Fitzpatrick referrals

[Justwingingit2005]

So, watching superset tonight (had a cry when a cat died).
Got me thinking how much are these ops?
My loc vet charges £400 for a blood test!

I have known of a few people take their dogs there (I am in some dog FB groups), and they have all been insured. I don't think anyone goes there for routine/minor stuff. It is very specialist or last chance saloon type things.

My cat went to a different referral centre, he was there half a day and racked up a £2500 bill. They didn’t find out what was wrong, but prescribed some tablets and he’s been fine since

It's insurance.

Fitzpatrick winds me up. It's promoting extreme surgery and extreme expenditure on pets. The expectation this creates is driving up pet insurance and vet costs.

My sister took her dog there after an accident and was very happy (insurance)

My neighbour on the other hand, thinks he's a charlaton and shouldnt be allowed to practise, with his experimental surgeries etc.

Some costs we’ve had quoted for single tests in past when referred to vet hospital

Luxating Patella (knee) surgery £2.5k - 7 years ago
MRI - £2.5k - 4 years ago
Endoscopy £1800
Biospy - quoted £1800 but didn’t go ahead after endoscopy results

The thousands rack up quickly for normal referrals, not sure if Fitzpatrick charges more.

The Supervet programme never discusses costs! It’s all the warm and fuzzy bits of the job, without the harsh reality that everything has got a cost.

At a referral centre like that, very roughly straightforward orthopaedic procedures £3-5 depending on the size of the dog; more complex orthopaedic or spinal surgeries £6-8k; experimental (like prosthetics) / multi trauma cases where they are in hospital a long time could potentially be £12-15k. Realistically the vast majority of pets who go will be insured.

Is it just me but I thought it was inappropriate for him to be calling the poor cat’s owners in tears.. ‘hello… sorry I’m crying…’ to let them know nothing else could be done to save him?! I was like… err…. It’s not about you…. 😡🤨.. surely he should remain professional..

Have to agree with the experimental surgeries. The prosthetic limbs on animals stopped me watching the program.

Pet owners should be supported to let their animals die with dignity once it gets to that stage instead of mutating them further. I can’t believe those animals are not in pain.

The Supervet programme enrages me. Without fail there is always one poor animal that the experimental surgery doesn't work for and after much painful mucking about they die.

With this level of experience, Noel must know they are going to die. But he carries on and on instead of doing the decent thing and PTS.

Yes my DH said well that isn't professional crying on the phone.
Poor cat was only 2. I had a cry.

Oh me too.. poor little thing… 😔😔😔

I once saw someone post something about a lot of vets not really agreeing with his heroic efforts.

Humans understand the need for surgery, recovery and physio. Animals don't.
Humans warrant high tech solutions to their physical ailments, as they know what is going on, and need to perform for family and job etc after. Animals need only the basics. A pin in a leg to stabilise it, for example. Prosthetics seems odd to me. Plenty of pets have a limb removed and are zooming about weeks later without a care in the world. They don't need a false replacement.

Pretty sure Fitzpatrick works on the basis of referrals from Vets - ie you can't pitch up on his door for a random consultation. You would need significant insurance cover or private funding for the operations they show.

Very true.
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

I wouldn't let him anywhere near my cats. He treats the owners and I don't think some of the surgery he performs is always in the best interests of the animals. Especially in the ones with cancer.

One of mine had surgery at a similar vet hospital. It cost about £5000 but completely solved the issue. Covered by insurance.

But hers was a fixable problem. I read an article somewhere that clients are not actually told that some of the procedures are completely experimental. And they often fail. I feel sorry for the ones cooped up in hospital for weeks.

I will never forget listening to a radio show 20 years ago where a vet said that these things were coming down the pipe - but that just because we could do things, did not mean we should or that owners should feel obligated to bankrupt themselves to pay for them. On one had it is interesting, but the precedence it sets is really troubling. It is hard enough to make decisions about end of life for a pet - to do it with the knowledge that if you only had 1000s you would not have to is heartbreaking. And these things and the need to have insurance is driving up prices for everyone.

hand, not had!

I don't really agree with Fitzpatricks' for the most part - cats and dogs don't understand why they're being put through all this surgery and rehab.

But where are you paying £400 for a blood test? It's £57 here including the cost of the appointment 😬

Is there a maximum an insurer will pay for a procedure like these? Does the premium or the excess then just become unaffordable?

All referrals centres are expensive and easily run into the thousands. It’s why everyone who doesn’t have savings at their fingertips should have insurance.

My dog was in a referral centre a few months ago and her £7k insurance was gone in the blink of an eye.

I’ve had lots of animals and lots of similar bills over the years. When my pet gets sick I want the gold standard.

My DM watches a lot of vet programmes (but hates Supervet)

After a while you can identify the procedures your pet would have if they didn't go to Fitzpatricks. And guess what, the pets are perfectly happy on 3 legs or without a fancy implant.

The other thing that gets me is that so many of the procedures are done on pedigree dogs with inbred joint problems. If owners weren't choosing unhealthy breeds, these ops wouldn't be needed.

Comparing the cost of ’a blood test’ is a bit meaningless - you can test blood for a whole range of things! For instance at my workplace we charge £10 for a PCV (packed cell volume) measured in the clinic, but if we want to send an infectious disease panel to the external laboratory then it can cost £400.

Likewise surgery at a referral centre with specialist surgeons, anaesthetists, CT scans and implants to reconstruct a broken leg is going to cost a lot more than an amputation at your local ‘GP’ vet practice, for a good reason!

Yes, one of the reasons I really do not like the guy. It’s all for the camera, and it doesn’t even come across as sincere. I thought it was ironic then they were talking about the Vizsla and the failed operation where the previous vet had now been struck off due to performing unnecessary surgeries…er, hello?