Saving $500 by changing vet!

[disneydreamersx4]

Our first ever dog who is 16 months now (got him at 6mos.) has heartworm now Our vet was charging $1,300 for treatment. Saw my neighbor who has a dog and told me our vet is way expensive when she used to go there, now she goes somewhere else and I called them and they are charging me $800! Plus they were much more informative about the whole process of treatment. Our dog probably had the heartworm when we rescued him and the test the rescue group gave him was too early to tell.

I just need to get his records, hopefully the old vet will give them to me or fax them to the new vet for free??

 

[adkkev]

Your "old" vet will send over your pet's records when you ask him/her to. Shouldn't be a problem.
I would also talk with your "old" vet about your reason(s) for switching. Sounds like it wasn't only the cost, but also the communication. That's just as important.

My wife is a Vet Tech at a Veterinary Hospital, and it's pretty expensive in comparison with other vets in our area. And she is the first to point that out. However there are some things that are provided that are unavailable at the other vets (certain pieces of equipment, etc.), and that does add to the cost. But she (and her co-workers) understand that cost is always a factor for people and would never question anyone's decision to change vets because of the cost. (And I think that my wife is one of the best Vet Techs on the planet, but then I'm biased)

 

[SoonerSarah]

We had some similar issues with a vet. The original reason we went to her was because she also cared for exotic animals such as hedgehogs and chinchilla's. Anyway, one of our dogs had some ear issue and she completely freaked us out, surgery, all of this really, really expensive stuff, and we scheduled it. THe longer I thought about it, the less it sounded right and I took him to another vet. They gave me an ear solution that was less than $50. The first vets costs were going to be over $800. Not even counting that money that we saved, this other vet had puppy vac. packages, did boarding and had a much friendlier staff and much more helpful and knowledgeable. Their other general costs were cheaper as well. We moved away 2.5 years ago and I still really, really miss them.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

It's terrible how some run up our pet's care with expensive treatments when like you described a simple remedy could be found

PP thank you for letting me know that our vet will give my the records. I will call them to let them know we need to change vets because of cost.

 

[marie1203]

Heartworm usually doesn't show up until they are 8 months. Now vets are not something I go with the cheaper one before you take your pet there I will read reviews. I have learn you don't know how good a vet is until you have serious problem and unfortunately in some cases is too late. We have 5 dogs rescue a few more and place them in new homes. we drive 40 min to our vet because he is just great he has been practicing for over 30 years. We have gone thru heartworm treatment twice with our rescue and once was a very high risk case as he was older and had some other health problems. Things you might want to consider asking is if things go bad will they refer you to another vet or do they have all the equipment there. I don't like when they refer me because I rather have one vet that knows all the medical history. Good luck I hope your puppy gets better soon.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I will ask if they refer me if things go bad, thank you for the heads up.
Sorry you had to go through heartworm for your poor furbaby.
I remember something else the "new" vet said, that if the treatment doesn't work like if we get a positive test after treatment then as long as we buy the Heartguard from the vet's office, the second treatment would be at no cost to us.

 

[worm761]

I am so sorry your dog has heart worm. One of our dogs got it and it was devastating. The treatment almost killed him. We spent a small fortune to save him. He is a great dog though.

I suggest you go with a vet you are comfortable with. Being open and honest with them is very important.

 

[Belle0101]

I will ask if they refer me if things go bad, thank you for the heads up.
Sorry you had to go through heartworm for your poor furbaby.
I remember something else the "new" vet said, that if the treatment doesn't work like if we get a positive test after treatment then as long as we buy the Heartguard from the vet's office, the second treatment would be at no cost to us.

(Bolding is mine) As I understand it from our vet, the cost is covered / picked up by the heartworm preventative company.

Best of luck to your puppy!!!

 

[chyam]

Having a "herd" of animals I always ask friends and I also call around to find the better prices...I have also found that finding an "older" more established vet alot of times = a little better price, perhaps maybe cause they are no longer paying off college loans or the start up a practice?
A new cat hospital opened near me and I thought it would be great being so close and strictly cats...when I called they wanted $198.00 to spay my kitten, then add the shots....needless to say I found a place 30 minutes away that spayed her, microchipped her, kitten shots and flea treatment...ALL for under $100.00! They also do feral cat spay/neuter so they have a fund for that ...to which I added 20.00 and still came out WAY ahead.
Good luck with the new vet and for your dog.

 

[Dax]

Having a "herd" of animals I always ask friends and I also call around to find the better prices...I have also found that finding an "older" more established vet alot of times = a little better price, perhaps maybe cause they are no longer paying off college loans or the start up a practice?
A new cat hospital opened near me and I thought it would be great being so close and strictly cats...when I called they wanted $198.00 to spay my kitten, then add the shots....needless to say I found a place 30 minutes away that spayed her, microchipped her, kitten shots and flea treatment...ALL for under $100.00! They also do feral cat spay/neuter so they have a fund for that ...to which I added 20.00 and still came out WAY ahead.
Good luck with the new vet and for your dog.

I have a vet that is the same way...they are considered a low cost vet, and the prices are very reasonable. I had my newest kitten neutered, first shots, and rabies all for $71. Not to bad. Normal office visits to them are like $17..cant beat that