Conference misery::feline_v1

    I'm glad our vet is more reasonable.  
    
    Just called yesterday for an appointment for Mocha.
    
    FelV is $20. and shots are $10. each (series of 3)
    
    He was castrated in December for $25.
    
    Females are more.
    
    We have a new clinic here in Nashua called the Pet Clinic on Broad
    street.  We just received a brochure from them. They offer health
    insurance for a year for around, (I think) $50.  They are supposed
    to be very reasonable also.
    
    Our vet is the Amherst Vet Hospital, on 101-A, telephone number
    889-5442.  His name is Dr Gleason.
    
    Most vets will work with you on payments, to keep your animal in
    good  health.
    
    Barbara
    goo
    

    H.K. Spay is a low cost spaying clinic (I think $25). Basicly you
    fill out an application and they let you know when you you can bring
    the cat in. I'd be glad to pick up an application for you if you
    would like. (send me some mail)
    
    As for the other shots, call your local board of health and see
    if they are doing a rabies clinic in the near future (Waltham just
    had one and the shots were only $5)
    
    Deb

    Gail,
    
    I use Nashoba Valley Vet Hospital in Westford.  It's right on
    Rt 110 - a little beyond Kimball's on the left.  It looks kind of
    funny on the outside, but it's clean and neat on the inside.  The
    folks there are super - don't mind questions and phone calls - and
    the prices are very reasonable.  
    
    I don't know what the breakdown 'per unit' because I usually bring 
    in my crew all at the same time - two dogs and one cat.  The last
    time Jake, the cat, was in he had his shots, got neutered and declawed
    (no flames please, it was done for medical reasons) and the cost
    was around $55.  The last time I took the dogs in was for heartworm
    test, stool samples, shots and pills and it was $98.
    
    They also have Saturday hours and I think a late night during the
    week.  Contact me off line if you want more info.
    
    Conni

    Gail,
    
    I'm not quite sure how far you want to travel, Dr. Mulcahey
    (recommended in a number of other notes) is at the Central Animal
    Clinic in Leominster.  It is on Rt. 12 just near the Sterling line.
    We had Tabbatha and my sister's cat, Samantha spayed and together
    they cost $85.  Their shots I believe cost $12 for the first shot
    and then $10 for each additional.  She is really a great Vet.
    
    Holly
    

    Oh - I know your situation very well. I'm sure many feline noters
    can identify. Check note # 1305. It gives some info on spaying
    certificates from the Friends of Animals, (Cindy Trailer in Sudbury
    can help you out here - (617) 443-6807. Give her a call.).
    
    On the FeLv test - I believe what the vet meant was that it was
    $ 23 for the test, but if it is NEGATIVE then you will get the series
    of three shots. Maybe you should talk to Cindy Trailer to find out
    where you can take your cat to be spayed with the certificate she
    will give you. I don't know which vets honor the certificate in
    Maynard but I do know Slade vet clinic in Framingham does it.
    When you call to set the appt for spaying, you can find out how
    much they will charge for the FeLv tests, shots, and worming. Perhaps
    it will be less.
    
    Also - with the FeLv test - keep in mind that if the vet does the
    "in the office" test, and the result is a negative, then you can be
    sure it is negative and no further tests need to be done.  
    However, you can frequently get a false positive. 
    What the vet will then do is perform a second test and send it 
    down to N.J. where a special test is performed. It may then come 
    back negative.
    
    (If your cat will be a strictly indoor cat, and will not come into
    contact with other cats, then you can hold off on the FeLv shots
    - after the tests- until you are situated better financially. 
    If your cat never goes out - you may choose to not have the FelV 
    shots at all. Alot of people go that route).                                          
    
    One good thing financially - is that spaying is a one shot deal-
    but do call Cindy Trailer for a Friends of Animals certificate.
    It's worth the phone call.
    If you cannot reach her I think there is another woman located
    in Framingham who may be able to help with the certificates.
    Let me know if you cannot reach C. Trailer.
    
    Pat
    
    
    

    I called the Framingham Animal Clinic to get their prices on
    everything EXCEPT spaying because I don't think they work
    with the Friends of Animals certificates.
                                 
    Their prices:
                              $ 20   - office visit, exam 
                                 8   - distemper
                                 8   - rabies
                                 8   - stool check 
                                18   - FelV test
                                                   
    
    This vet clinic is located about 1 mile from Route 20, - right on
    the Framingham?Sudbury line so it probably isn't too far from you.
    This is an excellent clinic. 

    
    I called Nashoba Valley (.3) and for what I wanted it turned out
    to be cheapest.  $10 per shot, $7 per stool, but most importantly
    $20 per office visit, not per office visit per cat.  I'm bringing
    both cats in at the same time so this works out cheaper than my
    regular vet.  I had to switch anyways because I'm moving to Littleton,
    right down the road from this vet, so it works out perfectly!  Thanks
    .3!
    
    Sharon
    
    

    
       Thanks to you all so much for your help..I'm cancelling my appt.
    with Great Road VEt, although to be fair, I must say that when I
    brought my puppy (no longer have her-long story) there, the vet
    I saw, the woman who works weekends, was very wonderful.  Just
    expensive!  She has nothing to do with prices, it's run by Dr.
    mark smith ( I think?) and I have also heard good things about him.
    
    But, as I am sure you all know, times are tough, and I am also
    a single parent. (of 2 now!)  thanks again, and I should of remembered
    about Cindy Trailer, I was brought up in Sudbury, and everyone knew
    Rex Trailer!
    
    /gail

    I don't know if you have already taken the kitty in or not but I
    also had a few suggestions.  If the kitty is going to be indoors
    only, I would agree that the felv test should be performed first.
    Most vets will draw the blood and do the test without charging for
    an office visit.  Wait for the results of the test before having
    her examined further.  If the results are negative, I would have
    the cat vaccinated for Panleuk, Calici, and Rhino and forego the
    rabies (ONLY if the cat is to be indoors and never allowed OUTDOORS).
    You could also put off the fecal exam til you have more money. 
    Most internal parasites come with enough symptoms to let you know
    that you NEED to have the test done.
    
    I live out in California and my vet charges:
    
                           Office visit       $17.00
                           felv test           25.00 (blood)
                           felv shots          17.00
                           Rabies               7.00
                           fecal exam           4.00
                           3-in-1 shot         15.00
                           Spay                25.00
    
    Jo

    As I've noted before, my Pussycat who was an indoor cat caught leukemia
    "thru the screen door" from the neighbor's cat.  Both S&H are
    vaccinated for leukemia, even tho they are indoor kitties.