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Ripped off at the vets... :(

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  • 20-08-2009 2:30pm
    #1
    Allgäuerin
    Registered Users Posts: 183 ✭✭


    I felt ripped off at the vet in Palmerstown. We went there last week in order to get our 13yr old dog checked out for his arthritis and incontinence problem. Beforehand we were aware of an allergic rash and a cough he had, for which he is being treated at our local vet. The vet in Palmerstown charged €42 just to tell us he had a cough and rash, but did not further engage with the reasons we had come to see her. In total we paid €100 to get told to come back this week to get his lungs checked. We went there again this week, where she checked his breathing and cough in a consultation that didn’t even last 5 minutes! Again we were charged €90 (again €42 for the consultation) and yet again told to return next week. The reasons we went to see her were completely ignored, althought we mentioned to her several times that the dog is in treatment for the cough and rash. This was the last time we went there. Does anyone else have similar experiences?:mad:


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    #2
    laceyl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 ✭laceyl


    I find your post rather confusing, if you are having on going treatment at a different vet, why change in the middle of treatment?
    Also you say it cost you €42 and all you had was a consultation nothing else....but then you say you paid a hundred euro??So what was that for?

    Why didnt you just say to the vet I came about the arthritis she is being treated for the others, so I wouldnt like you to persue that problem further? You didnt have to bring her in for her lungs to be checked.

    Vets are obviously going to try and help a dog as much as they can, and if a dog has a persistant cough theres more then likely some sinster reason, i dont think they were trying to rip you of, more like help your dog.


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    #3
    Allgäuerin
    Registered Users Posts: 183 ✭✭Allgäuerin


    The issue was that I brought the dog to the vet in palmerstown of thinking they have maybe the better equiment than my local vet to check the dog!
    I told the vet that the dog had a Cough, allergic rash and arthritis. The vet checked the dog out and said that the dog did infact have a problem with the lungs and most likly has arthritis and gave me tablets for his issues .
    I found it fair that I had to pay for consultation and the tablets which came to €100. The vet told me to come back with the dog next week. I brought the dog back yesterday to check the results of the medication. The vet said the dog was recovering but needed another week of tablets. That was fine but I got an invoice of another nearly €100 . The problem was I had to pay another €42 consultation. So for the first visit I paid €42 to tell me the problems with the dog ( thats fine ). But why did I have to pay another €42 the second time if I didn't get any consiltation (still no further engage with the reasons we had come to see her) and im told to go again next week where I will have to pay another €42. for consultation:eek:


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    #4
    Lemlin
    Registered Users Posts: 22,249 ✭✭✭✭Lemlin


    I don't know how many times I've mentioned on here for people to shop around. The difference you will find in prices is amazing. The easiest thing to do is shop around, find a vet you are happy with and stick with them.

    Even then if you think they are pricey for a particular procedure, ring other vets and get a quote and then say it to your vet. If you are a valued customer, they should be willing to match another vet.

    I was amazed at the different prices I found for microchipping and vaccinations. I got my dog vaccinated and chipped when she was a pup for €88. I got quoted as high as €140. Nearly double the price!


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    #5
    Fighting Irish
    Registered Users Posts: 7,065 ✭✭✭Fighting Irish


    whatever you do, keep going back


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    #6
    Realtine
    Registered Users Posts: 391 ✭✭Realtine


    The clinic in Palmerstown is linked to the same ones in Blanch and in Glasnevin and they charge by the item. Very expensive and rarely any leeway. I used them one time and never again due to a dreadful experience with one of my dogs.

    I use Carey and Keane in Kilmainham - fantastic vets and I've never been charged over the odd's for any of my three dogs.


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    #7
    laceyl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 ✭laceyl


    hmmm it does seem odd that they charged you a consult fee again for a check...you should question them on that.

    As far as being expensive, when im looking for a vet I do shop around, however I wouldnt just go to the cheapest, unless it was for something such as microchipping or vaccinations.

