I now hate my vet

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fi.cantillon

Teenage Guinea Pig
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My Tessa pig is very unwell at the moment and my vet just kept saying he was worried about her but not really doing anything.

I phoned Vedra who put me in contact with a rodentolgist in Wales who has been giving me daily consultations over the phone.

He advised what meds I needed. I went to the vet and asked for the septrin. He agreed but as it is a drug he does not normally use he had to order it. I went in the following day to collect it and I suggested I took the whole bottle 100ml and could keep it as surely that would work out cheaper in the long run. He agreed but said it was £88 for the bottle. So I took just enough for a 7 day course for her. I did not think anything of this until I spoke to the rodentologist who said that he pays under £10 for this.

I felt totally humilated and taken advantage of.

Consequently I have now registered with another vet but do not feel that I can look at my old vet again to confront him without braking down in tears. He has been my vet for 7 years and I trusted him.
 
Is the vet you saw the manager of the practice? If not tell his boss. If you don't think you could face him you should maybe write a letter saying what you think of him. We had a similar experience with a dentist and now my boyfriend freaks out for a week before going to our new nice dentist. I hate people like that grrrr Hope your new vet is better
 
Even if he is the boss, most vets are registered with some sort of charter whom you can contact (maybe in writing) to make any necessary comments, positive or otherwise. As a matter of curtesy and to show you are taking the moral high ground, I would send the surgery a copy of the letter too. I think that in this current economic climate, the customer is King and businesses will go a long way not to lose custom. Plus, they will try to avoid bad publicity... Local newpapers love a good gossip story involving animals, it draws at the public's heartstrings...
 
Fi, I am really upset to read this - if there is anything I can do please let me know. I am very good at writing complaint letters and would be happy to write on on your behalf if you are too upset.

I hope the new vets will help Tessa Pig - myself and furry family are sending you lots of vibes.
 
We have a local vet like that. He wants to charge me the same price to have a hedgehog put to sleep as a pet rabbit. Yet if a memebr of the public had one that needed to be PTS they wouldn't charge. He charges full price for any drugs and consultation fees despite the fact we're a rescue centre and could be visiting him upto 4 times a week.
I don't expect favours but when we're supposed to be working for the sake of animal welfare it seems wrong.
It took a while and we swapped and changed vets a few times but we have found a fantastic vet now who doesn't charge for consultations and I pay for the drugs at greatly reduced prices. He also trusts what I say and is always willing to listen to my concerns about injured or ill hedgehogs.
I'm sorry you feel let down by your vet I guess some of them don't see animals as anything other than a way to make money.
 
I hate my vet too, I ended up going to a second one (you might have seen my health thread about Jacob? Castrated and then very ill etc...)

I feel so sorry for you. Whereabouts are you? Perhaps somebody could direct you to a better vet.
 
Oh sorry I saw your last two lines. I'm so sorry, but hopefully this other vet will be better xx
 
Fi,

Have you tried any alternative meds with Tessa Pig? I used a lot of herbs when I had a very poorly bun with snuffles and found this list:

http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/rabbitsandherbs.php

If you could check which ones are safe for piggies and confirm with your vet they wont interfer with the drugs it might be worth a go. No gaurentees obviously but I found they helped alleviate symptoms somewhat. Enchinea is particularly good for boosting weakened immune systems - I had a piggie who was allergic to dust etc and adding liquid version to water really helped him.
 
sorry you feel so peed off. I had exactly the same problem with my vet of 18 years who was charging me left right and centre for my piggie when he has lice, and it cost me something like £80 for 3 visits - they usually only charge for one consultation....but they moved my appointment from a nurse to a vet and had the ordasity to charge me for it, saying i should have said if i didnt want a vet! i was disgusted! also 3 vets told me different things about his allergy (scruffy).

Sandra (caviesgalore) recommended a local vet she uses and they are FAB! i took my 2 for a check up and where i was likely to be charged £40 at my old vet, i was only charged £8 at my new one! fantastic!

I would definitely write a letter of complaint, that is disgusting of them
 
i love my vet even though he isnt terribly piggy smart,but i hate the clinic and the other vets at it they tend to affect mine and Boris's experience each time we go there,i would complain if i was you xxxxxx
 
OMG! £88 for a 100ml bottle of septrin is ridiculous!
Septrin is not an expensive medication, even if the vet put 100% mark up on the bottle then it shouldn't cost any more £17/18( adult suspension is dearer than paediatric).
Baytril is expensive but not septrin, that's terrible.

