The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
At some point in time, most of us have brought a pet to the veterinarian. Without mentioning a name, have you ever felt ripped off by a veterinarian for the services they provided to your animal?
If so, tell us why.
Talk about it….
43 comments
Once when I brought my cat in for a checkup, they performed tests without my approval. I called channel 4’s consumer complaint hotline, they in turn contacted the vet, who in turn contacted me, and we reached an agreement.
Thanks to KRON 4, they saved me close to $400.00.
Yes I have, took my dog to the emergency clinic on Monument on a Sunday, kept checking and they said he’s doing fine. Went on Monday morning to pick him up, took him to my regular Vet for them to tell me he’s not going to make it.
I have had over six dogs. I always ask veterinarians why and have never felt over charged. They don’t make much, and their schooling is expensive and intense.
Don’t ask me about all the tests my family has gone through from regular doctors. Just glad we have insurance that pays for all the tests. But it is amazing how much different hospitals charge. I have never challenged a human doctor for expensive tests that were not needed in the long run.
I’m very hesitant of newer vets with high dept, expensive equipment and many recommending expensive and questionable procedures. That said, I have completely satisfied with the clinic I take my cattle dog too off of Pacheco Blvd. Solid vets and professional staff.
Much like dentists, I would never go to a newer one as I’ve met too dishonest ones.
No, I have not felt ripped off. Disclosure, I have a relative that works in a vet office but not as a vet. Vets have to have not just the same skills as a surgeon for people, but be able to work on several different species either as general doctor, surgeon, specialist in cancer, and everything else. These same vet customers who might complain about a surgery for some amount of money for their pet, would not think for a second about being charged 10 to 20 times that amount for their own surgery when the exact same skill is involved. And while that is what I believe for most vets, I have read that there is at least one large corporation trying to buy up vet offices and has been accused of artificially inflating the prices of the medicines.
Yes, took my cat in for a check up. I got an estimate of costs. But when I picked him up there was an extra $300- for lab tests that he never mentioned when I dropped him off. I never went back.
Last year my newer cat had kidney and liver problems. Lots of tests and let’s try this medication. They encouraged more spending but I stopped when I heard “nature works miracles.” At that point I put my cat down. I believe some vets look at the end of life of your pet as an opportunity.
I have a theory where if your dog is sick you can’t get out of there for less then $450-$500. My theory has proven itself true every time I’ve gone there.
No, and I’ve taken several animals to different offices over the years. Many wonderful highly trained vets. It sure is expensive tho!
Told my dog he was going to the vet to get neutered but he thought I said tutored. He was happy going there.
I told my dog I was going to take him to Michael Vick’s for the weekend he jumped out of a moving vehicle
Had to put down a German Shepard with hip dysplasia, she was only 7 years old. I wanted to be with her when she was put down, the veterinarian told me that would be an extra 50 dollars. How in the world this guy became a veterinarian is beyond me. Where was the compassion.
That is vile.
ChuckStir,
I don’t suppose this place that charged you $50 extra to be with your dog happens to be on Treat Blvd. near BART by any chance? Story sounds all too familiar. If I am right about the place you should check out the reviews on YELP. They killed my dog. And, mine isn’t the only one, yet for some reason they are still allowed to remain in business. Sorry about the loss of your dog.
Name the vet!
Never felt ripped off. I’ve had just two wonderful experiences with a veterinarian. First, our Cairn terrier was put down at age 16. I had a bracer of whiskey before going. I cried and so did the veterinarian. Second, we were in the vet’s waiting room, when a group of four teens came in, each one holding the corner of a blanket, carrying a large dog, who was out like a light with it’s tongue hanging out. The receptionist looked up and asked the teens, “Are you missing any stash?”
By one that medicated my dog’s ears and never found the reason for the infection which was foxtails. Another vet office found them. The first vet’s office was very popular at one point, now they are the worse one around.
