jazz1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 well some of you may know back in december i took my dog to the vet as he had an ear infection. So after the vet lady checked him she said he has an infection and she seemed nice and gave me two sets of drops one was steroid and the other was normal drops, both big bottles and the bill was 130. The lady did say if the drops wont work she will have to flush his ears. Anyways after i used this stuff there was no luck and i took him back for a check as mentioned. This time her partner was there and i told him iv got him insured now but i cant claim this treatment as its happend before the insurance was taken out so he said no worries. Anyways the guy then gave him an injection as i told him to check his legs and he did, also he gave me more drops of the same type and said squirt loads into his ears. So another bill of 200, which i didnt mind paying as hes my dog and i bought him i have to look after him. So then i recently went back and told him thats hes still moving his ear and its seems the same. I explained i have loads of drops left even the steroid type and he told me not to use those drops anymore so i thought in my head you wasted my money for nothing and thats a total waste of drops. Anyways he gave him an injection and gave me a little tiny bottle which said bacteria infection on the bottle same as the other bottles said. He asked if i had insurance and i told him yes but i cant claim due to this happening before. So when i go to pay the bill came to 80 odd pounds i asked for an invoice to find the bugger has charged me for consultation for the same treatment iv been seeing him for, can that be right? that means everytime iv seen him hes charging me cosultation? not only that the greedy man keeps giving my dog drops that dont work and than saying dont use those drops again. im just asking am i wrong to think hes greedy? if yes than im changing vets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Shane_ Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 seems a bit unfair to me mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 me or him lol? just that what pissed me off is he told me not to use those other drops and theres loads left and my money wasted for nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris2o2 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I would have thought he gave you drops thinking they would have cleared up the infection and for some reason they didnt , surely wasn't intentional . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 well hes given me more drops but a tiny little bottle which states bacteria as the other bottle did (steroid one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprash Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I would at least be getting a second opinion now from another vet, as like you I would be starting to feel like Im being taking for a money ride........so all in all, for about £300 odd quid, you have seen him like 3 times and got 3 bottles of drops that havent done diddly......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 yep i know theres a vet on here im sure he can advise me:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprash Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 yep i know theres a vet on here im sure he can advise me:) Im a vet, £100 and I will advise you..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 You need a new Vet, our horse vets don't charge that! Our dogs are regular visitors to our other vets as they have health problems and the bills are never anywhere near that - in fact one had a similar ear problem and I think it was less than £30 for consultation and treatment. Infact, we had a cat in 'intensive care' for a week and it was around £200 with treatment. I doubt you can query it, you'll have to pay and go elsewhere. Next time discuss the cost in advance would be best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 You defo need to change vets, although they all seem to be as bad as each other..... It's a licence to print money as people are attahced to their pets. I remember me and Mrs H agreeing to spend up to £500 to save our rabbit that had cost us a fiver in the first place!! I would love to see the profits of vets practices?? H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 cheers i will go to the farm vet near me they seem decent although a little further Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Wow, im dam sure im not reading that. Try spacing things out a little next time please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Wow, im dam sure im not reading that. Try spacing things out a little next time please. oi not evryone had a silver spoon and a posh school rich boy:p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I would love to see the profits of vets practices?? H. Woah there! Remember these things about vets: 1: They aren't subsidised like NHS doctors 2: Animal drugs are just as expensive as human drugs, which is money in the pharmaceutical company's pockets, not the vet 3: Vets are highly trained professionals - think 8 years of study and experience on top of strong school grades, why shouldn't they earn a suitable income? Operating costs are actually really high and they probably aren't fleecing you. My sister is a vet and can't even afford her own home after ten years working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 and then, and then, and then, and then.............NO AND THEN!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steviekid Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I would have thought he gave you drops thinking they would have cleared up the infection and for some reason they didnt , surely wasn't intentional . Of course it's not. If it hasn't cleared up after the first lot of drops then there's either a nasty bacteria that was resistant to them or there's something in the ear canal that shouldn't be there. To address a few points raised: 1. The prices you state do sound very high but that's probably due the the area you live in and you'll find all the surrounding vets probably charge similar rates. 2. Do you really expect them to take back a bottle or ear drops that you've been sticking in your dogs ears?! As stated it's not their fault if they didn't work. 3. Of course you'll get charged a consultation fee every time you go. If you went to a private doctor many times about the same condition would you expect it all for free after the first visit? 