veterinary fees - some important information

[Amanda1801]

I'm going to take the opportunity to post this link again: https://www.exoticdirect.co.uk/ Currently the only UK insurers of guinea pigs. We love our piggies like any other animal (sadly they're all too often still seen as "disposable" pets - "why spend X on vets bills when you can buy a new one for 20 quid" type attitude).

To date, my vets bills in 18 months are as follows for one pig:
Abscesses in throat: ~£2000 over 6 or 7 visits, 3 operations, lots of medication.
Ovarian tumour: ~£2000 - 24 hours intensive care to stabilise, CT scan, surgery and 5 nights stay with supportive nursing (pretty extreme tumour, never heard of a tumour so huge in a guinea pig to be fair - it was 400g and she weighed 900g when it was removed!)
Lipomas within salivary glands: ~£500 - CT scan, surgery to remove (then unidentified) masses.
Middle/inner ear infection: ~£500 so far after an initial scan, ear flush, appropriate testing (bloods, culture on ear goo) and medication. Condition currently ongoing (came home from the vets yesterday )

Other pigs have had ~£800 for a cervical prolapse, another had ~£500 treatment for a post neuter abscess that required surgical removal.

Thank God for pet insurance is all I can say!

 

[Bekki]

Well at the end of the day it's not the price that's important but the quality of care. I'm just lucky that mine ticks both boxes for price & quality. The funny this is, my previous vet was charging about £125 for the same op that Mousey had yesterday & did 2 unsuccessful ops before I was recommended to current vet by Gwen at Bunny Burrows who would rather make the 50 mile round trip that go to many other vets within 10 miles of where she's based. So paying twice as much doesn't mean they're twice as good! Also with all the vets I've used in this area, I haven't had to pay for post op visits eg check-ups & stitch removal. Minky last year after her abscess removal had 4 visits without any fees to pay apart from meds.

Wasnt implying cost = better care was just curious if that was Jacqui Pattersons, I had recommended them to you on the word of a friend prior to Bunny Burrows suggesting them they have a good rep its just mad that two vets in essentially the same economic area charge so wildly different prices :-) for anything major id be over there but cant manage that around work for something minor. My normal vet is an exotic vet but her specialism is rats but she is good with the pigs thankfully

 

[MushiiPeas]

Well at the end of the day it's not the price that's important but the quality of care. I'm just lucky that mine ticks both boxes for price & quality. The funny this is, my previous vet was charging about £125 for the same op that Mousey had yesterday & did 2 unsuccessful ops before I was recommended to current vet by Gwen at Bunny Burrows who would rather make the 50 mile round trip that go to many other vets within 10 miles of where she's based. So paying twice as much doesn't mean they're twice as good! Also with all the vets I've used in this area, I haven't had to pay for post op visits eg check-ups & stitch removal. Minky last year after her abscess removal had 4 visits without any fees to pay apart from meds.

This is a good thing to point out, i spoke to different vets all with different prices, but it wasn't the price i was worried about for my boys neutering, one of the vets couldn't answer most of my questions and was really rough with ginger in the consultation, however the vet I've chose to go to was generally concerned for gingers welfare and was very competent and has done many operations on guinea pigs before!

I don't mind paying more or less i just want the vet to be good and care for the animals

 

[Claire W]

I also agree that it isn't the price that's important but the quality of care.

The only thing that saddens me is when vets take advantage out of vunurable owners to make money. There was a thread on here just the other day where the OP was charged for two consultations, a ridiculous amount of money for baytril and was given very poor advise. She went along to another vet who diagnosed something much more serious leaving the OP very upset.

I would always pay for what ever treatment any of my animals need and travel if needed but I no of some vets who charge a consultation every time that animals goes to the vets for the same condition. I just feel lucky that my vets charge for the initial surgery and then follow up care to do with that same condition isn't charged extra for.

