Expensive vet visit - as always :D

[{97702}]

Well I took the gang to the vets tonight - oh dear, why do I save it up and do it all in one go!

(1) 3 x lepto vaccinations for the oldies, 1 x full vaccination for Mille the mad lurcher as she is only approx 2 years old

(2) One blood test for Hoover, one very mildly raised liver enzyme but the other one is normal and so is his kidney function - so full steam ahead with daily Metacam (add purchase of large bottle of Metacam to vets bill), obviously worth every penny if it makes him more comfortable

(2) Flick decided to wrench her dew claw AGAIN when she got into the consulting room - one screaming greyhound, a quick discussion about removal/tidy up but I went for a tidy up as I didn't want to leave her there overnight for the general anaesthetic tomorrow! So "just" a sedation and tidy up of the dew claw, plus one zonked out dog this evening and some antibiotics

(4) and finally wormer for all of them, which is probably well over due.

I ran away without even asking what the bill was, let alone paying any of it

The worst news was that the idiot vet who owns the practice has sold it to a major chain - without telling any of his staff until the day after the sale! So my lovely vet, who was absolutely fantastic with Islay and is fabulous with all my dogs, has resigned and will be going to New Zealand for 6 months or so. I am ridiculously sad about that - Hoover and Flick are 11 1/2 now and Amy is 10, and I was relying on my lovely vet to be there for them in their later years? I am really hoping that I can keep in touch with him without being a weirdo stalker, so I can register with him immediately when he comes back to the UK!

Dogs, who would have 'em I love my lot so much

 

[rara007]

I ran away without even asking what the bill was, let alone paying any of it

sold it to a major chain -

Make the most of that- won't be like that for much longer!

 

[{97702}]

Make the most of that- won't be like that for much longer!

Oh yes exactly so - I have helpfully posted over a local FB page that this is what the practice has done without notifying their clients....... reaction is not favourable from clients who have found out as I did.....as it is, of COURSE I will pay..... eventually....

 

[SusieT]

Not sure why you left without paying - at both my dog and horse vets you pay as you leave cos Tesco don't let you walk out without paying for items you have bought!

 

[{97702}]

They do in my neck of the woods, depending on what family you belong to

 

[Aru]

Its not unusual for some vets to run accounts so no need to jump on the OP. Stuff like means sometimes ignorance is bliss if your paying it off over time anyway!

I do suspect with the chain thats all about to change though.Very few small animal practices do accounts these days!
Glad all your crew are up to date levrier and doing well!

 

[{97702}]

Thanks Aru I suppose it is what you get used to, I’ve always run an account with my vets - last night the receptionists had packed up and gone home (sensibly!) by the time I picked Flick up so I couldn’t pay

 

[MurphysMinder]

Not sure why you left without paying - at both my dog and horse vets you pay as you leave cos Tesco don't let you walk out without paying for items you have bought!

I very rarely pay at the time at my vets. I've been with them nearly 30 years and they know they will get paid, at some point !

Such a shame a chain has taken over yours Lev, i hope that never happens to our vets as so many practices become all about the money when this happens, and often the caring vets then move on.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Same with every vet I've ever been with too.
I usually phone later and pay by card.
Luckily nothing upsetting or traumatic has happened to my much loved pets just before I arrive at the til in Tesco.

Haven't you bought shares in bubble wrap yet Lev lol.

 

[blackcob]

Corporate will put an end to that, and in some areas you'll struggle to find anything but corporate now. Even the staff get harassed for payment.

 

[{97702}]

Lol BC! I think my account status will have been revoked now as I posted on a local FB page saying the practice had been sold & asking for recommendations for other vets - it all kicked off as people mis-read my original post....

 

[ihatework]

PS check what you get charged for metacam - mine charge about £65 for a big bottle when you can get it online around £20, even with a prescription charge it’s half the price!

 

[Britestar]

The worst news was that the idiot vet who owns the practice has sold it to a major chain - without telling any of his staff until the day after the sale!

Its a condition of the sale that no one is told, not even the staff. Sadly the corporates are making life vey difficult for independent Vets, and approach very aggressively to buy.

The Vets I work for were bought over at the end of last year, they have lost one Vet so far, and many of the staff are very unhappy.

 

[{97702}]

PS check what you get charged for metacam - mine charge about £65 for a big bottle when you can get it online around £20, even with a prescription charge it’s half the price!

Thanks for the tip IHW

 

[{97702}]

Its a condition of the sale that no one is told, not even the staff. Sadly the corporates are making life vey difficult for independent Vets, and approach very aggressively to buy.

The Vets I work for were bought over at the end of last year, they have lost one Vet so far, and many of the staff are very unhappy.

Wow that’s awful!!!

 

[PucciNPoni]

depends on the "corporation" really . They are all different. The vets I work for did this and generally speaking it is mostly business as usual. We never did many "accounts" but we have the odd ones that were pre-arranged. That has not changed. The pricing structure hasn't changed. The personnel has not changed any more than it did pre-buy over days. From where I am sitting it's probably a bit better since we joined a corporation. Same management, same feeling apart from a few IT things (which is good and bad if I'm honest). From an employee point of view it may be somewhat better.

But apart from that, expensive vet bill...is there any other kind really :/

 

[Moobli]

Not sure why you left without paying - at both my dog and horse vets you pay as you leave cos Tesco don't let you walk out without paying for items you have bought!

We have both a farm and pet account with our vets and while I prefer to pay immediately, my OH always waits to get the bill through the post before he pays. Quite common in the country.