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Cheap vets are not all they are cracked up to be
12 Answers
Hello all, I have just discovered this site and would like to see what other peoples opinions on this subject are.
I have lived in an area that has had a long established vet surgery which I have used for the past ten or so years without problems. I have 3 dogs, 3 cats, a rabbit (with one eye!) and several fish.
About a year ago a new practice opened in the area claiming to be much more pet orientated. I phoned them up and certainly their fees were a lot cheaper. Their vaccines were much cheaper and the cost to have my dog snipped was much less. I decided to switch over to them and at first was very happy.
However the other evening my Ellie cat came in obviously having been hit by a car. Her leg was all bent and broken and I took her to the practice. They took an xray and said that it was broken and they would operate the following day. However cos she was in shock they wanted to put her on a drip and keep an eye on her. HOWEVER - they then said they don't look after animals at night and that I had to take her 15miles to an emergency vet who would look after her overnight, then I would have to bring her back in the morning. Then they quoted me �800-900 to repair the leg! I was also told it would cost around �100-200) to be looked after by the emergency vet overnight!
I ended up contacting my old vet surgery who weren't very happy that I had already started treatment at this new vets. They were amazing. A vet stayed behind (it was about 7.30 by this point), they put Ellie on a drip and kept her in overnight. The following day they operated and put some pins in her leg and I couldn't believe it when the same evening she was putting the leg down and eating like nothing had happened.
It still cost me �500 but I feel this was money well spent as she recieved such excellent care.
I have lived in an area that has had a long established vet surgery which I have used for the past ten or so years without problems. I have 3 dogs, 3 cats, a rabbit (with one eye!) and several fish.
About a year ago a new practice opened in the area claiming to be much more pet orientated. I phoned them up and certainly their fees were a lot cheaper. Their vaccines were much cheaper and the cost to have my dog snipped was much less. I decided to switch over to them and at first was very happy.
However the other evening my Ellie cat came in obviously having been hit by a car. Her leg was all bent and broken and I took her to the practice. They took an xray and said that it was broken and they would operate the following day. However cos she was in shock they wanted to put her on a drip and keep an eye on her. HOWEVER - they then said they don't look after animals at night and that I had to take her 15miles to an emergency vet who would look after her overnight, then I would have to bring her back in the morning. Then they quoted me �800-900 to repair the leg! I was also told it would cost around �100-200) to be looked after by the emergency vet overnight!
I ended up contacting my old vet surgery who weren't very happy that I had already started treatment at this new vets. They were amazing. A vet stayed behind (it was about 7.30 by this point), they put Ellie on a drip and kept her in overnight. The following day they operated and put some pins in her leg and I couldn't believe it when the same evening she was putting the leg down and eating like nothing had happened.
It still cost me �500 but I feel this was money well spent as she recieved such excellent care.
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(sorry - question was too long!)
I asked them why the other practice had wanted to charge so much and they pointed out that if their costs of vaccines and neutering are so cheap, they have to get more money from other areas, such as operations. Also they cut costs by not doing emergency work during the night, making people go to emergency clincics.
I feel so cheated that the new vets come accross so "we are so pet friendly" yet make the actual cost of treating a sick pet so high that most people can't afford it!
Needless to say I have taken all my other pets back to my old vets with their tails thoroughly between their legs!
Has anyone else had an experience like this? (PS - Ellie is walking really well now and they are hoping to remove the pin in a couple of months)
I asked them why the other practice had wanted to charge so much and they pointed out that if their costs of vaccines and neutering are so cheap, they have to get more money from other areas, such as operations. Also they cut costs by not doing emergency work during the night, making people go to emergency clincics.
I feel so cheated that the new vets come accross so "we are so pet friendly" yet make the actual cost of treating a sick pet so high that most people can't afford it!
Needless to say I have taken all my other pets back to my old vets with their tails thoroughly between their legs!
Has anyone else had an experience like this? (PS - Ellie is walking really well now and they are hoping to remove the pin in a couple of months)
ooopppsss,the last entry.....it was a cat not a dog!!
