"The Thing I Hate About Being A Veterinarian" - from a blog (not mine).

[kestrel91316]

http://hstdvm.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/the-thing-i-hate-about-being-a-veterinarian/

Shameful of us to charge for what we do........

[Behind the Aegis]

1. What an asshole!

Mr. Smith, that is!!!!

I have 4 Chihuahuas, and we are aware of the risks of pregnancy. We also know their other health concerns. We spent $900 to have a knee replacement for our pretty, pretty princess, Marigny. That freaking but a hit on our budget, but there was no way in hell I was going to let her continue with a slipped patella! They are crated when we aren't in the house. They are buckled into their crates when we drive...except for those speeding trips to the vet because someone thought it would be funny to lick a toad!

There are some really shitty vets out there, but we have been very lucky to find some of the best both here, and in New Orleans. I liked the NOLA one because he made house calls! Do you know what a hassle it is to round up three dogs and a cat for rabies shots?!

BTW, I don't think it is shameful to charge....you gotta eat. And, quite frankly, I am glad that someone can do it! I'd be yacking and crying the whole damn time.

[Tien1985]

2. I wish people like

Mr. Smith could be photographed and blacklisted by local vets. I wonder how many other dogs he's going to kill.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. "That case still haunts me."

I am sure that every vet has more than one case that haunts them. And I am sure that, at some point, you have to steel yourself against these kind of assaults by a patient's owner.

I would ask an person who expects a vet to do work for nothing how often they go to work and don't get paid. Or how often the grocery store or hardware store gives them items for free. I guess that these are the people who would show up at a hospital emergency room knowing that they will be treated because they cannot be turned away. Maybe we need Medicare For All, including dogs and cats and hamsters.

We know that veterinarians love animals. And I have great sympathy for any vet who has to turn away an animal because the owner cannot pay for treatment.

[narnian60]

4. Boy, talk about being between a rock & a hard place.

I would hate to hear all the horror stories my vet has to tell after being in practice over 30 years. The 1 or 2 the front office people told me were quite enough.

[Skittles]

5. love my vet

worth every penny

[Bertha Venation]

15. What pets do you have, Skittles?

[Skittles]

20. whassup, Bertha? How is Mrs. Venation?

I've got a couple of kitties - both rescues - one is 7 and the other is 15

[Bertha Venation]

21. I knew that. Just that it's been a long time.

Mrs. V. is much better, thank you. Not much goes on lately, we just keep on working and paying that idiot tax.

[Walk away]

6. Out of the thousands of dogs this Vet probably turns down for treatment every year...

they choose this guy to represent people who can't afford Vet care???? I'm sorry but most people who come in to Vet's offices crying over their sick dogs are not monsters. They just don't have enough money to pay the inflated prices that so many Vet's charge these days and they are desperate to save the pets they love.

The breeder in the story should have been reported to the police for animal cruelty, he should have been made to turn over the dog and the Vet should have used some of their precious time to save the dogs life if possible and if not, put it humanly to sleep.

There are plenty of wonderful Vets who do Pro-Bono work on a regular basis and yet they still manage to pay the rent.

[kestrel91316]

7. Our "inflated" fees are merely a reflection of our skyrocketing costs.

The vet DID save the first dog's life. And her employer got shafted as a result.

People like you are half the problem.

[Walk away]

8. First of all, I have 3 rescue dogs who are ALL insured and I have a special account...

set up for health emergencies as well. So how am I part of the "problem"??????? I spend thousands every year on insurance and Vet bills. I just paid off an $8,000 bill from last month alone.
I will say it again...this article is about the poor Vets having to tell people they can't help them because they don't have enough $$$$$. This is their least favorite part of the job...but it's justified because the irresponsible pet owners are worse than just poor! Some are also monsters who lie and abuse their animals.
I do pro-bono work for people all of the time. I charge the elderly and folks who have medical or financial emergencies what they can afford and sometimes they just can't afford anything. It takes it's toll but I consider it due for the privilege of working with animals.

I am really curious to hear about this problem I am causing. What half of the problem is my fault?

[BrotherIvan]

10. Insane profits for medical care are the problem

People or animals. The poor, the needy and those who are suffering should just go home and die.

I'm curious to read the answer to your question too.

[ginnyinWI]

11. Couldn't the vet have told the guy:

Last edited Fri Aug 16, 2013, 11:28 AM - Edit history (1)

"I can't allow you to take her home, because she is suffering" and then insisted that he sign ownership over to them? He didn't pay his first bill, so I would think he didn't deserve any other option--no more credit. A judge would probably order him not to own any more intact female dogs if he had to go before one.

Or alternatively: have the guy sign a statement saying he will surrender the dog if he doesn't pay the bill, and then keep the dog there for a certain amount of time (or in a foster situation) until he either pays or not. After a certain amount of time goes by, then she goes to a shelter for adoption. Best for the dog and it lets the vet treat her without the guy getting away with anything.

One time, when we were young and poor, we had to have our car repaired and didn't have the money to pay in full. And that is exactly what the garage did: they kept our car until we got the next paycheck and could come pay off that bill! We didn't even have a credit card--they were not so easy to get back in the 70s.

[Walk away]

22. Still waiting for an answer to my question.

If you are going to accuse someone of something at least support your statement.

