Anyone think they get rooked by their vet?

[Sweety_tweety]

Just curious if anyone thinks they get rooked by their vet?

I have been pleased with my vet for quite a few years, but I have noticed new people and am wondering if ownership/management has changed.

I took my 14 year old Shih Tzu (Toby) to the vet for his yearly check-up/shots. He does have a few health problems--cataracts, heart murmur and tartar on his teeth. He is currently on heart medication.

The bill today for shots and exam was $135.

The vet suggested a geriatric blood work-up for $175; dental cleaning $300-500; and canine flu vaccine $??? I chose not to do any of these at this time.

The vet asked how he gets around, I told her "Toby runs around like a pup." At the end of the conversation, she recommend that I put him on glucosomine since it would help his joints feel better. I told her "No, he gets around fine." My DH tried glucosomine and it did not help him at all.

I expect to be laid off from my job in the next few months, so I am really trying to watch what I spend. I feel guilty about not doing all they recommend, but sometimes I think they people on pet owners heartstrings.

 

[punkin]

My vet just suggested doing thyroid testing on my dog. His levels were a tiny bit elevated but he seems fine. I passed. I did get his teeth cleaned because he needed it.

I think you have the right to say no to any procedure you don't want, but it's the vets obligation to tell you what is available that you might want.

Sorry about the impending lay-off.

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

I'm a dog lover and spend mucho $$$ at the vet ....

It doesn't seem like your vet is overcharging you for what you had done today, I would personally skip the teeth cleaning at your pet's age, glucosamine is relatively inexpensive to buy over the counter...I buy it online and give to my one dog who is older. She also is on heart medication...I needed to get her blood work done prior to her being put on it...if your dog is already prescribed her meds I would also skip that too....
You can drive yourself to the poor house with everything you can get done...the one thing I did when they were both pups was I started VIP pet insurance...it has paid me back pretty well for both of them...

 

[gracie1]

I'm a dog lover and spend mucho $$$ at the vet ....

It doesn't seem like your vet is overcharging you for what you had done today, I would personally skip the teeth cleaning at your pet's age, glucosamine is relatively inexpensive to buy over the counter...I buy it online and give to my one dog who is older. She also is on heart medication...I needed to get her blood work done prior to her being put on it...if your dog is already prescribed her meds I would also skip that too....
You can drive yourself to the poor house with everything you can get done...the one thing I did when they were both pups was I started VIP pet insurance...it has paid me back pretty well for both of them...

I have been thinking about the pet insurance but never did sign up for it. Can you give me any input? I jump for joy when I get out of the vet for less than $400!!! I have 2 dogs and they are my children. My chihuahua already had a leg surgery for luxating patella, and I swear all they need is a cold and I have them there! lol. One has allergies, one has gastrointeritis, and so on, LOL! But vets can definately get expensive, that is for sure.
Good luck! My mom and dad have a 14 year old cocker spaniel and alot of the things they suffest doing they refuse. At that age I think their better off to just let them be if their not in pain, etc.

 

[DawnM]

I have stopped taking my dogs to the Vet. I get their shots via the county offering at $10 per shot, so they are up to date and I order their heartworm and such online.

Our Vet wants $200 PER DOG for annual check ups and I have said I just can't do that anymore.

Dawn

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I have stopped taking my dogs to the Vet. I get their shots via the county offering at $10 per shot, so they are up to date and I order their heartworm and such online.

Our Vet wants $200 PER DOG for annual check ups and I have said I just can't do that anymore.

Dawn

I thought you needed to have a prescription to order heartworm meds?

 

[lovepurple]

My dog is also fourteen and the vet is always pushing for the teeth cleaning that costs hundreds of dollars. I refuse every time. I do give him whatever meds they have for his joints but he usually gets around good except when it is cold. I think the vets do try to upsell but I don't have a problem saying no.

 

[Scurvy]

The charges don't seem unreasonable to me, although I know some vets do tend to encourage the teeth cleaning even when it isn't really needed, so I would have passed on that also. We had intended to pass on the canine flu vaccine but most places are requiring it for boarding now. The canine flu is highly contagious and can be deadly, so I can understand why they recommend it.

I do think the geriatric blood panel is important for an elderly dog. Your vet charges a little more than ours does - it's around $150 here, but that varies and some area vets do charge as much as yours (or even more, in some cases). Things like kidney problems are very easy to treat with diet changes or medication if you catch them early enough and that blood panel is one of the best ways to catch those problems before they hit the point of being life threatening. Those blood tests are more expensive (and extensive) than the ones for younger dogs, but well worth it in my opinion.

