Vet bill query - is this normal/fair?

Llanali said:
Would you want to see a poor vet? I want my vets comfortable thank you! A) poorly treated staff eventually lose the positive attitude they may have had and b) I want to know my vet is earning money- if they weren't I'd wonder why no one was using them!!

Murphy88 is spot on- a bit of descretion but it is still a business. This is why big yards often pay for a sort of retainer type service.
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I didnt say I want to see a poor vet! I except they are highly trained and they are running a business, but that does not mean they can take the mick! I know they have a practice to run and overheads, but I dont think I should have to pay call out AND examination AND for any Treatment etc etc. As some one has said small animal vets dont charge extra for a examination when doing boosters etc so why do equine vets?
 
itsmylife said:
I understand that vets have overheads, and all the training etc etc BUT have you ever seen a poor vet? Im talking about partners here not jnr vets. Also without clients what would you do?

I already use differant vets for differant things, If vets were a little bit more understanding and reasonable with their fees, they would have more respect from clients and keep regular clients more easily.

I was charged £10 for a roll of duct tape to fix a poltice once!
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I think client loyalty works both ways, you might find if you built up a relationship with just one practice they would be more inclined to chuck in the odd roll of duct tape for free.:)
 
Not really, Had been with that practice for over twenty years! One of the reasons I changed to using other practices.
 
My initial query was because I had used the same vet for years who wouldn't charge for something like that (he emmigrated) and this was my first experience with this practice who did. I just wanted to know if it was standard practice - it appears it probably is so that's fine. I have zero problem paying for professional opinion just wanted to get opinions/experience of others.
 
I would be a bit miffed TBH, but was as well with my last vet bill. Vet came out to dug out an abscess, bill is 160 quids.
She asked me if I wanted to be shown how to apply the poultice, so I said yes (even though I know how to do it, I thought it can only be good to see how the vet does). She did a crap job and commented: "it's not very good, you might have to redo it or it will fall off". That's a bit of a waste of my poultice, she had opened my roll of vet wrap and didn't use it and ripped the latex hoof wrap I had given her to put on top of poultice as well. I wasn't fussed about it, it was her first day in the practice so I understand she might not be completely confident. Turns out she has charged me 18 quids to apply the poultice, on top of consultation fees, travel, mileage and duck tape! Not sure if to say anything but I won't be using those vets again.
 
For annual jab recently the vet came in to the stable looking at her needle, jabbed the pony, turned and walked out. Didn't even glance at the pony, I could have had a flipping lama stood there and she wouldn't have noticed😳
I wasn't impressed😟
 
I totally understand them charging, especially because it is likely to take up more time than scheduled. Usually with routine visits I split with 2 others (for jabs etc) so we split the call out cost three ways- fair enough, vet is happy with this.

Was absolutely livid one day though when our very nice vet came out to do our flu+tets- she finished up and was about to go when another livery (a vile, pushy old bat) told the vet she had have a look at her horse trotted up while she was there. Vet duly obliged (I don't think she could have said no) - horse was fine. My issue was that the lady in question hadn't bothered to ask me (as I was the one at the yard for the vaccinations and was the one with the cash!) if I minded her asking.

Very rude indeed.. both to me and to the vet, who probably had more pressing matters to attend to. Vet in question wasn't even from the same practice the woman used.

Here ends that rant!
 
Janette said:
I recently had the vet out to see my girl. I KNEW she had blown a tendon, and I had made the decision to PTS. (The tendon was the latest in a long catalogue of serious injuries, including cancer, and two lots of surgery....)
The vet said ' let me scan her, just to confirm....' But when the tendon is bowed, the leg is hot, and the mare can't weight bear on it to have the opposite foot picked out, and is very lame in walk,, (trot was literally impossible - she just couldn't!)......
I was very clear - do not scan the leg! I've made my decision.

The vet turned up to have a look and leave a shed load of Bute so that Stars last few days were not in pain and she scanned the leg. Without my permission. And then charged me £86 for the privilege! Fair enough, if she scanned it to satisfy her professional curiosity, but to charge me when no permission had been given. It wouldn't have helped Star in anyway, shape of form!

