Vets

[eariyam]

Just curious about this one.When someone trains as a vet I wonder is it because they care about animal welfare or do they just see pound signs??I have a cat that was hit by a car and left on the road as dead,A very kind lady picked it up and took it to the nearest vets and he was going to put it to sleep as a stray until the lady said she would pay for any teatment he needed(said cat is curled up on my lap as I type and kind lady was reimbursed)My sister has a rescue dog that is now in a lot of pain because he has toothache.Vet won't touch him until she pays £300 up front.I know they say don't get animals unless you can afford them but my sister could afford it at the time she got her dog.Her circumstances have changed drastically and she can no longer afford to pay a lump sum.She offered to pay so much a week which I know she will honour but vet said no!!So my question is.If it is within your power to save a life and ease suffering would you not do so because of money???I cannot understand how vets can in all conscience refuse to help a suffering animal because of money.I know they have a living to make but bloody Hell

[pixie373]

Yes. If i was a vet, I'd be bankrupt very quickly.

[Canary42]

If they offered free work for special circumstances they would be taken to the cleaners by unscrupulous customers and soon be penniless.

[eariyam]

Me to pixie.Can't bear to see suffering

[pixie373]

I'm soft enough working with people - bit extra here and there always. I did want to be a vet, but I'm sure if I could do something to help an animal and the owner couldn't pay, i would offer it anyway.

[March-Hare]

Its a very difficult question .... if you were a solicitor who could solve friends divorce or house buying problems free, would you? If you were a teacher would you teach everyone else's kids in your spare time if they were struggling at school ........... I guess these would be a no ...........although I do also see a slight difference went a suffering animal is involved - but then there is the PDSA and the Blue Cross who help in cases of hardship .................. can you tell I am getting splinters from sitting on my fence!!

[eariyam]

Yes canary I understand that but I still can't understand how they can look at an animal suffering knowing that they can ease it but won't because they won't get paid straight away,My sister offered to pay weekly in order to have her poor dog put out of the misery of his toothache and she was refused.

[eariyam]

March...She went to PDSA and Blue Cross and they didn't want to know.Even though her circumstances are reduced she is borderline enough for them not to care.We are going to help but will be 3 weeks until we can do it.3 weeks with toothache.Can you imagine it?? Bless him

[woofgang]

vets are people, no better no worse, there are good ones and bad ones and the good ones do get cheated. You know your sister well enough to trust her but does the vet? Its not just your sister, I bet vets are put in this position many times each week.

[boxtops]

It's a real dilemma. A vet practice costs money to run, the staff have to be paid, their rent has to be paid, drugs and treatment costs money, a vets is not a charity. I am sorry for your sister's dog but this is why it's recommended to have pet insurance...... my cat's insurance now cost £200 a year because he's an older cat, but one visit can see off over £60 just for medication and consultation, so insurance is well worth it. I wouldn't have a pet without insurance.

[eariyam]

She has insurance but it doesn't cover dental work

[boxtops]

I don't understand that - our pet insurance covers any eventuality. Poor dog. Does she not have a credit card she could pay on?

[Kiki-frog]

Like boxtops, I think insurance is an absolute must. It's a tricky one. If I were a vet I'd really struggle with turning a sick animal away.

Last time I had to take one of our cats for some minor treatment, it cost me £60, but when I thought about that having to cover the drugs, vet's time, receptionist's time, upkeep of the premises, electricity, water rates, phone bills, etc, etc, it seemed like a small price to pay. Maybe because we have the NHS for sick humans we assume that the same treatment should be available for animals as well.

[woofgang]

does it not cover illness and infection? I know it doesn't cover tartar removal.

[EDDIE51]

All the vets I know will give life saving or urgent treatment first and worry about getting paid later. Toothache does not count as life threatening. How much would it cost to just extract the tooth, not £300 surely?

[eariyam]

It covers broken limbs and medication for an ongoing illness.but specifies in the small print one of the things not covered is dental work

[Maydup]

Unfortunately the vet would have a queue round the block if he/she to dish out freebies or even post treatment payment plans; besides, how would they chose who to charge and who not to charge. Its a business and not a funded charity. Best to get this bill paid and then as Boxtops says, pay an insurance to spread the cost in future. Thats what others do. Either that or give the dog away.

[eariyam]

Thanks maydup.That was very helpful

[EDDIE51]

PDSA and BlueCross do veterinary work at cost price for anyone , it is just that only people on a very low income can qualify for free treatment. PDSA wll do the dental work as well as any other treatment needed and just charge what it costs them and a contribution to the funds it will be a lot less than the commercial vets fee.
There is a PDSA at Cambridge I take an old lady and her dog there for treatment
you have to wait your turn ,no appointments, but they are very good even if you have to wait an hour or two to see the vet.

[eariyam]

Eddie, We are in the North West. But thank you for trying to help

[EDDIE51]

PS, Don't go to the PDSA on a Saturday morning, the last time we did that there was a 5 hour wait to see the vet and that was at 8.30 am.