    Generally vets that charge more use more specialised techniques for example I recently got my female dog neutured with the vets you are talking about (a different branch however), and my friend got her female dog done in and around the same time with a diff vet.

    Its true I paid around €40 more, but it is worth it. My dog was in at 9am and home at 2.30pm the same day, they used an aneasthetic that is very modern and the effects of it ware off almost immediatley, you could barely see where they had operated, they used some new internal stitches technique, so she had no stitches outside at all, it was amazing.

    My friends dog was kept in over night becuase the anaesthetic used to hours to ware off, and she had stitches that had to be removed which meant wearing a cone on her head (very unhappy for days) and another trip to the vet to get stitches out.

    I prefer paying that bit extra and have my dog having everything done and forgotten about in a day instead of 10 long days.


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    #8
    Munster Gal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 342 ✭✭Munster Gal


    Did you query the bill, maybe you should have been charged for a re-visit instead of a full consult? My vet charges €32.50 for a consult and a revisit is €15 or €20 depending on what it's about. There's also the option of seeing the vet nurse for some things which wouldn't cost as much.


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    #9
    Blueprint
    Closed Accounts Posts: 476 ✭✭Blueprint


    My vet never charges for a follow up, even if it is to administer more medication!


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    #10
    laceyl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 ✭laceyl


    yeah I know that with these vets nurses visits are free, you just pay for any medicine etc you buy.

    I would say that it was a mistake charging you for a full visit again, I thought although could be wrong as havent had to have any revisits with my guys, that they charged you once for a certain problem and they only charged you full consult again if you came back with a different problem.


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    #11
    Munster Gal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 342 ✭✭Munster Gal


    Munster Gal wrote: »
    Did you query the bill, maybe you should have been charged for a re-visit instead of a full consult? My vet charges €32.50 for a consult and a revisit is €15 or €20 depending on what it's about. There's also the option of seeing the vet nurse for some things which wouldn't cost as much.

    Should have clarified, there's no re-visit charge if it's for the same thing or you're just getting a new prescription. The re-visit (that's what's on the receipt) is if you're in with different illnesses for the same animal or if you bring another one of your pets in within a short time-frame. Having said that I've often brought one of the cats in a couple of days after I've been in with the dog and there's been no charge - I just pay for meds.
    My old vet charged re-visits if you came back for blood/ med checks which is why I thought this is what the OP should be charged for.


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    #12
    aujopimur
    Registered Users Posts: 3,953 ✭✭✭aujopimur


    I've been ripped off here in Cork (snotty young vet) not to mention the cost of the prescribed meds,I now give my dog a little of my own arthiritis medication, she has not been so frisky for years.


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    #13
    Blueprint
    Closed Accounts Posts: 476 ✭✭Blueprint


    Munster Gal wrote: »
    Should have clarified, there's no re-visit charge if it's for the same thing or you're just getting a new prescription. The re-visit (that's what's on the receipt) is if you're in with different illnesses for the same animal or if you bring another one of your pets in within a short time-frame. Having said that I've often brought one of the cats in a couple of days after I've been in with the dog and there's been no charge - I just pay for meds.
    My old vet charged re-visits if you came back for blood/ med checks which is why I thought this is what the OP should be charged for.

    That's actually really good then, I find that my lot tend to get sick in batches, so I know I would have saved some money at times if my vets did that!


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    #14
    looserock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 302 ✭✭looserock


    I give out about my vet sometimes, but when I read some of these posts I count my blessings.

    Yes op if what you say is accurate you have been robbed, you should not have been charged for a consult the second time and when you go back you should question this, and whatever you do don't pay for a third consult.


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    #15
    laceyl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 ✭laceyl


    aujopimur wrote: »
    I've been ripped off here in Cork (snotty young vet) not to mention the cost of the prescribed meds,I now give my dog a little of my own arthiritis medication, she has not been so frisky for years.


    Thats great your saving money...most likely ruining your dogs liver though.

    Out of intrest...whats the price difference between what you pay for your meds and how much your dogs were??