I have had a conversation with the practice and the item is coming off the bill.
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We've had similar happen and refused to pay the bill too.
 
to be honest if you ask the vet to look at an animal ( a basic check should be included with the vaccine) you have to expect to pay for it. they are not free services
 
Every time i call my vet ut whether to do jabs, jabs and examination, just examination, it is standard call out fee plus mileage, so 2 different charge, then the est. so i make the most of the pcall out fee and anything that needs checking gets checked. Get my meaning.
 
itsmylife said:
but I dont think I should have to pay call out AND examination AND for any Treatment etc etc. As some one has said small animal vets dont charge extra for a examination when doing boosters etc so why do equine vets?
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Because equine vets come out to you! Small animal vets have the luxury of staying in their examination rooms with people bringing in their animals on a conveyor belt.

If a vet comes to you, they need to to cover their travel costs - i.e. the time they are driving to and from where they are not earning.

Take your horse to the practice then you won't have to pay their call out :) (just your own petrol; running costs; time etc.)
 
Yes im aware of all that thanks, but when you take your dog to the vet for its booster the vet should give it a health check first to make sure its ok to have it, this is included in price. With horses its another charge, they are already there to do the jabs, and you are already paying a call out so why charge twice?
 
i would like it if the vet would give the horse an annual 'mot' when doing vac's..... i think this is only fair (even heart/breathing and eyes!)

however give the vet a call/go see the vet at the practice....... its free!

we have argured over costs before with our vets... £70 to look at a lump and say 'oh its fine' is a little unfair.... got it reduced!
 
I think a free check up of heart, lungs eyes when vacs are due would be great but no its another charge! I know you can take your horse to the vet but not everyone has the transport or has too many horses etc.
 
itsmylife said:
I think a free check up of heart, lungs eyes when vacs are due would be great but no its another charge! I know you can take your horse to the vet but not everyone has the transport or has too many horses etc.
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I, and most vets I know, check heart/lungs before doing a vaccine, I am happy to do this and would never dream of charging extra, and I always ask if the client has any worries they would like to discuss while I am there. Probably the only thing I would charge an extra exam for is looking at a lameness, and TBH I am more likely to charge the 'oh, while you're here' ones than the ones that will mention when booking the visit that they have a few concerns. If I know I have a few things to look at I can schedule my day accordingly, but when I am already running late on calls, there is nothing more frustrating than arriving at a yard to find a laundry list of little things that need checking.
 
This is something we were debating at our practice the other day, people moan about the mark up on drugs and get drugs online but then also moan if we charge for our time. What would people prefer all inclusive prices usually including a large mark up to cover background costs or everything charged individually?

For example for a simple vaccination and healthcheck costs to the practices include: tax, receptionists time preparing and posting reminder, postage for reminder, building and computer system to do this from, receptionist booking visit in and planning vets calls for the day, selection of the best vaccine, purchase and correct storage/transportation of vaccine, vets time driving to and from call, vets time at call, maintenance on vets vehicle, needle and syringe, vets equipment in car, paying a vet/nurse to be on call overnight in case your horse should become ill (out of hours fees are not enough to cover this), paying a vet to sit on the phone answering general enquiries, researching cases and reporting lab results (time generally not charged for)... should your bill list these costs or simply state "£36 for horse vaccination" obviously the vaccine does not cost the vet £36 so why are they charging you that much for it?

Your solicitor is likely to charge for all of the above, your dentist wont but will charge a lot more per hour then your vet, your mechanic charge parts and time, why should your vet be any different?
 
I will often shove something in the box & trundle over to my vets (about £18 of diesel round trip) if its a routine thing. This will only cost me the examination of about £30 instead of the £50+ callout, plus examination, plus VAT....
I have been with them for over 30 odd yrs & they have done me proud a number of times.

Also will on occasions use a very local vet practice, they have far cheaper callout (as are closer) but their mark-up on even flu-tet jabs is ridiculous.
When I shared a visit with my neighbour, I thought it would be cheaper than taking the box out for a drive to usual vets, but they charged 24.6 % more for exactly the same jab as the big practice I usually go to :eek: :mad: I did query this with them on getting invoice but was told 'thats the cost'.

