Veterinary Rant

[Chocaholic]

8 year old St. Bernard. Got a touch of the runs and later ate grass then threw up in the yard. Because of risk of bloat, wife took her to the vet. Examined her, ran some lab tests that all came back normal, gave her a saline injection in case of dehydration (even though she wasn't) and told us she should be fine, let her rest a day or two and let us know if she's still not well. They were right...she is fine. The bill? $822. Oh yeah...they recommended a special low fat food that is prescription only. 32lb bag...$112.

Our 4 year old Basset Hound. He has a sensitive stomach and will occasionally throw up. About once a week. Took him to the vet. Ran lab work, all normal, examined him and gave us a prescription for prednisone. Probably an allergy. They don't do testing...suggested going to an allergy specialist. The bill? $675

Took the St. Bernard in for her annual vaccinations. The bill? $286. Turns out the place we occasionally board requires a new canine influenza vaccine that they didn't do. Another $150 per dog. We have 3.

Most clinics are corporate owned now and seem to thrive on overselling, over treating and over billing. Long story short...the corporate veterinary industry will force people to neglect care for their animals by making it cost prohibitive for regular working people. I'm guessing the margins are huge...perhaps I'm wrong but as the owner of 3 dogs...once nature runs it's course we will never have more than 1 dog again.

BTW...Mars (yes, the candy bar people) are one of the largest corporate veterinary companies that owns over 4000 vet clinics in the US.

I don't mind paying for proper care. But I do mind feeling grossly ripped off.

Rant over.

[KFC911]

I've used the same vet for 30 years .... older brother of a hs friend. He still charges "country rates", but the heartworm & tick/flea pills have gotten pricey. City vets charge city rates around here ... sorta like gas prices imo...

Because they can

[Paul T]

I hear ya. We have a St. Bernard also (our 7th), and I won’t even tally up the amount of $$ we’ve spent over the years on tests that have gone nowhere. I could buy a new car….a nice one! To be fair, we’ve also often rescued older ones who were not in the best of health to begin with, but still….it can get nuts.

[stevej37]

My sister (in NC) had to bring her way-old Aussie in to have it put-down and cremated a couple weeks back.

$650 for the works.

[Rikao4]

or what...
a club and dumpster..
with her friend in pain /dying..
she'd have probably paid more..
but they know that..

my favorite line....
do you want us to use the super duper laser for ..
what ever surgery they are doing..?
or what..??
it it..
scalpel, rocks or scissors..
difference..
about 200 bucks..

Rika

[Rikao4]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Took the St. Bernard in for her annual vaccinations. The bill? $286. Turns out the place we occasionally board requires a new canine influenza vaccine that they didn't do. Another $150 per dog. We have 3.

look for Penny Paws..
mobile Vet set up...
I did my 3 for about 300...( tags & all )
Everything including Kennel Cough / Heartworm test..
emailed the doc's to my Vet..

Rika

[island911]

Imagine the bill if the same was done at a human hospital.

Veterinarians work on the cheap. - You don't see vet's driving Ferraris with vanity plates that say ASSMAN, or some such.

And considering that veterinarians have the same required 8-years for their multi-species medical degree... And animal hospitals need machines from anesthetics to x-ray...

Seems we are simply at the reality that the money proposition will come out different when it's "Your money or Your Life" vs "Some money or your pet's well being."

[varmint]

our vet should name his boat after us, because we paid for it.

[island911]

Originally Posted by varmint

our vet should name his boat after us, because we paid for it.

Is that where he lives? On a boat? Vet's are so frugal.

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by island911

"Some money or your pet's well being."

My 15 year old cat got really skinny so I brought her in knowing it was the end but it cleared my conscience. Xray revealed a large black mass. The vet offered the option of an operation. Cost? $6,000. I said isn't that like giving my 95 year old grandmother a heart transplant?
Profiting on a broken heart is un ethical

[varmint]

the heeler is death prone. about four months old he jumped out of the back of my wife's truck while doing 40.

shattered his hind leg like a lightbulb. i stopped counting after six thousand dollars. five steel pins later and you can hardly tell he was ever hurt. . if he does it again amputations are about $400.