I went to the vet visit with my spouse to help avoid a huge bill…our indoor cat was constipated for 6 days, not listless, but we were worried! Cat examined and we were given an estimate of over $800 for x-rays and up to three enimas! I looked at my spouse and said pay the office visit and lets go home. The next day the cat had a huge bowel movement. And, interestingly enough, we did not receive the usual ‘how’s the patient doing?’ call after this visit…
I had the same problem with my cat. The vet said she had a hairball blocking her bowels, and to put a 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil in her food because it will lubricate her insides. In a couple of days it cleared right up. This vet only charged me for an office visit because the problem is so common with cats, she didn’t have to do a complete exam.
@Equus….A cat enema…hmmm…I guess that’s a good skill to put on your resume to work in a veterinary office. That’s something that has never crossed my mind and I have had cats for over 65 years, just lucky I guess. I would watch a YouTube video of that.
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t give a cat three enemas for $800, so that sounds like a bargain to me.
If you tried to give a cat an enema YOUR doctor’s bill would be more than the cat’s.
I will gladly pay $300 for medical tests for my ailing kitty.
Only once in my life have I felt ripped off. 🤣🤣🤣
It was $80 a seat for a matinee show in The City. The year 2011, the show Rock of Ages.
My answer is YES…….not every time, but enough to know something was going on. I once asked what the fee to put my cat down and they told me they go by the pound of the animal. Some time later I was there again and another customer came in with a large dog to be put down. They charged this person the same thing they charged for my cat. We started going to another vet that did very good work and much cheaper.
My opinion is that there are some vets that take full advantage of a customers emotional state for anything that needs to be done. Most people regard their dogs/cats/etc as a type of family member so it is quite easy for bad vets to do what they do and get away with it.
I took my dog to a Vet and he was treated for kennel cough, 2 weeks later I went to a different Vet for a second opinion and was told he had congestive heart failure.
Most definitely!
There’s a veterinarian clinic in Martinez that has had received complaints for overcharging, lack of proper care and other issues. I looked the clinic up on the California website related to licensing and that sort of thing, about two years ago, and they were on probation. They are currently in business but from what I have read, nothing much has changed on their part.
Yes I have. More than once and by more than one veterinary office. I’ve had dogs, cats, parakeets, and rodents – only rarely do I feel the estimates and/or final costs are not rip-offs.
I have heard horror stories. I’ve been fortunate to have great vets for large and small animals. I did have one vet refuse to do surgery on a bummer lamb. She was my daughters pet and I would’ve paid anything to save her.
With a Cat or Dog, we have not been ripped off. We pretty much limit what test(s) that might be needed to see if things get better for the animal first, then move forward from there. With our Daughter, she had 2 ferrets for awhile. I would have to say, once ferrets starts with health, it’s better to have them put down,…their quality life is compromised.
I have had some vet bills that I thought were pretty expensive, but I’ve never felt ripped off. I understand how expensive it is to run a veterinary hospital and pay competent people. I have always gotten a price up front, and I’ve never had a vet raise that price without my prior authorization.
I’ve used many Veterinarians in this area and only one was a complete rip-off.
I wasn’t too happy with the Dr. either.
The pets weren’t treated with kindness, more like objects.
Big fancy building, incredibly long waits, and a lot of services that weren’t needed.
I didn’t like the way they treated their staff either.
Greedy and selfish people have no business treating pets or caring for pet parents.
@Cellophane.
I bet this big fancy building is located in Martinez.
When my wife and I were much younger we had friends who owned a cat that got sick. It needed and expensive operation. After the operation it seemed pepless so the vet said it needed another cat for company. He just happened to have a cat to give them. Less than six months later the new cat needed the same expensive operation the first cat had.
No, I do not feel I have been ripped off by a vet. I have gotten great care for my animals.
Growing up, I don’t recall any of our dogs or cats ever needing to visit a Vet. I don’t recall any neighbors discussing taking their pets to a Vet. On a different vein, I don’t recall any of the hundreds of kids I knew ever (even coming close to) getting a head injury from riding their bicycles helmetlessly.
