Vets. REALLY???

[midori1999]

Sorry, I am ranting... DH has just taken one of our bitches to the vets. (He had to take her really due to baby/DC and tbh, she co-operates more for him at the vet as she's a traitor... DH isn't really 'doggy' though) She has been off her food for a couple of days, as in not so keen, but has been eating it, although she left her breakfast. Would take cheese though, although gingerly. She's never been a greedy dog, but I wondered if her mouth was sore and had a look and she has a sore/graze inside and her teeth aren't looking great tbh. She's maybe a bit depressed, but full of enthusiasm for walks, ball throwing, training etc. Not that much different to her usual self.

She is entire (we show and very, very occasionally breed, but this bitch would be spayed soon anyway) and she did have a season about 8-10 weeks ago. The first thing I consider when any of the bitches are even slightly off colour is Pyometra, it would be silly not to. I suspected the vet would mention it and think it might be an option. However, (and I appreciate I am not a vet!!!) she has no discharge, no swelling in her abdomen (vet did confirm to DH that this was the case) and IMHO, doesn't seem ill enough for a pyo.

So, vet has given antibiotics for her mouth and given an anti-inflammatory. Brilliant. They have also taken bloods for a 'comprehensive profile' and to also test her liver and kidneys. Then they want her back on Tuesday for a scan, which they appear to have said requires a general anaesthetic. Really?

I am waiting for the vets to ring me back regarding what the blood tests are for, as DH said 'pyo and something else'.

This is our second time using this (city) vet and I wasn't happy with them or their attitude the first time tbh. The visit was over £200 and DH has been told to expect the final bill to be in the region of £1000.

I just feel like they are taking the piss a bit really. I would happily pay whatever it costs if the dogs need vet treatment and we do have good insurance anyway. I never, ever try and make do without vet visits and take them for the slightest thing, but I resent paying for treatment we might not need.

Any thoughts?

bet they asked if you had insurance first

just saying

Sounds like our vet

however we are apparently 'Gold' members (sounds rude) because we spent so much trying to save our last dog have lots of animals and use them regularly (the vet not the animals, we only use the animals for coating everything in hair)

We get a 10% discount - WOW- if we take several animals in at once (causes chaos in the waiting room)

But unfortunately it sounds normal to me
There's no harm in getting a second opinion from another vet practice, preferably a cheaper one

I've recently changed my vet for this very reason, had been with them for 10 years and initially was very happy, I remember saying they're so great they don't try and do loads of unnecessary stuff. Recently had one puppy and kitten for first vaccinations and puppy microchipped (couldn't afford to get kitten done) that lot plus some flea treatment cost 300 euros for the two and this was with me saying no to the special ear washing solution for the dog and other crap they were trying to flog me as being absolutely necessary for young cats and dogs.

They quoted me 100 euros to castrate my kitten. I found a new vet recommended by a local cat charity, just had the kitten done last month 35 euros. I'm so happy I changed. I'd got to the point with my old vets that I wouldn't dare take any of the animals in if they were ill because I knew it would cost a minimum of 150 euros.

Right, they rang me back before I posted that, but thought it better to do seperate posts as the first was a bit long...

Apparently she needs the general for a dental on Tuesday, not the scan. Obviously something got lost in translation.

The vet said the kidney and liver tests are back already (?) and are fine, so she can have the general. I asked what the other bloods were for and was told 'pyo and other things' but she wouldn't elaborate on the 'other things' and just avoided the question. Why?

I did say I felt she was being over-cautious regarding the tests for the pyo, but as we planned to get her spayed anyway in the near future as she will not be shown or bred from any more due to her age and as she needed a general for her teeth, that perhaps it was best to just spay her on Tuesday so as to avoid another general in the future, in which case, did they still need to send the other bloods and obviously they wouldn't need to scan her. Apparently they still need to send the other bloods anyway. Then she said they might not be able to do the dental and spay at the same time anyway and that she'd still need a scan before spaying anyway if the bloods didn't show pyo.

I am used to my lovely country vets, who I really trust and who would have probably given me the antibiotics and anti inflammatory, booked her in for a dental and told me to keep an eye on her for signs of pyo or deteriation in the meantime. I feel like this new vet are really doing their best to run the bill up, particularly as they know we have insurance.

Oh dear Midori, so sorry to hear this. I think there's a couple of issues here - firstly, of course they should tell you what tests they've done, along with why they've done them and what the results are.

Secondly, I think this is a symptom of changing vet practice (and to a certain extent human medicine too) in that tests are now done far more routinely and thoroughly. In some ways this is a good thing I think, but it's also driven I suspect by a culture of defensive medicine where practitioners are keen to show an evidence trail for a diagnosis/recommendation. I also think that when you know the vet at a practice well and trust their style of working you feel more comfortable with what they suggest - this sounds like a new practice to you where they are still not getting the issue of communication sorted out.

We had a locum at our practice recently and I swear that if I thought for a a second he was permanent I would run for the hills, whereas our normal vet is lovely, able to communicate clearly what she is doing and explain briefly and patiently her reasons for doing so (e.g tests, not tests etc) As I am a chronic PFD type, who like to research everything very thoroughly, ask masses of questions and is a general pain in the proverbial, that is no mean feat.

Also, I think the issue of driving up fees is particularly bad in some practices (not all, by any means) and those chain type ones seem to be particularly bad for it.