 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / General Topics / May 2004Vets taking advantage
In two cases, 4 months apart, two different vets: both estimated or said about $400 to examine, blood work, x-rays and to keep cat until morning. When cat was picked up, both vest presented bills for $1200. The 1st one gave in little and was vary arrogant with weak justification, the 2nd vet, after my complaint, reduced the bill to $440. It is my conclusion, that a business practice of vets is to lure customer in, then prey on their emotions to milk the maximum cash. The cases above do not include the additional vet highly recommended treatments, like blood transfusion, daily dialysis etc. which were highly beyond our means. I feel the vet industry is ripe for some sort of control as we have seen in the human medical industry and maybe a better and more appropriate example is the rules and conditions mortuaries now have to operate under. That business in the past, like vets today, manipulated and influenced those who were in grief, feigning shock that you wouldn't want to have the best money can buy for your loved ones. I am left with an extremely fowl taste of the vet industry and I hope someday reforms as seen by mortuary and medical industry can become more prevalent from state to state for vetinary. It is shameful and disgusting the way vets feed on human emotion to line their pockets. I dont understand... Did the vets do more than what you had authorized??? What sort of things were listed on the bill that they did that you did not authorize them to do. was it an itemized bill?? My experience with vets has been different, although I make sure they understand what I have and have not authorised them to do. > In two cases, 4 months apart, two different vets: > both estimated or said about $400 to examine, blood work, x-rays and to keep [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > prevalent from state to state for vetinary. It is shameful and disgusting > the way vets feed on human emotion to line their pockets. >I feel the vet industry is ripe for some sort of control as we have seen in >the human medical industry and maybe a better and more appropriate example >is the rules and conditions mortuaries now have to operate under. The solution: vote with your feet and find a different vet. Believe it or not there are some good vets. Ask around and find out what other pet owners do in your area. If you live in an area like New York city consider going to New Jersey or Connecticut. But yes there are some excellent vets out there who don't take advantage of you. Bear in mind if your vet is in a city like New York then their rent is through the roof. "I am left with an extremely fowl taste". Hmmmmmm.....Must have stopped by KFC first.. lol | I am left with an extremely fowl taste of the vet industry and I hope | someday reforms as seen by mortuary and medical industry can become more | prevalent from state to state for vetinary. It is shameful and disgusting | the way vets feed on human emotion to line their pockets. It has not been my choice (I got different pets through different vets) but in the past I've got to know 11 different vets and read about two more very dubious ones in our town in the paper. I must say some were very arrogant, some were over expensive, some treated the wrong way, some didn't really seem to like pets, they were more of a ware to them, some just didn't care much. I am very happy with my original vet but she cannot do complicated things because she hasn't got the machines. Then I pick the one that takes the time to explain things to me and if possible is not too expensive. I also like it when a vet tries simple treatments first and only afterwards moves on to the costly treatments. I think it's best to share experiences with friends and also to compare bills. When I don't like a vet I just move on without discussion. This means if there's an emergency I'm still in the file which might (although I hope not) be useful some time. Over the past years I have come to the conclusion that with most people money is their main motivation. Then spending it and enjoying much free time :-( Carola >some didn't really seem to like pets, Why would someone become a vet if they don't like pets? I would think twice about taking my cat to someone who hates cats. >When I don't like a vet I just move on without discussion. This means if >there's an emergency I'm still in the file which might (although I hope not) >be useful some time. I've tried many vets in the area, most were very good, only found one that was really bad. If it is a true emergency there is an animal hospital that is open 24/7 and is about the same distance away as my usual vet. And at one time of urgent need the vet recommended getting the cat to the above animal hospital. Alot depends on how the local community feels about animals. Around here it is a very pro animal state. If you can that is one of the things to consider when you look to move to a certain geographical area. If you aren't comfortable with the vets in that area then consider moving if you can. That is why I suggest when you think about moving to an area before you buy a house rent an apartment for a few months to see if you like the area. Most, not all vet, provide patient/customers with an estimate. If other procedures/tests/x-rays need be done as extra measures, there usually is an understanding between the bill paying owner/guardian and the vet/vet's receptionist..a phone call to ask the owner if he/she wants additional work done..alternatives, etc. To quote $400 and up it to $1,000 with no communication in-between is unethical and perhaps against the law. thats what we thought to..against the law. > Most, not all vet, provide patient/customers with an estimate. If other > procedures/tests/x-rays need be done as extra measures, there usually is an > understanding between the bill paying owner/guardian and the vet/vet's > receptionist..a phone call to ask the owner if he/she wants additional work > done..alternatives, etc. To quote $400 and up it to $1,000 with no > communication in-between is unethical and perhaps against the law. : In two cases, 4 months apart, two different vets: : both estimated or said about $400 to examine, blood work, x-rays and to keep [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] : prevalent from state to state for vetinary. It is shameful and disgusting : the way vets feed on human emotion to line their pockets. We have had exactly the experience you describe in two out of three vets with the third to a lesser degree. One told us our male cat needed to be neutered (this was a vet) and when I took him back to the animal shelter, where he was supposed to be neutered, vaccinated, etc. they told me that he had indeed been neutered and that the vet could not have been mistaken, so that leads me to believe that she was lying. A good example of this is selling pre-op blood testing, IV, and extra pain meds for male cats being neutered since they don't even need stiches. they definately are in a ripoff mod. I wish there was a governing body to prevent regulate them and prevent them from preying on once grief. > A good example of this is selling pre-op blood testing, > IV, and extra pain meds for male cats being neutered > since they don't even need stiches. | A good example of this is selling pre-op blood testing, | IV, and extra pain meds for male cats being neutered | since they don't even need stiches. Even I can tell if a tom's neutered or not, and I'm not a professional at all! When I got our tom vaccinated it cost very much. I wondered about the bill and said that my usual vet costs less than half. The vet went mad and said angrily that he'd vaccinated this and that too. Stuff I didn't even ask for!! Carola What does an IV, blood testing, and pain meds have to do with stitches? > | A good example of this is selling pre-op blood testing, > | IV, and extra pain meds for male cats being neutered [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Carola : What does an IV, blood testing, and pain meds have to do with stitches? The procedure is a simple one, so the pain meds aren't necessary. The no stitches is just an example to show that it's not as complicated as a female operation. More money > What does an IV, blood testing, and pain meds have to do with stitches? > > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > > > Carola > Even I can tell if a tom's neutered or not, and I'm not a professional > at [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > angrily that he'd vaccinated this and that too. Stuff I didn't even ask > for!! I had our new stray kitten checked over, health tests, given worm tablets and a bottle of ear mite stuff, and his 8 week vaccinations, and all of the cost about ?60, which seemed pretty reasonable. That's in SE London. Amanda
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.