OFA and PennHip .. A franchise opportunity for veterinarians with price fixing - Page 1

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bubbabooboo

by bubbabooboo on 27 November 2013 - 20:11

Why do OFA hips and Elbows cost $400 .. because it is a franchise that only veterinarians can be a member of is the answer I believe.  I have had plain OFA hips done with no OFA submission by a local vet for $92 so why does it cost $400 to get an OFA set done and submitted at most vet clinics (or hospitals as they pretentiously call themselves).  PennHip and OFA are a type of franchise opportunity reserved for veterinarians and in return they do not lower the price below the agreed upon (this is called price fixing) price.  I have had veterinarians quote the same price with or without OFA submission as well so the price fixing scheme goes deep and is a shared benefit of being a veterinarian and a franchise holder that no veterinarian will talk about.  The truth is that OFA results alone have a roughly 50/50 chance of predicting the hip scores of the progeny of the sire or dam so why does OFA hips and elbows cost so much and where does the money go if the OFA is a non-profit????

momosgarage

by momosgarage on 27 November 2013 - 20:11

Sorry not to get too off topic, but somebody in my AKC club swears that dogs can be injuring during a PennHip examination versus what they the "safer" OFA methodology.  Has anyone experienced this?  As for pricing, I've heard people here quote less than $400.

greyhoundgirl

by greyhoundgirl on 27 November 2013 - 21:11

OFA only costs about $30, the rest of the cost is whatever your vet charges for x-rays. Most of the time there is anesthesia done,plus two sets of x-rays, hips and elbows, so the vet cost is usually in the mid to upper $200s range.

dragonfry

by dragonfry on 28 November 2013 - 00:11

I got hips and elbows done with my dog, no sedation for $95 plus the OFA fee. Think it was $40 or $45 for both.
Bubba i think you need to find another vet, one who doesn't drive a BMW of Lexus. My vet drives an older Avalanche, still expensive but nearly as much as those sport car vets.
I think your barking up the wrong tree.
Fry

Xeph

by Xeph on 28 November 2013 - 01:11

dragonfry, I called a TON of vets within a 2-3 hour drive of my home.  I was quoted anywhere from $300-1000.  That's right, $1000 for OFAs!!!

They're not cheap where I live (Western PA) and not everybody is good at doing the x rays.  With the OFA fee it ended up being about $320 for the x rays for my bitch.  They ALL use sedation btw.  None of the clinics I called would do the x rays without it.

I was most displeased.

by gsdstudent on 28 November 2013 - 08:11

good topic. sounds like a function that a strong national breed and/or multi-breed club could help with by lobby for better fees . You would hope vets would see conscientious breeders as an assistance helping their clients with better specimens. United we stand{?}

dragonfry

by dragonfry on 28 November 2013 - 10:11

Xeph for that kind of money plan a vacation to Florida bring your dog and i'll put you in contact with my vet. And it would still be cheaper.
That's is a rip off. Even the expensive vets around here are only about $200 to at most with sedation $300. It's the sedation that is expensive. Because it required blood work to be current to at the most the last 6 months. Preferably sooner. My Vet also takes as many X-rays as is needed to get the correct placement of the shot. I've been lucky to have worked with him for over 20 years and he knows my dogs very well.
I did my dog without sedation because i wanted to see how she would act. And to be honest she didn't like it at all, she was stiff as a board and rather unhelpful during the films. But she never tried to bite or really escape just wanted to not be upside down.
If i had to do them again for her sake i'd of had her sedated because it would have made placement and the whole process go a hell of a lot quicker.
Fry

bubbabooboo

by bubbabooboo on 28 November 2013 - 11:11

If a lot of people are getting OFA hips and elbows done for $95 I would like to hear where this is.  The OFA has just decreed that all dogs must be sedated which assures the higher prices.  I had a vet doing hips only using a film only X ray machine with no sedation for $92.  It took less than 10 minutes until the X ray was ready.  That vet just retired and sold his practice to a Vet Corporation which is now back to charging $300 hips and $400 hips and elbows with OFA submission.  I think there is no one getting OFA hips and elbows done for less than $300 with sedation and submission.  If you have had OFA hips and elbows done for less than $300 with sedation and OFA submission in the last 6 months please tell everyone as I find the price fixed in the central NC area at $350 to $400 with sedation and around $400 is the norm.  The only variable is the cost of sedation and reversal which depends on the weight of the dog.  Sedation itself is dangerous and as someone commented earlier the PennHip process can result in injury to your dog.  I have seen vets do things to sedated dogs which could result in injuries but their attitude is the dog is sedated and can't feel it .. my attitude is they will wake up and then feel it today, tomorrow, and probably next week.  PennHip prices are even higher than OFA and seems to be due to the PennHip franchise.

melba

by melba on 28 November 2013 - 11:11

NMy vet, while not the absolute best at positioning but diagnostic, charged right around $150 (before vets started doing the submissions themselves). Also located in central NC. I'm going to have one done in the near future, so we shall see what prices are like now.

dragonfry

by dragonfry on 28 November 2013 - 13:11

http://www.offa.org/display.html?appnum=923121#animal
Looks like i had my done back in August of this year. And like i said, my vet did them without sedation. But for a dog her age the sedation and blood work are around $85 for blood, $65 for sedation of a 65 lb dog. Which i didn't need.
$95 for 3 x-rays, hips and elbows. And ofa submission. $40.
Course some places do charge a lot higher. And if you vet was purchased by one of the big "Vet Corps" then hell yes the fees will be higher. Sucks!
I'm sure that country vets charge less then city vets.
Good luck Melba with your next submission.
Fry





 


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