Feeling completely fleeced by the vet

[Anonymous]

I took my 12 year old lab in to the vet, a new one because my old one couldn't squeeze us in. My dog had diarrhea and I thought he might have eaten something, and they suggested an X ray with light sedation. I didn't think twice about it, but when he came out of the X ray he was like a different dog, panting, confused, couldn't walk. They said it was just the sedation and it would wear off. It didn't, and hours passed and I brought him back and he had to be put on oxygen and go into the ICU. his temp was 104, heart rate and BP were high. All the people at the vet admitted they messed up, either he had a bad reaction to the sedation and needed an anti opoid, or maybe they didn't give enough sedation, but either way they didn't even bother to check his vitals once they gave him back to me. The X Ray was $1000, fine, but the ICU charge for five hours was another $1300. Would you try to fight it? I am so angry.

I read the thread are vets scammers and saw all the posts about PE buying vets and raising prices. Then I looked into it and these vets was one of them.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, I'm sorry, that stinks. Not sure if you will win but no harm in asking for the ICU charges to be waived in light of the situation. If they say no, give them a very detailed review on every site you can find.

[Anonymous]

They admitted they messed up? Yeah, I'd ask for all follow up care to be covered.

I'm sorry, OP. That really sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They admitted they messed up? Yeah, I'd ask for all follow up care to be covered.

I'm sorry, OP. That really sucks.

This. The difference between "we made a mistake" and "we're incompetent and don't care" is in the amends. Mistakes happen. Reasonable, decent people make them right, if they can. The least they can do is comp the care needed to deal with the fallout of their error(s).

Personally, I'd ask them to comp all of it, but I'm me.

[Anonymous]

This is a common side effect to sedating old dogs. I can’t see they are going to waive the fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a common side effect to sedating old dogs. I can’t see they are going to waive the fees.

Me again…I should say old animals, including humans. Happens all the time. I never sedate my elderly animals unless absolutely necessary and even then I know it might kill them.

[Anonymous]

You got off easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a common side effect to sedating old dogs. I can’t see they are going to waive the fees.

Me again…I should say old animals, including humans. Happens all the time. I never sedate my elderly animals unless absolutely necessary and even then I know it might kill them.

They should disclose this then (they didn’t)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a common side effect to sedating old dogs. I can’t see they are going to waive the fees.

Me again…I should say old animals, including humans. Happens all the time. I never sedate my elderly animals unless absolutely necessary and even then I know it might kill them.

They should disclose this then (they didn’t)

I feel like this is something everyone knows….

[Anonymous]

No way everyone knows that!

[Anonymous]

People bring their dog to the vet just because they have diarrhea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People bring their dog to the vet just because they have diarrhea?

Why would they want to x ray for diarrhea? Try diarrhea meds first

[Anonymous]

demand that they write off the bill or youre taking the legal route. Document everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a common side effect to sedating old dogs. I can’t see they are going to waive the fees.

Me again…I should say old animals, including humans. Happens all the time. I never sedate my elderly animals unless absolutely necessary and even then I know it might kill them.

They should disclose this then (they didn’t)

I feel like this is something everyone knows….

It is definitely not. If the vet suggests that the animal be sedated, given all of their training and expertise, I would go along with it. You shouldn't have to second guess your doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:demand that they write off the bill or youre taking the legal route. Document everything.

I’m in California where dogs are considered property so you can only do small claims court without a lawyer. Apparently. So would a legal route help? I’m so upset and can’t replaying it in my head. Like if I just didn’t take him there he’d have been fine. And his diarrhea only lasted a day anyway so the whole thing was totally useless.