How much?

Ok...so how much do you pay for a health certificate in total for a puppy or dog to fly??

My vet, who is mega mega economical, charges 45.00. I was like WHAT???? seemed expensive, but no way I'm complaining he only charges me 50.00 for dentals and 50.00 for spays

At my vet it is a $5.50 office visit (no matter how many dogs/pups) and then $32.00 per health certificate.

I think I paid $75 for the exam and health certificate, and then I had a spare crate that I sent Kali in, so I told her owner I'd cover both the health certificate and crate.

This is what I get charged~~
Health Cert~39.00
1st office visit~39.68
Litter exam~1st pup~18.00
Progressive exam or 2nd visit~29.00
Rabies~18.00
Bordatella~15.00
Fecal Exam~22.36

It pretty much costs me $100.00 everytime I want to fly a pup or dog just for the vet visit to fly it!
I charge people 250-350 but mostly it is 350 and I am told that is to high! I figure the flight costs me $220 plus the vet visit and then their is the crate cost! If I am selling a pup or dog for a normal rate, then I eat any additional expense but if I am selling one at a major discount, I can't see eating the additional expense. It just makes me wonder sometimes. It is much easier to make the people come pick up the pup or dog than it is to fly it. I also live 1 1/2 hrs from the nearest airport so it is a 3 hr round trip for me!

My question is then........Am I charging to much to ship or to little after looking at my expenses!!??

If I were doing this on a regular basis, I'd be charging exactly what it cost me. If the customer wants an itemized receipt, fine, I'd do that, but I wouldn't eat any of the costs associated, except perhaps the well puppy check before shipping (since I should be doing that anyway).

I would think you are charging about right as related to vet costs in your area. Here are some of mine broken down.

Office visit: 5.50 no matter how many I bring
32.00 for health certificate, includes the exam and fecal
Regular litter puppy checks are 23.00 per pup, fecal included plus "report card" for new owners on findings
Rabies are 9.00, if done along with an exam it is 7.50
Bordatella is 11.00 I believe
Regular dog exams are around 30, and follow-ups are about 20
And let's see, here's a good one: emergency c-scetion/spay after hours on a Saturday night, with complications due to rupture, antibiotics in abdomen during surgery, pain injection, oral antibiotics to take home, pain meds for home, and anesthesia - Total: $548

I would just tell prospective owners that vet costs are higher in your area, and they are only being charged what is costs to prepare them for their flight.

I don't charge extra for the well puppy check as I do that with all whether they are being shipped or not. It is simply worked into the listed price of the puppy. I also do those at 7 weeks (unless a problem arises earlier) and I don't like to ship before 9-10 weeks, so they would go back to the vet for the health certificate check which I do charge for.

[quote="Admin"] It is much easier to make the people come pick up the pup or dog than it is to fly it.quote]

Sometimes it is easier and cheaper to fly in and pick up your pup than to have it shipped since you don't have to have a health cert then. I flew to CO to pick up 2 of mine. Got to see some great friends, plus it was about $75 cheaper for me to go get them than for her to send them.

And of course I have also driven over 12 hrs one way for pick up

I normally just charge the 350 but there are times when more is done at the vet.....I don't charge for Rabies or Vaccines since I feel these are my responsibility to have done anyways.....but Bordatella, I don't normally do and some people request it so I make them pay for it. I have never had any issues with it here so I don't give it. I have thought about adding it tho and if I do, I certainly will not charge for it.
Now if the flight cost is lower, then it is just about right on for the cost! I don't ever charge for a litter visit but just wanted people to see that in there. I do my own vaccines usually!
I just get really frustrated with my vets costs.....I love him and he does give me breaks at times.....but these health cert's are outrageous I think!!

Angelboys3 wrote:

And of course I have also driven over 12 hrs one way for pick up

Yes you have and it was great meeting you!!!

Yeah I feel lucky that I live where I do and vet costs are relatively affordable. I love our vets, all have great bedside manner with my dogs, plus most have kids that are about the age of my boys so they don't mind them being there and talking with them as well. 2 of the vets at the practice even had sons who played on my middle son's t-ball team, which my hubby coached ,lol!

The only "additional" expense I can see is for the actual health certificate...the other costs are part of being a good breeder...so I do not think it is fair to pass all of those costs along to the customer. I charge $250.00 for shipping and $300.00 for shipping an adult or 2 puppies in the same crate.

Well, I was getting worse prices than yours Karen. I was being charged $45 for the first puppy and $25 for each additional puppy on litter visits. Ridiculous. If you could see the medical expenses I paid out for this litter (mostly because of Junebug), you'd want to throw up. I'm switching vets, too, because I didn't like them, and the new vet is even more expensive.

Dachshund Dude Ranch wrote:The only "additional" expense I can see is for the actual health certificate...the other costs are part of being a good breeder...so I do not think it is fair to pass all of those costs along to the customer. I charge $250.00 for shipping and $300.00 for shipping an adult or 2 puppies in the same crate.

So you pay $220 for shipping and then it only costs you $30 for health cert & visit to fly? I make my customers pay for the additional visit needed with the health cert. I wouldn't have to have it if they were coming to pick up cause I already had the well check done at 7 wks. If they are 4 mths and flying then I feel they should pay for the vet visit & health cert. I pay for all the shots, wormings, fecal tests and everything, unless they want other certain things done! It still costs me $80 for a health cert and $220 to fly.....so I am still at $300 no matter how you look at it. If I am only getting $300 for the pup and they want a new crate, I do charge them for the crate! I also throw in a blanket that I have made for them, a nice toy and sample bag of puppy food! When they ship I do not skimp out on them!!
You do give a great deal when flying and why I was so suprised at what you charged for it. I know I kept asking is that all!!!

I charge a flat rate of 300.00...it pretty much covers all my cost (health certificate, crate, bedding, toy, gas etc.) a second vet visit is usually required for that health certificate. We just don't get them on each pup at a regular visit. It has to be a special certificate and is not just the normal vet vaccination records. I may come out a little ahead, but I account for gas mileage...my truck has a sponge stomach for a tank. I'm such a busy bee, I actually don't like flying pups. It takes up to much of my time, I don't get to meet my customers and I just don't enjoy the process. But, I provide it with as much customer service as I can ....I'm just happy when that puppy arrives in his new owner's arms. Happy Flying everyone...