seem to know bunnies so we have been lucky... Is there anyone you would recommend there?

Schez said:

Oooooh, sorry Graham... I didn't realise you had asked me another Q (poor thread management?! :lol We don't actually get to see one particular vet with Blakes, seems to be whoever is "on" at the time and I don't ever catch their names, (even more "") we have seen both a male and female vet, but both seem to know bunnies so we have been lucky... Is there anyone you would recommend there?

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Yes, definitely!

Rachel or Caroline.

They have both saved Gingers life on numerous occasions! Rachel is a definite favourite though...Ginger loves her and so that's great

BattleKat said:

I'm in minehead which is pretty close too No advice on that but thought I'd say that as it seems hardly anyone on the forum is down this way!

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It's strange that there's not many peeps from down this way isn't it? We are sticking with Blakes, it's pricy but worth every penny for peace of mind. Stanleigh is recovering well from her spay, no infection and is eating and erm, pooping well... :thumb: :lol:

GrahamL said:

Yes, definitely!

Rachel or Caroline.

They have both saved Gingers life on numerous occasions! Rachel is a definite favourite though...Ginger loves her and so that's great

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Ah, thanks for the heads up... And a bunny knows who they love, (they can sense good peeps as well as the not so good) so will definitely go with Ginger's recommendations.
P.s. Your bunnies are sooo cute... Though I think I may have already said so in one of your picture posts... :lol: