My last mutt had developed several large benign tumors which were impeding his intestinal flow, heart, and lungs. He went under the knife (cut stem to stern), spent 4 days in doggy intensive care, spent a week total at the vet, and had several prescriptions for almost a month. He recovered to live another 4 years. The price was under $2500.
What do you suppose such a surgery would cost at a hospital, including all of the above?
And before y'all get too amazed that I would spend 2500 on a mutt, he had previously chewed the hell out of a guy breaking into my shop, and killed a dog trying to attack one of my kids. I owed him.
I read that euthanized dogs account for 52% in cause of death in dogs. That means that if vets don’t offer a low price, most people will just kill their dogs and the vets won’t get any business anyway. If the surgery isn’t profitable, they will tell you that euthanasia is the best option.