Mrs

[Chortle Chook]

I have a grumble - grr

 

Does anyone else get the impression that vets are doing un-necessary things because they know the fee will be picked up by insurance? The result is an increase in premiums for everyone.

 

I don't have pet insurance as I have 4 rescue dogs three of whom are over the 10 year mark. However I have heard from general park chat, that insurance premiums in my area are being doubled because of the number of claims. At the same time I've had a rather odd experience with one of the vets in my area. My dog had a foot infection which ultimatley has been cured by a course of baytril pills. I say 'ultimately' because the vets in question have anaestheised the poor wee boy, taken skin s"Ooops, word censored!"ings, taken one of his nails completely out, done Xrays and blood tests. The total bill is around £1000 - a lot for antibiotic pills.

 

The vet is a very nice person and I don't think set out to 'rob me' but it seems that they have the wrong idea. I'm no youngster and 'in the old days' a vet would have tried the most obvious solution first and not gone through all these diagnosic procedures as a matter of course. I don't think the NHS would look too favourably on doctors who insisted on doing cancer tests every time anyone said they had athlete's foot and this seems, to me, to be a bit like that. I feel I've been made a bit of a fool of. I should have taken a stand and said 'no' but I was so worried my boy might have cancer, diabetes, an auto immune disease etc. etc. The same vets suggested that a friend of mine should have her 15year old dog anasthetised for diagnostics concerning an area on the dog's back that is itchy. It was cured by Avatar (spelling?) spot on.

[Redwing]

I do think you are right in a way

 

I have been asked in the past when visiting the vets if the animal in question is insured, if the answer is no the treatment tends to be very basic and affordable, if yes then they started recommending other things. When my cat got a skin condition the bills to the insurance company were huge and the diagnosis was the cat was allegic to meat, it turned out to be nothing of the sort but we only found that out after nearly a year of expensive prescription food and tests

 

On moving house the new vet swiftly diagnosed the problem and we paid £25 consultation fee and no ongoing costs!

 

Our new vet does the initial stuff regardless of insurance which I think is good. I think how they proceed could depend on insurance cover but he seems very fair and I dont think he would unnecessarily push it. I trust him 100% to make the right choices for me and the animal

 

I'd consider changing your vet possibly?

[The Dogmother]

I do think you are right in a way................

 

I'd consider changing your vet possibly?

 

Me too. My vets know better than to try it on with me There are lots of things that I will treat at home, but am very careful to know my limits and will take anything else to the vet. Luckily we hardly ever have to go there.

[UKMARCH]

Luckily I have insurance but had a similar problem with one of my greys with a limp, I did suggest to the vet after a while and after some internet research that perhaps he had a corn but was brushed off and sent to an orthopaedic specialist who promptly examined him and said the first course of action was to get rid of all the corns! We now go to a grey savvy vet in Uxbridge who has sorted these and I go there with the hounds unless its an emergency when I use the local one. I do find it more reasonably priced but I guess its like most things the area can affect costs.