Who Scams You More for Money - Dentists or Veterinarians?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dog ate 1/2 tube of diaper rash cream but had no symptoms of sickness - To be sure everything would be ok I called the vet in Arlington (Glebe Road near the Giant) and they told me (of course) he needed to come in to be checked "just in case."

When I got there, they talked me in to pumping his stomach because and I quote, "he should be fine, but there is a small chance he will have serious complications that could be fatal." Against my gut feeling, I had the procedure done (for $600). I know, I am foolish, but I could never live with myself if my dog died from eating a freaking quarter tube of diaper rash cream. Even as I am writing this, I am feeling like a dumbass for letting them pump my dog's stomach.

You put your faith in these people because you don't know better yourself. They will take you for a ride whenever they can.

I don't see how this was the vet's fault. They basically told you that most likely, there's going to be no problem, but also let you know that there was a chance it could be fatal. If they hadn't told you about that chance of it being fatal, and your dog died... wouldn't you think that vet to be horrible? Instead, they gave you the odds that your dog would be fine, but also offered a treatment for the off chance that it was going to cause a problem. The vet in no way forced you to have the procedure done... that was your choice and your choice alone. All the vet did was provide you with the options available.

wow that was rude

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dentists. What's up with them constantly trying to push those mouth guard things?

I used to feel the same about those things. Now that I'm older, I've learned that the constant grinding and clenching during the night (a lot of people do from stress), it can really "do a number" on your teeth--shifting, chipping, etc. I've even developed a fine vertical line on one of my front teeth. :0( So . . . I've started wearing one every night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lost respect for vets when they started charging for an office visit and an exam and for shaving the fur to examine the area. Um what exactly is the "office visit" charge if not for the exam? And what is the exam charge for if it doesn't include shaving the fur -- does it just cover the vet's eyeballs looking at the already shaven area? I'm surprised they don't charge for spraying the table and lifting the animal onto it, too.

FYI, I drove 45 minutes away and it was no better there. That vet charged me for three procedures to find out what was causing a rash and said two of them weren't likely to be the culprit. When I said, uh, why don't you just check for the thing you think it is then, he said, "because that's not the order we do it." Scum.

since when was going to the vet ever free? you used to go to vets that didn't charge you an office visit? also... i don't know if you've ever been to any medical professional, but typically you need to run tests to find a diagnosis...they aren't psychics.

i work in a vet office in my local town and my area is known for "rich people" but is just big homes for cheap with a great high school, and the main vet raises the prices because of the area its in because of the fact its close to DC and everyone in it is rich, when in fact thats completely not true because not even half of the people living there are in fact rich. she rose the price of nail trim from $15, to $25 and then added an extra $15 to it for the amount of people needed to help hold the animal down. and she rose the price of our exam visit prices and made it so that if you called the office on off hours you'd be charged $95 for an over the phone consultation. which is complete B.S because since ive started working there weve lost more than a fourth of our clients and the only clients that come back only come to see the technicians because they dont like the vet at all. the vet likes to argue at the clients and charge them for things they didnt approve of. for example ill give a senerio ( none of the names are real) vet bob is talking to client mrs hill about her dog rufus and vet bob turns and looks at me and says can you take rufus in the back and clip his nails and then tells the client that his nails were long and that vet bob didnt want rufus to scratch her. and on top of it all the head vet has 2 dogs theyre not potty trained so they poop and pee everywhere, they cause dog fights with the paitents, theyve made multipule clients stop coming because the dogs caused so many problems to there pet. and im just the intern i dont get paid, and the head vet puts me in situations where shes lying a client had asked her if we all had our rabies vaccine for humans she said yes, this here is our intern laura ( that is my real name) shes had hers and i straight up said " no actually ive never had that vaccination because i cant pay for it" the client looked swindled she has never came back to our office and shortly after that other clients who knew that one quit coming because the head vet lies. she shows up late, causing the client to go over the time limit and have to pay for an extended visit. its BS i dont take my dog or cat to her because the time i did she charges me $300 for my cat and i asked for was for her to check and make sure her fleas went away, and my dog was charged $400 for an exam, 3 year rabies and bordetella. then i told the manager what happened and she said thats "f#$king crazy you work here for free, everyday open to close and she ( refuring to the vet) couldnt give you a little discount for you even though your here for free, im sorry laura that will never happen again thats f%$ked up of her" after that i stopped taking them there because the head vet blew air from her mouth into my dogs face saying thats how you train them to do what you want. 1. i train dogs and thats the number 1 way to be bitten. and 2. my dog doesnt bite ever but she will bite if you blow in her face and she will hate you. i told the vet dont you dare ever do that to my dog or anyone else dog that is awful and my dog and hopefully others dogs will bite you because no dog likes that.

[Anonymous]

Vets. Feel like I am at the car mechanic's. Never feel that way at our dentist.

[Anonymous]

Such a random question!

[Anonymous]

I have had dentists tell me I have cavities that need filled that weren't there (verified after I got a second opinion). This has happened on both coasts as well as in the midwest - there are just dishonest people everywhere (not limiting this to dentists).

I have taken my cats to four different vets (three in this area, one in the midwest). The third vet stated that one of my cats had a heart murmur (NEWS TO ME!) and that he needed a cardio run up. No other vet has ever mentioned this and I even asked the fourth vet (second opinion!) and they said they heard nothing that would give them cause for alarm.

Honestly, we signed up for the wellness plan at petsmart and all our pet's regular care and maintenance is taken care of for a planned fee. We also have pet insurance for emergencies. As for dentists? I continue to drive to Tysons even though we don't live anywhere near there anymore and it is a big pain in the neck because I trust that dentist and know he's not making stuff up.

[Anonymous]

I've had such good experiences with our vet. She always goes over the financial things before any work is done. There is the work she sees as necessary and those she sees as helpful, but not necessary right now. I've told her that I'll do pretty much anything for my pets and she continues to review the charges every time. I appreciate it. My pets have taken some strange meds over the years and most of them have come from a human pharmacy, not sold by the vet.

[Anonymous]

Hands down, vets. Most are douche bags.

[Anonymous]

vets and dentist are scumbags every time

[Anonymous]

dentist are crazy money scumbags

[Anonymous]

Vets!! x 1000

[Anonymous]

I don't like pets and have never had one, so I've never paid one dime to a vet.

[Anonymous]

Vets!!!! Why can't they just run shot clinics??? I have absolutely no trouble paying for the shots, but then I have to pay the $85 clinic fee and then blood work... by the time I get out of there it's always at least $200.

And the county demands rabies shots, why can't they host shot clinics??

[Anonymous]

Vets. At least at the dentists, you have insurance, and insurance decides how much is reasonable to pay. Vets take you to the cleaners. And you are a bad person if you don't do what they suggest.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. both bad. $500.00 cash for spaying. Give me a break.