To not pay the whole vet's bill

But that's like going to the dentist for a check and expecting treatment to be included, or having an MoT and expecting any work required to be included?

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Why on earth did you think blood tests would be included in the consultation fee?!

YABU. I'm surprised it wasn't more. No idea why you're so shocked unless this is the first et visit you've ever had.

He's only been to the vet three times in 13 years? Is that usual there? Here, they go every year for a checkup. I know y'all don't have rabies, but is heartworm not a concern?

I can't believe you had the brass neck to walk out without paying the bill! Why would you think any tests were included in the consultation? Do you expect any prescribed medication for free as well?

Insurance doesn’t usually cover consultations and blood tests, and often the excess is at least a couple of hundred

It sounds to me like you’ve not been to the vets before!!! Of course a blood test costs more. The consultation fee is to see the vet. Everything else is payable on top! In the case of treatments etc you can discuss and accept or refuse etc but X-rays or blood tests or any other investigations are also payable. I think you should pay the bill! Why would you expect the blood test to be free? It involves materials/equipments and likely a lab.

YABU. Pay your bill.

YABVVU!

Of course it costs. You can’t just not pay.

Vet nurse here. It sounds about right to be honest.

Vet bills are hellish nowadays.

Always as for a quote or an estimate but that goes for everything in life not just the vets.

I am currently dog free and unable to work through injury. Vet fees and nothing else is making me seriously consider never getting another doggo and I was born into a dog owning household and have been around them all my life.

Once I can get well I might think about pet sitting so I get nose boops but no vet bills. Dogs are now a considered purchase.

I was shocked blood tests cost what they do considering they seem a fairly straightforward thing (in humans anyway). But think you’ll just have to chalk it up to experience. You’ll know always to ask in the future & surely you’d have gone ahead with them if you want to know what’s up with your pooch??

Blood work isn't routine so why would you expect it to be included in the consultation fee?

£1,200 total for the dental and medicap work, I mean.

I think both you and the vet are at fault. The vet should have been clearer about the costs but you shouldn't have assumed that there would be no charge, over the initial consultation and should have been asking about the cost. Vet bills are notoriously expensive. I suspect the fact that you never raised the question of cost led the vet to believe that cost wasn't an issue.

I mean this nicely but you either need to have savings to pay for unexpected vet bills or you need insurance. If you don't have either you aren't being a responsible pet owner.

I hope your dog is ok.

Always ask in advance, as PP’s have said, each procedure/test is billed individually. My dog had sone dental work last year and as he was going to be anesthetized, I asked them to look at something else I was concerned about. He needed antibiotics and the additional assessment was billed separately. It cost me £1,200 with the antibiotics. 🥹 That’s what they charge.

YABVVVVU.

IMO the vets never tell you the price unless you ask. You need to pay the bill and just learn this lesson I'm afraid.

Also, even with pet insurance it's difficult to pay the vet. I've had pet insurance where you paid everything out and then had to claw it back with a high excess and Co-pay for elderly animals-they would question absolutely everything the vet said, did and try and get out of paying (you, animal friends!)

Basically, ask how much everything is and even with pet insurance know what you are covered for (precious fkn little ime)

You can refuse to pay and they can refuse to treat your dog.

You should have asked. Blood tests always cost extra.
The cost is set by the practice & the Vets are mostly just employees. Very few practices are run by Vets now. So please don't blame the Vet as they are paid low salaries these days. The Vets are there to treat your dog to the best of their ability, not to discuss the cost of everything. They will not be personally profiting from this.

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A bit naive to think blood tests would be part of the consult fee and I find it hard to believe you thought they would be included. You need to get pet insurance if you are going to turn down vet treatments based on cost whenever your dog is sick.

Yabvu
you agreed to the tests. They did them . You pay. Simple
in future ask for confirmation of costs before you agree anything

People like you shouldn’t have pets. You wouldn’t have let him have the investigations he needed because you thought they were too expensive?

Let me guess, he’s a brachycephalic breed who isn’t coping with the heat, hence the breathing difficulties.