I think you were very lucky to have a vet that would take you back,good job eh!!!
We are very lucky we have a good vet,one who is not offende if you want/need a second opinion,i just tell him do whatever you need/think and its done.
However we did have one vet that we found didnt stay with animals on an evening,alot of practises now have the facility to have staff stay or even live on premises,ours does and it is such a big relief to know that..Regards.
I think you were very lucky to have a vet that would take you back,good job eh!!!
We are very lucky we have a good vet,one who is not offende if you want/need a second opinion,i just tell him do whatever you need/think and its done.
However we did have one vet that we found didnt stay with animals on an evening,alot of practises now have the facility to have staff stay or even live on premises,ours does and it is such a big relief to know that..Regards.
Err...it s a business. They give you cheap vaccines so you go there for it. if the other vet gives you night care for injured pets you go there for that part. Dont feel obliged or tied down to one vet practice. or are you suggesting that the care will suffer as you are not a regular customer. I for one dont believe that the halo of 'we love your pets and are here to look after them' applies to vet practises. They want your money and beleive me really dont lose much sleep as to what happens to their clients pets really. Its a business full stop. I worked at a vet as a nurse and while the vet will be all sympathetic when your pet dies, the next moment he his planning his dinner with mates while you are sobbing down towards your car. Most of it is a bit of show. they can treat your pets and that is it. if they botch it the pet cannot complain so they are on to a winner really.
I am slightly horrified by the last answer! Matt is absolutely correct by saying that a veterinary practice is a business, and so it does indeed have to run like other businesses (ie obtain clients, cover costs, pay bills and ultimately make a profit).
However what I think is a problem with these so called "vaccination" or "neutering clinics" is that they are unfairly drawing clients into the area of practice with the promise of "cheap" treatment, only then to have to escalate the price of other treatment to make the balance. Even if insured, sometimes the cost of treatment (eg the broken leg above) may be too expensive to procede and the animal may have to be put to sleep for cost reasons.
You mention about being tied down to one practice - if everyone starts to jump around more, then I am afraid the future will be grim. Indeed you will be able to get nice cheap vaccines etc, but then try to find a practice who are willing to spend money/invest on xrays, ultrasounds, ECG's, endoscopes etc will be difficult as they won't be around as vets won't be able to make a profit from this area of veterinary practice! It is the age-old addage of "Use it or loose it!"
An example near me, was that someone set up a veterinary practice just dealing with vaccinations and neutering. Although they did claim to offer the rest of the package, had made the cost of this so prohibitively high that people would not use them. As a result, my practice would frequently see very poorly animals (often in the middle of the night) who had been subject to sub-standard neutering (poor quality suture materials, technique etc) who then needed our treatment to get better. This would usually cost the client more in total, than if they had had their operation done with our practice!
However what I think is a problem with these so called "vaccination" or "neutering clinics" is that they are unfairly drawing clients into the area of practice with the promise of "cheap" treatment, only then to have to escalate the price of other treatment to make the balance. Even if insured, sometimes the cost of treatment (eg the broken leg above) may be too expensive to procede and the animal may have to be put to sleep for cost reasons.
You mention about being tied down to one practice - if everyone starts to jump around more, then I am afraid the future will be grim. Indeed you will be able to get nice cheap vaccines etc, but then try to find a practice who are willing to spend money/invest on xrays, ultrasounds, ECG's, endoscopes etc will be difficult as they won't be around as vets won't be able to make a profit from this area of veterinary practice! It is the age-old addage of "Use it or loose it!"
An example near me, was that someone set up a veterinary practice just dealing with vaccinations and neutering. Although they did claim to offer the rest of the package, had made the cost of this so prohibitively high that people would not use them. As a result, my practice would frequently see very poorly animals (often in the middle of the night) who had been subject to sub-standard neutering (poor quality suture materials, technique etc) who then needed our treatment to get better. This would usually cost the client more in total, than if they had had their operation done with our practice!
