Clinic Equipment & Supplies

TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

A Few Good Vendors

We try to minimize the number of different vendors that we use in order to keep the accounts simple. To achieve the lowest price and minimize our accounts, we ask our major supplier, MWI, to match lower prices from other vendors.

Shelter Discounts

Request shelter prices on everything you use. Vaccines, viral tests, consumable supplies, in particular, for instance, Idexx offers lower pricing on viral tests for registered 501©3 organizations.

Anticipate Sale Pricing

Stock up during promotions, such as anesthetics, surgical glue, vaccines and suture, e.g., buy 5, get one free. We purchase a six months supply during promotions. Monitor the expiration dates of products; request long-dated products when you order.

Manufacturer Donations

Request flea control donations from local drug reps, especially if volunteer veterinarians own a practice that uses a particular company’s product.

Shop Wisely

Compare shelter pricing with pricing during promotions; sometimes you save more money during promotions than at regular shelter prices.

Required Medical Supplies

“Required Medical” supplies are those that we need to perform day-to-day spay/neuter surgeries on free-roaming cats. This list is limited to consumables; that is, we do not reuse these.

MedVet International

Great for bulk items (needles, syringes, gauze), cheap surgical instruments when German instruments are not mandatory. Also cloth drapes and wraps, disposable drape material, hazardous waste containers. Some products can be lower quality than what you want. Customer service is excellent. Free shipping for large orders. Inexpensive shipping for smaller orders.
www.shopmedvet.com

Aspen Surgical

Large variety of instrument marking tape.
www.aspensurgical.com

Spectrum Surgical

Surgical instrument maintenance supplies; repair. They also sell new instruments.
www.spectrumsurgical.com

Les Wilkins & Associates

Contact: Dave Shipe. Dave has years of experience and knowledge that far exceeds typical customer service. He knows exactly what we need, does not sell us more than what we want and follows up whenever we have a question or problem. (206)-522-0908
www.leswilkins.com

Seattle Surgical Supply

The Scott family owns this well-established business. Their knowledge and customer service is supreme, always anxious to help. Excellent source of refurbished medical equipment. Also new sales and maintenance/repair of autoclave and other equipment. (206) 365-2000
www.seattlesurgical.com

Campbell Pet Company

Where we purchased our favorite squeeze cage.
www.campbellpet.com

ACES

Provider of many products. Supplied our capture nets and trap divider (isolator).
www.animal-care.com

Jorgensen Laboratories

Often the source for hard-to-find equipment, such as thoracic positioners, ear cropping scissors and small spay hooks.
www.jorvet.com

Disposable Medical Supplies

“Disposable Medical Supplies” are those that we need for day-to-day spay/neuter surgeries but are reused until they wear out. They are not consumables nor are they considered assets.

All equipment listed below is ordered through MWI. We often request a price match with discount medical supply companies. Occasionally, the MWI prices are lower than the discount companies’ prices.

Anesthesia Masks

Feline Small & Medium sizes. Made by Matrx.

Cassette Rack

Metal rack to hold catgut suture cassettes so that surgeon can pull out suture without an additional person holding the cassette securely. Made by Kane Enterprises.

Non-Rebreathing Anesthesia Circuit w/ 0.5 L bag

We prefer black rubber over the blue or clear systems; without pop-off valve.

Surgical Drapes, cloth, 30” X 30” w/ 4” X 0.75” fenestration

For spays and other surgeries, besides routine neuters; quality varies by brand. We prefer the Ejay brand.

Instrument wraps, cloth, 30” X 30” and 24” X 24”

For wrapping surgical packs and instruments; quality varies by brand. We prefer Medline Industries.

Optional Medical Supplies

“Optional Medical” supplies are those that are not needed for day-to-day spay/neuter. These are truly optional. We separate out these supplies in order to more accurately track surgery costs without factoring in unrelated medical supplies.

FVRCP Vaccines

Use only namebrand, modified-live vaccines. Do not include Chlamydia. Often available on promotion or at a shelter discount to registered 501c3 organizations. We prefer Eclipse 3®, manufactured by Schering-Plough
MWI Veterinary Supply

Feline Leukemia Tests

SNAP FeLV Antigen Test by Idexx, shelter discount available to qualifying registered 501c3 organizations.
MWI Veterinary Supply

Other Clinic Equipment & Supplies

Autoclave

Tuttnauer model #2340M These are available used, but with the heavy workload that we impose on this vital piece of equipment, we felt warranted in purchasing a new one. They come in various sizes. Select what you need depending on how many packs need to be loaded at one time.
Les Wilkins & Associates

Capture Net

No matter how good you are, there are loose cats in your future. We prefer the Freeman Cage Net. Replacement netting available.
ACES

Clippers

Oster® clippers are solid, reliable and durable. We are very happy with their performance.
MWI Veterinary Supply

Drug Lock Box

Depending on laws specific to your location, controlled drugs must be secured. Purchase a lock box designed for controlled drugs and secure it to studs in the wall.
MedVet International

Drying Rack for Surgical Packs

Packs go through a 15-minute drying cycle in the autoclave but may be damp when removed. We set them on our drying rack made from an extra shelf off of a baker’s rack used in our storage area.
Lowe’s Hardware

Fleece

We have never purchased fleece, because when we asked for fleece donations, people generously responded. One donor purchases discount fleece on eBay.

