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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay the whole vet's bill

263 replies

Member869894 · 15/06/2022 19:09

Hello. Honest opinions please. I took my dog to the vet today as he has breathing difficulties. The vet listened to his heart and lungs, pronounced them fine and then said he'd do a couple of blood tests and call me with the results. The whole thing took15-20 minutes.
On leaving I was presented with a bill for £188!!!!! I said that I would pay for the consultation fee (£56) but that I hadn't been told that the blood tests would be extra or that they would be so expensive

I'm kicking myself I didn't ask more about if the cost of the blood tests and if they were included in the consultation as Iif I had known how much they cost I would have said no. Equally, I think I should have been very carefully advised of the cost before they went ahead. What do you think?

OP posts:
MoveBitch · 15/06/2022 19:10

Do you not have insurance?

ApolloandDaphne · 15/06/2022 19:11

I think it was up to you to ask. Would you really not have done the blood tests even if you had known the cost? Have you got insurance you can claim it back on?

Isaidnoalready · 15/06/2022 19:12

Always always ask whats the cost when it comes to vet treatment its not the nhs

Tessabelle74 · 15/06/2022 19:13

Is it your first vet visit? Everyone knows that nothing is included in the initial consultation

tealandteal · 15/06/2022 19:13

Surely you know that everything at the vets costs money? Have you had the results yet? They might be the test that tells you what is wrong.

Roominmyhouse · 15/06/2022 19:14

I think YABU, the blood tests are never going to be free. The time it took isn’t really relevant as the cost involved is more to do with the blood being analysed not that actual blood taking. If you didn’t ask about the cost when they said they’d do bloods then I think you have to accept you agreed to the treatment and have to pay.

TheFlis12345 · 15/06/2022 19:14

Has your dog never been to the vets before?! Of course taking blood and sending it off for analysis isn’t included in a consultation cost.

NotKevinTurvey · 15/06/2022 19:14

You said yes to the tests, you didn’t have to, and you could have asked the cost first.

The service was provided, you have to pay for it.

Popsicle33 · 15/06/2022 19:15

I'm sure if she'd had insurance she'd have used it! And yes op ywbu. You should've asked the cost. What's the point in taking a pet to the vet if you don't follow their advice?

lunar1 · 15/06/2022 19:15

I'm going to be honest, that sounds cheap for a consultation and bloods.

Hugasauras · 15/06/2022 19:15

Surely you'd know blood tests aren't part of a consultation? The consultation is literally just that - the consulting. Any diagnostic tests/treatment will cost extra.

passport123 · 15/06/2022 19:16

Refuse to pay if you want to find another vet.....

Trudij123 · 15/06/2022 19:17

That’s really reasonable for blood testing - plus he’s got to make the time to call you later and discuss any findings with you, dispense any drugs you might need and be available for as long as that call might take….

You’re being very unreasonable IMO - as said above, it’s not the NHS - vet treatment is the equivalent of private practice.

WhackingPhoenix · 15/06/2022 19:17

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.

millymollymoomoo · 15/06/2022 19:18

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

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 15/06/2022 19:19

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.

thefirstmrsrochester · 15/06/2022 19:19

WhackingPhoenix · 15/06/2022 19:17

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.

This

Cantonet · 15/06/2022 19:19

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.

limitedperiodonly · 15/06/2022 19:19

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

Cheerybigbottom · 15/06/2022 19:20

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)

Sexnotgender · 15/06/2022 19:21

YABVVVVU.

Cameleongirl · 15/06/2022 19:22

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.

Logoplanter · 15/06/2022 19:22

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.

Cameleongirl · 15/06/2022 19:23

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

Hotnashsummerday · 15/06/2022 19:23

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

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