Vet's bill - how do they arrive at such large numbers?
Discussion
Now then.
My dogs had a litle scrap the other day leaving Pete
with a laceration on his front leg approx 30mm long and full thickness...ouch...Steve
, bad dog!
So we took him to the vet and the total bill for the following:-
- initial consultation, wash with saline, antibiotic and dressing
- General anasthetic, 4 stitches, another dressing and bucket on head
- dressing change
- Stitches removed
came to £400
Can someone who knows about these things tell me how much money you think actually ends up in the vets pocket? I don't begrudge anyone a living but that just seems excessive, it might not be?
As a comparison, if I were to do minor surgery on you to remove an ingrown toenail it would cost approx £175 including after care until healed and any antibiotics if needed.
He was insured so ends up costing us £75 but we were thinking about ditching that and just bunging few quid in the bank every month instead. Unofficially, do vets adjust their prices if you have insurance?
My dogs had a litle scrap the other day leaving Pete
with a laceration on his front leg approx 30mm long and full thickness...ouch...Steve
, bad dog!So we took him to the vet and the total bill for the following:-
- initial consultation, wash with saline, antibiotic and dressing
- General anasthetic, 4 stitches, another dressing and bucket on head
- dressing change
- Stitches removed
came to £400
Can someone who knows about these things tell me how much money you think actually ends up in the vets pocket? I don't begrudge anyone a living but that just seems excessive, it might not be?
As a comparison, if I were to do minor surgery on you to remove an ingrown toenail it would cost approx £175 including after care until healed and any antibiotics if needed.
He was insured so ends up costing us £75 but we were thinking about ditching that and just bunging few quid in the bank every month instead. Unofficially, do vets adjust their prices if you have insurance?
I'm guessing that the vets have a price list very much aimed at what the insurance companies will pay... and which people without insurance can be guilt tripped into paying!
In future, you'll think twice about taking pooch to vets when he's a little hurt eh?
So their overpricing kinda contradicts their professional 'caring' stance.
Mind you, what am I saying... they are a business, hopefully they've lined their pockets well over the last 10 years, because I kinda suspect that pet insurance will be one of life's little luxuries that will be binned along with gym membership.
Then the vets may find more people actually asking why they are being charged £400 for a cut!
In future, you'll think twice about taking pooch to vets when he's a little hurt eh?
So their overpricing kinda contradicts their professional 'caring' stance.
Mind you, what am I saying... they are a business, hopefully they've lined their pockets well over the last 10 years, because I kinda suspect that pet insurance will be one of life's little luxuries that will be binned along with gym membership.
Then the vets may find more people actually asking why they are being charged £400 for a cut!
When a Person is anaesthetised it takes a specialist with god knows how many years experience behind them. Then theres the Surgeon and all the other people in there too.
A vet studies for as long (or longer) and has to maintain and own his own operating theater and do the anaesthesia etc.
Its a skilled job that takes a lot of expensive kit to do. £400 isnt much cash thesedays either .
A vet studies for as long (or longer) and has to maintain and own his own operating theater and do the anaesthesia etc.
Its a skilled job that takes a lot of expensive kit to do. £400 isnt much cash thesedays either .
About 18-24 months ago our woofly (Saluki, Collie cross) managed to giver herself a deep cut along her back after chasing a rabbit underneath a barbed wire fence.
9 stitches/staples and a lampshade collar came to around £95. Didn't even bother with the (£65 excess) insurance.
You were done!
9 stitches/staples and a lampshade collar came to around £95. Didn't even bother with the (£65 excess) insurance.
You were done!
GKP said:
About 18-24 months ago our woofly (Saluki, Collie cross) managed to giver herself a deep cut along her back after chasing a rabbit underneath a barbed wire fence.
9 stitches/staples and a lampshade collar came to around £95. Didn't even bother with the (£65 excess) insurance.
You were done!
That sounds more like it.9 stitches/staples and a lampshade collar came to around £95. Didn't even bother with the (£65 excess) insurance.
You were done!
Steve (the springer) did a similar thing to his leg about 6 months ago, deep laceration after jumping in the lake, caught his leg on something or other,
Vet also charged £400 for that....that didn't include a lampshade, that was extra.