[Scott Douglas]

There is a reason I don't have a dog, or cat, or bird, or even a turtle.

I do have some pet lizards that run wild in the back yard though.

[island911]

Wow ^ Varmint - Heelers do think they are Super-dog.

Originally Posted by gregpark

My 15 year old cat got really skinny so I brought her in knowing it was the end but it cleared my conscience. Xray revealed a large black mass. The vet offered the option of an operation. Cost? $6,000. I said isn't that like giving my 95 year old grandmother a heart transplant?
Profiting on a broken heart is un ethical

I agree.

I will again contrast to human medicine.

Human medicine would not tell you the cost, which would be $60k+ and that would be the only option presented unless a DNR was listed - then palliative care might be offered.

Vet's typically offer a wider spectrum of options(including euthanasia) tell you what each option costs, and what might be gained.

[Arizona_928]

I dated a veterinarian for a little.


Asked her one day after she graduated if she felt bad charging so much for small animal work... Response, "No, I have 400k in student loans I need to repay"... Yeah that makes sense... not

The issue is the recent push for professionals that are essentially in sales positions. AudD, DDS, OD, ect. I wouldn't say pharmD just bc they double check what the MD wrote so there's no drug drug interactions (for bench). But it's redundant.

I guess what I'm getting at. These specialized doctors can charge whatever they want and through regulation there's nothing you can do about it.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by stevej37

My sister (in NC) had to bring her way-old Aussie in to have it put-down and cremated a couple weeks back.

$650 for the works.

That's just robbery. Hooman cremations are that price.


Last dog i put down was 20 cents. Prolly closer to 32 cents now with the price of plumbum.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by island911

Wow ^ Varmint - Heelers do think they are Super-dog.I agree.

I will again contrast to human medicine.

Human medicine would not tell you the cost, which would be $60k+ and that would be the only option presented unless a DNR was listed - then palliative care might be offered.

Vet's typically offer a wider spectrum of options(including euthanasia) tell you what each option costs, and what might be gained.

I suspect you've missed my point. There is no (worthwhile) insurance to offset the cost as there is for human medicine. The high costs are simply unaffordable to many pet owners. Any human being who is uninsured and shows up at a hospital will be treated...it's the law. No such thing for animals. As such, your comparison is flawed.

A school teacher earning $48k will not be able to afford basic care for their pet. The veterinary industry seems to ignore that reality in favor of hitting sales and margin targets. As such, routine and acute healthcare will simply be skipped. Tough rocks for Fido.

[Arizona_928]

It's more than that.
The recommended vaccine regiment (sound familiar? ) will kill fido quicker than leaving Fido alone.

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=Scott Douglas;11967229]There is a reason I don't have a dog, or cat, or bird, or even a turtle.



Five turtles for at least 10 years and no turtle doctor visits.
The time one of them got his leg stuck in the inlet of the filter pump was close to needing a house call....but he pulled through.

[rfuerst911sc]

Like all things in life there is a give and take on pet care . Some could care less give my pet the works regardless of cost . Then there is what I call middle class pet owners . These owners love their pets but also balance the budget . Then there are poor owners . They love their pets just as much as anyone else but have little to no extra income .

I watch many of the vet shows on TV . As an example Dr Jeff in Colorado . He seems to cater to lower and middle income pet owners . Many times a pet owner comes in where a previous vet or emergency clinic gives a price of 4-6k or more . He performs the procedure for 400 to 600 !!!!!

A difference in pricing like that is obscene in my opinion . You have the right to make a profit , you have to pay for supplies and staff and building . But you don't have to rape every person that comes through the door !!!! Especially when people are under stress with a hurt or sick pet . Like a good mechanic the independent vet is getting harder to find .

[2.7RS]

When humans come to the realization that dogs are animals and not humans their life and expenses will become more to par .

There are hungry children in Africa. Unwanted foster kids. Refugees.... Immigrants.

Sorry no empathy here. Your dogs your choice

First world problems.