vet costs. how do you feel about it?

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lincolnsmommy

lincolnsmommy

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I just wanted to start this thread as I'm curious about how everyone feels about there vets bills. Ive always been a person who doesnt even ask the cost i just get my card out as whatever the animal needs it needs to have regardless of cost. However today i was thinking and after being to the vets about 4 times this week for things going wrong for my piggies i have had an ear bending from my oh and family for the costs. I decided to have a think about it and realised what a rip off it is. i understand they need to pay ther staff etc biut over £18 for a checkup consultation which takes 5 minutes is ridiculous. No one i know earns £18 every 5 mins. I always thought vets were great people and i always wanted to be one but it appears its more a money making scheme and alot of times ive been latly they havent had a clue.
Saying this i took Kenickie to be neutered and didnt ask the price, when i picked him up it was £25! i was gobsmacked how cheap it was. And his check up was free (this was a diff vet from my normal and may become my regular one now).

just curious how you all felt about it?
 
I seldom bother taking my piggies to my 'normal' vet these days. With over 60 piggies at mine recently, I seemed to be at the vets most weeks for various things, average cost £30 - £40 a time for minor things, all they do is give Baytril (which I have anyway) or an injection. Unfortunately most vets are guinea-pig experts.

I now save my money and if it's something urgent I take them to Vedra at the CCT - a yearly membership fee of £25 covers all dental checkups etc. and there's no consultation fee. Meds are charged pretty much at cost. It's 90 mins drive each way, so not ideal, but at least I trust her judgment and I know I'm not being ripped off. She recently operated on Captain Jack - I had taken him to my local vet and they wanted to put him to sleep. He had the op at Vedras and is now back to his normal slef - if I'd taken my vet's advice, he'd be dead!

Having said that, they're very good with my dogs and cats.

Sophie
x
 
Yeah it normally costs me around £30 - £40 a time. I checked my reciept and the cream i picking up for meg tomorrow is the same they gave me saturday for lincoln. they all have the same lines aswel. "Dont worry it says for dogs and cats ears but its fine for guinea pigs" its just rehearsed they know what there saying and giving you before i walk through the door I'm sure x glad captian jack is ok x
 
S I presume you meant that most vets are NOT gp experts?
The reasoning behind the large fees, in most cases, is that you are paying for what they know rather than what they do.
In which case, shouldn't fees be very low!?
 
I was having a chat with my mum. My mum is a fully qualified medical doctor, and she works for the blood transfusion. As such, she doesn't really do very much "doctoring" but she is there in case anything goes wrong. She earns more than the staff nurses who do more "work" than her. But my mother is paid not for being around there and working, but for what she knows. My mum spent 7 years of her life training and studying very hard, and paying money to do so. She has constantly been learning and upgrading her knowledge since then (and shes near retirment age to, so thats a long time.)

At a vets, you are not just paying for the medical expenses. You are paying to have someone who has spent a *very* long time educating themselves and working very hard to reach that level of knowledge. Not only this, but cost of treatment pays for staff, pays for rent of the building, electricity, insurance, licenses for holding all the drugs they have on site. And then there is probably money going towards staff training to keep them up to date on latest treatements and drugs.

Medical treatment, whether it be for an animal or a person, IS expensive. I think a lot of the judgement goes towards vet costs in this country because we do not have to pay through the nose for our own, human health care.

Vet costs vary, due to the wages they pay (which will vary with the cost of living in an area, staff wages are typically lined against that), the building they are renting, the type of drugs they have and who mirade of other options. I don't have a business degree but I'm sure someone who does could probably very neatly sum all the costs up to you - including a little bit of extra money which probably goes back into the practise/rewards the hard work they do. Remember, vets need to get paid for being on call too.

If you're not happy with a price, shop around. Find a vet that knows about guineas. But I honestly don't think vet practises are just "money making scheme".

