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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:
Original poster
Member869894 · 15/06/2022 19:24

WhackingPhoenix no, he's a 13 year old westie....it was his third trip to the vet in his life.
Interesting responses. I had no idea the consultation wouldn't cover that. As a professional I would never ever get away with that without advising of the costs I was about to incur along the way before they were incurred. Best get out my credit card and pay. Thanks all !

OP posts:
LicoricePizza · 15/06/2022 19:25

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??

ErniesGhostlyGoldTops · 15/06/2022 19:25

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.

SpiderVersed · 15/06/2022 19:25

YABVVU!

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

Bellyups · 15/06/2022 19:25

YABU. Pay your bill.

sjxoxo · 15/06/2022 19:26

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.

DarlingDarwin · 15/06/2022 19:26

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

Sisisimone · 15/06/2022 19:28

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?

steff13 · 15/06/2022 19:32

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?

jevoudrais · 15/06/2022 19:32

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.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 15/06/2022 19:33

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

Dominuse · 15/06/2022 19:34

lunar1 · 15/06/2022 19:15

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

This

MiniatureHotdog · 15/06/2022 19:35

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?

MiniatureHotdog · 15/06/2022 19:37

If you didn't pay for the bloods they obviously won't give you the results and will kick you off their patient list.

VenusStarr · 15/06/2022 19:40

Member869894 · 15/06/2022 19:24

WhackingPhoenix no, he's a 13 year old westie....it was his third trip to the vet in his life.
Interesting responses. I had no idea the consultation wouldn't cover that. As a professional I would never ever get away with that without advising of the costs I was about to incur along the way before they were incurred. Best get out my credit card and pay. Thanks all !

That sounds pretty cheap to be honest.

Even if he's a fit and healthy dog, have you not taken him for annual check ups and booster vaccinations / worming?

pigsDOfly · 15/06/2022 19:42

Of course vet fees have to be paid, and I see from your update OP that you are going to pay it.

My vet always tells me what things are going to cost in advance; they know my dog is insured and they can see from my dog's history that I'm happy to pay for anything she needs anyway.

Everything costs money at the vet and the fees are high, as they would be for human private medical attention.

Nothing, apart from consultation and initial examination, is covered by the consultation fee.

Vikinga · 15/06/2022 19:47

Well they should have advise on the costs. Not everyone can afford it. OP, it is better if you have insurance but at his age he's probably going to be very expensive to insure so be prepared to spend money for his care.

AlwaysLatte · 15/06/2022 19:49

Yes you are! I can't believe your dog got to 13 years without you knowing the general costs for things. Hope he's fully vaccinated?

NippyWoowoo · 15/06/2022 19:51

YABU. Cough up.

girlmom21 · 15/06/2022 19:52

That's pretty bang on for blood tests.

Do you think if you had private healthcare tests would be included in your appointment cost too?

Whitehorsegirl · 15/06/2022 19:53

You are being completely unreasonable. Of course you have to pay separately for blood tests and other procedures.

You should never take on the responsibility of having a pet if you have not planned how you would pay your vet bills...

Depending on where you live there are charities like the PDSA and Celia Hammond that charge reduced fees or provide free care for the pets of people who are on benefits/low income if that is your situation.

bigbluebus · 15/06/2022 20:02

Fairly standard in my limited experience - and we only had guinea pigs!
I remember the vet casually announcing that he'd "just given piggie an antibiotic injection to be on the safe side". On the 'safe side ' added another £18 to my bill on top of what had been quoted for the surgery! And that was 20 years ago.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 15/06/2022 20:06

i am annoyed at my vet
i wanted some worming/flea tablets,
not seen the vet since 2020, surprise surprise, no problems with ddog,
i have to see the vet since she has not been seen for 2 years!
crazy
money grabbing, recuperating their losses after covid like dentists

girlmom21 · 15/06/2022 20:07

MrsLargeEmbodied · 15/06/2022 20:06

i am annoyed at my vet
i wanted some worming/flea tablets,
not seen the vet since 2020, surprise surprise, no problems with ddog,
i have to see the vet since she has not been seen for 2 years!
crazy
money grabbing, recuperating their losses after covid like dentists

They have to check their weight and heart. If they given you the wrong dosage and killed your dog you'd blame them for that too.

sixswans · 15/06/2022 20:07

He's had 3 trips to the vet in 13 years so his care hasn't cost you much has it (Not vaccinated or had any kind of health check, dental check, arthritis check then?). Time to cough up OP.