One final point - most vets are sympathetic and understanding, they will be upset if something tragic happens to you pet. BUT - life has to go on and if we got seriously depressed after each animal we had put to sleep then there would be no functioning vets around!
Interesting, vets have one the highest suicide rates of any profession.
Interesting, vets have one the highest suicide rates of any profession.
I agree with Proper Bo Peep (is that a first lol) find a vet you trust and stick with them. Over the course of your animals life you will probably even out the cost of treatment wherever you go. My vet is one I can talk to without being given a load of jargon, and I am able to tell him what I think is wrong with any of my dogs without him telling me that he is the vet and he will decide!
The overnight treatment thing is always going to be a problem, although in my area the vets share the night calls as there are a lot of small practices. However, in my view in an emergency the best vet is the nearest!
The overnight treatment thing is always going to be a problem, although in my area the vets share the night calls as there are a lot of small practices. However, in my view in an emergency the best vet is the nearest!
Hi,i also agree with the last 2 answers.
My vet is fantastic,we lost our dearest GSD we have EVER had,she was the sweetest and gentlest girl.
With NO signs of anything,she suddenly started going off her food and within 24 hrs and her having passed blood in her urine,she collapsed so i had her in the vet within 5 mins as he is just 2 miles away.Little did i know that my vet was leaving the following day(it was a weekend) to go down south to his brothers wedding.I took my girl in at 6pm friday eve and he called me at 9pm to say he had removed her splene and that she was doing good.However at midnight he called again...having just changed her drip and settled her she then went down with no warning.Unfortunatly she couldnt be saved and i was still talking to him at 12.30am in the morning.He did go to his brothers wedding but obviously it must of been a rushed journey for him.
My vet is as far as we are concerned great,he loves the animals and all my dogs have loved to go and see him. He talks to them and uses their names and that to me is worth more than anything else.
There is always the pdsa and rspca for major emergencies for those who cannot afford expensive vet fees and for whatever reason they are used.....im sure they do a good job also.Regards
My vet is fantastic,we lost our dearest GSD we have EVER had,she was the sweetest and gentlest girl.
With NO signs of anything,she suddenly started going off her food and within 24 hrs and her having passed blood in her urine,she collapsed so i had her in the vet within 5 mins as he is just 2 miles away.Little did i know that my vet was leaving the following day(it was a weekend) to go down south to his brothers wedding.I took my girl in at 6pm friday eve and he called me at 9pm to say he had removed her splene and that she was doing good.However at midnight he called again...having just changed her drip and settled her she then went down with no warning.Unfortunatly she couldnt be saved and i was still talking to him at 12.30am in the morning.He did go to his brothers wedding but obviously it must of been a rushed journey for him.
My vet is as far as we are concerned great,he loves the animals and all my dogs have loved to go and see him. He talks to them and uses their names and that to me is worth more than anything else.
There is always the pdsa and rspca for major emergencies for those who cannot afford expensive vet fees and for whatever reason they are used.....im sure they do a good job also.Regards
I think that the new vets were just trying to sucker me in with the promise of "cheap" treatment. I have since spoken to others at my dog class and most have had similar experience, although most will use him for the vaccines but say they would rather use the older practice for anything more complicated.
I can see the benefit of this (cost wise!) but I think there are drawbacks! One of the girls there had a problem where she used to live, with her greyhound that was spade. She called the practice who had done the operation, who then wanted her to travel nearly 20 miles to an emergency centre. (She doesn't drive) so she called up her usual vet who refused to see her as she had had the operation done with the other vet practice. After much panic she had to get a reluctant taxi driver to take her and it cost her twice as much as the orginal operation had done!
I think Lankella is right - the cost will even out through an animals life - and I want someone who I trust to give me honest professional advice over supermarket style promosions.
