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This is an article written about the rising costs of Vet care, and 500 or so good comments from users. Whats interesting is it turns into a battle of Vets being underpaid/overpaid. The interesting point ignored is the insane tuition charged for Vet education. I think the issue isnt that Vets are charging too much these days, its that were seeing the massive inflation in education costs pouring over into our pets bills now.
I agree with the overpaid part. Seems nowadays people who dont even care the least bit about animals are becoming vets because (as they say) its where the money is. Ive also seen some if not all vets refusing to give the slightest advise to anyone that hasnt come in. I can recall years ago you could say "btw, i have a dog with fleas. what do you recommend?" and theyd tell you. Now its "oh youll have to bring her in and pay the $50-$100 office visit fee".
I agree with the overpaid part. Seems nowadays people who dont even care the least bit about animals are becoming vets because (as they say) its where the money is. Ive also seen some if not all vets refusing to give the slightest advise to anyone that hasnt come in. I can recall years ago you could say "btw, i have a dog with fleas. what do you recommend?" and theyd tell you. Now its "oh youll have to bring her in and pay the $50-$100 office visit fee".
I'm lucky in that my vet is very reasonable and sees his work as a vocation...a calling, and doesn't simply do it for the money. I value his time and knowledge and he needs to make a good living for that, and I appreciate that he realizes people are on a budget.
When I first got my cat (about a year ago), he was having this white frothy foam coming out of his mouth, and I was very worried because I had never seen that. I took him to the vet, and the vet gave him a good look over, only to find he was teething. I think he charged me about $6 for the office visit and said that he didn't believe in over charging people because it made them reluctant to come in when their pet really needed to be seen. That's the kind of vet we need more of. They're out there, but I agree some to try to sell you more services than our pets really need (i.e. cosmetic dentistry, etc.).
I think it depends on the area, too. High cost (and I hate to say it, but "yuppie") areas tend to have more overpriced, up-selling vets, from what I've seen, because people in those areas will pay more.
ive had plenty of times where i couldnt afford a vet. At all. im talking looking for change under the couch cushions broke. And i have an animal injured, in pain, bleeding, wounded, whatever and vets are adamant "we cant do anything unless you pay".
Ive also asked online hoping to get "good enough"info to treat my animals until i can get them to a vet and i always hear "take them to a vet". Well, i cant afford it (literally).
What happened to vets doing it because they loved animals? Youd think theyd say "its okay, pay us when you can"
However, they dont because ya know why? Too many people have or will take advantage of it.
When I compare what I would be charged for the same medical care, I think of it as a bargain.
Blood work, for example, $65 senior panel......for me to get the same blood work it would probably cost close to $400.
Last Sunday one of my cats presented with a bladder infection. I called the vet Monday morning and my cat saw the doctor at 1:45pm Monday.
How long would it take me to get in to see my doctor under the same circumstances?
They tested her urine.....urinalysis.....$41.....what would that cost for a human?
Ultrasound examination of her bladder and heart......$100.....what would that cost for a human? One or two thousand? More?
{She has a history of bladder stones, hence the ultrasound, she was due for her annual heart ultrasound to track a heart murmur so I asked if they could do that at the same time.....no problem. Can you imagine that happening with a person? NO WAY.}
All told the bill was $260.01. For me to get the same tests and care that she received it would have been in the thousands.
And all of this care was delivered in less than ONE HOUR.........can you imagine how long it would have taken for a human to get all of those tests and the results?
Anyway, that is how I look at it, but at the same time I worry about pets who have owners who can't afford vet care. In fact, I regularly help two friends pay their vet bills. I just consider it animal charity.
And, when I have one pet at the vets and ask questions about one of my other pets, the vet has no problem with it. He just answers my questions.
I love my vet and I don't think they've ever done anything that wasn't necessary just to get more money out of me. I understand the equipment is expensive and they have a business run, BUT the costs are just too much for a lot of people. My dog got sick a couple weeks ago - turns out he had an infection and the start of some back problems (he's a dachshund). 700 dollars so far! If he has to see a specialist/have surgery one day I don't even know what I'll do. Take on debt I guess. A 700 dollar vet bill blew my budget to hell and I know there's a lot of people that couldn't have absorbed that cost, period.
It makes me sad to think of all the pets that don't get vet care because their owners can't afford it. On the one hand, maybe they shouldn't have pets, but just because someone doesn't have a lot of money doesn't mean they don't have a lot of love to give to a pet. It's just a really sad situation all the way around. I love my dogs and I would do anything for them, but I'm wondering if I want to have anymore pets in the future. I don't want to be in debt because of vet bills. I worry constantly about the cost of them getting sick/injured.
I agree vets are expensive. I don't feel like I've been overcharged by mine and sometimes they've waived or reduced their fees for me.
Part of responsible pet ownership is the ability to properly care for a pet. If you can't afford vet care, then you shouldn't own a pet. I have a limited number of pets because I want to be able to properly care for them and still save for retirement etc. I don't ever want to be in the position of watching a pet suffer or put it down because I don't have the money to get it the care it needs. It's not fair to do that to a living creature who is helpless and depending on you. If you love animals and can't afford the vet bills, volunteer at a shelter or offer to pet sit a friend's when they're out of town.
I agree vets are expensive. I don't feel like I've been overcharged by mine and sometimes they've waived or reduced their fees for me.
Part of responsible pet ownership is the ability to properly care for a pet. If you can't afford vet care, then you shouldn't own a pet. I have a limited number of pets because I want to be able to properly care for them and still save for retirement etc. I don't ever want to be in the position of watching a pet suffer or put it down because I don't have the money to get it the care it needs. It's not fair to do that to a living creature who is helpless and depending on you. If you love animals and can't afford the vet bills, volunteer at a shelter or offer to pet sit a friend's when they're out of town.
I agree it's wrong to let an animal suffer because you can't pay to take care of it, but there are SO many unwanted cats and dogs already. Should we just put them to sleep because someone wants to love and take care of a dog or cat, but they can't afford thousands of dollars of vet bills? That doesn't seem right either.
Part of responsible pet ownership is the ability to properly care for a pet. If you can't afford vet care, then you shouldn't own a pet..
I think a big part of the problem is that as pet owners we keep expanding the definition of "necessary" vet care, and are now treating problems (at great expense) that not so long ago would have been handled via euthanasia. I think we owe our animals a life as free of pain and suffering as possible, but that doesn't automatically have to mean as long a life as possible.
I agree it's wrong to let an animal suffer because you can't pay to take care of it, but there are SO many unwanted cats and dogs already. Should we just put them to sleep because someone wants to love and take care of a dog or cat, but they can't afford thousands of dollars of vet bills? That doesn't seem right either.
No, it doesnt seem right. I have a few animals that i love to pieces but does that mean that because im not made of money i should toss them out or take them to the animal shelter? No. Who says one must be a millionaire or some such to own an animal. Lots of people who arent rich have children so why should a pet be any different?
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