Dog vet bill costs
- Thread starter Sparx
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Soldato
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That's really cheap! Our cat was shot with an air gun and the cost ended up over a grand over the space of about 3 hours to try and save her, sadly she was put to sleep, which put the bill up even more! Pets at the vets aren't cheap, a few hundred is probably the least to expect every time they go in with something wrong.
Saying that though, our snake Barry boa isn't, he had a nasty respiratory infection which cost 60 quid all in, that was the vets time and all the antibiotics and needles etc. for his daily injections. Injecting a snake is a right pain when he won't keep still I can tell you!
Saying that though, our snake Barry boa isn't, he had a nasty respiratory infection which cost 60 quid all in, that was the vets time and all the antibiotics and needles etc. for his daily injections. Injecting a snake is a right pain when he won't keep still I can tell you!
Man of Honour
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The thing is it isn't £1000's in one go, it's a continuing treatment over days/weeks where the owner thinks there may be a chance. Just another £300 for this, another £400 for that and it just mounts & mounts. Vets need to be more honest and say "Look your pet looks like it will cost £1000s, you've got £5000 cover do you want to stop at that?" but then it goes to "Another £300 and we can ..............."
Caporegime
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Interestingly enough Vets can legally treat people but Doctors can't treat animals.
That's a scary thought!
My vets blow my mind how useless/inexperienced and ineffective they are - total lack of evidenced based care.
Everything I take him for gets an injection somehow, no diagnosis is attempted, just try random injections.
That's where they get you.
Dribs and drabs keeping old faithful clinging on in abject misery for a few more months.
Man of Honour
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My work colleague has got a Shiba Inu and it's one of the worst dogs ever. Apparently they don't like other dogs, they will run off, they don't take orders well etc but they also suffer from a back legs problem.
As soon as they had it they insured it and a couple of years later one of the legs needed doing. A couple of years later the other leg needed doing but the insurance said you've already claimed you will have to pay the £2,500 yourself. It's been walking round with a disformed leg now for the last 3 years.
As soon as they had it they insured it and a couple of years later one of the legs needed doing. A couple of years later the other leg needed doing but the insurance said you've already claimed you will have to pay the £2,500 yourself. It's been walking round with a disformed leg now for the last 3 years.
Get Petplan insurance and be done.
Not All vets earn mega money, and those that do, do it because of the hours they work.
Blood tests can range from £15 to £100's depending on what is being tested and whether the vets need these tests interpreted by a pathologist at the lab.
Our Beagle had a blockage and the bill came in at just over £3500. We have insurance at approx £300 per year. So we have had nearly 12Yrs of our policy already paid out.
People think vet bills are expensive. But thats because they've never seen a NHS bill for the same thing.
Not All vets earn mega money, and those that do, do it because of the hours they work.
Blood tests can range from £15 to £100's depending on what is being tested and whether the vets need these tests interpreted by a pathologist at the lab.
Our Beagle had a blockage and the bill came in at just over £3500. We have insurance at approx £300 per year. So we have had nearly 12Yrs of our policy already paid out.
People think vet bills are expensive. But thats because they've never seen a NHS bill for the same thing.
Don
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We just paid £400+ for a Spay and Hernia close.
Soldato
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Which is the opposite of what our vets are like. We had a cat years ago (still have cats) and the vets kept us advised as best they could as to when the cat would be in pain with no relief (it was a tumour), eventually saying it was time. They don't/can't tell you to put an animal down its more your cat will now be in constant pain therefore the correct decision needs to be made. Heartbreaking but they were all about the cats quality of life.
Caporegime
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That's a scary thought!
My vets blow my mind how useless/inexperienced and ineffective they are - total lack of evidenced based care.
Everything I take him for gets an injection somehow, no diagnosis is attempted, just try random injections.
Change vets.
Just a thought.
Just paid up £1151 after our 12 year old dog had a heart attack at 2am on Wednesday morning. He yelped in a very unusual way and by the time we had switched the lights on his heart had stopped and he wasn't breathing. I rubbed his chest and called his name hoping that he'd come round, and he did thankfully. Very scary but got him to the 24 hour vets within 10 minutes. 2 days there, a heart scan, x-ray and several different drugs and he's back home. We have insurance but they removed heart conditions after his sister died of a similar condition. We only keep the insurance going for injuries now as they've stopped covering nearly everything else.
He's an absolute legend and very popular with the ladies.
He's an absolute legend and very popular with the ladies.
Caporegime
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I'm not a vet but I was under the impression that ischaemic heart disease was very rare in dogs. Is it specific to the breed?
This thread is helpful for strengthening my resolve when telling my kids/wife that I really don't want a pet.
Some insane figures for pet maintenance here (I understand why they are what they are, but struggle a bit more to understand the willingness to pay).
Some insane figures for pet maintenance here (I understand why they are what they are, but struggle a bit more to understand the willingness to pay).
Caporegime
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Tbh I remember our collie was near enough £200 just to have her gearbox sorted so that doesn't seem too bad
Because people view pets as part of the family, I don't understand how some people can't get that. They're not viewed as a commodity, they're living creatures that show affection and have feelings. My friend at work is in his mid 50's and is single, he lives alone with his Dog. His Dog is basically his best mate and a big part of his life. Those are the kinds of feelings people have towards their pets.
It's congestive heart failure which lead to his attack. A build up of fluid stopped his heart.
My wife and I will be absolutely lost when we lose Bailey. His sister died nearly 2 years ago and while she was the more vocal of the pair Bailey has all the character. His eyes can tell you exactly what he's thinking or what he want's.
We know the day is coming but until then we will do everything we can to make sure he has a happy healthy life. Cost is not an issue.
That's a scary thought!
My vets blow my mind how useless/inexperienced and ineffective they are - total lack of evidenced based care.
Everything I take him for gets an injection somehow, no diagnosis is attempted, just try random injections.
Most vets are much better than that. Also look at it this way, a vet's job is much harder than a doctor's. The doctor can ask the patient what is wrong and where does it hurt and what are the symptoms.
That's fine, people should do what makes them happy. If you need the companionship, and can't face losing them then do it.
Personally, I grew up with lots of pets so got quite used to the nature of their truncated lifespans. You enjoy them, make some memories, they get ill and you sadly let them go. Then get another.
But I don't want any at the moment. I've got a wife and kids and life seems pretty full, so have no desire for a pet.
I do slightly worry that people forget animals' welfare when extending life with involved treatments, and that vets' commercial nature doesn't allow for some of the honesty that might be needed. Animals don't understand that the process is a 'cure' and that better might be ahead. It's just scary and painful. But, again, people should do what they think is for the best. It's just not for me
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