 

[starann]

I just took my 8yo Greyhound to the vet last week, $200 later (for a well check, and a nail clipping).

My vet offered the flu shot and we opted to get it. He had been to a confrence earlier in the month (for CEUs) about the 'dog flu' Apparently it had morphed from a horse virus and now it can kill dogs, and greyhounds have a MUCH higher fatality rate (he sees a LOT of greyhounds as word of mouth among greyhound owners spread, he LOVES the breed and plans on getting one or two when get moves into a house rather than a condo).

I also wondered if it was some line of BS, but for $20 I figured why not. Two days later on the news there was a story about the dog flu, I didn't catch it, but I will go to the news website and see what they had to say about it.

Our other dog has a growth and they quoted us $1000 to remove it!!!! Sometimes I wonder!

 

[starann]

Found a link

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/video?id=7272993

It's more worisome for dogs who are exposed to other dogs (petstores, walking out of the home, dog parks, doggy daycares, training classes and kennels).

 

[momejay]

I think pet prices are getting crazy.
Our problem is...Our vet gave our dog her shots in October 2008. I believe she was given a 3 year rabies shot at the time. According to the vet it is due to expire in October 2010 & she will be due for a booster at that point. We had her in the office in Sept. for a check-up.
Well, we went to buy her license & they won't give it to us until she has her shots updated. The vet won't give it until Fall. The town says everyone needs to have their dog's shots given in Jan or Feb & she can't be licensed until she has an updated shot.
What the heck do we do? The dog isn't due until Oct & the vet won't give the shot until them. The township sends us a ticket for having an unlicensed dog.
I make an appointment for the vet to get it all fixed. The dog has a check-up. She is completely healthy. Cost was $139 plus heartworm medicine that I haven't bought online yet. They want a stool sample too. I am sorry I am not digging around in the snow & returning to the vet with it to have it examined so I can pay another $50 or so. The vet also recomended teeth cleaning for our dog. I bought her a toothbrush & toothpaste from the vet. I told the kids it was their job.
We had several dogs & I don't ever remember my parents asking me to brush their teeth.

 

[quentina]

I go to the Petco shot clinics for all vacinnations.....$50-75 for everything. I use the Vet for illess or injury.

For the price I pay to walk into the vet, I get all the shots....seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[lisaross]

ihave to check out the Petco near me as i heard they are cheap for the shots - i actually stopped taking my dog to the vet because of the prices..

I go to the Petco shot clinics for all vacinnations.....$50-75 for everything. I use the Vet for illess or injury.

For the price I pay to walk into the vet, I get all the shots....seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

I hear you completely! I have four special needs kitties, and that stacks up on the bills a lot

 

[semo233]

Just paid $1400 for a CAT scan and looking at few options for our 4 yo lab right now who is suffering from a rare liver condition. And this is after $1600 in blood tests, ultra sounds, etc. Plus several prescriptions, including prescription food. I feel your pain, but would gladly pay for the $4,000 surgery that we thought she needed. Now, we are left with praying she stays stable. She might qualify for a stem cell transplant. Even if we had purchased insurance, I don't think it would cover a congenital condition like this.
The benefits of getting your dog's teeth cleaned is to avoid problems in the future.....considering your dog's age, I'd probably pass unless they already have gingivitis

 

[Muushka]

My vet is a house call vet, very reasonable.

Yesterday my friend's cat (who had sugar in his urine) called him to get the official diagnosis. Total cost: $157. That included the house call, the examination, the blood chemistry panel (thorough), the shot of antibiotic (he had something else going on), the vial of insulin and the antibiotic pills. I gave her my syringes so that was not included in the price.

 

[DMRick]

I have stopped taking my dogs to the Vet. I get their shots via the county offering at $10 per shot, so they are up to date

Your town gives all their vaccs, or just the rabies? Around here, you can only get the rabies through the county, but some of the vets have specials, if you want just the DHLp's (which includes distemper, but not rabies).

My dog is also fourteen and the vet is always pushing for the teeth cleaning that costs hundreds of dollars. I refuse every time. I do give him whatever meds they have for his joints but he usually gets around good except when it is cold. I think the vets do try to upsell but I don't have a problem saying no.

