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I think most vets would point customers to services like Care Credit (or others that are out there) when the customer said they couldn't pay. It's likely that owners who are turned away because they can't pay, are actually people who chose not to fund their pet's care with services like Care Credit (because they weren't willing to take on the debt). Or, they may be owners who couldn't get funding because of their bad credit (which means the owner probably has a history of not paying their debts). So no wonder vets aren't willing to front the bill - they're dealing with owners who have little to no savings, aren't willing to pay back a debt, or who haven't paid back past debts and now can't get a loan or line of credit. Vets shouldn't be shafted just because they're vets.
I like how any discussion of compassionate action triggers the reflexive "Protect The Taxpayers!" response in so many people. Oh, the Sacred Taxpayer, the poor, put-upon, helpless and disadvantaged hero of the tale, on whom the burden of so many things is placed. How dare anyone consider a cause above that of the Sacred Taxpayer?
A whole bunch of taxpayers have to pay for a lot of stupid stuff they don't want to fund. I'd rather my money go to animals in need than a bunch of stuff for other people's kids or the pet projects of fat cat bureaucratic government employees.
I always donate to the emergency funds when I have to use the emergency clinics for my pets.
Nobody should be required to treat your pet for free.
I'm not saying it should be REQUIRED but it really rankles when a clinic holds your pet hostage in the back while they force you to pay before you can even see your pet.
For clarity, I've luckily always had the money to pay for my pets' care, so it really angered me to have an e-clinic not only overcharge me for "after hours" but give me bad advice that ultimately would have hurt my animals on more than one occasion, not listen to me regarding the care of my own pets, try to keep my pet hidden from me, and generally treat me like I'm trying to scam them just because I had an after hours emergency.
Once I flat out refused a $400 (!) after-hours kitty x ray because I knew what was wrong with my cat, she had a history of the same problem, and the vet was just plain wrong. Ultimately I won out and my cat was treated according to what I wanted and she was fine and I still had my $400. That same night it so happened that my dog had an emergency, which the clinic also misdiagnosed and mis-treated. That was a $1000 vet day for a lot of unnecessary hassle and poor care - but I had to pay up front for it, each time.
My point is that a lot of emergency vets take advantage of people who are in a tight spot and most likely a terrible emotional state. Things like requiring an extra hundred and twenty bucks as an "emergency fee" are just super crappy and inhumane all the way around.
I found a good e-clinic that charges same as day rate 24/7 and will actually listen to their patients' owners and give good care. Not everyone has the same choice though.
"human hospitals are reimbursed for patients who can't pay" No that is not correct Human hospitals often eat the cost of patients that can not pay AND the costs of hospital services are as high as they are to help try to recover that loss from the non paying patients.
I have had good and bad experiences with ER vet clinics the worst being when I was out of town with the dogs and Phoenix developed an issue late on a Sat night. Off to the local ER vet as I could tell she was in pain. They were very busy so took a quick look then asked me to leave her overnight and pick her up in the AM. Well when I picked her up she had a huge bill because they ran all sorts of blood tests and Xrays etc...hello this was an eye issue which turned out to be glacoma and we left the ER that morning and headed to an animal eye clinic. I was so angry as none of those tests were needed But with the ER vet clinic where I live I have never had such an experience nor does my regular vet run unnecessary tests to pad the bill. Over the 30 yrs I have owned my own dogs and cats I have had some very big vet related expenses but I have always had money set aside for emergencies and for my pets so have been able to pay.
I have to agree with others that NO a vet should not be required to treat an animal if you have no money, you need to have a plan to cover emergencies if you own an animal, be it a bank account set aside. pet insurance or as others have said a credit card. People seem to think vets are rolling in money but the average vet that owns a clinic after paying for all the expensive equipment that we have come to expect them all to have and paying for good help,and all the other expenses of running a clinic,and debt from vet school is not rolling in money and being forced to treat animals with out pay would force them out of business.
Because sometimes things happen and not everyone has $10,000 for emergency surgery. The person could have bought the dog when he was financially stable and then suddenly lost his job... then what? I just think very few people have compassion these days.
All Dogs and Cats and other Pets DIE!!!!!!!!!!
They don't live that long anyway, especially dogs.
I knew a guy who spent like 20 grand to save his mom's cat.
Guess What??
The cat ended up dying!!!
I think the reason some people spend so much money to try to save their pet is because they have psychological issues of letting go of things. Often times, they are probably hoarders too.
Yes, I love my dogs, and previous dogs, etc. But I will never pay medical costs over a grand for a dog who is 5 years or older.
Why? Because I simply can't afford that, and it would most likely just push the issue aside for a few months or a year until he does die.
The humane thing, (HUMAN e) is to let the dog go, mod cut
If it costs 4000 to save your 9 year old dogs life, don't do it. Put him to sleep, and then buy a new dog within the next month.
