$35 for flea treatment?

[Patiod]

My SO brought the Little to the vet yesterday for booster shots (we worry about her picking up something from the feral cats around the property) She hasn't had fleas yet, but we discussed asking the vet whether she needs a flea collar or something.

Before my SO had a chance to bring it up, our vet (who is otherwise wonderful and accommodating) said Little didn't have fleas, but "better safe than sorry" and doused her with Revolution. SO said the vet had given us "samples", but I checked the bill, and the charge was $35!!!!!!!!!

Is this reasonable?

(poor little thing did not react well to the boosters, and was tottering around the house like a old lady last night. She didn't even have the energy to torture us at 3:30 am, and I got my first full night's sleep at home in years)

[livetohike]

1. I have dogs but I have never had a vet give them a flea

treatment in the office! I have Advantage at home and only use it if I see a flea. One dose seems to keep the fleas away here. I have never had to repeat a dose.

That doesn't sound reasonable to me - the cost and the fact the vet treated your kitty on the spot.

[kestrel91316]

2. Was the charge $35 for just an in-house application of Revolution?

Or was Revolution actually dispensed (comes in 3-pack and 6-pack. If you got a 3-pack for $35 you have nothing to complain about. If you were charged $35 for a one-time application done there, you have a valid complaint and should discuss this with the vet.

Revolution is not cheap for us vets to purchase, and we have to sell things at a profit to keep the rent paid and the lights on and pay the staff, and pay for all the fancy equipment in back that we have to have but rarely use, get my drift? We are running businesses for profit, not nonprofit charities for the most part. Revolution is a very versatile almost-miracle drug. It gets heartworm, roundworms, hookworms, ear mites, and fleas. It also gets (but is not label-approved for) certain mange mites. It and other products like it have made spending money on exterminators, flea bombs, sprays, trips to groomer for dips, etc unnecessary. So IMHO it is well worth the cost to the client.

But you might have been ripped off. I don't know. If so, probably just somebody's mistake, not a deliberate rip-off. So be nice.

[Patiod]

3. He brought home the whole pack , so we got a good deal

I know NOTHING about the cost of vet meds, so thanks for the info - I feel better that $35 for a 3-pack is standard. I'd never heard of "Revolution" before, and wasn't aware that it covered so much, including ear mites, which she had as a kitten.

We love our vet, and the cat loves him (or puts up with him better than she puts up with us) and he's never led us astray in the past.

Plus, as you said, certainly cheaper than de-fleaing the house.

(My SO doesn't have insurance, and complains that we spend much more on the cat's medical care then we do on his. I told him that if he is ever at risk for rabies or distemper or gets ear mites, I'll be sure he gets treated.)

[kestrel91316]

4. Any of the new generation of flea products is going to run you

easily $11-12 per dose, but they are well worth it because of the negligible cost of additional flea controls (not generally needed). I do tell my clients that if they have a really severe flea problem at the start and are themselves being bitten, it is wise to treat the home. For this I recommend two treatments a month apart with Vet Kem Siphotrol Area Treatment. This has an IGR (insect growth regulator) in addition to a safe and somewhat effective insecticide. You spray your carpets and baseboards and furniture with it. You might be able to find an equivalent OTC by the name of Zodiac. Vet Kem is the same company but is their line sold thru vets.

No bombs, powders, collars, dips, exterminators, shampoos, etc etc. All you need is monthly Advantage/Frontline/Revolution and if need be the Spray for the house. Simple and elegant. Who the heck needs flea chemicals on the lampshades????

[Justitia]

6. Revolution is great stuff.

When I adopted my kitty, she suffered horribly from ear mites and Revolution is the only thing that worked.

Since she is an only cat, 100% indoors, I didn't need to continue after so many months.

Her ears have been clean as a whistle ever since!

Her vet says she has never seen such clean ears on a cat. :)

[kestrel91316]

7. As a vet I am especially thrilled to ..............................

have a product that:
1)Clears up ear mites in a single treatment, or at most two.
2)Doesn't require that anybody do ANY messing around in the ears.

The days of "ear flushes" with their risk of ruptured eardrums, and repeat-repeat-repeat treatment of the ears, oily stuff being shook all over the owner's walls - you all know what I mean, LOL............those days are gone and I don't miss them at all!

[radfringe]

5. we have a house full of critters

4 cats - 3 dogs and the occassional foster dog

from around April until the first frost in the fall we use BIO-SPOT for flea/tick control. It also repels other biting insects.

we don't use it on the cats - they are all indoor cats and as long as the dogs don't bring in the "bugs" - the cats are fine.

fleas don't live on animals - they hop on, have a bite to eat and then hop off. In the house they live in cracks/crevases between floor boards or in the furniture etc.

Flea treatments like bio-spot or advantage etc kill the fleas/ticks when they bite

there are two differing opinions of these types of flea treatments - one says to use it as directed every month, the other says the treatments are poison to dogs/cats and should only be used when you see a flea

well - we use it every month, because by the time we notice 1 flea that means there are more around - and my partner is allergic to biting bugs like fleas.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. BIO-SPOT has worked unfailingly for my German Shepherd.