Many older dogs do need their teeth cleaned. I used to love doing that. The tarter would just crack off, it was so thick. The thick tarter is especially hard on the older dogs, as they tend to eat less, because their teeth hurt. They can't tell us they are bothered thou, and since most vets have experience in this line, they do suggest the cleaning. If your vet said there was no tarter and still wanted to clean them, I would refuse. I know many people look at it as 'upselling', but in most cases, it's choices you are given, from your vet who is experienced. I love the man that came shortly after his dog died of a stroke, yelling to see the vet. We kept good charts. He refused any testing the vet suggested. Some may have seen this coming.

I think pet prices are getting crazy.
Our problem is...Our vet gave our dog her shots in October 2008. I believe she was given a 3 year rabies shot at the time. According to the vet it is due to expire in October 2010 & she will be due for a booster at that point. We had her in the office in Sept. for a check-up.
Well, we went to buy her license & they won't give it to us until she has her shots updated.

Does your rabies certificate say it's a three year vaccination (you say you believe, what does the certificate say?). Why won't your county accept that? How on earth can you town say that all dogs must be vacc in Jan & Feb? Or do they mean it must be up to date at that time, because that is when they give out the licenses (ours goes door to door at that time, and your dog must be up to date to get your license on it's rabies).

Cost was $139 plus heartworm medicine that I haven't bought online yet. They want a stool sample too. I am sorry I am not digging around in the snow & returning to the vet with it to have it examined so I can pay another $50 or so.

If you had the heartworm test, but did not start the medicine, you really should have the dog retested. If it is now positive and you start the med, your dog could have problems.
Is your vet charging $50 for just the stool sample? Or is that with the med or a check up? That is high..I would have an issue with that. If we had examined the dog, and asked for a stool sample, you wouldn't bring the dog back, just the sample, and the cost would be much lower.

Dogs are living much longer nowadays. I remember when it was very strange to have one live past ten. I'd like to think it's because we feed them better food and take care of them. During parvo's high time, when no one was vaccinating, so many dogs died..now, you seldom hear of it. It's not cheap to own a pet, that's for sure. But, oh the pleasure they give you!

 

[Megkel]

Do NOT go with Banfield in the Petsmart. We did this first for our cat which we thought was a good deal since we only paid $130 for declaw and spay in addition to the $20 a month. After the first year we canceled our service since my cat was indoors and had her shots updated yearly.

Then we got a dog, went on the plan and it was awful! Every time we seem to visit the vet it's always something! The last time we visited we spent $100 on meds for an ear infection and I turned down $100 worth. She was on 4 different meds and then told us she might have to continue a second round. I gave her the first set and didn't go back for the second visit.

When we went home to visit family our dog cut half her pad off while running around with my in laws dog. It was pretty bad slicing pretty deep into the pad. Thank God my dog has such a high pain tolerance, it didn't seem to phase her. We took her to my in law's vet since it was close and Banfield was closed on Sunday. They looked at her paw and said we could either do stitches which would cost over $700 and have a high chance of coming out or keep it wrapped and clean like we had done and see if it heals. We chose the wait and see option, paid for her antibiotic, visit, and wrapping for $130.

Now when we visit home we take her to the vet for her annual shots. We took her two weeks ago since she needed shots and her ear was bad again. Spent $200 for everything.

It seemed every time we took her into Banfield something was wrong and she needed this med. We paid almost every visit as well as $20 per month.

 

[NikiM20]

My vet is wonderful!! With 6 dogs I am always at the vets. I can drop my guys off in the morning, they get their shots, play with the workers dogs there, get their bath and are worn out when I pick them up!! Normally runs me less than $100 and if I bring in 2 I only get charged 1 office fee and the second ones shots are 1/2 price. I love my vet!!

 

[horseshowmom]

My vet is wonderful!! With 6 dogs I am always at the vets. I can drop my guys off in the morning, they get their shots, play with the workers dogs there, get their bath and are worn out when I pick them up!! Normally runs me less than $100 and if I bring in 2 I only get charged 1 office fee and the second ones shots are 1/2 price. I love my vet!!

I have to sing our vet's praises as well. First, I think country vets are more reasonably priced to start with. Secondly, we have 4 dogs and about a dozen cats (all were abandoned, and I had them spayed/neutered). Our vets seem to take this into account when dealing with us.

Our latest dog actually came from them. He's a year old MinPin who had been abandoned in their parking lot. They neutered him and gave him his shots and kept him a month trying to find him a home. After my Chihuahua died, they asked me about taking him. He's come a long way in the last 5 months. When I take him in, they charge me next to nothing (I think he's still under warranty ).