    People just presume that vets charge loads for meds cause they feel like it..they actually have to buy them off pharmacy companies themselves which costs alot,(we all no how expensive pharmacies are for human meds, they charge vets the same to order them in)

    I dont think you will find a vets that markup meds, food yes, but not meds.


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    #16
    Munster Gal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 342 ✭✭Munster Gal


    Blueprint wrote: »
    That's actually really good then, I find that my lot tend to get sick in batches, so I know I would have saved some money at times if my vets did that!

    Mine too, they're like kids if one gets sick they all do and it mightn't even be the same thing! I've sort of inherited a dog from my in-laws and she's a dote but also beset with problems so I'm a very good customer indeed. We're getting to the bottom of alot of her problems so hopefully soon the vet will only see me for annual vacc.!


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    #17
    Top Dog
    Registered Users Posts: 4,164 ✭✭✭Top Dog


    Am I one of the few people on here who's actually thoroughly happy with their vet?


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    #18
    annefitzy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 89 ✭✭annefitzy


    Top Dog wrote: »
    Am I one of the few people on here who's actually thoroughly happy with their vet?
    .
    Nope:)
    I use different vets for different things :eek:
    Prices do differ from vet to vet even for the same thing:D and it not a case of going for the cheepest vet it the one you know will do the right thing for your animal.
    As I type my own Jasper is under the weather and will be taking a trip to the vets later...My last cat Blacky cost me thousands with different tests before we found out what was wrong with him:eek: and yes I would pay it again on any of my pets. My pets are my responsibility;) in saying that I just hope Chosy dosnt decide to need a trip to the vets:p


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    #19
    olaola
    Registered Users Posts: 4,139 ✭✭✭olaola


    Realtine wrote: »

    I use Carey and Keane in Kilmainham - fantastic vets and I've never been charged over the odd's for any of my three dogs.

    + 1 for Carey & Keane, they really take note of history and develop a relationship with you & your pet. They remember her name too! :D


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    #20
    justhedog
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26 ✭justhedog


    Allgäuerin wrote: »
    I felt ripped off at the vet in Palmerstown. We went there last week in order to get our 13yr old dog checked out for his arthritis and incontinence problem. Beforehand we were aware of an allergic rash and a cough he had, for which he is being treated at our local vet. The vet in Palmerstown charged €42 just to tell us he had a cough and rash, but did not further engage with the reasons we had come to see her. In total we paid €100 to get told to come back this week to get his lungs checked. We went there again this week, where she checked his breathing and cough in a consultation that didn’t even last 5 minutes! Again we were charged €90 (again €42 for the consultation) and yet again told to return next week. The reasons we went to see her were completely ignored, althought we mentioned to her several times that the dog is in treatment for the cough and rash. This was the last time we went there. Does anyone else have similar experiences?:mad:
    Yes the vets of this country are ripping of the public. They can't get money out of the Farmers now so they have cop on to the soft towns people. How many new vet practices open up in town where the real money is. They don't have to drive to farms anymore and yet charge you for walking in their front door. I find younger vets worst with a real god almighty attitude


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    #21
    helimachoptor
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,653 Mod ✭✭✭✭helimachoptor


    I know when my dog was younger, he had problems with his ears and his glands. But if i brought him for an ear problem the vet would give him injections/tablets etc so i would be charged for consultation and medication, he would tell me to come back in a week but that would be free unless i had to pay for more medication.


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    #22
    Munster Gal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 342 ✭✭Munster Gal


    Top Dog wrote: »
    Am I one of the few people on here who's actually thoroughly happy with their vet?

    I'm totally happy with mine! I was lucky enough to have a great vet where I lived previously too.


