Ripped off at the vets... :(

Allgäuerin

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:

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.

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:

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!

Fighting Irish

whatever you do, keep going back

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.

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.

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.

Blueprint

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.!

Top Dog

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

sisco

Ohhh Thats Bad!!

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?

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?

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.

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.

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

morgana

I'm completely happy with our vet too. Its a smallish practice in Kanturk, North Cork and I can't recommend him enough, very kind and caring and also not overly expensive. Meds are reasonable, and prices haven't increased in years.

Top Dog

morgana wrote: »

I'm completely happy with our vet too. Its a smallish practice in Kanturk, North Cork and I can't recommend him enough, very kind and caring and also not overly expensive. Meds are reasonable, and prices haven't increased in years.

There's a 50:50 chance we use the same vet!

morgana

Let's see then, the one by the Petrol Station?

Top Dog

Yup!

The one you'd miss if you didn't know it was there.

tk123

OP do you have pet insurance? I had it for my cat and it saved me a good bit when he got sick - will def be getting it for the puppy. I use the Anicare in Glasnevin (same group as Palmerstown) and found them brilliant when my cat got sick (he was pts ) the bills were expensive but they told me I didn't have to pay it all at once etc

justhedog

tk123 wrote: »

OP do you have pet insurance? I had it for my cat and it saved me a good bit when he got sick - will def be getting it for the puppy. I use the Anicare in Glasnevin (same group as Palmerstown) and found them brilliant when my cat got sick (he was pts ) the bills were expensive but they told me I didn't have to pay it all at once etc

Once a vet hears you have pet insurence it is open season on spend spend spend. It does not seem to matter if the animal is going to pull through or not. :mad::mad::mad:

Top Dog

justhedog wrote: »

Once a vet hears you have pet insurence it is open season on spend spend spend. It does not seem to matter if the animal is going to pull through or not. :mad::mad::mad:

Maybe in your experience. But its simply not true of all vets so its a bit of a generalisation.

dee o gee

Bluefrog- I done work experience at a vets that used to do the same thing with the names, you really have no idea how many cats are called fluffy, you could have two or three fluffys in at a time and the only way you knew who belonged to who was by their ''surname''

I know somebody that was quoted nearly 200 euro to neuter a female rabbit, they went to a vets across the road instead and paid half that. It pays to shop around, the cheapest isint always the best but the same goes for the most expensive one too.
The practise I done my work exp in just so happens to be the expensive place in town, and I can honestly say I will never be bringing any of my pets back to it ever again :mad:

ziggy23

I have 3 cats.the 2 younger ones I bring to the blue cross for their injections etc. U just have to give a donation of whatever u can afford. The eldest cat is 15 and has had a good few health problems (she had to have her ears amputated cos she had skin cancer) so I just bring her to the local vets cos they have treated her for these problems and have her notes. It is expensive tho just paid 73 euro today for a check up, one tube of flea treatment and arthritis supplement.he wants her to come back for blood tests during the week so that'll prob cost even more. But at the end of the day I would pay anything to make sure she has a good quality of life in her senior years:D was thinkin of takin out pet insurance on the other two. Is this a good idea anyone tell me?

bigeasyeah

This happened to me,the vet was charging for every little thing.We changed vet and got better treatment(more attentive etc),but what got me was the medicine.Our new vet charged us a fraction of the price we were buying ,for a longer course.

useful_contacts

Top Dog wrote: »

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

i am, my parents brought our pets to the vet i bring my cat to now- and im v happy with them- v friendly and dont overcharge, and more than happy to listen to my stupid questions:)

tampopo

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!

I think C&K are VERY expensive. Seem to make up a number on the spot.

tk123

justhedog wrote: »

Once a vet hears you have pet insurence it is open season on spend spend spend. It does not seem to matter if the animal is going to pull through or not. :mad::mad::mad:

Even if that was the case you'd only be paying the excess and getting the rest back!?

Allgäuerin

one of the first questions was indeed "has your dog a pet insurence". unfortunately he hasnt (to old and in germany where we lived two years ago you cant insure your dog healthwise).
after this question i felt a bit treated second class "well then we cant do this test.......and that....."
but for sure we would pay anything for our dog if it helps him out. but not 42 euros again and again for getting told what we all ready know!!!:mad:

Electrician

Hi all. My cat is on a asthma inhaler twice a day. My local vet was charging me €104 a month for the inhaler. I called into the local chemist and asked them how much it was with them and if it was possible to get them there in future. Got a letter from the vet which they have to supply to you on the animals meds and now the inhaler costs €33.50 a month.
Anyone on longterm meds should check the difference

annefitzy

Electrician wrote: »

Hi all. My cat is on a asthma inhaler twice a day. My local vet was charging me €104 a month for the inhaler. I called into the local chemist and asked them how much it was with them and if it was possible to get them there in future. Got a letter from the vet which they have to supply to you on the animals meds and now the inhaler costs €33.50 a month.
Anyone on longterm meds should check the difference

You must have a pretty laid back cat to let you give him/her an inhaler twice aday fair play to you;) btw are you using the AeroKat device with it?

Electrician

Yea i have the aerokat. He doesn't really mind getting it. Half the time the little flap on the aerokat is vibrating away as he purrs. Don't think he wants his lungs to fill with fluid again so he'd do anything

annefitzy

Electrician wrote: »

Yea i have the aerokat. He doesn't really mind getting it. Half the time the little flap on the aerokat is vibrating away as he purrs. Don't think he wants his lungs to fill with fluid again so he'd do anything

Fair play to you;) sounds like a sweetie of a cat, it great to see a true and caring pet owner;)

hucklebuck

Dragging up a 1 year old thread.