Vet- a little annoyed.

[Carol35]

Actually, Im really flycked off. I have an emergency with our dog and I called the vet asking that since its an emergency, I know I wont have enough to cover the bill so can I pay what I have and the rest month end. I have been going to this vet for years and spent a small fortune..last year it cost us close on 2.5k for them to tell us our dog was dying and then have her put down which I paid happily. When I called now, they were very reluctant, ummed and ahhed and said that the R500 I do have will cover the sedation and consult and then the vet will call me to discuss further. Take note, this is the first time I have needed them in an emergency. I take this dog every few months to have his ears cleaned(at 1k a time) so its not like they only see me once every few years.

I dont know if Im being ridiculous to be fuming, I know they are a business etc but when did money come before animal care especially since I have a history of always paying up front! When the vet calls, I feel like telling him this is the last time he will be seeing one of our pets and finding a new vet so what are your thoughts on this? Am i expecting too much??

Lawd, last 2 weeks have seen mechanical bills, sick children etc etc and now this?
Throw this bytch a bone plse!!!!!

 

[ShaunSA]

Damn that sucks. Hope you get the mutt sorted asap.

Considering you are a "regular" client you would think they would be a little more lenient. Although that may just be his office talking so perhaps wait to speak to him first?

 

[hellfire]

Actually, Im really flycked off. I have an emergency with our dog and I called the vet asking that since its an emergency, I know I wont have enough to cover the bill so can I pay what I have and the rest month end. I have been going to this vet for years and spent a small fortune..last year it cost us close on 2.5k for them to tell us our dog was dying and then have her put down which I paid happily. When I called now, they were very reluctant, ummed and ahhed and said that the R500 I do have will cover the sedation and consult and then the vet will call me to discuss further. Take note, this is the first time I have needed them in an emergency. I take this dog every few months to have his ears cleaned(at 1k a time) so its not like they only see me once every few years.

I dont know if Im being ridiculous to be fuming, I know they are a business etc but when did money come before animal care especially since I have a history of always paying up front! When the vet calls, I feel like telling him this is the last time he will be seeing one of our pets and finding a new vet so what are your thoughts on this? Am i expecting too much??

Lawd, last 2 weeks have seen mechanical bills, sick children etc etc and now this?
Throw this bytch a bone plse!!!!!

They've probably been burned a few times before...

I know my SO is in the medical profession and clients shes sees for years and trusts suddenly run off with bills worth not that much.
People are weird when it comes to money

 

[Hemps]

What's the emergency with the dog?

Yeah best to stick with the Vet you know, we all get emotional when it comes to our pets.

 

[guest2013-1]

I had a cat. Took her to the vet twice.... in 16 years. She died a natural peaceful death, asleep next to my mom.

Are you one of those "panic parents" where if your kid/dog has a stuffy nose you run to the doctor?

 

[biometrics]

Have him treated and on payment say "oops" ...

 

[CharmaineB]

That really depends on what sort of practice it is. If it's one of those large practices with 6 vets then don't expect them to care... Those practices are run strictly like businesses.

But if it's a vet that you've seen for years (like you've said) then it's something different. Try speaking with the vet directly, not the receptionist. If he's unwilling to help you, find another vet.

And take a tip from someone who dealt with vets on a weekly basis for 4 years... When looking for a new vet, start by asking them if they support any welfares. In other words, do they have welfare accounts for rescue organizations?

If they don't give welfare rates on account to any rescue organisations, don't waste your time and money with them.

 

[killadoob]

I had a cat. Took her to the vet twice.... in 16 years. She died a natural peaceful death, asleep next to my mom.

Are you one of those "panic parents" where if your kid/dog has a stuffy nose you run to the doctor?

Twice? geez dude, that is plenty. Should have gone for 0, that is how awesome you are.

You should never speak to the receptionist, she may not know you or may not have been working there that long. It is best to chat to the vet. In general if they know well enough it would not be a problem.

 

[CharmaineB]

What's wrong with the dog's ears that you have to take him so often?

 

[DJ...]

Emergency vets are a godsend imo. Had to take our Jack Russell there a few weeks ago as she came second best in her attempts to intimidate our pavement special.

Cost was R800 and R2300 altogether. I'm in absolutely no position to bargain with a professional. I wouldn't try to bargain with a surgeon either...

 

[mike156]

Geez, hope you come right with the animal.

It really depends on the vet. We had a hit and run incident with our cat in December and had to rush him off to a vet we had never used before at 2 in the morning.

She did the surgery, booked him in and was quite happy to accept payment the next day as we didn't have cash and she didn't know how to use the card machine.