I know this, as shortly I am going to be a university graduate, and will probably go onto do a postgrad. Fortunatly I'm in scotland so my undergrad degree is paid for by the government, but my post grad will cost me money, and as an archaeological specialist, (even after FIVE years of education, where bills and debt have been racked up through living expenses) I'll be lucky if I earn 17.000 per annum. Archaeologists are one of the lowest paid indivduals in relation to the amount of higher education we need to do. (But that whole rant is very personal, but it illustrates my point that you are mostly paying for what the vet knows.)
 
alcesterpigs said:
S I presume you meant that most vets are NOT gp experts?
The reasoning behind the large fees, in most cases, is that you are paying for what they know rather than what they do.
In which case, shouldn't fees be very low!?
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Oops, that was an important word to miss out! Yes, I meant 'are NOT gp experts'! - if only they were!
 
i agree with what your saying susie but the vet hardly ever knows what is wrong with the piggies they just guess and give the same treatment, which means they dont know much, hense the price should be cheaper if were paying for knowledge
 
I don't object to paying any amount if they know what they're talking about - I do object to paying someone who seems to barely know one end of a piggy from another. In Captain Jack's case, I took him to 'my' vet, who said it looked like cancer and only option was PTS - I paid £18 to be told that, no treatment, then had to take him to Vedra and he had the op.

It bothers me that regular pet owners are being given wrong advice or treatment for their piggies when they think they're doing the best thing for the animal by taking it to the vet.

Sophie
x
 
lincolnsmommy said:
i agree with what your saying susie but the vet hardly ever knows what is wrong with the piggies they just guess and give the same treatment, which means they dont know much, hense the price should be cheaper if were paying for knowledge
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Then why aren't you going to a guinea savvy vet? Or at least trying to find one? After all, you wouldn't go to a heart specialist with a back problem.

Thats the one difference between the vet and the doctor - you're just "accepting" the vet and the incompetance with guineas you think they have. I've never used an exotics specalist myself, but I can be almost certain that they will cost more than a regular vet, again due to all the extra education undertaken.

With your example of the creams - if it is the same cream they gave you for Lincon, why didn't you take an unused tube back and say "I already have a tube of this, can I have my money back?"

I'm a regular at my vets and they always assume I hold onto medcines like metacam and baytril, so the check with what I have. But with irregular customers they might not always remember what they sent you home with a week before.
 
sophiew said:
I don't object to paying any amount if they know what they're talking about - I do object to paying someone who seems to barely know one end of a piggy from another. In Captain Jack's case, I took him to 'my' vet, who said it looked like cancer and only option was PTS - I paid £18 to be told that, no treatment, then had to take him to Vedra and he had the op.

It bothers me that regular pet owners are being given wrong advice or treatment for their piggies when they think they're doing the best thing for the animal by taking it to the vet.

Sophie
x
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Maybe I'm biased because I have a great vet who knows what he's talking about - and have never experienced otherwise!

I think you could probably go back to your vets, with the evidence of a healthy pig and the diagnosis from vedra, and maybe ask for your money back - their diagnosis was wrong, a waste of your time and money.
 
i have been to serveral differnt vets and its all the same. "After all, you wouldn't go to a heart specialist with a back problem. " saying things like that is very patrnising. this is a friendly discussion and i would appriciate if it was kept like that. Feel free to give your opnion but dont expect everybody to agree with you
 
I won't be going to my vets anymore unless something is really urgent and the pig is not well enough to make the drive to the CCT to see Vedra. I made two trips to see my vet with Fuzzypeg's tooth problem. First they trimmed the incisors, then on the second visit they prescribed Baytril.

It was his molars all along - and Vedra sorted it in less than ten mins.

I wasted £35 at my local vets. It's not the first time either...

Charlotte x
 
lincolnsmommy said:
i have been to serveral differnt vets and its all the same. "After all, you wouldn't go to a heart specialist with a back problem. " saying things like that is very patrnising. this is a friendly discussion and i would appriciate if it was kept like that. Feel free to give your opnion but dont expect everybody to agree with you
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I'm sorry if that came across as patronising - I was just trying to illustrate my point and it wasn't meant to come across that way. Maybe you just need to perserve in the hunting - at my vet practise there is only three different vets, but only one is really guinea savvy so I always ask for him. Seeing one vet at one practise doesn't always mean the whole practise isn't versed in small animals.

