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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Does this sound fair?

24 replies

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 11:13

I took my dog to the vet on Wednesday as she had a clot in her ear. I paid £150 ish for a consultation, for it to be drained and some antibiotics. I was asked to bring her back next week to check it and paid the consultation fee for that upfront.

The clot is now back and when I rang the vet they have said that it would be an £85 emergency appointment fee plus a fee for any draining needed.

Does anyone feel this is a bit unfair as the treatment given on Wednesday hasn't worked or is it just the nature of the 'illness' and there was always a possibility it could come back? I can understand a standard consultation fee but this is almost double.

I know that they are not a charity and I'll have to pay it but just wondering if anyone else would think this was a bit unfair.

OP posts:

KangarooKenny · 07/10/2022 11:14

Ask for the second consultation fee back, and no it’s not fair. Their treatment hasn’t worked. Ask to speak to the manager.

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 11:22

They are saying that I was told it may not be a permanent solution and that she may need to be operated on but that decision would be made later on. (After I've paid multiple amounts of £150's I expect!) I just feel at their mercy. I'll try the manager but can't see how he will make an exception for me somehow.

OP posts:

Choconut · 07/10/2022 11:23

My concern would be that it would only come back again and you'd be expected to shell out more. You need to know why it's come back and how to stop that happening - and if it could just keep coming back what to do about it.

GreyTCat · 07/10/2022 11:25

Surely this is the follow up consultation, not an emergency consultation?

(Although an emergency appointment is £120 at my vet so at least it’s not that much.)

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 11:59

The follow up is next week. Looking at the bill, I wasn't charged for the actual draining. The largest amount is for the tablets. If I go today and pay the £85 minus my next week fee already paid and get it drained so at least she's comfortable over the weekend and whilst I'm there talk about surgery. How does that sound? I'll ring them as soon as my phone has recharged.

OP posts:

mountainsunsets · 07/10/2022 12:02

Why do you need to pay for an emergency appointment on a Friday during normal opening hours?

All the vets I've ever used only charge emergency prices if it's out of hours (eg. evenings, weekends and bank holidays).

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 12:06

That's their policy. For any appointment that you want sooner that 2 weeks away, it's considered an emergency. Daft I know. I'm not working at the moment so may well have to ask the PDSA for help.

OP posts:

mountainsunsets · 07/10/2022 12:14

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 12:06

That's their policy. For any appointment that you want sooner that 2 weeks away, it's considered an emergency. Daft I know. I'm not working at the moment so may well have to ask the PDSA for help.

That's insane 😬 ours often doesn't even charge the OOH fee - you just pay the standard £17 consultation.

Can you switch vets at all?

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 12:19

£17? That would be great as my poor credit card is getting a hammering! I'll look into another vet. Not sure if they'll accept her as she's mid treatment.

OP posts:

mountainsunsets · 07/10/2022 12:21

It shouldn't matter if she's mid treatment or not. Vets4Pets are normally quite reasonable and tend to be open late and weekends too.

Suzi888 · 07/10/2022 12:26

I’d go to the PDSA if you are able.

I paid £400 for my dog to have an emergency appt during normal working hours. He was given an anti sickness jab and was “pottering around inside”. I was in the car park crying for two hours as thought he was dying. They told me they’d like to give him an MRI for £1,000….. the. Flush his ears under anaesthetic.
He had a bloody ear infection. Steroid and antibiotics sorted him out in the end.
I bloody hate the vet.

NoSquirrels · 07/10/2022 12:38

They sound like terrible vets. Look elsewhere.

Our vet does a follow-up appointment free of charge. I’d be aghast at the fees you’re looking at.

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 15:12

Well that went well! Message from vet to say that they have some Metakam (sp?) for me to pick up - £32.00 and can 'fit her in' on Monday for a £600 op.

I am not happy.

OP posts:

Gigia · 07/10/2022 15:15

Also agree that Vets4pets are really reasonable if you have one nearby

mountainsunsets · 07/10/2022 15:36

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 15:12

Well that went well! Message from vet to say that they have some Metakam (sp?) for me to pick up - £32.00 and can 'fit her in' on Monday for a £600 op.

I am not happy.

What's the operation for?

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 15:51

To stop the blood clot. Strange how they have the time to do this op but no time for an appointment. I have to ring them back to tell them if I'm taking her on Monday.

OP posts:

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 15:56

It just seems a hell of a jump from draining and antibiotics to a full on operation

OP posts:

NutsandPuffs · 07/10/2022 16:08

I would definitely repeat the draining before jumping to surgery but it doesn’t need to be an emergency visit. Pretty common to need to repeat the draining at least one time.

However, is your dog head shaking and/or ear scratching? The reason I ask is because very often these aural hematomas develop secondary to head shaking /ear scratching. The head shaking/ear scratching is due to an underlying ear infection. It is imperative to treat the underlying ear infection to stop the head shaking/ear scratching otherwise the risk of reoccurrence of the aural hematoma is much higher. Has your vet definitely checked for an ear infection? This wouldn’t require antibiotic tablets - much better to treat with topical medication into the ear canal.

Original poster

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 17:38

No she doesn't seem bothered by it other than sort of swerving out of the way when I go to touch her. Is it worth getting the Metacam? They close soon so hope you see this!

OP posts:

Motorina · 07/10/2022 18:07

Metacam is the dog equivalent of Ibuprofen. If she's swerving away it's probably sore and I'd absolutely be getting it and giving it to her as pain relief. It's also useful to have in the cupboard anyway.

(No, you can't use ibuprofen instead.)

mountainsunsets · 08/10/2022 08:36

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 17:38

No she doesn't seem bothered by it other than sort of swerving out of the way when I go to touch her. Is it worth getting the Metacam? They close soon so hope you see this!

Yes - the swerving away shows she is 100% bothered by it as it's a sign of pain.

Please go and collect the metacam for her. It's doggy ibuprofen and will be a huge help.

wickedstepmothfker · 08/12/2022 13:48

Guardsman18 · 07/10/2022 12:06

That's their policy. For any appointment that you want sooner that 2 weeks away, it's considered an emergency. Daft I know. I'm not working at the moment so may well have to ask the PDSA for help.

That's fking stupid. Bandits

wickedstepmothfker · 08/12/2022 13:51

Motorina · 07/10/2022 18:07

(No, you can't use ibuprofen instead.)

But you CAN give a dog paracetamol. Found out from our vet half a tablet for our springer. The lab can probably have more but never too sure so give him half.

Can also give dogs lactulose too...don't tell the pharmacists obviously!

wickedstepmothfker · 08/12/2022 13:58

OK, I've had more than my share of spats with vets...one of which in it's 2nd round of the courts next week 😂so I have strong opinions

PDSA tend to only treat households that are on benefits, normal vets appear these days to be for the monetarily affluent. However, the Animal Trust are not for profit vets and open to everyone - they're just horrendously busy! Their first appointment is FREE. You can go mid treatment, our lab was diagnosed with cancer and we were charged the princely sum of £1200 only to diagnosis with our normal vet, transferred to Animal Trust for his treatment and it cost us in the region of £5000 even with insurance. Our normal vet would be touching £10k. I'll be honest, he wouldn't be with us now if we hadn't found the AT.

The only challenge with them is their customer service is a bit cr*p.

Our normal vet still does odds and sods consultations, wormers and jabs. They have never complained about us doing different treatments at different vets - they would get a strong word if they did.

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