Anonymous
04/04/2025 13:57
Subject: Are vets scammers??
Anonymous wrote:YES MOST ARE SCAMMERS.
Agree. Feel like dentists are too
Anonymous
04/04/2025 12:17
Subject: Are vets scammers??
YES MOST ARE SCAMMERS.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 12:12
Subject: Re:Are vets scammers??
Anonymous wrote:I don't think that most vets are scammers, but some practices are more expensive than others.
In your case, it sounds like communication between you, your partner, and the vet could be regarding what treatments and tests are being recommended and why could be improved. Was a blood test done at the first visit or cytology or culture? It's always ok to ask questions about the vet's potential diagnoses and recommendations so you understand what you are consenting to.
I'm not a vet, but I have some experience in this area. Veterinary medicine is a difficult field because animals can't tell you what is wrong, so diagnosing can be challenging. Finances further complicate the picture. Some people get mad and think they are being ripped off when a veterinarian recommends a battery of tests to get information that will inform a diagnosis. Other people opt for or prefer a wait-and-see approach and don't want to be offered expensive diagnostics, only to complain that their vet did not recommend more tests once they find out their animal's symptoms could have been diagnosed or addressed sooner. Vets can't win. No matter what the vet recommends, you can always decline the tests and wait to see if the condition improves. However, it's not unethical or a scam for veterinarians to discuss or recommend testing that could help diagnose what is causing the patient's symptoms, even at the first visit. I always ask my vet what she would do for her pet and what the pros and cons of waiting before consenting to expensive testing are.
Should an appt for a cat cost 400 dollars? This is not a high income area either. Quite the opposite
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:57
Subject: Are vets scammers??
Anonymous wrote:Yes. They’re being bought up by private equity and pushing expensive services.
This is it.
My vet is especially furious about it because the “wellness plans” they are getting people to buy are expensive because they include dentals. And you should not just do dentals on pets without reason given that you have to put the pet under. This policy of selling dentals pets don’t need arguably goes beyond fleecing people and into a violation of “do no harm.”
Very grateful for my trustworthy vet.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:53
Subject: Are vets scammers??
yes
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:50
Subject: Re:Are vets scammers??
Anonymous wrote:The chains are fleecers. And check if your vet is actually locally owned even if it appears to be a stand-alone practice. VCA has bought a lot of practices. My independent vet charges a lot less than chains.
+1. It’s so hard to tell who actually owns the practice now. They look independent but aren’t.
The prices have gotten so astronomical I have started going to the vet at tractor supply.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:48
Subject: Re:Are vets scammers??
Anonymous wrote:I don't think that most vets are scammers, but some practices are more expensive than others.
In your case, it sounds like communication between you, your partner, and the vet could be regarding what treatments and tests are being recommended and why could be improved. Was a blood test done at the first visit or cytology or culture? It's always ok to ask questions about the vet's potential diagnoses and recommendations so you understand what you are consenting to.
I'm not a vet, but I have some experience in this area. Veterinary medicine is a difficult field because animals can't tell you what is wrong, so diagnosing can be challenging. Finances further complicate the picture. Some people get mad and think they are being ripped off when a veterinarian recommends a battery of tests to get information that will inform a diagnosis. Other people opt for or prefer a wait-and-see approach and don't want to be offered expensive diagnostics, only to complain that their vet did not recommend more tests once they find out their animal's symptoms could have been diagnosed or addressed sooner. Vets can't win. No matter what the vet recommends, you can always decline the tests and wait to see if the condition improves. However, it's not unethical or a scam for veterinarians to discuss or recommend testing that could help diagnose what is causing the patient's symptoms, even at the first visit. I always ask my vet what she would do for her pet and what the pros and cons of waiting before consenting to expensive testing are.
Thank you for this post. We have a few friends who are vets and their passion for animal welfare is like no other and they work more than anyone I know in any other field including human medicine. They would never discuss things they don’t feel are necessary and are always clear about what is needed and what isn’t. But you’re right, they really cannot win. As you said, pet owners have different thresholds, budgets, and attitudes toward animal care.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:46
Subject: Are vets scammers??
I would get a 2nd opinion if you’re concerned you’re being fleeced but not entirely sure there’s not something wrong. My cat had a horribly diseased ear but showed little outward signs of pain. He had developed recurrent ear infections and benign growths. 3 vets examined him and had the same recommendation. It was pricey but each one let me know my options and not one pressured me. There are honest vets out there.
I want to add my cats ear infections needed to be cultured to find the right meds. Your cat not improving on a med doesn’t mean the vet is lying.
I want to add my cats ear infections needed to be cultured to find the right meds. Your cat not improving on a med doesn’t mean the vet is lying.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:40
Subject: Re:Are vets scammers??
