Vet- a little annoyed.

[CheeseThief]

I recently left my job working as a receptionist at a large (7 vet) practice, where I had been for 4 years. Honestly, Vets (no matter the perceived profit margin) struggle to receive timeous payments from clients. I was often in the situation where a client would rush in with their pet seriously injured, only to inform us they didn't have any money to cover the procedure. The vets would always make an attempt to help, be it through payment plans or through cheaper treatment alternatives, and yet they would almost always be burned by a client who would default on payment.

Vets have an incredibly high suicide rate, and this is no doubt due to the heavy emotional toll their job takes on them. I have advised many people to reconsider studying veterinary science, as it is not as rewarding as most perceive it to be.

Concerning the OP's situation, I really do emphasise with you. I love my owns pets dearly and would be distraught if any injury were to befall them. Having said that, what is a once in a lifetime tragedy for you is a daily experience for a veterinarian. Every day a client will come in distraught, promising eventual payment, only to disappear after great time and expense have been dedicated towards treating their animal. Fortunately there are pet insurance policies available (Medipet and Petsure are two reliable products) to cover these unexpected expenses.

 

[Bismuth]

We had to take our cat tot he vet unexpectedly on Saturday night (after the vet closed). End up costing close to 1k, but at least he saved its' life!. Only had R500 me, and stupidly had left cards at home, so he agreed that I could pay the rest at the end of the month. I did this on Tuesday, and he still gave us a 10% discount!. I asked him how he normally handles this, and he says he will make an arrangement for up to 4 months, but even then, has had a few defaulters.

B

 

[Gnome]

My Mom is a vet and can tell you from experience:

Many people default, they just don't care.
Vets are expensive sure, but they use much the same instruments and medicine used for humans. That stuff is seriously expensive. Every defaulter means the vet covers R1000s out of their own pockets.
CPA explicitly doesn't allow them the option of allowing you to incur debt.

This is the reality of this country, you cannot expect them to fit the bill for you when so many people default with no consequences.

 

[rubytox]

The vet of my choice is anything but a people's person. In fact, he can be rather rude. I sucked it up because he (seemed) to be very good with the animals. Unlike other vet's, he would sit on the floor with a dog and get to know the animal before working with it. I thought that this was awesome. I wanted a vet who could connect with the animal. I liked this vet.

Until a week ago when I found a dog on a busy road, frightened and near death. Fortunately I had a bottle of water in the car. The dog drank almost a litre of water before I took off to the vet. They were closed, so I decided to take the dog home and keep it away from my other pets until I could get it checked out. The dog ate like she has never seen food in her life. She was a good looking, young, unsterilized female. She had red, swollen paws and broken toe nails. By late afternoon, I noticed that she was limping, probably some injury. Fortunately I had Petcam and could at least control her pain to some degree, give her a comfy place to sleep and some decent food. I have also posted pictures of the dog in all possible places on the internet.

First thing on Monday morning, I took the dog to my vet. With credit card in hand, I asked the receptionist if the vet could have a look at the dog, inoculate her and treat her injuries. The dog had no collar or microchip and no doubt, has been on the streets for a very long time. The vet sent his receptionist to advise me that the SPCA would be a better option and that he would not inoculate or treat the dog for any injuries. Despite me having offered to cover all the medical costs for this dog, he simply refused.

As the receptionist explained (he could not even tell me to my face!): "The doctor said you should not get involved. You will get way in over your head. Let the dog go to the SPCA"

Sorry to say, he will never see me or my animals again. He phoned me very late in the afternoon to find out whether anyone claimed the dog, perhaps feeling a pang of guilt for denying this one abandoned and probably abused dog, the luxury of a home where she would be fed and cared for, free of charge to the SPCA and the vet.

Yes, I understand that it must be a tough job and that vet's see the true horrors that humans bestow on innocent animals.