I can see the benefit of this (cost wise!) but I think there are drawbacks! One of the girls there had a problem where she used to live, with her greyhound that was spade. She called the practice who had done the operation, who then wanted her to travel nearly 20 miles to an emergency centre. (She doesn't drive) so she called up her usual vet who refused to see her as she had had the operation done with the other vet practice. After much panic she had to get a reluctant taxi driver to take her and it cost her twice as much as the orginal operation had done!
I think Lankella is right - the cost will even out through an animals life - and I want someone who I trust to give me honest professional advice over supermarket style promosions.
Honest professional advice....he is thinking of how much he can make from you. Dont get sucked into this caring caring jargon laden world of vets. They will make a old woman sell her silverware to pay for her old dog. then they will send her the ashes in a ceramic pot saying it belongs to her dog and charge her extra. unless they have a crematorium in their practise there is no way you can tell that the ashes belong to a dog and not a pony. The carcasses are all bagged up and despatched to a place where they are all piled into the furnace. get real. the card accompanying the urn is also charged to your bill.
Oh dear Matt66 - you seem to have a very bitter outlook on vets! I am not going to launch on a massive defense, but I just want to clear something up with regards cremation as you have your facts seriously wrong. Legally a pet can only be buried on private ground (ie at home) or have to be disposed off (horrid term) by cremation. Your options are therefore:
1) General cremation (cheapest) - is where your pet will be cremation with other pets. Usually this will be dogs/cats/rabbits etc but with larger companies you may find horses cremated. There will be no livestock (farm animals) as these have be cremated in separate incinerators for H&S reasons. The ashes are then classed as general waste and can be put in land fill
2) Individual creamation (more expensive) - is where your pet is cremated alone (ie nothing else in the incinerator) and then those ashes are collects and can either be
a)scattered in a garden of rememberance at the crematorium
b)put in a plastic pot for scattering by the owner
c)put in a wooden casket, aimed more if you wanted to keep the ashes
In our area, a general cremation will cost around �25 for an average size dog, whereas an individual cremation may cost up to �90 for the most expensive type (solo with ashes in wooden casket).
Pet crematoriums are regulated and can be prosecuted by trading standards if found guilty of misconduct.
________________________________________-
Other facts - YES, when an animal is put to sleep is has to be put in a freezer until collected for cremation. Decay starts IMMEDIATELY and will start to go off within hours.
YES - they have to be put into special bags to prevent leakage and allow for easy identification.
NO - your vet won't bill you for the card. In the grand scheme of things the card cost nothing, especially if owners remember the vet and bring their new
1) General cremation (cheapest) - is where your pet will be cremation with other pets. Usually this will be dogs/cats/rabbits etc but with larger companies you may find horses cremated. There will be no livestock (farm animals) as these have be cremated in separate incinerators for H&S reasons. The ashes are then classed as general waste and can be put in land fill
2) Individual creamation (more expensive) - is where your pet is cremated alone (ie nothing else in the incinerator) and then those ashes are collects and can either be
a)scattered in a garden of rememberance at the crematorium
b)put in a plastic pot for scattering by the owner
c)put in a wooden casket, aimed more if you wanted to keep the ashes
In our area, a general cremation will cost around �25 for an average size dog, whereas an individual cremation may cost up to �90 for the most expensive type (solo with ashes in wooden casket).
Pet crematoriums are regulated and can be prosecuted by trading standards if found guilty of misconduct.
________________________________________-
Other facts - YES, when an animal is put to sleep is has to be put in a freezer until collected for cremation. Decay starts IMMEDIATELY and will start to go off within hours.
YES - they have to be put into special bags to prevent leakage and allow for easy identification.
NO - your vet won't bill you for the card. In the grand scheme of things the card cost nothing, especially if owners remember the vet and bring their new
Still in reply to Matt66,.. I will just point out that I was on this earth to earn money, I would most definitely not be a vet! I could earn twice as much for less hours and certainly less stress. However I never have a dull day, each day is different and I get to be GP/radiographer/surgeon/medic/anaesthetist/dentist/obstetrician/A&E etc all in the same day ! Not many people can do that much variety!
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