Sometimes as well, it's about finding a vet that you can get a rappor with that is willing to listen to the things you research and suggest - for example charlotte, if you had asked the vets about the molars and they had been willing to have a look, the treatement there wouldn't have been wasted.
 
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I rang round a lot of local vets to try a find one that knew more about piggies. They all say the same 'we treat all small animals' - it's hard to tell, without actually seeing the vet, what experience they might have.

I have found one close to where I work that seems to be quite good, but like Charlotte says rather than throwing good money after bad, I'd take mine to Vedra until I find one closer that's as good (which I doubt, although Vikki is trying a new vets that sounds promising).

I'm just happy CJ was ok and I trusted my instincts!

Sophie
x
 
susie_q said:
I'm sorry if that came across as patronising - I was just trying to illustrate my point and it wasn't meant to come across that way. Maybe you just need to perserve in the hunting - at my vet practise there is only three different vets, but only one is really guinea savvy so I always ask for him. Seeing one vet at one practise doesn't always mean the whole practise isn't versed in small animals.
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Sorry Susie i must of taken that the wrong way. Well the last vet i went to nearly killed Lincoln! i am now very weary of vets. I have tried so many and nowhere seems to have a clue. i get a better diagnosis off here. I wont be going the vets anymore unless very urgent and then i think I'm going to do as Sophie does and take the drive to the CCT. Lincoln has a check up friday and thats the last one for me x
 
I have to say that my vets has been very good. There are 2 of them at the practice and they have both dealt with Connie. Fair enough, I have spent around £400 so far on Connie alone but that has been since her first consultation in November up until yesterday. Throughout that time, she has had:
Full consultation
2 x rays
Urine sample sent to a lab for full analysis
Endless supplies of Baytril, Septrin, Metacam and Pro biotics
Check ups etc
Various injections
Nail trimming
Bladder flush
Exploratory laparotomy
And other things I have probably missed out.
I have been backwards and forwards there with her and have not been charged everytime I have been,
When they first prescribed me septrin, it cost £10 but now they give it me for about £3 as they keep it there now where as before, it had to be ordered in just for Connie. She has also had endless urine samples tested which I am not charged for and I was charged nothing today for her check up after her op yesterday.
I think it just depends on what vet you go to and I feel lucky to have found mine as I do not think they are ripping me off.
My vets are also in touch with an exotic specialist who they have discussed Connie's condition with via phone and e-mail and i haven't had to pay a penny for this service.
My OH is always moaning about vet bills for he was actually quite suprised yesterday as the vet bill wasn't as much as he was expecting. It cost £135 for an x ray,Exploratory laparotomy, medication and aftercare.
Having said this, when I lived at home my rabbit (rip Casper) had an ongoing eye problem and I was changed £10 or more a week for him going back for a check up.
 
lincolnsmommy said:
Sorry Susie i must of taken that the wrong way. Well the last vet i went to nearly killed Lincoln! i am now very weary of vets. I have tried so many and nowhere seems to have a clue. i get a better diagnosis off here. I wont be going the vets anymore unless very urgent and then i think I'm going to do as Sophie does and take the drive to the CCT. Lincoln has a check up friday and thats the last one for me x
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It's sad that you've lost faith in vets. I find calling up and asking questions about treatment helps, things you know personally. Like what sort of gas do they use to anthestise GP's during neutering? Do you put guinea's under for teeth exams? A good one I've head of (from a rat forum) is asking whether or not the small animal needs to be starved before an operation - the answer should be no. Right off the bat, but if they um and ah about it and don't have a clue,. then steer well clear!
 
I don't mind paying when we lost Pearl I got her cage mates all checked (4 of them) and they were fine so it was for nothing but worth the peace of mind and I was only charged £20.00 for a check up! Good to know they are all in great health.