I have spent close to £800 on vets fees alone last year and although I sadly lost three guinea pigs due to their conditions and had to have Eliza's eye removed, I do not regret spending a penny of that money

 

[Connie]

You guys are really lucky my consultations are about £50 a pop because unless you book more than a day in advance its considered and emergency. Ive paid close to £150 for a consultation an Xray with whiff of gas and some medication.

 

[Amanda1801]

I also agree that it isn't the price that's important but the quality of care.

The only thing that saddens me is when vets take advantage out of vunurable owners to make money. There was a thread on here just the other day where the OP was charged for two consultations, a ridiculous amount of money for baytril and was given very poor advise. She went along to another vet who diagnosed something much more serious leaving the OP very upset.

I would always pay for what ever treatment any of my animals need and travel if needed but I no of some vets who charge a consultation every time that animals goes to the vets for the same condition. I just feel lucky that my vets charge for the initial surgery and then follow up care to do with that same condition isn't charged extra for.

I have spent close to £800 on vets fees alone last year and although I sadly lost three guinea pigs due to their conditions and had to have Eliza's eye removed, I do not regret spending a penny of that money

The policy at most surgeries is you pay an initial consultation fee, two follow up consultation fees (reduced from the initial fee) and then ongoing ones are FOC. Some vets feel they're unable to charge a full consultation, or for every consultation fee for a small furry, if they've not been able to fully examine it for example (particularly the smaller rodents). It's not the vets that decide the charging, its the powers that be in management. I know vets that have had verbal and written warnings for knowingly undercharging by not charging consultation fees etc. particularly when they work in "less well off" areas, and know that their clients are short of cash.

 

[Stewybus]

Wasnt implying cost = better care was just curious if that was Jacqui Pattersons, I had recommended them to you on the word of a friend prior to Bunny Burrows suggesting them they have a good rep its just mad that two vets in essentially the same economic area charge so wildly different prices :-) for anything major id be over there but cant manage that around work for something minor. My normal vet is an exotic vet but her specialism is rats but she is good with the pigs thankfully

Hi Beks,

If you ever need to get a piggy to Jacqui Patterson's for treatment I could arrange to meet you en route to work & take the piggy in for you. They're open till 6.30pm weekdays so you'd be able to collect yourself on way home. They're also open 9 to 5 on Saturday.

 

[MushiiPeas]

I also agree that it isn't the price that's important but the quality of care.

The only thing that saddens me is when vets take advantage out of vunurable owners to make money. There was a thread on here just the other day where the OP was charged for two consultations, a ridiculous amount of money for baytril and was given very poor advise. She went along to another vet who diagnosed something much more serious leaving the OP very upset.

I would always pay for what ever treatment any of my animals need and travel if needed but I no of some vets who charge a consultation every time that animals goes to the vets for the same condition. I just feel lucky that my vets charge for the initial surgery and then follow up care to do with that same condition isn't charged extra for.

I have spent close to £800 on vets fees alone last year and although I sadly lost three guinea pigs due to their conditions and had to have Eliza's eye removed, I do not regret spending a penny of that money

That's awful they shouldn't take advantage of people, i take my mum with and she's one of those people who stands her ground, I'd prolly just end up agreeing to whatever charge they say whereas my mum would want a break down of the cost and all sorts to make sure the vet is being reasonable!

i remember when i was little and my guinea pig got a tumor we spent so much money in two or three visits as they charged for check ups and consultations, anything they could add to the price they did and they didn't give her the best care, we never used them again!

 

[TAN]

Well I paid nothing for 3 years then from April to august 6 of my pigs needed medical / diagnostic treatment with a specialist vet referrals vet , leading to 4 operations (2 spays & 2 lump removals ) - various x-rays and ultrasounds - a course of 6 chiropractor treatments for mr. crumbling spine pig which came to just over £2000 ! - so am glad they were all insured - as only had to pay £200 in excess - which is far better than the £2000 I didn't have.

 

[Solarpowered]

Bladder sludge in my (no longer here..) 5&1/2 year old piggy Neeps- X-ray, GA to flush bladder & post op medication £240.
This is a very good thread for newbies.....
If you think it may cost 'amount', it's going to cost 'TRIPLE amount!'

