Vet bill

[HolidaySleep]

Hi,

Just wanted to share our recent experience to see if others think this is reasonable.

Our cat had been in a fight. I could feel a small scab on him, and a few days later it was oozing. Took him to vets immediately. Turns out he had an abscess from a bite.

Vet said he would need sedating, for the wound to be cleaned properly, plus antibiotics & other meds. Quote £250.

They then phoned to say they need to stitch it so price is now £340 (£90 for 2 stitches)

After 4 days the swelling had got bigger so we took him back to vets. Saw a different vet who said the the wound was full of pus and that it shouldn't have been stitched! He said it's unusual to stitch an abscess. Poor cat had to be sedated again and go through the same procedure, this time left open.

He said he would ask practice manager if the 'repair' work could be free of charge, but they still charged another £70 (I did make my case that it was their error of judgment that cost me an extra £90 for the 2 stitches plus the follow up treatment but they wouldn't budge).

So £410 for an abscess! Does this sound excessive? Thanks!

[Veterinari]

To be honest yes.
Most abscesses just need cleaning and antibiotics - they shouldn’t be stitched and usually don’t need sedation unless severe

[Vinorosso74]

Ours had one on his ear and I think it was just over £100 for everything and we had a follow up as the vet wanted it checked it was healing ok.
No sedative was needed. Those Thrive freeze dried treats were provided as distraction!

[HuggedTheRedwoods]

I think its excessive and would also be asking more questions about the reasons for stitching.

We have a long term stray in the garden and recently he had an abscess on his leg from a bite, took him to a local vet (not my own as they are further away) and for the cleaning (not sedated, just fussed and distracted), painkillers and ten days antibiotic tablets the bill was £105. He had a follow-up check-up of £30'ish, which wasn't necessary with hindsight as I could see myself it was healing nicely and I cancelled a futher check-up as it really wasn't needed so the bill was £130'ish.

About the stitches, our Old Boy once had a nasty abscess on his neck and our vet said they never stitch them after cleaning out as their bodies close the wound naturally once all the infection is out. After his treatment he had pads over the wound which were changed a couple of times and the first one had some further discharge on but following ones were all clean and his sizeable neck wound, about 2 inches long, had closed up perfectly. I remember being amazed at how clever their little bodies were. That would be about 2 years ago, and he was having other treatments but from memory his abscess bill was around the £180 mark including antibiotics by injection.

We live in the North West and neither vets are part of chains if that makes any difference.

[MustardScreams]

I’d want a meeting with the vet and a report done. Stitching an infected abscess? Not a good idea.

I think last time my dog had a wound i didn’t use insurance as it was under the £150 excess. That was cleaned under sedation, antibiotics and dressing changes included.

[ScreamingValenta]

My cat recently had a bite and the vet gave antibiotics and told me to clean any pus from the wound myself with salt water. £70 for antibiotics and consultation. It was a fairly small wound but bleeding and oozing quite a lot before the antibiotics kicked in. This was a chain vet.

[HolidaySleep]

Oh yikes. I felt like they were just adding things on to the bill. £450 is ludicrous for a small wound isn't it. I could understand if it was more of an unknown issue but a bite / abscess must be pretty routine for any vet!

First time using the practice and will be finding somewhere else immediately. I've done a little research and think I may have a case for a complaint under the consumer rights act for failing to act with reasonable skill.

Thank you - really interesting to hear your experiences for perspective.

[HuggedTheRedwoods]

It sounds like you might have already found it, but this is a useful read: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/im-unhappy-with-my-vet-what-are-my-rights

Hope your poor cat is all sorted now at least.

[HolidaySleep]

Yes Hugged that's the info I found.

Our cat is doing very well now, all healing nicely. Although he looks a mess and is desperate for the cone to come off and go outside again

[mrscatmad31]

I was ready to defend the vet (ex vet nurse here!) But it does seem a lot and it shouldn't have been stitched! Would put in a complaint and look for a new vets to be honest