We used to take our pets to the emergency vet off Ygancio Valley Rd by the new Whole Foods in Walnut Creek. We found it odd that every time we would get an estimation for the cost of services it was always at the highest range, if not more. We were informed one of our dogs needed a variety of tests and if we would approve them, which we did. After over $1500 in tests along with the recommendation to deliver plasma to our dog, we agreed. Devastatingly, we lost our dog that day at this vet. Come to find out the plasma was never administered to our dog after reading the medical records but we were still charged an unreasonable fee for it. Also, there were additional services we were charged that were never delivered. We were so upset with the loss of our dog that the last thing we want to do is review a vet bill as the only thing on our mind is the terrible loss. After a month after losing our dog, I contacted the vet to get clarification on the bill and they had the nerve to ask me why I didn’t contact them sooner and that they could not adjust the bill. I questioned why I was being charged for services that were not delivered and asked for an explanation. Instead, I was informed the office manager would contact me but I never received a response. Fur parents beware of this vet clinic.
Yes my lab had stage 5 cancer and the vet started treatment knowing there was no chance of survival. We were never told how bad or the stage of the cancer I reached out to our retired vet for answers he told me it was stage 5 cancer and the dog had no chance. We spent over $10,000 thinking the dog would get better and just watching her get worse, after finding out there was never a chance of survival we put her down. We left the vet and would never go back.
My neighbor is getting her dog’s teeth cleaned over in Dublin. The charge is get this: $4000.00! My friend’s dog had to be hospitalized for an infection that they could have given it antibiotics the charge: over $3,000. So I have learned from this that I cannot afford a dog or cat because I would have to end up putting the poor animal down. This is sad. I will look into pet insurance to see if I could afford a furbaby.
Zip Code pricing.
If you feel better spending $3,000 on a vacay in Hawaii. But not spending $2,500 on surgery for your dog. Just don’t get a dog. It’s that simple.
I put aside $1,000 a year as a health account for my pet. Every pet I have owned has had a health account. Not gonna say how much is in the account now.
Last quote my friend got for surgery for himself was $250,000. With a five year life expectancy.
Another friend was charged $5,000 for an emergency visit at the most expensive health care in Walnut Creek. He walked room to room for tests, and was charged a transport fee of $1,000 that he never used. I believe he said it was supposed to be a wheel chair transporting him.
I have never felt intimated by a veterinarian, but have in my own healthcare history. I wish I could question my own healthcare costs.
Yes. As a result, we always ask questions about the tests, treatment plan if the test confirms,etc. We often say skip the test and give us thr Rex…if animal doesn’t improve after expected time period we will bring him back. It has saved us thousands after paying a bunch on earlier animals. Today’s model is test, test,test in my opinion. I’d be happy too if it wasn’t so expensive. Heck even getting your animal fixed can cost over500 and then they wonder why people don’t do it….
Pet insurance for my 10 year old Min Pin is $47.00 per month and covers 80% to 90% sometimes 100% depending on what needs to be done. Last time we needed it was to remove a growth (huge wart) on the dog’s leg and stitch it up. Estimate was $800 insurance paid all but $5
I’ve never felt ripped off by our vet nor the emergency vet. Our last kitty had in excess of $25,000 in vet bills in her short 3 1/2 year life. She had multiple issues and finally went into heart failure and could not be saved. We had pet insurance that covered 90% of her vets bills. Cost of the insurance was $26 per month. The kitty we have now has been covered from the day we got her almost 5 years ago. Cost is $35 per month. She is healthy and we haven’t had to use the insurance. I sleep better knowing money doesn’t play a part in any medical decision I would have to make for her.
There is a law in California, that if you ask for the prescription they have to give it to you and you can take it to Sam’s or Costco and get it cheaper. The one I took to Costco was about $30.00 cheaper then the Vet’s. The next time that I got a refill it was cheaper at the Vet. I guess they knew I would take my business else where.
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