4. In terms of general fees and the perception that vets have a licence to print money etc in the most part it's a lot of nonsense. Many people are leaving the profession due to similarily qualified people (doctors, dentists ) making several times the salary. I worked out my hourly rate for a month last year and it was around £5 an hour. What salary would you expect after five years at uni doing the hardest course there is, then working 80 hour weeks on a regular basis? Vets also have the highest suicide rate of any profession. For a comparisson on prices our first consult price is around £14 and £9 for a re-exam. Ear drops are £5-£12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steviekid Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 2: Animal drugs are just as expensive as human drugs, which is money in the pharmaceutical company's pockets, not the vet. They're actually far more expensive. Until recently we were allowed to use human drugs but the law changed and we have to buy the animal equivalent which is exactly the same but often three times the price. Operating costs are actually really high and they probably aren't fleecing you. Huge. A decent ultrasound machine is £15k, an X-ray machine £20k, endoscopes £6k etc. All of which need yearly services. We've got £120k of drugs in stock at any one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShamelessTT Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Jesus thats VERY expensive, my old dog had his balls done (Yes yes i know, im a b**tard, it wasnt me who wanted it done, was my X) and stayed in over night etc etc for around £200, u need a new vet dude and ear infection should be easy to treat, theres no excuse. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian R Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I think considering the training that Vets have to endure the price can be fair, however Vets know who love their pets and who don't and sometimes may take advantage of that situation. My pooch had cancer in his tail 5 years ago initially the Vet treated it as an abcess after a number of courses of tabs he decided to send a sample away. It came back with bad news I do however wonder if the sample had been taken on say the 2nd course of tablets rather than the 3rd/4th I would have saved a considerable amount of money. I was given a choice on whether my dog should have part or all of his tail removed, I decided that to reduce the chance if it returning I would have the whole tail removed. One thing that did frustrate me was I had to take my dog for checkups which is not a problem in itself, but when the Vet asked me how is it healing is it any more swollen than the last time I came ? I would expect my vet to tell me this as he should know. Now im not saying he should know everything about every animal that comes through his surgery but he should at least have notes to refer back to. I have no problem answering questions on how the dog had been acting etc as I would not expect him to know this. But to be charged £40 for me to tell a Vet if he was less swollen seemed to take the michael somewhat. However 5 years on and the cancer hasn't returned so it was all worth it in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kslb Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Firstly the prices you were charged seem very expensive and the first thing to do would be seek a second opinion. You should also speak openly to your vet with your concerns. I had some unecessary treatment for my dog from a vet in the local area whom I trusted and after two weeks without satisfactory results I returned and they tried something else at further expense which again after another week did not work. I then sought a second opinion from another vet who identified the problem in under 10 mins without me stating what had already been tried by the other vets. The solution cost me £36. The two attempts cost me £286 and three weeks of unecessary discomfort for my working dog. I did complain but was told that the course of action taken was the most likely to resolve the problem and they would have tried the same approach as the other vet eventually it was just a case of trial and error. I did not get any money back however my main concern was the discomfort my dog went through due to what was clearly, in my opinion, due to the vets incorrect initial assessment and then inability to explore other options fully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian R Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I am not flaming Vets here as the job they do is fantastic. But what really annoys me is when the Vet won't listen to the advice you give them about your dog. This thread has reminded me of something else. I told the vet not to put a protective cone collar on my dog once he had the op for the following reasons. 1) He doesn't like them 2) He was a rescue dog and he hates having his original collar taken of he goes crazy if he hasn't got 3) If you tell him not to lick his stitches he understands and won't Now I know no 3 sounds crazy but he is an intelligent dog and he won't do something if you tell him. They did put a collar on him and he went nuts and split his stitches. The vet phoned me and said he needed to be restitched. At a cost to myself I may add. So he was restitched and this time they listened to my instructions and left his original collar on and didn't go crazy and after being told didn't go near his stitches. Shame they didn't listen in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 ... I did complain but was told that the course of action taken was the most likely to resolve the problem and they would have tried the same approach as the other vet eventually it was just a case of trial and error... Is that really so different to what a doctor does? How often do you get sent away by the doctor, under instruction to "take some Neurofen and come back in a week if it's no better"? Or your mechanic who swaps some parts and sees if the problem has gone away? Often these things are an art, not a science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I thought our vet was expensive, nowhere near London prices obviously though. If it's a repeat visit for the same problem we don't get changed a "consultation fee" again either. Change vets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keancy Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I would go to a different Vet, but don't tell that Vet you have seen someone already then use your insurance?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 i wont bother giving this guy my business im just gona use another vet as he has given me treatment thats a total waste and then stated not to use the bottles again. I understand where hes coming from if cerain treatments dont work but he made me buy two sets of each bottles which he should of tested if one set worked first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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