I've 2 vets one who isn't up to speed but stick with them as they are local and can do minor things and also appreciate any advice given and also my good vet further afield. :)
 
susie_q said:
I'm a regular at my vets and they always assume I hold onto medcines like metacam and baytril, so the check with what I have. But with irregular customers they might not always remember what they sent you home with a week before.
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I fully agree with this as my vet always says "have you got enough of this at home" but then again, I am a regular too
 
I have numbers for a couple of Rodentologists in the Suffolk/Cambridge area so if anyone is stuck with a minor ailment I will pass their numbers to you to get free advice.

al
 
I have only been twice to my current practice but they have also given me some very good advice over the phone. The first consultation was about 25, but the second time it was cheaper. They deduct money each time you go with the same problem (in this case his teeth). They are also an exotics specialist.
 
In January, I paid £110 for two emergency vet visits. The CCT does not charge out of hours emergency consultations (last time I checked). Really, I only needed to pay out £10.

That says it all as far as I am concerned.
 
There was a programme on Itv recently about vets ripping people off...saying that animals needed urgent treatment when in fact they were in good health, aparently one vet had been struck off for a year for keeping a dog in & saying he'd done an op when infact he hadn't done a thing to the animal.One of his nurses went to court to tell them what he'd been upto after the dog owner had been to another vet who told the owner that she'd been taken for a ride. This vet is now practising again!!
Another thing the programme picked up on was that they make a huge profit on the drugs they prescribe to our pets. One lady could have saved around £11,000 on drugs for her dog if she had bought them on the net.
 
It seems as if some people wish to tar all vets with the same brush, and are happy to put them down at every opportunity. Although I do appreciate some have had awful experiences, and they are rightly speaking up against particular vets, as I would myself, I don't think it is right for some to continually make sweeping statements about vets in general. It can be difficult finding a vet who you trust with beloved pets, and ringing to enquire about their experience doesn't work, because they will always say 'we treat small animals' as someone posted, so this is not a good option really. I sympathise with everyone who has not been fortunate to find a really good vet, but there are plenty out there who do a great job. In every sector of care whether human or animal, there is always poor and bad practice, and this should be rooted out and dealt with appropriately, but sadly good work doesn't make the headlines. I am not championing vets in general, but recognising that there is both good and bad, and hopefully we can all find the good ones to give our 'expensive' business to. I really feel for people who have posted here with bad experiences, and hope all works out well for them and their piggies. xx
 
How interesting to read all of the comments about vets. When I joined the forum 6 weeks ago I made my views known about vets, basically find a decent one before a gp becomes ill, and that the majority don't have a clue about gps because most vet schools teach nothing about gps. I was heavily criticised for my comments, now it seems that, for want of a better phrase, everyone is coming out of the woodwork, with their own critical and negative comments.....!!
 
Alcester I think you were critised because you seemed to imply that all vets were hopeless and you should treat them yourself. It came across as if you were saying not to take pigs to ANY vet whatsoever.

There are good vets and bad vets I'm lucky I have a fantastic vet and also a practise willing to learn. I know to well the heartache of losing a much loved animal though a vet not knowing all about guinea pigs.
 
Susie g I didn't tell the whole story. I did ask my vet to check Fuzzypeg's molars. At the end of the day if I suspect something is wrong, of course I'm going to pipe up and say something, but I was told that they don't do any visuals or treatment without full anesthetic.

That's why I wasted my money there; it was the molars, and they couldn't help in the slightest. They used guesswork and trimmed the incisors. Complete waste of time and money. That's why I had to make the five hour round trip to Vedra.

Charlotte
 
Iv had pretty good experiances with my vets and my piggies are my world so i *** care about the cost!

It only cost me £22 for both piggies to have two check ups (TOGETHER) and two injections for mitese and when my piggy had a respiritory infection it only cost me £19 for a check up and 10 days medicine!
which i was pretty pleased with and everytime i go he gives her a full check up n asks me loads of questions about them and makes sure I'm feeding them right ect! n he seems to know quite alot bout piggies!
 
alcesterpigs said:
Heveryone is coming out of the woodwork, with their own critical and negative comments.....!!
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Not everyone was criticising! I think my vet has been fab...and don't mind paying for a service that is ultimately going to help my animals and put my mind at ease.
 
That's the trick. If you find a vet who's good with piggies and that you trust, the cost is irrelevant. If only it were simple to find a good vet though. That's the trouble. rolleyes

Charlotte
 
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