I have an issue with a vet wanting to do a physical on my dog every time he gets chronic ear infections instead of just renewing a Surolan ear drop prescription for a condition this elderly dog will carry to the grave. I consider this vet an unethical thief. $200 to confirm the patient is indeed a dog and surprise has an ear infection. I'm sick of these parasites in this economy to boot. Looking into something else to treat the ear.
Vets that empty your wallet
- Thread starter mbogo3
- Start date
handofzeus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Trout Creekish Ontario.
I'm done with vets. Took my 14 year old cat that still acted like a kitten in because she developed a breathing issue. One visit that consisted of 2 pill scrips and 2 X-rays resulted in a $728 bill. Diagnosis was heart murmur and fluid in one lung. She died 4 weeks later. No more pets and no more money going to fake "doctor-wannabes". The whole vet industry needs tighter oversight and regulation.
Pet vets are having to look at animals as if they were semi-human, the owners expect long life for their pets and are willing to spend big.
50 years ago, if your dog was sick and dying it got 50 cents worth of lead. That is not how things are now.
50 years ago, if your dog was sick and dying it got 50 cents worth of lead. That is not how things are now.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
https://fortune.com/2024/06/10/mars-candy-snickers-pet-care-vet-clinics-petsmart-private-equity/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/veterinarians-corporate-consolidation-1.7207186
My $0.02, stay far away from any vet clinic owned by Venture Capitalists. Mars (the chocolate company) owns several thousand vet clinics (think VCA). The Venture Capitalists, know pets are family members and that you will pay whatever it takes!
Find a small locally owned clinic. I use Rockland Vet Hospital in Rockland Ontario. My vet had a pudelpointer from the same breeder as mine and had participated in NAVHDA, so he knew the breed and what I put her through.
My dog broke her back in 2020. The 24 hour local emergency clinic, VCA, wanted $10k (after $2k for x-rays) for exploratory surgery without prognosis or projected outcome! With the advice of my vet, I carried her out and brought her to a local specialty clinic and they conducted a Cat-scan and figured out that she had extruded two disks and the the discs were putting pressure on her spinal cord. They indicated that they were 90% confident they could fix her and that she would regain use of her rear legs. They did a great job for much less money.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/veterinarians-corporate-consolidation-1.7207186
My $0.02, stay far away from any vet clinic owned by Venture Capitalists. Mars (the chocolate company) owns several thousand vet clinics (think VCA). The Venture Capitalists, know pets are family members and that you will pay whatever it takes!
Find a small locally owned clinic. I use Rockland Vet Hospital in Rockland Ontario. My vet had a pudelpointer from the same breeder as mine and had participated in NAVHDA, so he knew the breed and what I put her through.
My dog broke her back in 2020. The 24 hour local emergency clinic, VCA, wanted $10k (after $2k for x-rays) for exploratory surgery without prognosis or projected outcome! With the advice of my vet, I carried her out and brought her to a local specialty clinic and they conducted a Cat-scan and figured out that she had extruded two disks and the the discs were putting pressure on her spinal cord. They indicated that they were 90% confident they could fix her and that she would regain use of her rear legs. They did a great job for much less money.
You might want to have that tooth looked at.View attachment 884883
Boy, is this topic a sore one for me. Until I got a bit smart about it (a bit) I'd just take our cat(s) in and just believe what I was told and pay the bill. Still couldn't make sense of what I was being charged vs. the level of care, but I had to draw a line in the sand...and always be the one that deals with it vs. my wife. Not because she's not smart/capable, but the vet and their office staff play the emotional card and I think ramp it up if they see an opportunity.
When I woke-up to our oldest, sick old cat (almost 18) not moving, blood/urine everywhere this past summer I knew 2 things=he was going to the vet, and he wasn't coming back. I also knew there would be pushback from the vet who based on past experience....would spare no expense at trying to bring this cat back from the brink. Spare no expense of ours that is. Problem is, I saw that play out 2 years earlier too...x-ray, blood work, medication...then more blood work...then surgery..then recovery...then back for post-surgery care. I think I probably made 3 Audi A5 lease payments for him and that old cat barely scraped through. He went into this 2 years later and in way worse shape.
Of course, the suggested care was "X-ray, blood work to start....but it looks serious, surgery may be required". I think if I could have asked the cat if he wanted to re-live that misery....
Hard to believe all vets have the pets best interest @ heart all the time. $ talks.
