[Daisys Mum]

When I was picking something up from the vets a few weeks ago I asked if  the vet would do me a worming and vaccination program for my sheep and goats, it arrived on a laminated sheet of A4 followed 2 weeks later with a bill for £60  . Wish I'd never asked, one thing is certain I won't ask again, neither will I buy any wormer etc from them.

[shygirl]

thats alot. id be well peed off.

[Alistair]

Mmmmmmm, vets = licensed to print money

No offence to vets however, I think we are just used to the nhs for people, so vets fees seem to be
extortionate

So do what I did, wait till they get it wrong, then sue the bar stewards , which I did, and won

I get quotes for everything now and ask in advance what everything costs and us likely to cost, in writing, from them before I do anything, I've also started getting quoted from other vets before I agree to anything.

Last one was giving me some cream they'd opened to treat one of my cats and charging me for the full tube of cream, errrrrrr no, doesn't need it, so you can keep the left overs

I like my new vet ( changed recently ) but they need to be kept in check

[funkyfish]

I can't believe what some practices charge, some really do take the piss.


 I work in a newly set up practice and would always give an estimate for anything incl a course of antibiotics, and for an op, if it looks like an bigger job than we thought we phone and ok it first.


we really try and keep costs down and charge fairly. We do a fair bit for free as well like socialising visits for scared dogs (and owners!), puppy parties, fat fighters, telephone advice, post op chks and very quick follow up visit etc.


But you would not believe what it costs to run a practice, the overheads are huge! We are having to have  an official VMD visit to inspect our medicines storage and it costs almost £400! The wages are pants as well, yes even for vets. They come out of uni with huge debts and get paid £25 grand a year average for very long and unsociable hours and some really shitty work.

[Marches Farmer]

I'd be inclined to ask for a breakdown of the cost involved in producing the advice.  Did they visit your farm, ask questions about your farming practices, such as whether you run a closed flock, have wet ground, neighbours with orf, scab or enzootic abortion in their flocks, etc?

[RUSTYME]

I'd just send it back and say " no thankyou , that's too dear , and i can get that off the internet anyway " . Companies take the piss these days , but there are enough muppets that pay these insane amounts that they get away wìth it usually . Just say 'no thanks' what can they do ?

[happygolucky]

I am sure I always get a good deal at our vets...I also think we need to know rough costs before we buy something!  I was going to ask if they had a print out of things pups should not eat as my printer was on the blink and I usually give people a laminated print out when I sell pups, this time I have them all on my facebook so gave them links but so glad I forgot to ask our vet!!

[doganjo]

I'd just send it back and say " no thankyou , that's too dear , and i can get that off the internet anyway " . Companies take the piss these days , but there are enough muppets that pay these insane amounts that they get away wìth it usually . Just say 'no thanks' what can they do ?

I agree with Rusty.  Send it back and say, sorry I didn't ask for this  Assume you haven't done the daft thing and paid it?
I have a super vet.  Allez has had three operations this year - the first two I genuinely had to pay for, the last one Ian charged at cost only - instead of over £200 it was £39.  Even our receptionist gasped!

[lachlanandmarcus]

I'd just send it back and say " no thankyou , that's too dear , and i can get that off the internet anyway " . Companies take the piss these days , but there are enough muppets that pay these insane amounts that they get away wìth it usually . Just say 'no thanks' what can they do ?

I think this. They should have said it would be chargeable as it wouldn't be something you would expect to be charged for. And especially if it's basically generic. If they asked loads of questions and research for your specific flock and pre advised the cost then that would be different.


It's silly as well. Just discouraging people from doing the right thing re worming etc.

[Rosemary]

Our vets are very good - I wrote health plans for sheep, cattle and poultry and ran them past out vet who gave comments foc. They also give telephone and email advice on worming and routine stuff, sell small doses of wormer etc and are reasonable for routine drugs.

They do charge for their professional time but I don't mind paying for it. They don't get it right all of the time but they're only human and on balance, I'm happy with them.

[mab]

well I recently changed vets as the old vets didn't seem to have much of a clue about sheep and I got fed up of getting a diagnosis via TAS and my neighbours and getting the meds from the vets (at vet prices) plus a consultation fee for shrugging their shoulders and leaving me to find out what was wrong from other sources.

mind you the new vet isn't very promising - the first bit of advice I got from them about when to use heptavac - was wrong  (well it was different to what TAS'ers and two local sheep farmers said).

I don't mind a vet saying they don't know, but it does seem a bit steep when you still get charged £30 for 4 mins 'work).

[RaisinHall Tamworths]

That is expensive for what it is however due to internet sales vets fees will keep getting higher  . It used to be that you would speak to your vet about what you need then get the drugs from them. Now they advise what is needed and then everyone goes on the internet and looks for the cheapest price. Which is understandable.  Ours vets will try to match prices of large animal drugs if you speak to them. Small animal drug prices on the internet are taking the p*** and alls that will result is vets charging a hell of a lot more for their time in order to make money.

[Lesley Silvester]

If I phone my vet to ask for advice, it's free. They are so helpful and even leave prescriptions at teh nearest branch rather than make me go to the large animal branch.

[shygirl]

our vet dropped his med charge from £80 to £54 when i said i was buying on-line. it was still cheaper online after the £12 script fee.

[Daisys Mum]

They have decided to communicate with me at last only to say that vet in question spent about an hour doing the plan so felt that fee of £60 inc vat was justified, to which I replied that I thought that I as a layperson could probably have done the same online in less time.
Said that yes I would pay the £60 but would no longer use them as my vets after being with them for over  20 years during which time I had remained loyal even when they had made some costly mistakes.
Waiting now to hear what the partners have to say.
Trouble is that even if they drop the charge I will never feel the same about using them again.