GasVak System

Anesthetic gas evacuation system. Several types available. Select one based on amount of usage.
Les Wilkins & Associates

Hazardous Waste Disposal Bins

Red plastic bins used for sharps disposal. Cheapest, large size available.
MedVet International

Instrument sorting boxes

These are trays for storing tools. Found at standard hardware stores.

Isoflurane Machines

Because cats’ lives depend on proper functioning of the anesthetic machine, we purchased new machines. We selected the basic machine without options needed for dog surgeries.
Les Wilkins & Associates

IV Fluid Stand

The cheapest one that is stable; wheels adds convenience for moving around.
Seattle Surgical Supply

Microchip Scanner

Our scanner was obtained in 1997, provided at no cost from AVID with proof of registered 501©3 status. We had it serviced a couple of times, but it still works well.
AVID

Over-the-Bed Tables

For our surgical tables that are narrow, adjustable and inexpensive. (See photo.)
Seattle Surgical Supply

Scales

No need to purchase expensive feline scales. Digital scales for weighing babies work well for cats, are durable and easy to clean.
Babies R Us

Shelving in Surgical Suite

We wanted supply shelves that we could close, but we did not want to pay the exorbitant prices for medical shelving. These work perfectly well. (See photo.)
Ikea

Squeeze Cages

By far, we prefer the OMNICage squeeze cage. Poorly built models bring frustration and loose cats. The price of this cage is worth it. (See photo.)
Campbell Pet Supply Products

Stainless Steel Tables

We purchased ours new, because we had a specific configuration and sizes that we needed. Used tables are also available at stores that carry used restaurant supplies. (See photo.)
Bargreen Ellingson

Storage Cabinet

For clinic supply storage at an inexpensive cost.
Lowe’s Hardware

Surgery Lamps

These are not only adjustable, but also can be moved around the room with the surgical tables. Allows us to accommodate several vets if needed without being constrained by surgical lamps attached to the ceiling. Provides plenty of lighting for spay surgeries. (See photo.)
Ikea

Surgical Instruments

Carmalt clamps, German, wrapped separately, used if requested.
MWI Veterinary Supply

Crile clamps, Pakistani or cheapest available for ear tips.
MedVet International or MWI Veterinary Supply

Ear cropping scissor, straight for ear tips.
Jorgensen Laboratories, #J 49S Miltex available. MWI Veterinary Supply

Kelly, German for spay packs.
MWI Veterinary Supply

Mosquito, German for spay packs.
MWI Veterinary Supply

Mosquito, Pakistani for routine neuters.
MWI Veterinary Supply

Needle holders, German for spay packs.
Seattle Surgical Supply

Scalpel blade holder, cheapest available, wrapped separately, used if requested.
MedVet International

Scissors, Pakistani, wrapped separately, used if requested.
MedVet International or free human hospital surplus, disposable packs

Spay hook, pediatric, Jorgensen Laboratories, #J112A
MWI Veterinary Supply or direct from Jorgensen Laboratories

Tissue forceps for spay packs.
MedVet International or free human hospital surplus, disposable packs

Towel clamps, cheapest available, wrapped separately, used if requested.
MedVet International

*Our spay pack consists of one spay hook, one needle holder, one tissue forcep, two German Kelly forceps and two German mosquito clamps.

Surgical Pack Carts

For storing surgical packs in easy reach of the surgeon.
Ikea and yard sale

Thoracic Positioners

For Medium Dogs from Jorgensen Laboratories, #J279B
MWI Veterinary Supply or direct from Jorgensen Laboratories

Ultrasonic cleaner

These come in various sizes. Choose by depth, not by basket size. The basket is simply to keep instruments off the bottom of the cleaner. Fill cleaner with instruments as long as they remain submerged.
Les Wilkins & Associates

Washer/Dryer

We selected front-loading washing machine for better cleaning and less water usage.
Home Depot

Vendors

MWI Veterinary Supply

Willing to match prices from other vendors, when possible. Participate in shelter discounts with product manufacturers. Free shipping. Great customer service. They supply us with the majority of consumables and disposable supplies
800-824-3703
mwivet.com