chrisjh Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Do vets play on our emotional bond to earn a fee My mother in laws dog was diagnosed as going blind and required an operation of several thousand pounds she couldn't afford and it wasn't covered on insurance, incredibly 3 years later the dogs still fine, i cant recall ever visiting a Vet and walking out with just the consultation fee they always manage to find some requirement to administer something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev56 Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 They certainly seem to play on the heart strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 While there may be a few out there that play on emotions I think the vast majority are genuine and have a love of animals. Personally my spaniel has been in a few times and they have always been fair and efficient ,on one occasion on holiday the dog tore one of his claws off,as you can imagine blood everywhere,I went to a vet in the area,who saw him out of hours(40 mins after the practice had closed) stopped the bleeding taped the paw up and given a painkiller injection,the cost £40,I had been expecting a lot more. If you think your vet is extracting the urine you have the right to find another,word of mouth is usually the best way to find a good vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 I tend to think the real problem started with pet insurance as what is the first question that the vet will ask you if he/she dose not now you ( is your dog/cat/mouse insured ) if you answer yes they now that paying is not a problem and they can charge top prices add to that most vets tend to work on small animal only as they now that pet owners will pay anything to get there pet ( Repaired ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 So far I have found my vet very reasonable , in fact my cocker has been in a few times when they have charged me nothing , so they are not all money grabbing bandits but i guess as in all walks of life some will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chady Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) Hi if you need a good vet specialising in working racing and gun dogs, try Richard torr in shepshed (canine sports.co.uk) Full lameness exams, toe problems and muscle injuries. In house bloods and digital X-ray machine see the website for full list of services 01509 507080 Www.caninesports.co.uk Edited January 11, 2014 by chady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Do vets play on our emotional bond to earn a fee My mother in laws dog was diagnosed as going blind and required an operation of several thousand pounds she couldn't afford and it wasn't covered on insurance, incredibly 3 years later the dogs still fine, i cant recall ever visiting a Vet and walking out with just the consultation fee they always manage to find some requirement to administer something. Just a little ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinach Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Pets and expensive farm animals seem to bring the price up .I pop in and ask advice for free or pay for the drugs book price. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitraider1 Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 I'm a vet student and what happens is you have to give the owner every option, unless the vet was trying to pressure her into paying for the operation then they were just doing their job. Some people would be very annoyed if a surgery option or treatment wasn't offered to them because the vet didn't think they could afford it or that it was a waste of money to give the animal that treatment. Chances are the vet doesn't own the practice so it doesn't make any difference to them if the expensive option is taken, and if the vets are advised to make extra work/ charge extra they would be struck off so fast their head would spin. Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) You can tell immediately if your pets diagnosis and prognosis is not favourable and will be expensive as the first thing the Vet will say is....................................................................................................................."is he insured" Edited January 11, 2014 by Fisherman Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 I tend to think the real problem started with pet insurance as what is the first question that the vet will ask you if he/she dose not now you ( is your dog/cat/mouse insured ) if you answer yes they now that paying is not a problem and they can charge top prices add to that most vets tend to work on small animal only as they now that pet owners will pay anything to get there pet ( Repaired ) Yes, agree with that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 I'm a vet student and what happens is you have to give the owner every option, unless the vet was trying to pressure her into paying for the operation then they were just doing their job. Some people would be very annoyed if a surgery option or treatment wasn't offered to them because the vet didn't think they could afford it or that it was a waste of money to give the animal that treatment. Chances are the vet doesn't own the practice so it doesn't make any difference to them if the expensive option is taken, and if the vets are advised to make extra work/ charge extra they would be struck off so fast their head would spin. Thanks Tom I think when you get past this stage in your career you will find that even employed by the practice vets feel the pressure of finances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Some friends of ours (real cat lovers) spent thousands on cancer treatment for an old mongrel cat. I seriously doubt the vet mentioned PTS in any serious way as i know them real well and they would have listened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 It's very simple - good care costs money. There are things we can treat now and cure that were impossible even 10 years ago. Go back 30 years and it's a different world. As a child our local vets couldn't take x-rays, couldn't analyse blood, didn't have any real modern equipment. These days you can have your animal treated in a lot of cases as well or better than a person. Veterinary medicine has come on in leaps and bounds. You don't have to go whole hog, but good care costs money. I have nothing against putting old animals to sleep, but occasionally I find people let their dogs down having them put to sleep with fixable conditions just because they are either unwilling to spend, or don't have the money to fix the dog. I'm talking simple surgeries costing less than a thousand pounds. Owning a dog is a privilege, not a right. If you're not wealthy enough to afford reasonable vet fees then the dog should be properly insured. If you can't afford insurance then you cannot afford to have a dog. Sounds mean, but it's true. So many people get a pet they can't afford and then want to make it my fault that it cost money to mend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 The most expensive vet I've been to was an out of hours service, outsourced to the pdsa, the amazement when they realised I would be paying for treatment