Last edited by Sam I Am; 11-03-2013 at 06:19 AM..
Reason: off topic
"If it costs 4000 to save your 9 year old dogs life, don't do it. Put him to sleep, and then buy a new dog within the next month."
That is not for you to say. We spent infinitely more than that on a 13-year old dog's life -- because there was HOPE that she would pull through. She didn't -- and we have never ever regretted trying to save her. We are just very grateful we had the resources to try to save her and while we were going through that awful week, we thought A LOT about people who have to euthanize their pets because they can't afford to try to save them. That has to be the most awful feeling.
These are very personal decisions, and making broadbrush statements about when people should put their pets down and when they should get another dog is incredibly insensitive.
I'm not saying it should be REQUIRED but it really rankles when a clinic holds your pet hostage in the back while they force you to pay before you can even see your pet.
For clarity, I've luckily always had the money to pay for my pets' care, so it really angered me to have an e-clinic not only overcharge me for "after hours" but give me bad advice that ultimately would have hurt my animals on more than one occasion, not listen to me regarding the care of my own pets, try to keep my pet hidden from me, and generally treat me like I'm trying to scam them just because I had an after hours emergency.
Once I flat out refused a $400 (!) after-hours kitty x ray because I knew what was wrong with my cat, she had a history of the same problem, and the vet was just plain wrong. Ultimately I won out and my cat was treated according to what I wanted and she was fine and I still had my $400. That same night it so happened that my dog had an emergency, which the clinic also misdiagnosed and mis-treated. That was a $1000 vet day for a lot of unnecessary hassle and poor care - but I had to pay up front for it, each time.
My point is that a lot of emergency vets take advantage of people who are in a tight spot and most likely a terrible emotional state. Things like requiring an extra hundred and twenty bucks as an "emergency fee" are just super crappy and inhumane all the way around.
I found a good e-clinic that charges same as day rate 24/7 and will actually listen to their patients' owners and give good care. Not everyone has the same choice though.
My 13 year old rescue sheltie became ill at the end of September. He already had major medical issues when I adopted him, but I don't think the vet the rescue used really did comprehensive testing last year when they first got him because they wanted to keep their costs down.
Fast forward to end of August when it became obvious he needed to have a dental done. My vet said that due to his heart murmur I would have to take him to a vet specialist and have an echo done and an ultrasound as he had a mass in his abdomen. Had both tests done which cost $650.00 as well as an exam. He had an enlarged heart (4 out of 6 on the scale), partially collapsed trachea, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney disease, and a few other things wrong. The vet said there was no way we could do the dental because of his heart and also said I would have to watch for congestive heart failure. A couple of weeks after the testing he start coughing in a different way. Took him back to the specialist as they were also the ER, after 7 pm. The Vet on duty decided he was in congestive heart failure, put him on oxygen, and started treating him with a diuretic to get the fluid away from his heart. This would impact his kidney disease, and I was quoted $1,000 for a night of treatment which I paid for.
His regular vet came in the next morning, called me, and we kept treating him for the congestive heart failure for another couple of hours as well as keeping him on oxygen. She took him off the drugs and then they carried him outside to see if he could urinate. He collapsed as soon as they put him down and was unable to get up. We had already discussed whether or not I would have to put him to sleep as I'm not rich and couldn't afford a huge vet bill to treat him just because of all of his other health issues.
She called me with an update and told me she took another xray and after the fact it didn't look like there was any fluid around his heart and probably wasn't any the night before, so the diuretic was not necessary (not that she said that mind you). She asked about keeping him on oxygen for another few days but said in the end she'd be surprised if he wasn't back a couple of days after being off the oxygen. It was then that I had to make the very painful decision to put him to sleep. My little guy was only with me for 7 months and his foster mom for 8 months before I adopted him and had suffered enough in his life. Looking back now, I think before I adopt another rescue I will have my vet do the exam instead of theirs so that I can have better health information. I loved Chewie with all my heart and knew that I would have medical expenses with him but not to this degree. And I think the ER Vet should have at least deducted the cost of the diuretic all night since their diagnosis was wrong. X-rays can't be that hard to read. All in all after everything is said, it cost over $2700 to take care of Chewie including putting him to sleep and his cremation. I miss him like crazy.
I'm so sorry to hear about Chewie, Meekocat That's a lot for the both of you to go through. Did I read that right, you adopted him when he was 12 or 13 years old? It really warms my heart to read that. Rest in peace, Chewie.
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But with the ER vet clinic where I live I have never had such an experience nor does my regular vet run unnecessary tests to pad the bill. Over the 30 yrs I have owned my own dogs and cats I have had some very big vet related expenses but I have always had money set aside for emergencies and for my pets so have been able to pay. 
