My vet is bleeding me dry!!!

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I've been going to the same place for years and have spent thousands of dollars. When I started up the rescue they wouldn't give me a discount for the rescue dogs but told me that wouldn't perform any unnecessary procedures/tests

you mean they've been doing that???( Of course, that's why I refuse half the suggested treatments because I'm no dummy!)

Last time they charged me for a hospital stay because my dog was having surgery. I asked what the fee was for. Well, the dog has to be put in a kennel until her surgery and recovered there afterwards. I offered to wait in the parking lot to save the fee....really!!??

Now I call them to get more heartworm meds and they tell me I need an annual exam ($48) before they can re-fill the prescription. They make me do an exam and pay for a heart worm test every year. I've been using a different vet. office for the rescue dogs (they gave me 10% off and I wasn't even their client) and they require the test every two years. I like my vet, they're competent and I know the animals are in good hands. However, I can't afford to keep paying for fees that used to be free.

Oh, my vet also charges a re-check fee. Example, the dog has an ear infection and I've been sent home with meds. My old vet (before I moved) used to just have the tech run the dog to the back, take a peek, and say she was good to go...for free! Now I'm charged $38 and they usually find something else that will certainly benefit the dog.

I'm tired of being scammed!! Thanks for letting me blow off some steam.

 

[NellaBean]

I feel your pain. I had a great vet back when I lived in california who was reasonably priced. Moved out here and was regularly screwed by the vet office. Ear infection! Exam fee, test to see what kind of infection fee, cleaning fee, medication fee and she needs to come back for another exam (fee) and test (fee) in 2 weeeks. nothing like an ear infection that costs you $200.

Found a new vet that does better..........also, found a local clinic that will sell you heartworm meds without the test. They do it there for low cost and recommend it yearly, but dont want to see dogs not getting meds because of it. So they are willing to sell the meds without the test as well (understanding the possible complications).

Try finding a local low cost clinic for the "cheap stuff". I hate having to do that, but now use a cheap clinic for anything not "special". Shots, worming, heartworm testing....CLINIC. Broken anythings or ear infection, regular vet. I did switch to a cheaper regular vet too.

Cheaper doesn't necessarily mean worse care. If anything, some of the "cheaper" vets are just as good or better. Price doesn't really have much to do with quality anymore.

 

[redhen]

I hear ya...

 

[mhwc56]

i hear you!
i took a rabbit who had an abscess to the vet. They said . Go into the waiting room while we take him to the other room and clean this out and all....The "ALL" cost me 200.00 ! So they bring Horton out to me and say..Here you go, here's your bill". They never even asked if i could afford 200.00 for a 10 year old Rabbit.
My DH is calling him the 5.00- MILION Dollar Rabbit...i was so in shock that i paid the bill without a complaint ..i'm an idiot!

In my house 200.00 is a FORTUNE.

 

[goldenluver]

my old vet was like that, I found out I can purchase most of the other products off ebay for less than what they charged and with out that vet check.

things I purchase off ebay are

Frontline instead of 80.00 for a 6/mo supplly for large breed I get 2 6/mo supply for xl breed for 108.00
Flush for ear wax remaval to prevent infections
medicated shampoo for yeast infections on skin that creates that sour smell on dogs

it's possible you can get the heart worm from their as well

I have since changed vets, and I never get their shots from them, I buy them from the feed store give them instead. one of the feed stores locally does a rabbie shot clicic a couple times a year, so no vet fee there either.

 

[Judy]

Same here. The old vet was reasonable and gave me breaks because I had only strays/rescues. The new one gave breaks -- but from mych higher fees. Funny, I hardly ever go to the vet any more, used to go a lot more often.

 

[bakerjw]

When our cat got sick a couple of years ago we went to a nearby vet. She was perky peppy and full of vigor to find out what was ailing our cat. We had to leave our cat over the weekend to have antibiotics and an IV. The stay with tests and everything else came out to over $800.00. We went back one more time and the vet wanted to run all of these tests to be sure. Each set of tests was $200.00 or so. She may just want to be thorough but darn. Not every one has that kind of money to throw around.

Well our cat started going down hill again here about a month ago. Again being a weekend our vet wanted $150.00 up front just to come in to the office. I ended up going to Banfield which is affiliated with PetSmart. I don't like big chain stores as they run the little guy out of business but to take my cat there, have some IV fluids injected into her, get an antibiotic injection, and some antibiotics to take home cost me less that $100.00.