was only matched by the confusion on the faces of the other people in reception One torn ear and nearly 300 out of pocket 😢 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 From experience I have found the certainly do play the emotional game, we had a cat, (whatever you think about cats put that aside) It was a big white one, it got ran over resulting in broken pelvis, lower back leg possible ruptured liver plus skin missing from about25% of its broken leg It was chipped so we had a call, I went with my Mrs which we both found upsetting to see the state of the cat, for me it was the fact that I could not understand why it was still alive, worse to have been kept alive for there gain. We were asked if we would agree to have the cat operated on to repair the broken leg and grafts to the skin. Possible cost was ridiculous, and that was not including the life threatening internal damage, so we get charged for the bodge job on a leg pay a silly bill and the cat dies. As we walked out of the vets I told them to end it, I told them if I had seen an animal suffering like that I would have shot it. We still got billed for nearly £400 for over night stay and treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Well, we got a Christmas card from our vet - so that should tell you something about how much money passes over his counter! I'm not objecting, because his service is excellent and TBH Apache is bob-on (and of course he should know) with how that service has improved over time. Quality service costs money and our vet keeps the costs down as much as he can, but when all is said and done, he is not an animal welfare charity and he is still in business to make money. However, I found over the years that a good vet that listens to you is worth his weight in gold. Many is the time our friends have been fleeced via obvious mis-diagnosis through not taking on board the information the owner has provided. In three cases we've had to ask our vet to intervene and liaise with their vets to get a correct diagnosis and then administer the proper treatment. It's the whole arrogance of the 'I'm the vet and I have a duty to do what's best for animal' that really gets on my breasticles. I think some need a reality check on who actually pays their bills! I've got off tack a little bit, but what I'm trying to get at is: If you're not happy with the service you are getting, change your vet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Think about this thread next time people start to bemoan the NHS> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 It's very simple - good care costs money. There are things we can treat now and cure that were impossible even 10 years ago. Go back 30 years and it's a different world. As a child our local vets couldn't take x-rays, couldn't analyse blood, didn't have any real modern equipment. These days you can have your animal treated in a lot of cases as well or better than a person. Veterinary medicine has come on in leaps and bounds. You don't have to go whole hog, but good care costs money. I have nothing against putting old animals to sleep, but occasionally I find people let their dogs down having them put to sleep with fixable conditions just because they are either unwilling to spend, or don't have the money to fix the dog. I'm talking simple surgeries costing less than a thousand pounds. Owning a dog is a privilege, not a right. If you're not wealthy enough to afford reasonable vet fees then the dog should be properly insured. If you can't afford insurance then you cannot afford to have a dog. Sounds mean, but it's true. So many people get a pet they can't afford and then want to make it my fault that it cost money to mend. Ok I hear you, why then does a vet massively reduce the bill given to a farmer for a cat to have damaged a toe removed? I know full well as do you because he would take his trade elsewhere and tell all his mates to do likewise. Big money in companion animals but try running a rural practice without farm stock (not enough chimney pots). Its a lot cheaper to work on stock for a reason "pet Insurance" and the fact the farmer will shoot it if it goes well beyond cost effective (note the well beyond I know few who are unwilling to draw a loss to do what is right). Personally I find some of the dogs on trollies and stuff highly distasteful and I hope that if I ever have to suffer a painful and lingering death involving lots of treatment that my family then has the right and wherewithal to get me PTS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 No...I'm a mean heartless ****** Had one terrier pts at the vets, Dog had a stoke and vet was in agreement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truflex Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 PDSA Vet Care services are available to pet owners who receive means tested help with their rent or Council Tax (Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support/Reduction). Just get a mate to take it that's on benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 My experience with vets has not been good and i do feel they guage how much you can pay. The cost of treatment is incredible these days and whilst I subscribe to the theory that many vets are good vets, I dont think many go into the profession these days because they simply love animals, average annual earnings is more likely the reason since pet insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 A mates bill for his dog was £7000, paid by insurance part of me is thinking how long does the dog have left and is this the best use for that much money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Ok I hear you, why then does a vet massively reduce the bill given to a farmer for a cat to have damaged a toe removed? We don't. Period. Everyone pays the same. Personally I find some of the dogs on trollies and stuff highly distasteful and I hope that if I ever have to suffer a painful and lingering death involving lots of treatment that my family then has the right and wherewithal to get me PTS Agree with you there 100%. There's a lot of things that can be done, and I do question whether they should be done. Whether you get a bill for £7, £70, £700 or £7000 the simple fat is good care costs money. Vets are not creaming it in like you maybe think they are. Some fancy orthopaedic operation costing £7000 could have 1/3 of that amount in implants alone! The costs of just keeping the door open are huge. For an idea: 109 Veterinarians £33,709 -9.9 http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-2269520/Best-paid-jobs-2012-Official-figures-national-average-UK-salaries-400-occupations.html Slightly above average, but not a massive salary IMO. Considerably less money than a paramedic doing 37.5 hours per week (I average 85 hours per week including on call) and roughly HALF what a doctor earns with very similar qualifications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 In all honesty I find all the professions greedy and find fees of several hundred pounds an hour hard to justify whether you are a vet a dentist or an accountant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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