do veterinarians universally over-charge?

[Anonymous]

Just dropped almost $400 for vet to address what turned out to be just a scabbed over injury on his nose. I feel like I am always over-paying for vet visits.

[Anonymous]

i do too, which is why i've pretty much stopped going unless i think there's a serious issue. it always feels like going to a used car dealer. i can't ever tell when they are giving me sound advice v. trying to make a dollar off of me.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree, I don't go unless there's a serious issue. I started going to pet clinics or pet stores to get them their shots too. Had a friend who purchased pet insurance for his 2 dogs and suddenly the vet he'd used for a couple years, who seemed fairly reasonable before, was charging thousands of dollars. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Just have to find the right one. We were at a practice for a long time and do some things really well (they have an amazing emergency facility, they will euthanize at home, they have -some- really, really great vets). But their prices are crazy expensive (I imagine they have huge overhead with their staff size and facility) and are constantly pushing new treatments, vaccines, etc. And, you show up with a bump and they jump to worst case scenarious.

Recently transferred to a smaller, more personal practice that has an excellent vet. She is, seriously, amazing. And, she charges a fraction of what the other place charges. She's got some downsides (can't euth at home and limited hours). But, for that, we use the other place.

[Anonymous]

I completely distrust vet practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Just have to find the right one. We were at a practice for a long time and do some things really well (they have an amazing emergency facility, they will euthanize at home, they have -some- really, really great vets). But their prices are crazy expensive (I imagine they have huge overhead with their staff size and facility) and are constantly pushing new treatments, vaccines, etc. And, you show up with a bump and they jump to worst case scenarious.

Recently transferred to a smaller, more personal practice that has an excellent vet. She is, seriously, amazing. And, she charges a fraction of what the other place charges. She's got some downsides (can't euth at home and limited hours). But, for that, we use the other place.

Does this great vet you describe happen to be in the Ffx area?

[Anonymous]

Never go and vaccines are unnecessary. I get flea medication on line and would only take my dog if she was injured or sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never go and vaccines are unnecessary. I get flea medication on line and would only take my dog if she was injured or sick.

Are the vaccines really unnecessary? The vet seemed to imply that my cat could get feline leukemia, or rabies....ugh. I can't tell what's necessary and what's not. I never would have gone in in the first place, except he had a growth on his nose that looked unusual...I made the mistake of looking it up online, and read about the possibility that it might be a tumor.

[Anonymous]

Get a subscription to Consumers Checkbook. There are some reasonably priced vets listed who are also rated for quality. I have a good vet who is not out to gouge you although in my limited experience with other practices that's not always the case.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Mine charges exactly what I expect. Not cheap, but I don't think I am being overcharged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never go and vaccines are unnecessary. I get flea medication on line and would only take my dog if she was injured or sick.

Really? I thought one was required for the license. Our dog was recently bit by a dog that was visiting a neighbor of ours (our dog was minding its business on a walk when the "guest" dog hopped the fence and attacked). You better believe I would have pursued it even to the death of that dog if it hadn't been-up-to-date on its rabies shot.

[Anonymous]

vaccines may be considered unnecessary by some owners however some vaccines (usually just rabies) are required by law so not a good idea to forgo rabies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never go and vaccines are unnecessary. I get flea medication on line and would only take my dog if she was injured or sick.

Not true at all. Do your animals go outside? Are they ever in contact with any other animals?

[Anonymous]

If you ever need to board, your pet you need to be up-to-date on all the shots.

[Anonymous]

Dentist And Vets= New Car Salesman of the 21st century.