Am I dreaming

[lankeela]

I could have sworn I answered a question from Gravitate about his vet and the cost of treatment, but maybe I have become so obsessed that I am dreaming of Gravitate's daft questions!

Anyway I was saying that vets have to train for longer than doctors and the equipment costs so much to set up a surgery that I don't mind paying for genuine treatment, but I do object to them selling dog food at extortionate rates when you can get it cheaper elsewhere, by convincing clients that it is needed for veterinary purposes. I know some food is prescription only but even then there are usually cheaper alternatives that do the same job. My friend is buying a tinned diet food that is �1.50 a tin!!!! Looks and smells just like Chappie.

I just hope Gravitate has another vet lined up in case of emergency.

[jules77]

Lankeela, it rings a bell with me too, but think it was a few months ago when he threatened to get a puppy but didnt know what he wanted.

Although I would say my vet is expensive, and he does sell prescription diets, he is quite happy to recommend alternatives. I guess the stuff your friend is buying is Hills of some sort, and yes it does look like Chappie, my old boy refused to touch it, must agree with him as it looked most unappetising.

[amonty1144]

Have just paid �177 for a lump to be removed from our lab, it became infected and had to pay �20 for another visit and antibiotics, scandalously expensive at times

[persianlady]

I have my cats insured. They have paid out more than I have paid in premiums, so I consider it money well spent
Of course I wish that my cats had not neede treatment. Even so, it is worth it for the peace of mind.
Vets do seem to be expensive, but if you consider the training they have and the equipment needed. I am sure that compared to human private medical care, it is comparable.
As for prescription diets, you cn get these much cheaper on the internet. In fact you can get all your prescribed medicines on the internet. One of my cats has to have the Hills C/D because he is prone to cistitis. I get it without prescription at two thirds of the price the vet charges. Also flea treatments and worming pills. Your vet can not refuse to give you a prescription. You do not have to get the medicines from him. Incidentally, I use Vet UK. You can google them. Usually the postage is free too, or if not, then very reasonable and still cheaper than the vet.

[La Diva]

Vets are expensive!

One worming tablet (Drontal Plus) costs me �3:20 at the vets, so I now buy exactly the same stuff on-line at �1:68! The Frontline flea treatment is also half price. This is at VetUK too, just as persianlady says..

Mentioned it to my vet and she tells me that the more people who buy online will mean that vet prices for other services will have to rise in order to keep in business.

[lankeela]

No jules, this was definitely this week, as he had taken the puppy to the vets for vaccinations, and they had given him some cream for lumps on the head, and some other treatment. He didn't use the cream, and when the lumps went down expected the vet to refund the cost of the treatment and copped the hump when they refused, and told them where to stick their surgery!

I answered the question as above, but it never came up and then the question disappeared altogether. Wonder if he had been banned? Such a shame if he has, as I am sure the advice given would be helpful to other people.

[amonty1144]

I used to have my dogs insured but the premiums kept going up, as did the excess, so it wasn't piece of mind to have the insurance, just very expensive.
Thankfully my dogs aren't particularly sickly or accident prone, so in the last couple of years, apart from routine vaccinations I've been once with each dog.

For those on benefits, you can get free vet care through PDSA even if they don't have a clinic in your area. Just thought it might be useful whilst on the subject of cost.

http://www.pdsa.org.uk/eligibility.html

[lankeela]

I couldn't afford to insure my lot, and all the vets bills I have had over the years have all been under what the excess would be apart from one, which was �250 for a greyhound with a back injury. Had I paid insurance for all those years I would have been keeping them in business without being able to claim.

Strange how its the first thing the vets ask now - have you got insurance. Better to put some money away each month for emergencies.

Going off for a week's holiday with my dogs now, so behave yourselves while I'm not here!

[gelda]

Have a nice one Lankeela, we'll miss your informative posts.