 

[Bismuth]

The vet of my choice is anything but a people's person. In fact, he can be rather rude. I sucked it up because he (seemed) to be very good with the animals. Unlike other vet's, he would sit on the floor with a dog and get to know the animal before working with it. I thought that this was awesome. I wanted a vet who could connect with the animal. I liked this vet.

Until a week ago when I found a dog on a busy road, frightened and near death. Fortunately I had a bottle of water in the car. The dog drank almost a litre of water before I took off to the vet. They were closed, so I decided to take the dog home and keep it away from my other pets until I could get it checked out. The dog ate like she has never seen food in her life. She was a good looking, young, unsterilized female. She had red, swollen paws and broken toe nails. By late afternoon, I noticed that she was limping, probably some injury. Fortunately I had Petcam and could at least control her pain to some degree, give her a comfy place to sleep and some decent food. I have also posted pictures of the dog in all possible places on the internet.

First thing on Monday morning, I took the dog to my vet. With credit card in hand, I asked the receptionist if the vet could have a look at the dog, inoculate her and treat her injuries. The dog had no collar or microchip and no doubt, has been on the streets for a very long time. The vet sent his receptionist to advise me that the SPCA would be a better option and that he would not inoculate or treat the dog for any injuries. Despite me having offered to cover all the medical costs for this dog, he simply refused.

As the receptionist explained (he could not even tell me to my face!): "The doctor said you should not get involved. You will get way in over your head. Let the dog go to the SPCA"

Sorry to say, he will never see me or my animals again. He phoned me very late in the afternoon to find out whether anyone claimed the dog, perhaps feeling a pang of guilt for denying this one abandoned and probably abused dog, the luxury of a home where she would be fed and cared for, free of charge to the SPCA and the vet.

Yes, I understand that it must be a tough job and that vet's see the true horrors that humans bestow on innocent animals.

@rubytox, it is great what you were trying to do for the poor animal, pity the vet didn't want to treat her, but I guess it's their perogative... but it is bad that he couldn't even tell it to your face.

But now I would like to know what happened to the dog, did you take it to the SPCA, or to another vet that would be willing to treat it?

B

 

[Carol35]

You get email notifications turned on Carol?

Omg, sorry...updated while I had friends over and after a few tonks and then promptly forgot about it.
And no, my email thingie is not turned on!

My dog suffers recurrent ear infections so has to see the vet every few months for a clean out, this costs me roughly R1k a shot. I've always paid cash up front. This time his ear had swollen to the size of an inflated tea bag, it was bulging...like it was going to burst at any sec. Vet agreed to see him, and told me he needed an operation that cost R2k. This information cost me R950 with an ear clean. He said it was urgent and couldn't really wait considering my financial predicament at the time. He also wouldn't do it until I settled the outstanding 450 and paid a deposit of R1k (50%) of the op. Anyhow, my vets bill is paid in full now plus R200 worth of ear cleaning crap I had to buy him. Sadly he has to wait until this month end so we can pay the 1k deposit and he can have his op. I'm still annoyed but sadly, my dog is not people friendly and tolerates the vet. He is also too old for pet aid. I will add that R200 of my bill every time I see him is tranquilizers as my dog can't be muzzled.

I still feel as a long time loyal customer, he could help me out so that the poor oke isn't walking around with a blood filled tea bag ear.

Ruby, did you take the dog to another vet?

Bismuth, your vet sounds awesome...would be great to get 4 months to pay off huge vets bills but yep, I can also see if from the vets point of view i guess..some people won't find a vet bill as important as others. Makes it shyte for those who really do pay on time and want the best care for their animals.

 

[rubytox]

@rubytox, it is great what you were trying to do for the poor animal, pity the vet didn't want to treat her, but I guess it's their perogative... but it is bad that he couldn't even tell it to your face.

But now I would like to know what happened to the dog, did you take it to the SPCA, or to another vet that would be willing to treat it?

