How much is your vet's consultation fee?

All the vets around here (barr one which is part of a big chain) charge about £35-£40. I chose my vet because of his experience and way with small animals. He recently saw my dog about a paw injury. He explained how he would have treated it in the past with pressure bandaging but through his experience that can bring more trouble (so no repeat visit costs or dressings costs) I then reeled off a list of creams lotions and potions that others had suggested. He said bathe it in salt water to keep it clean and wear a baby sock in the house and a plastic bag outside (so no expensive cream costs and I was an easy target). He did sell me a week of anti biotics but all in I think his experience saved me money. Probably an overly simplistic example but hopefully one that makes sense...
 
my vet charges £28.50

i took my mutt there the other week with an unidentified sore on her back.
We were in there 10 minutes. vet didnt know what it was. shaved the area gave me a weeks worth of antibiotics, a small tube of cream and 200mls of hibiscrub. i went up to reception to pay and was told £86.

I nearly fainted and asked her to break it down for me. Apparently the week's worth of antib's were £41 :eek: - that was 7 tablets!

i said im sorry i cant afford that. Receptionist went off to speak to the vet and came back with some different ones they charged me £11 for.

was slightly miffed they wanted to charge me £41 in the first place if medication a quarter of the price was just as good to be totally honest.
 
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lula said:
my vet charges £28.50

i took my mutt there the other week with an unidentified sore on her back.
We were in there 10 minutes. vet didnt know what it was. shaved the area gave me a weeks worth of antibiotics, a small tube of cream and 200mls of hibiscrub. i went up to reception to pay and was told £86.

I nearly fainted and asked her to break it down for me. Apparently the week's worth of antib's were £41 :eek: - that was 7 tablets!

i said im sorry i cant afford that. Receptionist went off to speak to the vet and came back with some different ones they charged me £11 for.

was slightly miffed they wanted to charge me £41 in the first place if medication a quarter of the price was just as good to be totally honest.
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I will stick my neck out here and guess that chances are the first medication was the most quickest,most effective course of treatment for a number of different bugs with the least resistance issue that the vet was worried about given the wound they saw on your dog. Hence the price.
A cheaper drug may fix the issue in some cases not all as the spectrum may not be as broad in what bugs it can hit/how quickly it works/or it may have known resistance issues..making it less effective as a treatment. So it would not the the first choice fo treatment options but due to price concerns could be considered as a plan B in the hopes it would be effective in this case.

If they had chosen a cheaper Antibiotic initially and it not not fix the issue and you had to return again would you have been happy? or would you wonder why you were not offered the most effective treatment straight off?
Just out of curiosity as I would imagine that people would be more annoyed at having to return with a still ill dog and change to a new drug more than they do about the price of the most effective first treatment.....

Vets are expected to offer the most effective treatments regardless of cost etc. Its up to the owner to chose which ones they are willing to pay for....and then the vet to alter treatments based on owners finances. Next time just tell them you are on a budget and they will likely try to fix the problem as cheaply as they can....people are struggling at the moment and its common for vets to adjust treatments. But it has to be taken into account that the budget treatment will not be effective in all cases and repeat visits may be needed and you can end up on the first treatment offered....just further down the line.

I hope your dogs back is cleared up and shes doing well :)
 
Last time we went it was for an anal gland squeeze, cost £16. OK we were in there for mere seconds, but for that particular job I'd happily pay double that, even more if I could not be in the room at the same time:D The smell!:eek:
 
Spudlet said:
Last time we went it was for an anal gland squeeze, cost £16. OK we were in there for mere seconds, but for that particular job I'd happily pay double that, even more if I could not be in the room at the same time:D The smell!:eek:
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I can teach you the technique! I was given a practical lesson. :eek: I now have endless supplies of gloves :D
 
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