Cost of ultrasound for cat

[kingston12]

My cat has come down with pancreatitis, and the best way to diagnose appears to be abdominal ultrasound scan.

The cost of this is almost £900 including sedation. Our local vet is a bit top price-wise, and I don't mnid this given the quality of service we receive, but this looks like it is more than twice the cost of other places.

Has anyone got a cat who has had a scan recently? Does this cost seem really high?

[bomb]

Our cat had his kidneys scanned about a month ago, and cost was about £250. We initially thought it would be about £550, but when presented with the bill, we didn't complain !

Turns out his kidneys are ok, and a potassium supplement to his food allowed him to make good recovery from whatever made him ill.

[kingston12]

bomb said:

Our cat had his kidneys scanned about a month ago, and cost was about £250. We initially thought it would be about £550, but when presented with the bill, we didn't complain !

Turns out his kidneys are ok, and a potassium supplement to his food allowed him to make good recovery from whatever made him ill.

That’s great that he has made a full recovery.

In terms of the scans, there is a big difference in price if the vet operates the machine themselves or gets a specialist in to do it.

We’ve had one before (at the same practice) where the vet did it and it cost £250, but they are claiming that won’t provide the right level of accuracy this time.

I’m not quibbling about it costing a fair bit extra to call in a specialist (that is totally understandable), but this just seems excessive.

I’ve now actually found a quote for exactly the same thing last year and it was £550! It’s totally within their right to hike
prices of course, just annoying because I’ll have to find a new vet!

[Mr Tom]

Hi,
That’s a decent amount of money for an ultrasound. I can understand the costs increase for a specialist to come in but that does seem on the top end.

Pancreatitis can be diagnosed using a blood test sent to a laboratory. It’s called a feline pancreatic lipase test. Might be worth running that first?

Saying that an abdominal ultrasound performed by a competent sonographer is a very good way to rule in/out numerous diseases.

Edit to add: the pancreas is a tough little organ to find on ultrasound. I struggle to find it in all but the most inflamed pancreases. Therefore getting someone more specialised in to do it would be a good plan to ensure nothing untoward eg cancer

Tom

[SlimJim16v]

Last November:
Scan £165
Sedation £82.50
Day care £35

[Thevet]

Nearly 3 years ago, abdominal ultrasound from VetsNow in Glasgow, part ot the same group as my practice, so discounted to £700 but answered a very sad question as to why my boy was dying in front of me. If it hadn't been for that it would have been either awaiting the inevitable awful end or surgery with the same outcome. I know the cost of the equipment and staff to use the stuff at the right level, so if the scan gave the answer and hopefully result, then either accept the cost of doing it at a good level, ask why a scan didn't give the answer you needed, go elsewhere, or buy your own scanner at £40k.
Still miss my hound every day despite replacement by a hooligan.