I have never thought to ask the cost of injections etc if using another practice - so would strongly advise people to do this as what may be 'cheap' for callout, may be snaffled back up in other costs.....
 
my vet ran her hands down my horses legs, watch her trot up and i was charged £55 for the "privilege"... (peace of mind it was worth it) but still!....... expensive!!!


fair.......no.

normal....yes.
sadly.
 
itsmylife said:
I didnt say I want to see a poor vet! I except they are highly trained and they are running a business, but that does not mean they can take the mick! I know they have a practice to run and overheads, but I dont think I should have to pay call out AND examination AND for any Treatment etc etc. As some one has said small animal vets dont charge extra for a examination when doing boosters etc so why do equine vets?
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It's a business they are not there to do you a favour. No other business does anything for nothing so why should a vet? Think how much a plumber, electrician etc, charges and they don't have the length of training nor the overheads to pay for.
 
Wow reading all these my vet seems quite reasonable - my big fella has an ongoing tooth issue which we are claiming insurance for - he came out to pull the tooth the other day and the visit will go on the insurance but he did my 2 year olds vaccination while he was out and gave him a general health check (checked his heart and temp) gave him a look over and all I got billed for was the vaccination - he didn't charge for a health check on top of that.
 
I have read through the whole thread and I fall on the side of things have to be charged for and it drives me mad on the whole when people harp on about things costing more that what you get on the net or more thatn form teh supplier etc There is a reason for that! Overheads!

No-one has said what was burning me from the beginning (and probably because I always ask). The owner shouldn't have to assume something is or is not included and the vet shouldn't assume people know what is included in a call out.

To me it forms part of informed consent which I expect on me, my car, my horse, my holiday, anything. I take my car to the garage and ask for them to look at something they tell me how much they estimate the cost to be and will tell me if something changes. You call the vet out, anything not included in the call out should be made very clear, simple as.

I always ask a vet 'will this cost extra' and IMO vets should tell their clients if something quick/easy is going to cost extra at the time. Or the practice should inform all clients of what is included in a call out when they join and stick to it.
 
Lets take noodle as an example. owner thought something was wrong with horse. vet feels legs and watches trot-sees no abnormality. charges to time and exam and visit. basis of nothing wrong is 5 years vet school and time spent learning about lameness and abnormalities. Owner gets peace of mind from this and happy to continue working horse.

The alternative is vet sees nothing wrong and runs expensive diagnostics to come to same conclusion.
Or owner keeps worrying about something that is nothing...
 
To be fair batgirl you are right all charges should be made clear, but owners also have to take responsibility. They know before the vet comes that they are going to want them to look over the old girl or check a lump. So say that on the phone. They are more likely to charge you if held up in a rush..
 
SusieT said:
To be fair batgirl you are right all charges should be made clear, but owners also have to take responsibility. They know before the vet comes that they are going to want them to look over the old girl or check a lump. So say that on the phone. They are more likely to charge you if held up in a rush..
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I agree, I always ask and take responsibility, there needs to be a meeting in the middle. However if they laid out what you can expect to be included in a call out then owners could take responsibility. There shouldn't be a 'more likely' situation.

My vets have a zone visit system for routine things where you can have a free call out on a specific day and they actually lay out what is free and what is not. this should go for normal call outs and then both sides know, vet knows they will get paid without quibble and owner can make informed choices.
 
I have several vets available including Newmarket and Cambridge university, they all have zone days and have never been charged for something like 'does this cut look to be healing ok' or similar, I must be spoilt! I would expect to pay for a lameness exam of any kind though even if it were a quick feel or a trot up. Anything that involved looking at a horse from a far or over a door and saying 'yeah that's fine' is very cheeky I think!

I think clarity is key. I got an annual health check for 99 quid thing last time that included vaccs, teeth, trot up and leg feel, heart eyes and lungs check, and a choice of blood sample or poo count. It was quite good value and the vet was the nicest I've had so far, he even looked in her ears as I mentioned she had plaques before. I was very happy with that one and will use them as a preference.
 
My vets have never done a health check when they come to do vaccinations. Tend to sign passport, jab him then go. Would happily pay extra for a health check yearly.
 
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