B

The dog is at the SPCA animal hospital. I have asked them to keep me posted on her condition as I would still consider adopting her. My point still is that the vet could have treated the dog at my expense without any cost to the vet, SPCA or any animal rescue organisation.

When I got home after the visit to the vet, our local newspaper (People's post) was in my postbox. On the front page there's an article with this heading: Dogs 'raped' in townships'. It's a dreadful article, to say the least. To be honest, this is not something I thought about, although I am aware that these things can and do happen.

http://www.peoplespost.co.za/PQ/edition/61228/edition-article-details/dogs-‘raped-in-township

 

[Rocket-Boy]

OP needs a better vet, one that isnt in it just to make money.
My vet is awesome and I trust him completely, he often does small things without charging for them because he is a genuinely nice guy.

 

[Carol35]

The dog is at the SPCA animal hospital. I have asked them to keep me posted on her condition as I would still consider adopting her. My point still is that the vet could have treated the dog at my expense without any cost to the vet, SPCA or any animal rescue organisation.

When I got home after the visit to the vet, our local newspaper (People's post) was in my postbox. On the front page there's an article with this heading: Dogs 'raped' in townships'. It's a dreadful article, to say the least. To be honest, this is not something I thought about, although I am aware that these things can and do happen.

http://www.peoplespost.co.za/PQ/edition/61228/edition-article-details/dogs-‘raped-in-township

Its so sad. My elderly dog passed away last year and we have just recently adopted our 3rd township special. The lastest is a victim of sexual abuse. She has been with us for 3 weeks now and only recently would lie on the bed between the husband and I and only if he didn't make any sudden moves else she bolts. My son cannot go anywhere near her. She trembles, flinches and bolts anytime a male goes near her. I think she will come round, just lots of time, love and patience. Shame, and the poor girl is as ugly as sin.

Rocket, My vet is a nice guy, just not when it comes to finances it seems lol.

 

[rubytox]

Rocket, My vet is a nice guy, just not when it comes to finances it seems lol.

My (ex) vet is nice, just not when it comes to dealing with people.

 

[F1 Fan]

Up until today I never heard of humans raping dogs. I dont get it? Why? How? Like what the hell.

 

[Electron1]

Yes, Veterinary bills are high. Vets have to finance all their equipment - X-ray machine, Operating Theatre, Theatre equipment (ventilation machine etc), ultrasound machine etc.
Vets do unfortunately have a high rate of customers that do not pay their debts. Even so, I believe that Carol35's vet should have made a plan, especially as she is a regular customer.

Go for a second opinion Carol35 and get a quote from another vet for the op.

 

[Freshy-ZN]

Wow, what vets do you guys go to? I had to put a male white shepherd down yesterday. Vets bill- R318

Guess country vets are different to city ones.

 

[Carol35]

Yes, Veterinary bills are high. Vets have to finance all their equipment - X-ray machine, Operating Theatre, Theatre equipment (ventilation machine etc), ultrasound machine etc.
Vets do unfortunately have a high rate of customers that do not pay their debts. Even so, I believe that Carol35's vet should have made a plan, especially as she is a regular customer.

Go for a second opinion Carol35 and get a quote from another vet for the op.

I should yes, but it's such a military operation getting him to the vet that I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. Besides, seems all the vets in my area charge round about the same for their services. The second rescue dog we got was not sterilized, the adoption fee was waivered as we said we would pay for her sterilization at our vet. Lol, when I called to make the appointment, I literally had heart palpitations when I was told it was R1500. I called all the vets in my area and they all charged the same so landed up taking her to the AACL who quoted me R200 but I paid double for the donation. Still a huge saving.

And yes, my vet should help.. in fact, my vet should have offered my dog his op when I paid my account on time and let me pay off in 2 payments as agreed, considering he himself said its rather urgent. I have 4 dogs now who will all at some time need to see him so plenty business in his pocket if he plays nice!