It's a Ferret Life

Removing a mammary tumor from a female rat (50% of female rats get them, and they're almost always benign) is an extremely common procedure that generally goes for $100 to $200, depending on the city where you get it done. This vet's office stated on the phone that they charge around $200 to do this (Orange County's expensive, oh well), but when I went in they gave me an estimate for $450! Even without the biopsy, the new cost would be about $350.

Note that this was not a special case - the rat is in perfect health, and the tumor is not connected to any organ. They just wanted around twice the amount quoted on the phone, with no justification whatsoever.

I naturally refused. Thanks for wasting my entire morning, All Creatures!

These guys obviously have a business model that is designed to take advantage of pet owners with more money than sense. Don't let these con-artists take advantage of you. Pick an honest vet!