I don't think that most vets are scammers, but some practices are more expensive than others.
In your case, it sounds like communication between you, your partner, and the vet could be regarding what treatments and tests are being recommended and why could be improved. Was a blood test done at the first visit or cytology or culture? It's always ok to ask questions about the vet's potential diagnoses and recommendations so you understand what you are consenting to.
I'm not a vet, but I have some experience in this area. Veterinary medicine is a difficult field because animals can't tell you what is wrong, so diagnosing can be challenging. Finances further complicate the picture. Some people get mad and think they are being ripped off when a veterinarian recommends a battery of tests to get information that will inform a diagnosis. Other people opt for or prefer a wait-and-see approach and don't want to be offered expensive diagnostics, only to complain that their vet did not recommend more tests once they find out their animal's symptoms could have been diagnosed or addressed sooner. Vets can't win. No matter what the vet recommends, you can always decline the tests and wait to see if the condition improves. However, it's not unethical or a scam for veterinarians to discuss or recommend testing that could help diagnose what is causing the patient's symptoms, even at the first visit. I always ask my vet what she would do for her pet and what the pros and cons of waiting before consenting to expensive testing are.
In your case, it sounds like communication between you, your partner, and the vet could be regarding what treatments and tests are being recommended and why could be improved. Was a blood test done at the first visit or cytology or culture? It's always ok to ask questions about the vet's potential diagnoses and recommendations so you understand what you are consenting to.
I'm not a vet, but I have some experience in this area. Veterinary medicine is a difficult field because animals can't tell you what is wrong, so diagnosing can be challenging. Finances further complicate the picture. Some people get mad and think they are being ripped off when a veterinarian recommends a battery of tests to get information that will inform a diagnosis. Other people opt for or prefer a wait-and-see approach and don't want to be offered expensive diagnostics, only to complain that their vet did not recommend more tests once they find out their animal's symptoms could have been diagnosed or addressed sooner. Vets can't win. No matter what the vet recommends, you can always decline the tests and wait to see if the condition improves. However, it's not unethical or a scam for veterinarians to discuss or recommend testing that could help diagnose what is causing the patient's symptoms, even at the first visit. I always ask my vet what she would do for her pet and what the pros and cons of waiting before consenting to expensive testing are.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:31
Subject: Are vets scammers??
Yes.
Yes, they prey and guilt loving and scared pet owners into agreeing to unnecessary tests, x-rays, MRIs.
They will offer false hope and prolong treatments on pets that will only survive a few more months.
Yes, they prey and guilt loving and scared pet owners into agreeing to unnecessary tests, x-rays, MRIs.
They will offer false hope and prolong treatments on pets that will only survive a few more months.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:21
Subject: Are vets scammers??
^ and btw kitty is perfectly content. No discomfort. Her ear just stinks a little.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:20
Subject: Re:Are vets scammers??
Anonymous wrote:The chains are fleecers. And check if your vet is actually locally owned even if it appears to be a stand-alone practice. VCA has bought a lot of practices. My independent vet charges a lot less than chains.
This is not a chain. It’s actually a bit inconvenient for us bc we thought it would be more reasonably priced than a local place we’d previously used (we used to take our dog there before he passed away, and they seemed reasonable then).
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:18
Subject: Are vets scammers??
Yes. They’re being bought up by private equity and pushing expensive services.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:15
Subject: Re:Are vets scammers??
The chains are fleecers. And check if your vet is actually locally owned even if it appears to be a stand-alone practice. VCA has bought a lot of practices. My independent vet charges a lot less than chains.
Anonymous
04/04/2025 11:12
Subject: Are vets scammers??
Took otherwise healthy kitty to vet because she had a buildup of ear wax and some ear odor. They gave us ear drops and did some blood work- why I don’t know. Dh agreed to this. I wasn’t there. Bill was 400 bucks or so.
A month later, she still had build up and the ear drops they gave us weren’t working that well. We had some OTC ear drops so we started using that, and then scheduled another vet appt for her. Ironically the OTC ear drops seemed to work better than the prescription the vet gave us.
But we figured we’d take her back for a check anyway. Dh takes her today. The estimated bill is $750 dollars!!!! And they claim she ‘might have a tumor, and they want to run some extra tests. If we don’t do the extra tests, the bill will be 483 dollars.
I feel fleeced.
A month later, she still had build up and the ear drops they gave us weren’t working that well. We had some OTC ear drops so we started using that, and then scheduled another vet appt for her. Ironically the OTC ear drops seemed to work better than the prescription the vet gave us.
But we figured we’d take her back for a check anyway. Dh takes her today. The estimated bill is $750 dollars!!!! And they claim she ‘might have a tumor, and they want to run some extra tests. If we don’t do the extra tests, the bill will be 483 dollars.
I feel fleeced.