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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think out of hours vets fees are outrageous?!

177 replies

sensuallettuce · 29/04/2012 18:10

Have arrived home from lunch to find cat in pain and passing blood.

Phoned PSDA out of hours line. It's £135 for a consultation BEFORE any treatment. It's normally £30 (so more than 4 times the normal cost!!) Snooty woman on phone informed me if I am on housing or council tax benefit I would be elegible for help but as I am not on any of those I need to pay the fee or not be seen, and the well being of my cat is my responsibility which I agree is true and I can normally afford the £30.

It's the end of the month and I don't have a spare £135 + in the bank so my cat will have to wait until tomorrow.

AIBU to think this inflated "out of hours" price is outrageous?!

OP posts:
ripsishere · 29/04/2012 18:13

Certainly seems steep. Would an ordinary vet be cheaper?
From what I understand, the PDSA is a charity. Maybe they charge more so they can subsidise people who can't normally afford it?

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 29/04/2012 18:14

There is just one "emergency" service on a Sunday :(

OP posts:
blueemerald · 29/04/2012 18:17

The Celia Hammond Clinics are amazing and incredibly reasonable.

Rikalaily · 29/04/2012 18:18

My vet is £18 for a consult, they don't charge extra for weekends as long as you can get to the surgery. Call around some local vets and see if they can fit you in, some surgeries are open until 7pm at the weekend like ours is.

One of our cats started having seizures 6 weeks ago, the first two weekends we had to rush her in for emergency treatment at the weekend which inc 2 stay ins for observation, she's been treated for all kinds as we can't find the reason for it. Up to now the total is over £600.

faintpinkline · 29/04/2012 18:19

Have you phoned your normal vets or others in the area? They will almost certainly have details of their out of hours service on the answer machine. Hope you find something that's a lot for just a consultation.

SugarPasteHedgehog · 29/04/2012 18:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

McHappyPants2012 · 29/04/2012 18:23

Would you pet insurance cover it

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 29/04/2012 18:26

Pisses me off that if I was on benefits my cat would be seen!!

Not insured Blush and she's too old now she's 11.

OP posts:
NiniLegsInTheAir · 29/04/2012 18:26

Try and find another vet - ring around, most of them have emergency numbers.

DO NOT leave your poor cat in pain overnight. That's bloody cruel. Sad

Sparklingbrook · 29/04/2012 18:30

I am with the surgery inside Pets at Home as they are open Saturdays and Sundays.

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 29/04/2012 18:31

Have phoned everywhere are they all give the same number :(

I don't want to leave her in pain but I don't have £135.

OP posts:
ratspeaker · 29/04/2012 18:33

When our cat had his accident last November we were warned it would be around £100 just to attend out of hours vet.
They did state that after initial consult all fees were at their normal daytime rate.
I suppose they have to pay overtime to have a qualified vet and vet nurses onhand at weekends /overnight.
As it was he needed surgery so the bill for there was £600. Then there were our vet bills on top for ongoing treatment
Luckily I had a credit card and more important insurance so was remebursed
( bless my sister for taking out and paying the insurance )

I really dont know what we would have done without the credit card but the cats wounds was so bad we couldn't leave him to suffer

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 29/04/2012 18:34

I don't have a credit card either :(

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 29/04/2012 18:34

I'm sorry sensual i just reread, and i was no help. Is there a cat shelter you could ring for advice?

AkhalTeke · 29/04/2012 18:35

Don't get me started on the PDSA.

Although it's great that they're there for people on benefits who can't afford veterinary fees but can afford to buy a bulldog.

alphabite · 29/04/2012 19:27

You can't leave your poor cat in pain. Is there any way you can lend the money from a friend?

I agree the inflated price is crazy but to be a pet owner you have expect the occasional big vet bill e.g. for an operation. Please please try and get the cat to the vet.

LittleMissMcFartyPants · 29/04/2012 19:34

YADNBU our vet also charges £135 out of hours Shock
Is disgusting.

Am thinking of getting FartyDog a part time job to fund his vets fees Grin

bejeezus · 29/04/2012 19:36

Was vet nurse for many years

It's not that unreasonable really, you'd pay that for an emergency plumber. Go to your normal vet and they will usually accept installments if you are upfront about it.

Is your cat male or female? If male there is danger of blocked bladder developing which can rupture and be fatal if untreated. If female, maybe infection or cystitis which can usually wait longer BUT incredibly painful- have you ever had cystitis??

If cat is male and squatting without passing urine, it needs seeing

Lougle · 29/04/2012 19:37

"Don't get me started on the PDSA.

Although it's great that they're there for people on benefits who can't afford veterinary fees but can afford to buy a bulldog."

A bit sweeping? My Mum & Dad have fallen on hard times. I noticed their dog was a bit too quiet for my liking. Mum & Dad were scared of phoning a vet - so expensive, they literally don't have the money, and it was Easter Sunday.

Fortunately, for their dog, they had PDSA eligibility. They were so very kind. They registered their dog over the phone, arranged for him to be seen that evening. Unfortunately, I was more right than I thought, and he was PTS - massive bleed in stomach from large tumour either spleen/liver.

They were treated with utmost respect, and Skipper was treated with utmost care.

Thank God for the PDSA.

Incidently, AkhalTeke, I don't know if you've realised, but they have changed their policy to only allow one out of the maximum 3 animals registered to be pure bred.

cornsyilk · 29/04/2012 19:38

My vet charges £10 more n Sunday which I think is very good

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 29/04/2012 19:38

Think it is cystitis - she has had it before - can Cymalon work? I have some in the cupboard Confused.

Not sure how I am supposed to produce money I don't have never had to take her out of hours before and have no one I can borrow money from.

OP posts:
kilmuir · 29/04/2012 19:42

Could you pay in instalments

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 29/04/2012 19:44

I asked that Kilmuir but they said no - and went on to ask if I would expect to pay for my shopping in Sainsbury's in installments Hmm

OP posts:
AvocadoAndFitch · 29/04/2012 19:44

Ring the pdsa back ask to speak to the vet to assess the urgency. The vet will decide if the cat is not going to get critical or have any welfare issues by waiting until tomorrow.

A vet cannot fail to provide emergency treatment full stop. If it is a real emergency they must see your cat regardless of your financial situation. They can be struck off if they don't.

You must speak to the vet to make him/her responsible for your cats emergency treatment. A nurse or receptionist isn't good enough.

Also you say passing blood, urinary or feacally? Monitor what its passing, ring back if it changes at all.

Babylon1 · 29/04/2012 19:45

Most vets out of hours service are provided by Vets Now, including PDSA and that is what they charge. You would be able to claim back from PDSA if you were on benefits etc, BUT with Vets Now out of hours, there is no way of getting out of paying that first £135.00 - even if you're insured you would have to claim it back at a later date.

FWIW I do think the fee is steep, and I don't think YABU at all, but please don't leave your poor cat in pain til tomorrow Sad

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