Hope Tessa feels better soon:)
 
I have twice been taken to task by the moderators for making untoward comments about vets. I now feel totally vindicated by what I have been reading on this thread.
The last time I bought a bottle of Paediatric Septrin it cost less than £10.
 
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Message from admin:

I think it is important to remember that not all vets are inexperienced and out to rip us off. Obviously, as with anything, there are always those individuals who get the rest of the profession a bad name. It's up to us to try and work with our vet rather than constantly against them, but when things aren't working, then we can very easily vote with out feet and go elsewhere!
 
I would write a letter to his clinic and explain why you have had to take you business elsewhere, as your vet has completely lost your confidence.
 
One of our vets was off sick a year ago or so so we saw a tempory vet at the practise and she overcharged us and never really even knew how to hold a piggie. Once we got home mum phoned up the vets and explained and the next few times we went we got the consultation fee free and ever since we've not paid as much for surgery etc. I've never saw that vet in the practise again either. There's about 5 or 6 different vets at my practise and there all good with all animals but I do prefer certain ones for different animals. Of course if it's an emergancy and I can't see the vet I want to see I'll take any of them because they all are good with the animals just 2 of them really love piggies.
 
amy104 said:
Fi,

Have you tried any alternative meds with Tessa Pig? I used a lot of herbs when I had a very poorly bun with snuffles and found this list:

http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/rabbitsandherbs.php

If you could check which ones are safe for piggies and confirm with your vet they wont interfer with the drugs it might be worth a go. No gaurentees obviously but I found they helped alleviate symptoms somewhat. Enchinea is particularly good for boosting weakened immune systems - I had a piggie who was allergic to dust etc and adding liquid version to water really helped him.
Click to expand...

It looks like it may be cancer in her intestine but the new vet wants do do a week on the septrin (Same as rodentologist) incase it is inflammation. He even taught me how to examine her.

I will defo have a look at this link though thank you

p.s. i have your coat :)
 
I dunno in the uk but here in canada there is no law about how much a vet can charge you for meds. You can get a perscription and take it to your local pharamcy but I dunno if you can do that in the UK. There was a big ting about a while back but it doesn't seem to make a differnece. Here is canada some vets can charge 400% more then its worth and get away with it. My suggestion is to maybe go to that other guy if you can (no idea about locations as to you from him).
 
That doesn't sound good :0 hope this new vet can help, she really is a very lovely piggy. It's a shame you had to seperate her from Misty.

Sorry I did read you pm - am waiting on Mark to confirm if/what he is working sat. Total nightmare, drives me nuts never knowing what shifts he on till the day before. Can you hang on to it for me, I'll pm you tomrrow, hope thats ok. :))
 
It's a shame that in the current economic situation this is happening to people who care about their animals and want the best for them.
i'm registering with the PDSA and I'm so grateful that there's an option out there for people who struggle with finances. If it wasn't for this and the help of my parents who insisted on paying for the pigs vets bills until I moved out, I don't know what I would have done.
I hope your new vets is better and yes, while people should remember not all vets are bad, it's important to keep vigilant and aware of how much things should cost; vets fees are expensive enough and it's difficult not to just pay up without question because it's your pet.
 
"It looks like it may be cancer in her intestine"

Malignant tumours are rare events in guinea pigs. Read into that what you will....
(Yet another mission?)
 
alcesterpigs said:
"It looks like it may be cancer in her intestine"

Malignant tumours are rare events in guinea pigs. Read into that what you will....
(Yet another mission?)
Click to expand...

My friend rescues 2 guinea pigs and one did have this (post mortem etc if I remember correctly). :(
 
moonie8404 said:
Sandra (caviesgalore) recommended a local vet she uses and they are FAB! i took my 2 for a check up and where i was likely to be charged £40 at my old vet, i was only charged £8 at my new one! fantastic!

I would definitely write a letter of complaint, that is disgusting of them
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Glad you were pleased with them Emily, just so you know Nicola is on maternity leave and isn't due back until about March next year 8... how dare she!:)) If you do need to take the boys back in the meantime ask to see Rob, not quite the people person Nicola is but he knows his piggy stuff.
 
Caviesgalore said:
Glad you were pleased with them Emily, just so you know Nicola is on maternity leave and isn't due back until about March next year 8... how dare she!:)) If you do need to take the boys back in the meantime ask to see Rob, not quite the people person Nicola is but he knows his piggy stuff.
Click to expand...

thanks hun was going to ask who the other person was!
 
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