EDIT: If you're on the east rand, take your pets to parkvet in sunward park. Best. Vet. Ever.

 

[killadoob]

Emergency vets are a godsend imo. Had to take our Jack Russell there a few weeks ago as she came second best in her attempts to intimidate our pavement special.

Cost was R800 and R2300 altogether. I'm in absolutely no position to bargain with a professional. I wouldn't try to bargain with a surgeon either...

Rubbish. We take our dogs to the same vet often and many times they have done surgeries and allow us time to pay for it. A professional vet will help you and understand that you may need to pay at a later stage. Obviously you need to have been a client of said prof for awhile.

If that professional is not willing to help he should re-evaluate himself as a decent human being. If a dog is in big need of help and you know the client well and they have paid well in the past, you help them. At least that is the world i live in. Either the dog dies because the owner doesn't have money or help the owner and wait until they are in a position to pay. It isn't bargaining if said professional knows his clients. It isn't bargaining if the person has paid well in the past but this time around they can't pay for whatever reason but then again money over morals is generally how people work so maybe you live in a world where it's money or death.

 

[Hosehead]

Nothing raises my hackles more than these after hour vet hospitals (we have exactly two in Cape town) and you get seriously milked.
I'd sooner do my own first aid on an animal and wait until the normal vets open .
Kenilworth afterhours has been advertising for business recently and they've been around for over 15 years- What does that tell you?

 

[rubytox]

A friend's dog had minor surgery. The vet insisted the dog stay overnight.
The following day she got a whopping bill of over R2 000 ... big fight (I was there) but the gist of it: if you don't pay, you can't get your dog back.

Now I wonder, if you refuse to pay and leave the dog there, do they euthanize ... or sell it to the highest bidder?

 

[Hosehead]

Now I wonder, if you refuse to pay and leave the dog there, do they euthanize ... or sell it to the highest bidder?

Vets are a business with huge profit margins.( especially with dog-foods)

It costs them $$$ to use the sched 6 Sodium Pent http://www.bayeranimalhealth.co.za/html/MSDS/msds581.html (Black market price is US $250.00 per bottle of 100ml for those of you interested to know)... so what they'll do is turn it over to the SPCA and being a high kill organization they will most likely put it down.

 

[killadoob]

Vets are a business with huge profit margins.( especially with dog-foods)

It costs them $$$ to use the sched 6 Sodium Pent http://www.bayeranimalhealth.co.za/html/MSDS/msds581.html (Black market price is US $250.00 per bottle of 100ml for those of you interested to know)... so what they'll do is turn it over to the SPCA and being a high kill organization they will most likely put it down.

The SPCA are a high kill organization for a reason though, humans.

 

[InternetSwag]

Vets are a business with huge profit margins.( especially with dog-foods)

It costs them $$$ to use the sched 6 Sodium Pent http://www.bayeranimalhealth.co.za/html/MSDS/msds581.html (Black market price is US $250.00 per bottle of 100ml for those of you interested to know)... so what they'll do is turn it over to the SPCA and being a high kill organization they will most likely put it down.

This is correct.

Vetshops have a far smaller margin, around 23% GP.

 

[Picard]

Some people have so much problems with dogs.

Buy yourselves one of the "terrier" species (Jack Russel, Foxterrier, Staffy, Bull Terrier, Some of the smaller wired hair terriers, Airedale terrier), and you will will cut your problems in half.

 

[Freaksta]

Just from the stories I've got from my sister who is a vet and has her fair share of after hours.

I'm not sure how your vet works and if its open 24 hours a day or what but generally in pe when you're phoning after hours your phoning the vet on call directly. They are unable to check your payment history and they may know your name(does the vet know you by name?) or who you are but don't have a computer to check you up. The problem that happens ALOT is non-regular customers phone promise to have the money and when the vet arrives they can't afford to pay. Generally speaking the vet has to treat the animal, but they try avoid this because my sister will only get paid for the call out if the customer pays the bill. So if the bill goes unrecovered then my sister gets zero for coming out at 2am in the morning.

You may see call out rates etc and ridiculous but you must remember that it basically means that person you're phoning has to drop everything they're doing and meet your needs. As people have said its a business, and they need to make money, they have a lot of overheads in terms of kennel staff, secrataries etc

They too have studied for 7 years and are allowed to charge appropriately!

 

[killadoob]

Some people have so much problems with dogs.

Buy yourselves one of the "terrier" species (Jack Russel, Foxterrier, Staffy, Bull Terrier, Some of the smaller wired hair terriers, Airedale terrier), and you will will cut your problems in half.

Generally you want to avoid pure breeds, mixed breeds give you little to no issues.