When I woke-up to our oldest, sick old cat (almost 18) not moving, blood/urine everywhere this past summer I knew 2 things=he was going to the vet, and he wasn't coming back. I also knew there would be pushback from the vet who based on past experience....would spare no expense at trying to bring this cat back from the brink. Spare no expense of ours that is. Problem is, I saw that play out 2 years earlier too...x-ray, blood work, medication...then more blood work...then surgery..then recovery...then back for post-surgery care. I think I probably made 3 Audi A5 lease payments for him and that old cat barely scraped through. He went into this 2 years later and in way worse shape.
Of course, the suggested care was "X-ray, blood work to start....but it looks serious, surgery may be required". I think if I could have asked the cat if he wanted to re-live that misery....
Hard to believe all vets have the pets best interest @ heart all the time. $ talks.
My experience with vets has been quite negative. I have many horror stories. I once paid a fortune to save my mothers cat, it worked out that one time, however I never told her how much it actually cost. Most other times spend a lot of money, only to have the pet die anyway.
One thing that always makes my blood boil is the dishonesty. They can drag out the prognosis's and make things look better than they actually are when they know the diagnosis and the likely outcome in most cases. Lots of vets want to "experiment" on your pet, at your expense. .
They should know that not everyone is wealthy and can afford these elaborate procedures. I feel bad for folks that love their pet and do not have the funds, it makes a difficult situation much worse.
One thing that always makes my blood boil is the dishonesty. They can drag out the prognosis's and make things look better than they actually are when they know the diagnosis and the likely outcome in most cases. Lots of vets want to "experiment" on your pet, at your expense. .
They should know that not everyone is wealthy and can afford these elaborate procedures. I feel bad for folks that love their pet and do not have the funds, it makes a difficult situation much worse.
If you live in the country find a farm vet that looks at horses and cows they usually also have someone on staff that also looks at dogs and cats and they tend to not push expensive treatments or tests since they are used to farmers telling them just to put the animal down if it’s going to be expensive
What's the {name} medication? Often, it's the same as for Human. Years ago, I at 1st got from the vet, then I just called my Dr. & he faxed the same script {for me} --& for my dog too. ;- Depends, my DR. is very kool! Same for the Gabapentin.
I agree, Vets have gotten too much. They have billing guidelines, but Bill for unnecessary things, or talk you into things.
Like when I took an old dog I literary rescued form a junk yard, in to be put down, then they magically said oh no, are you sure?? Try & give her this medication, yada yada, & poof* the dog was lively again, for less then a week, then back I went to put her down..& it only cost another $400 for that extra week.
They play on your heart strings..for more money, almost every vet, every time. Too many times to tell. Like the $100 for a 5 min to check another dogs heart rate.
The vet wasn't even there! Some assistant, young 20 y/o did it. I was like, this is BS pricing, for a 10 min appointment. My GF is a Nurse, at least Qualified to do that more than the 20 y/o butt-sl*tt working there.. lol
Then they went on to tell me Vets have a High Suicidal rate. I was like..No wonder. That Vet closed down later that year....
I agree, Vets have gotten too much. They have billing guidelines, but Bill for unnecessary things, or talk you into things.
Like when I took an old dog I literary rescued form a junk yard, in to be put down, then they magically said oh no, are you sure?? Try & give her this medication, yada yada, & poof* the dog was lively again, for less then a week, then back I went to put her down..& it only cost another $400 for that extra week.
They play on your heart strings..for more money, almost every vet, every time. Too many times to tell. Like the $100 for a 5 min to check another dogs heart rate.
The vet wasn't even there! Some assistant, young 20 y/o did it. I was like, this is BS pricing, for a 10 min appointment. My GF is a Nurse, at least Qualified to do that more than the 20 y/o butt-sl*tt working there.. lol
Then they went on to tell me Vets have a High Suicidal rate. I was like..No wonder. That Vet closed down later that year....
Last edited:
Brassman66
CGN frequent flyer
Like with anything, if there is no competition one is at the Mercy of the Supplier.
Alternate Veterinarians may work.
Nowadays Vet Clinics for Dogs/Cats are Big Business and many belong to the same Conglomerate Investors. If you take you Pet to a Clinic which has a lot of Vets/Doctors on call watch out.
Do your Homework you may find something much more reasonable.
Cheers
Alternate Veterinarians may work.
Nowadays Vet Clinics for Dogs/Cats are Big Business and many belong to the same Conglomerate Investors. If you take you Pet to a Clinic which has a lot of Vets/Doctors on call watch out.
Do your Homework you may find something much more reasonable.
Cheers
