Vets Bills.

[JoM]

Debbie, Billy was stung a couple of weeks ago and although he was breathing okay so it obviously wasn't a bad reaction, he had a few swellings - including one on his lip - and was obviously uncomfortable. Googling it mostly recommended getting a vet appointment just to be on the safe side. A bit more Googling though revealed that human anti-histamine tablets can be given for stings, and I had a box in the cupboard which cost something like 79p for 14. I carefully checked the ingredients and the dosage, he had one and was much happier after a short while.

Oh, and last year he had a small patch of red skin on his leg. The vet prescribed a small tube of Fuciderm cream and along with the consultation it all cost around £60. The cream didn't fully clear up the patch, it kept coming back, so the tube got used up and I called for a repeat. I was told that because it was a steroid he'd need another consultation, so that'd obviously be another £60.
Google was my friend again. I had a small tub of Sudocrem in the cupboard and put a small smear of it on the red patch, the following day it was gone and has never returned!

[molly]

I had to take my daughter's dog to the vet recently with a really bad tummy upset. She gave him three injections and gave me some tablets for him, human indigestion tablets, and the whole lot only came to £39.95. I was amazed as we were expecting a bill closer to £100. The vet even telephoned the next day to see how he was.

But I do remember some of the awful bills we used to get in London for our dog. Complete rip off.

[KateLMead]

Lucky you Molly. If we received a bill like that we would be convinced they had made a mistake.

[molly]

Lucky you Molly. If we received a bill like that we would be convinced they had made a mistake.

I did wonder…………...

[debih]

Debbie, Billy was stung a couple of weeks ago and although he was breathing okay so it obviously wasn't a bad reaction, he had a few swellings - including one on his lip - and was obviously uncomfortable. Googling it mostly recommended getting a vet appointment just to be on the safe side. A bit more Googling though revealed that human anti-histamine tablets can be given for stings, and I had a box in the cupboard which cost something like 79p for 14. I carefully checked the ingredients and the dosage, he had one and was much happier after a short while.

Oh, and last year he had a small patch of red skin on his leg. The vet prescribed a small tube of Fuciderm cream and along with the consultation it all cost around £60. The cream didn't fully clear up the patch, it kept coming back, so the tube got used up and I called for a repeat. I was told that because it was a steroid he'd need another consultation, so that'd obviously be another £60.
Google was my friend again. I had a small tub of Sudocrem in the cupboard and put a small smear of it on the red patch, the following day it was gone and has never returned!

Our vet told us to use sudacrem on poorlies.

[debih]

I have to say whilst they charge extortionate prices they are good too.

Remember when Millie was recovering but needed feeding little and often - the vet nurses used to have her at the surgery for the day to look after her and feed her on the days I couldn't do it because of work. And they never charged me.

And Delectable Dan did say that if the insurance money ran out they would do balloon dilations and treatments for free as he refused to give up on her when he knew he could make her better.

On another note A our vets has opened a new hospital in Ashbourne and Millie received an invitation yesterday to attend their opening event. I assume we are invited too!

[Aggers]

I must admit that Vets fees do seem very high, and often makes me think
how lucky we humans are to have the NHS.

We have been watching the programme "Young Vets" on the telly, and when
one realises the depth and range of knowledge required to pass out as a vet,
perhaps their seemingly high consultation fees are to some extent justified.

[miasmum]

Its not dogs and cats that worry me so much as a lot of them are either insured or treated like a member of the family. It is animals like guinea pigs and rabbits (Kaz excepted) that worry me. My Maisie pig was passing blood one Saturday night. I rang the out of hours vets and they told me it would be £110 before they could even see her. I said "she is a guinea pig not a Great Dane" but no that was the fee. I treated her with cool chamomile tea and cranberry juice and she was fine, but it made me wonder how many small animals are left to suffer over weekends and bank holidays because often they are children's pets and mums and dads can't afford that sort of fee

[KateLMead]

We hear nothing with regard to vets salaries do we? I realise that to become a vet individuals go through unbelievable
Years of hard training, (hence the saying " I would rather have a good vet than a bad doctor or surgeon" including if I recollect in my late brother in laws day Latin (and French?) not sure about the French.
Instead of becoming a vet he became a pilot.
I do not think the costs of vets bills and visits warrant the charges they demand, I think there is an association
(PDSA or something like that)who assist those whose needs warrant their help.

[Kaz]

I have heard that it is harder to get into Veterinary College than human medicine, but am unsure if it is true. It wouldn't surprise me................

Shell I am sure you have a good point there!