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    #23
    Munster Gal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 342 ✭✭Munster Gal


    justhedog wrote: »
    Yes the vets of this country are ripping of the public. They can't get money out of the Farmers now so they have cop on to the soft towns people. How many new vet practices open up in town where the real money is. They don't have to drive to farms anymore and yet charge you for walking in their front door. I find younger vets worst with a real god almighty attitude

    Hilarious post!!!!:D:D:D


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    #24
    Durga
    Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭Durga


    justhedog wrote: »
    Yes the vets of this country are ripping of the public. They can't get money out of the Farmers now so they have cop on to the soft towns people. How many new vet practices open up in town where the real money is. They don't have to drive to farms anymore and yet charge you for walking in their front door. I find younger vets worst with a real god almighty attitude

    There is a lot of truth in this. Vets will even admit this themselves and of course a small animal practice gives a vet a much better quality of life than a large animal.

    I use Vet Care in Portlaoise. They are good and I have full confidence in them but they are expensive. What I find a little smart is that they never given you a breakdown of the charges on a receipt. All I ever get is a Laser receipt even when there is a consultation and medication, and often other items such Advantage doses of various sizes etc. There really isn't the option of shopping around as the only other vet in the town has an outdated practice where I had a previous bad experience.


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    #25
    Bluefrog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,045 ✭✭✭Bluefrog


    Ah yes, the name thing. The vet I was WAS with did that too - in their database the animals are filed under their own names and not mine. Actually, I find that a bit too cutesy for my tastes - still ends up with my name on the invoice! That kind of thing just seems to highlight poor service more when a vet is just 'phoning it in'.

    I guess it is a pretty Irish thing to get poor service and grumble afterwards rather than complain at the time.
    olaola wrote: »
    + 1 for Carey & Keane, they really take note of history and develop a relationship with you & your pet. They remember her name too! :D


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    #26
    sisco
    Registered Users Posts: 269 ✭✭sisco


    Ohhh Thats Bad!!


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    #27
    looserock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 302 ✭✭looserock


    Bluefrog wrote: »
    Ah yes, the name thing. The vet I was WAS with did that too - in their database the animals are filed under their own names and not mine. Actually, I find that a bit too cutesy for my tastes - still ends up with my name on the invoice! That kind of thing just seems to highlight poor service more when a vet is just 'phoning it in'.

    I guess it is a pretty Irish thing to get poor service and grumble afterwards rather than complain at the time.

    IF they were in the database only under you're name, how would they keep a history on each animal?


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    #28
    Bluefrog
    Registered Users Posts: 1,045 ✭✭✭Bluefrog


    I'm not objecting to the way they're held in the database. I just find it, as I said, a bit too cutesy that when I call regarding one of them the staff refer to them as 'Iggy My Surname' or 'Holly My Surname' - a creeping humanisation though I wouldn't want any animal, never mind a human, to get the level of disinterested care my animals got in that particular practice. Maybe I'm being more cynical due to my negative experience there but it has a whiff to me of emotional engineering.

    I guess it just leaves me feeling that if they put the same thought into treating the animals as they seem to have into the way they refer to them they might have a better practice.
    looserock wrote: »
    IF they were in the database only under you're name, how would they keep a history on each animal?


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    #29
    star-pants
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,429 ✭✭✭✭star-pants


    I've no issue, because they ask for my surname and address and then the name of the dog, because they have their own file within my file.


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    #30
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,160 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    I'm horrified at how many people have had bad vet experiences.

    When my poor hairy thing was still alive, I always took him to Fairview Veterinary Hospital in Dublin and I can't say enough good things about the staff there. When I had to bring him back repeatedly for a stubborn condition which wouldn't clear up, I was never charged the full fee for repeat visits.

    When it was time for him to be put to sleep, they were very kind and professional - before, during and after. I hope to get another dog once people (sadly) start off-loading unwanted Christmas 'presents' and I will have no hesitation bring him or her back to the same vets.


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    #31
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,441 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Our two cats are under the care of Bairbre O'Malley here in Bray and I can't say a bad thing about her, the other vets/locums that work for her or the running of the practice in general. They still get a Christmas card every year from her and her little dog Tasha addressed to "Holly and Buffy ******* and family" though :D


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