To think this vet is overcharging me?

[purpleteapig]

I paid over £400 for my chinchilla to be treated at an exotics vets last week. This was a referral from my local vet as chinchillas are classed as exotics, hence the inflated price tag!
I was told that she should be fine 2 days after the op (although has an ongoing condition so will require treatment every 3-4 months). In short she's not been fine so I rang them to see about next steps. I was told that the vet wanted to see her again and I would be charged another consult fee - about £90! And there will likely be additional treatment costs on top.
I think this is outrageous as obviously the original op hasn't worked and IMO they should not be charging me more money - they should be sorting out the issue. I've forked out an arm & a leg already and am prepared for costs every few months but not twice in 2 weeks; and I can't actually afford another bill so soon. Feel really annoyed, not to mention that I'm 8.5 months pg and this vet is miles away so I can't keep schlepping backwards & forwards...

[NeedABumChange]

YABU, you shouldn't have got a pet if you can't afford it's medical care. And it is an animal not a computer, "fixing" things is much harder and not guaranteed.

The fact you are pregnant should not effect the level of care your pet receives.

[Dawndonnaagain]

You chose to keep a pet. You haven't mentioned insurance, which surely would have been wise. It's not the pet's fault that you are pregnant. Schlep because your pet is ill and he/she can't seek help on its own.

[NorwaySpruce]

I can't believe you paid that much out of your own pocket for a chinchilla

If you don't have insurance, I'd be giving up on the thing right about now.

Vets fees can be extraordinarily hight, and I'd say your options are either pay, give the animal up to a charity/someone with more money, or have it euthanised.

[InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream]

you shouldn't have got a pet if you couldn't afford it's medical care
Hmmm. So you can't have a hamster or a cat unless you have thousands of pounds in savings stashed away just in case? Righto!
OP YANBU- How about phoning them back and explaining your difficulties? They might be sympathetic.

[PfftTheMagicDraco]

TBF to the OP, if my cat gets an op at the vets, all follow up consults are included in the original price.

If you have had the follow up appts for checking all is ok post-op, and all was then further appts should cost. But they should follow up on your animal post op, and this should be included in the cost.

[purpleteapig]

Insurance for chinchillas isn't like a dog or cat - it's not provided by many insurers and those that do offer it aren't worth it.
Yes agree pg is not relevant - it's the fact that I've paid a lot for treatment which I was told would work and it hasn't worked so don't feel another shelling out is fair. My previous vets didn't do this (since moved so had to change) - when a previous op on another pet didn't work they carried on treating it until it was sorted without charging me additional fees.

[BreconBeBuggered]

To be fair, £90 just for a consultation sounds absurdly steep to me, especially as it's essentially a follow-up.

[shakemysilliesout]

This is why I don't own a pet.

[Sheitgeist]

Where do you live, OP?
I have seen an specialist exotics vet a couple of times for my snake. He visits my usual practice at designated times, and sometimes there is a wait for appointments.
However, the cost was normal vet consultation plus a little extra for a course of antibiotics and syringes. Approx £35 in total.
I went for a quick follow up to check DSnake was better, and that visit was free!

Perhaps you could find another 'normal' vet that would treat DChinchilla without inflated 'exotics' supplement, or find another exotics vet who is attached to a regular practice and charges less, even if you have to travel a little while?

[Floralnomad]

If the follow up is routine post op then it should be included in the price of the op ,if it is because your pet has developed an issue post op then obviously they are going to charge you . £90 does sound excessive for a consultation but perhaps that is the going rate for exotic pets - personally I would find a good local small animal vet who is happy to treat it .

[purpleteapig]

Hi - I live in Essex and this was one that was recommended but I don't have any faith in them now. I was referred by a non exotics vets as they couldn't determine what the issue was so can't go to a normal vet unfortunately.

If it was just another £90 I could pay that, but I'm sure we're looking at another GA so they can see what's going on, which will take the price to similar to what I paid last wk.

[TedAndLola]

PfftTheMagicDraco "TBF to the OP, if my cat gets an op at the vets, all follow up consults are included in the original price."

Mine too. £400 seems reasonable for an operation, especially for an 'exotic' pet, but follow-up consultations should be included in the original price. I'm surprised they didn't want you to book one even if your chinchilla seemed to be recovering fine. If I was the OP I would be challenging the consultation cost.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

You could buy a new one for less than £400

Yabu btw. Vets don't work for free and you want them to do more work therefore you pay. Unless they have been negligent or something.

[shakemysilliesout]

I dont think people should have pets unless they can afford it. This is not a controversial statement.

[Floralnomad]

you could buy a new one for less than £400

This is an appalling attitude ,this is the OPs pet and part of her family not some disposable item . My dog cost me £95 from Battersea dogs home - he is priceless and irreplaceable .

[Sheitgeist]

Ah, mine is in South Wales, OP. Shame, he's fantastic (and a good price).

I would still try to find another vet though, whether exotic or not. Do some research online. And just because your last non-exotic vet couldn't diagnose, doesn't mean another can't.

Good luck, OP

[Sheitgeist]

P.S. What Floralnomad said.

[purpleteapig]

Thanks sheitgeist - wish I was closer to you - sounds like you have a great vet!
Ppl who are saying 'don't have a pet if you can't afford it,' I can afford the necessary consult/op fees but I don't expect to have to pay double in the same month!

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Lolol I knew someone would get all pearl clutchy about that

It's still true. You can buy a new one for less than £400. Interesting inference and value judgements you make there Floral.

[TedAndLola]

purpleteapig - I used to go to the Barrier Animal Clinic in Woolwich. Depending on what part of Essex you're in, that might be feasible? I found their fees reasonable (think it was £40 for a consultation with an exotic) and they were very professional.

Also agree with Floralnomad!

[CatThiefKeith]

I don't think YABU. When my cat had an abscess he had it drained and I was given a course of antibiotics. When the abscess immediately filled with pus again the vet was very apologetic, drained it and cleaned it free of charge. I did pay for more antibiotics, but the op (he had to be sedated) itself was free.

£400 in a chinchilla is a huge amount of money to spend

[BreakingDad77]

I would love to see how vets prices changed once insurance became more prevalent in the UK.

As insurance to me has the tendency to inflate costs as people will bill up to the maximum that the insurance will pay, (not the actual cost + markup)

[SacredHeart]

My rats were classed as exotic and I was lucky enough to find a rat specialist. I paid £35 I. The midland for consult and £200 for castration with check ups. Over £500 on a facial abscess (which needed silver webbing) - it's what you do. I wonder about people who think euthanising a fixable animal and replacing it is acceptable....

What was the procedure? Sorry if I missed it, I can't seem to see.

[purpleteapig]

Ted - that was my old vets when I lived near there! They were great with all my chinchillas over the years, but sadly I'm too far away now.