She didn't get better so we took her back and they kept her for 2 nights with IV fluids. The total cost? $300.00 for 3 days and 2 nights! She did good for a few days but her kidneys were just too bad so we had to have her put down.

saddest day of my life. But at least I didn't feel like I was being raked over the coals.

I say find a reasonable vet.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Ok, I'm probably going to get a ration of you-know-what for this, BUT...I'm gonna take one for the team.

First off, I'll start by saying that YES, I agree that there are SOME vets out there (BANFIELD) that are all about the bottom line, and will nickel and dime you to death. (If your vet is charging you for sharps disposal fees, blood drawing fees, etc, go somewhere else).

However, most of the time the veterinarians are simply trying to make ends meet and be able to provide quality care for your pets, both with rising equipment costs and paying wages and benefits for the type of technicians and support staff that you WANT taking care of your animals.

I keep hearing "the old vet" and about "what things used to cost". Well, things just don't cost what they used to, it's called inflation. The vets have to pay higher costs to provide the same care they used to, why wouldn't that higher cost be reflected in what they have to charge for services? And "the old vets" didn't always provide good quality care, regardless of how much anyone liked them, or how nice they were. Lots of old vets provided (and still provide) what we tend to call "cowboy medicine". It often FAR from ideal care, and the pets often suffer for it. Often there are other options that aren't even presented to owners. Most younger vets don't even consider these old ways to be an option, because they shouldn't be an option, and many times the state veterinary board doesn't allow for the old ways of doing things to be done any more. In our state, it is now a LAW that pain medication has to be sent home after ANY surgical procedure, it used to be an option, it is now a LAW that costs the owners more money. Not our fault, but we get blamed for higher fees.

People want good quality care, but don't want to pay for it. A SMALL ultrasound machine costs over $50,000, IF you can find it on sale. A new xray machine costs over $100,000. Not to mention upkeep and maintenance. And do you really want unlicensed staff making minimum wage taking care of your pets while they are under anesthesia? The same person could've been serving your burger at Mickey D's yesterday. Many clinics use unlicensed staff and make them do the same job as qualified, well trained, licensed personnel, illegally. It is against the law for an unlicensed person to administer anesthesia, but I know multiple clinics in our area that do it that way all the time, to try to keep costs down. I know that if MY dog were to have an unforseen reaction to anesthetic and go into cardiac arrest on the surgery table I would want someone that knew what the heck they were doing to jump into action immediately, not stand there and go "uh, what do I do?". These are the things your vet fees pay for, not lavish vacations and padding pockets. Most vet clinics I know of are in a constant struggle just to stay open to be able to serve their clients.

I feel your pain about how much it costs for quality veterinary care, I really do. If I didn't work for a vet and receive discounts, I could not have the number of animals that I have. I would not be able to afford it. Unfortunately, too many people see having animals as their right (no, I'm not pointing fingers at anyone on this forum, so please don't take it that way) instead of as a privledge, responsibility, and something that costs alot of money. I don't know how many times we've had people come into our ER clinic and get mad at US because they spent all their money buying the $2000 puppy from the breeder and now don't have any money when the puppy falls off the couch and breaks it's leg. It is not our responsibility to take care of that puppy for free.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Wow. Ours doesn't even mandate that we get a heartworm test?

Do you happen to have a large animal vet? Generally speaking, the large animal vets also work with small animals (otherwise they'd never make any money) and are a LOT cheaper than vets that specialize in small animal care.

 

[PineappleMama]

Quote:
Sounds to me like the cheaper one is the one that actually has the pet's needs in front of their own WAY more than the expensive one. They'd rather your dog do without meds, possibly die from it, then not take you for every dime they can get.

Of course on that same note, for many Docs (donno about Vets) the costs of operating have skyrocketed... particularly malpractice premiums... to the point where many are being forced to quit! If that's what's happening to Vets too... well if they figure they have to choose between you thinking they're greedy or not having a career at all... prolly go with greedy.

Catch-22 really. Taking Janie to the vet... exam plus two scripts (pain and steroid) came to just under $75... I considered that pretty dern reasonable... Doc wanted to run X-ray, but I refused... that would only be useful if we were doing surgery and I KNOW we can't afford that... anywho, X-rays would have cost $133... could do just one for $100... what the heck is THAT?? Half the film, half the time and only $33 less? Only thing to figure is that films are $33 each... which means just turning on the machine costs $67... and mind you it's a tech, not a licensed Vet that does that so... *shrug* Annoying to say the least. Still better than the other Vet I called, but still pricey too.