 

[Bekki]

Hi Beks,

If you ever need to get a piggy to Jacqui Patterson's for treatment I could arrange to meet you en route to work & take the piggy in for you. They're open till 6.30pm weekdays so you'd be able to collect yourself on way home. They're also open 9 to 5 on Saturday.

Only just saw this :-) thanks for the lovely offer Stewy :-) I shall bear that in mind :-)

 

[madguinealady]

my vet charges 20 for first consultation then less for follow up consultations. For fizz (who i sadly lost) was 40 for consultation, baytril and recovery food. Had to take her in to be pts and all she charged was the price of the drugs to do it. She also gave her a wiff of gas to make her drowsy before giving her the injection. When i first rang her hadnt been before and toldhe was skint for two days and she let me take her in and paid when i took her back a few days later

 

[cally13]

hello ive been very lucky with my piggies the last few years, I know a wonderful couple called Chris and Titch who live in Hastings they are simply fantastic, kind , caring ppl who have taught me so much about piggies and their needs, any problems I have had I see them straight away. Unfortunately they have now moved and visiting family not sure they can carry on atm, I took my little Barley to the vets and had to pts as he had a tumour of the bladder and was in so much pain I now have just got my 4 piggies insured with Exoticpet direct for £36 a month as I had to pay £250 for Barley's treatment .... it is so hard financially as Vets charge such high prices!

 

[Stewybus]

I'm probably lucky having a good vet that doesn't charge the earth. Consultation fee of just £13.50 & an op such as abscess removal for about £65. Even odd things such as Rhubarb's extra toe removal was included in her consultation fee so again was just £13.50 & she went back to have the stitch taken out 2 weeks later for free when I took her in with Minky for one of her check-ups. The other thing I like about my vet is that they have separate waiting rooms for cats/small animals & dogs. At my old vets they were all in the same room & there was often lots of loud barking which can frighten your piggies.

 

[Rubys cafe]

In a newie to all this, do most vets see all animals?
I'm in Bedford , is there a good vet in this area for Guinea Pigs?

 

[helen105281]

If you look on the vet locator there may be a recommended vet near you. If not, are you able to get to Northampton? Simon Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit clinic is the best piggy vet in the country. Most vets should see a guinea pig though unless they specialise in large animals only but some vets have more knowledge on guinea pigs than others.

 

[Briony_S]

For straight forward stuff most vets will do but if you have a mistery illness a guinea asvvy vet is best. Ie all vets can deal with a sinple hay poke as all it requires is dye in eye to check for scratches and antibiotic drops usually. If you have a pig loosing weight with no other symptoms a specialist vet is a must wherever possible as they see more pigs therefore are better at diagnosis!

 

[Rubys cafe]

If you look on the vet locator there may be a recommended vet near you. If not, are you able to get to Northampton? Simon Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit clinic is the best piggy vet in the country. Most vets should see a guinea pig though unless they specialise in large animals only but some vets have more knowledge on guinea pigs than others.

Thanks for this , I can get to Northampton but ideally a vet closer. Will check the vet locator there is one in Sandy I saw .

 

[Rubys cafe]

For straight forward stuff most vets will do but if you have a mistery illness a guinea asvvy vet is best. Ie all vets can deal with a sinple hay poke as all it requires is dye in eye to check for scratches and antibiotic drops usually. If you have a pig loosing weight with no other symptoms a specialist vet is a must wherever possible as they see more pigs therefore are better at diagnosis!

Thank you, all new to me so any help/ advise is great.
Just wondered if anyone in my area used a good vet for piggies .

 

[Briony_S]

Sorry cant help with that I'm afraid my guinea expert vet is around 40 mins from me. Over the years ive tried lots of local vets for minor things and found a "good" normal vet for when work stops me from getting to my preferred one and it is something fairly straightforward. I just take what he says with a pinch of salt (ie things like has your guinea pig been nesting (this when when I had a possible pregnancy) I just replied saying no because they don't actually nest lol.