Also my vet works in a very small practice, just him a receptionist and a nurse, I would gues his overheads are relatively minimal.
dave_s13 said:
Now then.
My dogs had a litle scrap the other day leaving Pete
with a laceration on his front leg approx 30mm long and full thickness...ouch...Steve , bad dog!
So we took him to the vet and the total bill for the following:-
- initial consultation, wash with saline, antibiotic and dressing
- General anasthetic, 4 stitches, another dressing and bucket on head
- dressing change
- Stitches removed
came to £400
Can someone who knows about these things tell me how much money you think actually ends up in the vets pocket? I don't begrudge anyone a living but that just seems excessive, it might not be?
As a comparison, if I were to do minor surgery on you to remove an ingrown toenail it would cost approx £175 including after care until healed and any antibiotics if needed.
He was insured so ends up costing us £75 but we were thinking about ditching that and just bunging few quid in the bank every month instead. Unofficially, do vets adjust their prices if you have insurance?
Think you were done Sir. My dogs had a litle scrap the other day leaving Pete
with a laceration on his front leg approx 30mm long and full thickness...ouch...Steve
, bad dog!So we took him to the vet and the total bill for the following:-
- initial consultation, wash with saline, antibiotic and dressing
- General anasthetic, 4 stitches, another dressing and bucket on head
- dressing change
- Stitches removed
came to £400
Can someone who knows about these things tell me how much money you think actually ends up in the vets pocket? I don't begrudge anyone a living but that just seems excessive, it might not be?
As a comparison, if I were to do minor surgery on you to remove an ingrown toenail it would cost approx £175 including after care until healed and any antibiotics if needed.
He was insured so ends up costing us £75 but we were thinking about ditching that and just bunging few quid in the bank every month instead. Unofficially, do vets adjust their prices if you have insurance?
Christmas day emergency appointment due to dog's eye swelling to the point were he couldn't see out of it. Injection, course of anti-biotic cream = £72.
When we had him castrated, I pretty sure that was only a couple of hundred and that is a fairly major opp.
rhinochopig said:
Think you were done Sir.
Christmas day emergency appointment due to dog's eye swelling to the point were he couldn't see out of it. Injection, course of anti-biotic cream = £72.
When we had him castrated, I pretty sure that was only a couple of hundred and that is a fairly major opp.
Are you insured?Christmas day emergency appointment due to dog's eye swelling to the point were he couldn't see out of it. Injection, course of anti-biotic cream = £72.
When we had him castrated, I pretty sure that was only a couple of hundred and that is a fairly major opp.
I wonder if the price becomes more realistic if you're paying as you go?
Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 5th January 19:46
dave_s13 said:
rhinochopig said:
Think you were done Sir.
Christmas day emergency appointment due to dog's eye swelling to the point were he couldn't see out of it. Injection, course of anti-biotic cream = £72.
When we had him castrated, I pretty sure that was only a couple of hundred and that is a fairly major opp.
Are you insured?Christmas day emergency appointment due to dog's eye swelling to the point were he couldn't see out of it. Injection, course of anti-biotic cream = £72.
When we had him castrated, I pretty sure that was only a couple of hundred and that is a fairly major opp.
I wonder if the price becomes more realistic if you're paying as you go?
Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 5th January 19:46
k it, let fido bleed, its just a flesh wound"
samwilliams said:
How many of you have any experience of the comparative training of doctors and vets, or even the financial aspects of running a veterinary practice?
I have some, albeit limited knowledge of the training involved and I do have a good idea about the running costs of a private medical practice.If I knew all the ins and outs I wouldn't have asked the question.
You gonna answer it??
Vet's can be Doctors on motorsport events (yes really) and they have similar training too in all thing biological. At the end of the day a human is no different to most animals except dogs etc can't to you which bit hurts!
I beleive there is also some legal situation with regards to vets being classed a medical persons too, for emergency situtaions I think it is, not 100% percent sure but I'll ask that to someone in the know.
I beleive there is also some legal situation with regards to vets being classed a medical persons too, for emergency situtaions I think it is, not 100% percent sure but I'll ask that to someone in the know.
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