[BrotherIvan]

9. I'm sure that many vets went into their profession wanting to help animals

Just like many doctors. Yet after my experience with many, many vets, I've seen first had that that changes. I am now caring for my mother's dog whose vet practice, one of the big franchises with a giant aquarium and everything state of the art, charged her thousands of dollars and missed the dog's cancer after EVERY test in the world. Pumped her full of steroids and gave her Cushing's and didn't even diagnose that. I did and weaned her off the steroids which did nothing for the original condition. Now that the cancer is finally the size of a baseball on her face, there is nothing they can offer other than pain meds and MORE steroids. The doctor would not speak to me on the phone and insisted I come in for another $100 consultation just to answer a question. The last time I went in because we were afraid the tumor was seeping and might burst, they charged $200 to say there is nothing they can do about that either. After $3000 in two months alone, we are treating her at home and managing her pain very well and keeping up her weight with natural treatments. We may not save her, but it's more than any vet has ever offered.

My last vet, who misdiagnosed my cat's blindness as high blood pressure when in fact it was a brain tumor that he died from, was a very famous specialist in the major city where we live. She had a new Mercedes every year. I personally made a lot of payments on that.

Do I sound bitter? Yes. I feel the same way about the high cost of medicine for people. And much more often then not, the doctor either gives the wrong diagnosis or has no idea what is the problem (though they will never admit it) and offer the usual antibiotic/steroid combo which should be called the CYA prescription. And the patient pays every time, whether the doctor is correct or not, whether the treatments help or not, whether the doctor is so over scheduled they make you wait for over an hour, spend less than five minutes with you, and never even look at you before writing a prescription. All while one gets treated to an extra dose of medical arrogance. The days of the friendly country vet who didn't want to soak you for every last penny are over.

I'm sorry to say, I have no sympathy for the vet in the article. The vet should have saved the dog. Period. How shameful for a practice to put profits over the life of those they are supposed to treat. They will just raise their already astonishing charges and people like me will pay for it.

[ginnyinWI]

12. After several problems with my old vet, finally switched.

Like you said, they would never say they were wrong, but they missed problems and gave bad advice, assumed it was one common urinary problem when it wasn't, and generally were far too off-hand about diagnosis and treatment.

I like the new clinic I chose much better: I get straight, honest talk about options, and they let me be part of the decision process, not just telling me what has to be done with no options, and oh here is the $$$$ bill, please pay it on your way out!

What we all need to do as consumers is to not stick with a veterinary clinics that fall short. I stayed with my old clinic far too long, giving them the benefit of the doubt far too many times.

[Walk away]

13. My "day to day" Vet is the last of a dying breed...

I go to him for shots, the runs, even teeth cleaning. All the simple stuff. He is getting on in years so he refers major problems to the "Big Vets". His staff is excellent and they adore him and his patients are ruing the day he retires.


When your visit is over you do not get your bill at the front desk. He takes a billing form out of his desk, sits down with you and explains everything while he makes out you bill by hand. There are no set charges and he is ALWAYS fair. I know for a fact that he has drastically undercharged the same neighbor I help out. She is elderly and on a very fixed income. The cool thing is that she doesn't know. He pretends that treating her little poodle for cancer costs a few hundred dollars instead of thousands and she feels glad to be able to pay her bills and take care of her dog. She is proud of it and Daisy is doing well. How many other people does he help? Would he have turned his back on that little, dying dog?

[ginnyinWI]

17. Aw that is so sweet!

What a gem you have there. Yes, a dying breed. Reminds me of the vets on "All Creatures Great and Small".

[BrotherIvan]

18. I agree and we have tried numerous vets in our area

The next time we go we are going to try a holistic vet that was recommended. I think that vets have been captured by the drug companies just like regular doctors and that makes their treatment options very limited, less than successful (often with severe side effects and complications that lead to the need for further treatment), and very very expensive.

We were so frustrated by the misdiagnoses and general cluelessness from regular vets, we went to an IMS specialist for our husky's chronic asthma. The vet said, "Huskies get asthma." Only thing he could do: prescribe more steroids (which she had been on for over 10 years and never solved the problem). So we put her on a raw diet, problem solved. Sheesh.

It's just so disappointing. And as the OP comment said the problem is that people aren't paying enough. I beg to differ, we've had pets all my life and the costs have skyrocketed; the care and health of our animals is absolutely no better.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I put Mr. Smith in the ranks of all other irresponsible pet owners. He IS the problem.

To be sure, there are quite likely problem vets. In our area there was a private vet practice that, when Pops died, his daughter, also a vet, sold to a large national vet practice. Money became the be-all and end-all there. We switched to our current vets, another small practice, and are very happy.

But while there are some bad vets, there are even worse pet owners.

I wish Mr Smith a life like that he afforded his Littles.

[Sunlei]

16. That is animal abuse by the owner. (ignorance not direct abuse)

Vets have the owners address, know how to contact the authorities. These professionals know how to deal with, talk to ignorant animal abusers & hoarder type situations.

Vet should contact the HSUS and the SPCA and talk to them about these type of situations.

[hamsterjill]

19. I find that an informed consumer is the best approach.

I am part of a cat rescue group, and we actively use several veterinarians in town. Why? Because we "shop" pricing for basic services. And we find a dramatic difference. Fees for an "office visit" can range anywhere from $28 to $65. So if a cat has an upper respiratory infection and needs a convenia shot to stave off a secondary bacterial infection, I may not take that cat to the vet who charges the most.

But I fully and completely understand that vets have to charge for their services. We are lucky enough to have a cat specialist in our city, and I've had discussions with him before about HIS expenses. It is necessary that he keep up-to-date equipment, cutting edge medications AND staff that is knowledgeable and efficient in order for his practice to operate, and for him to provide the services that WE need him to provide. I want those services available to me when I need them, so I have to be willing to pay for them.

What I see as the real problem in the article in the OP is that Mr. Smith is an irresponsible pet owner, and his animals will suffer because of HIS ignorance. Unfortunately, too, it is highly unlikely that someone like Mr. Smith could ever be educated to understand that what he is doing is wrong. I meet morons like him every day!