Please Suggest help extortionate vet fees

Sagz_2

I think the advice in the 2nd post is the best - get a 0% credit card - that's what I had to do when I got a £1.5k vet bill, it gave me time to save and pay off over 12 months.

System

OP re Christmas and having two young chilldren, if they are under 5 they will be just as happy with small presents, if they are over that (rough) age then you can tell them Santa has just paid to keep their pet alive so this year can only manage something very small under the tree.

As suggested try for a 0% credit card, and spread the cost.

And well done for adopting an older dog that really deserved a home. They don't come cheap in any respect, either the amount of worry and heartache or the vets bills..but worth it.

trudij

Purbeck wrote: »

OP re Christmas and having two young chilldren, if they are under 5 they will be just as happy with small presents, if they are over that (rough) age then you can tell them Santa has just paid to keep their pet alive so this year can only manage something very small under the tree.

As suggested try for a 0% credit card, and spread the cost.

And well done for adopting an older dog that really deserved a home. They don't come cheap in any respect, either the amount of worry and heartache or the vets bills..but worth it.

agree with this to be honest - if you can get a 0% card (cos lets faace it, a lot of people cant get credit cards-i know i cant!!) and transfer the balance, then do to save the money - those vets fees arent extortionate by any means Im afraid - so maybe you could keep the new card for vets things only to help you out... as for christmas - it does make me smile how many people panic about the money they think it should cost - Christmas is the same time every year - has been for a fair old while now, why oh why dont people budget for it??!!!! (and thats not meant directly to the OP - thats a general comment, see it a lot (and im guilty of it too!!) !!!!)

gravitytolls

Cor, tough crowd!

I can't see why the OP deserves all this vitriol, she was quoted a price and the bill came to almost £200 pounds more than expected!

We have a marvellous vet, they tel us up front how much, and will always contact before undertaking any treatment, if those costs are going to change. Unfortunately before finding this vet, who we have recommended to everyone we know, an awful lot definately seem more interested in their balance sheets than animal health!

We had an elderly lumpy dog, our vet didn't feel it was beneficial to have any removed, they were clearly causing her no health issues.

As for contacting charities, well, I guess if you've a sick animal and no funds, what're you supposed to do? In the OP's case, I believe the bill had already been paid, they sure wouldn't have reimbursed an individual anyway. Nonetheless, at least the OP didn't try to scam the system, I know plenty who pretend an animal belongs to them because they're on benefits, so the actual owner doesn't have to pay for treatment. I also find it highly reprehensible that any charities give flea/worm treatments away to those on benefits. Tis true they are very expensive, but you know, such care comes hand in hand with feeding IMO, and charities should only be used for emergencies.

Am also somewhat concerned that a rehoming centre rehomed a dog without neutering first!

Anyhoo, we're all wise after the event. OP, if you've paid the bill, you have to draw a line under it. If cash is tight, sell stuff, if you've anything you can, or ebay, cheapcycle etc for Chrissy gifts. It won't be as bad as you think, and at least you've still got your lovely choc lab.

ashleypride

gravitytolls wrote: »

I can't see why the OP deserves all this vitriol, she was quoted a price and the bill came to almost £200 pounds more than expected!

No, the OP had an estimate not a quote.

gravitytolls

Around 25%, considerable difference, I'd've been miffed too, had my bill changed by such a large amount without prior notification, estimate or not.

Person_one

gravitytolls wrote: »

Around 25%, considerable difference, I'd've been miffed too, had my bill changed by such a large amount without prior notification, estimate or not.

That's the thing about vet bills and care though, they can't leave your dog bleeding, suffering, drugged and unconscious on the operating table while they try to get in touch with you to check you're ok with spending another couple of hundred on its treatment. Sometimes its an emergency, sometimes its just the case that the problem is more complicated than first thought, or the dog needs certain drugs etc etc.

Every vet I've ever used has had signs up explaining that bills are an estimate, the actual bill may be lower or substantially higher.

This bill is not at all extortionate, the OP could ask for it to be itemised and ring round a few other vets to see what they'd charge if he wants to put his mind at rest on that.

blossomhill_2

It's a harsh world out there. I found a poor dog who had been thrown from a car and was lying with a broken pelvis - I naively rang the local vet thinking they would help - the answer was "who's paying?" - charity wouldn't come out, eventually the police took her to a pet charity but inexperienced PC moving her with a broken pelvis was the worst thing to do - eventually happy ending with new home.

I hope you manage to get your pet/financial situation sorted out; it's a sad fact that many kind animal lovers end up without pets due to fear of these extreme vet bills, and many healthy animals are put to sleep instead

DebiT

dirtysexymonkey wrote: »

you chose to adopt a dog. you chose not to insure her. tough. if you take on a dog then you should be prepared for the financial outlay that comes with one.

why should someone else pay out? shes your dog. the vet may allow you to pay in installments.

Yet another unhelpful post.

No need to stick the knife in mate. If you can't be helpful why rub people's noses in it?

DebiT

danielpenny wrote: »

Hello,

New to thr forum, hope i am posting in the right place. Basically to start from the very start, in April 2010 my partner adopted a chocolate labrador !!!!!, she had been bred to exhaustion by her owner and dumped by a river (the things i would do if I found him), the age guessed at the pound was roughly 9 years old. Anyway on Wednesday this week a lump in her breast burst, in blind panic i took her straight down to pets at home after work, they agreed to perform a mastectomy on her the next day and to spay her to prevent it happening again as this would inhibit oestrogen or something (i'm not a vet clearly). The estimated bill was £619 which was bad enough, but the fee has now risen to £825.44, which i have had to pay in full by debit card when i picked her up yesterday. I am not rich and i have 2 young kids and it is 5 weeks before christmas. I have contacted the rspca and pdsa, they can't help as i am not on benefits (annoyed me beyond belief). I am not begging but asking for advice what to do as it has crippled my finances. Thanks

Sorry to hear about your vet dilemma OP, they are very scary places (more for the owner than the pet in most cases).

I think as some of the more helpful fm's have suggested, you probably need to do a bit of selling on ebay. Or perhaps have a bit of a garage sale?
If you can get insurance, it might be worth it in case the poor animal has any more problems.
But you can feel assured that you did the right thing, and I'm sure your lovely dog will bring the whole family loads of pleasure. So, well worth it.