My poor Ozzy.

kara7758

My darling oldest cat has been to the vets as he was off his food. He received antibiotics and pain killers for dental infection and conjunctivitis. The meds and blood tests for usual old age suspects diabetes, thyroid, kidney impairment, cost £140. Thankfully the bloods came back fine.

I have been given today an "estimate" for multiple teeth extractions plus a clean up of £409. He isn't insured as he is too old (14 and half ) and insurance wouldn't pay for treatment anymore.

I am frankly in shock as the whole cost will be £540 at the least. I expected to pay a further £200 which I have available, but I am struggling to find the money and may have no choice but to put him to sleep.

So upset this evening and cuddling him lots.

geminilady

Sorry to hear about Ozzy could you ask the vet if you can pay the £200 and the rest by instalments? it would be a shame to put him to sleep if he is otherwise healthy.

RevolvingDoor

Sorry to read this. I don't know where you live but could you try somewhere like Celia Hammond as my friend got free treatment for her cat when she tried there?

Notsosharp

I'm sorry about Ozzie.

Are you on any kind of benefit at all? If you are the PDSA may be able to help.

Person_one

Is there any chance you could get a credit card or an extension on your overdraft to put the cost on for now?

I know its not ideal but to lose a cat for the sake of a few hundred quid is just .

If he's healthy apart from his teeth then 14 isn't even all that elderly for a cat, is it? I have dogs myself but I thought cats could see 18 or 20 quite easily?

SnowyOwl_2

That sounds like extortion to me. Phone a few other vets and ask how much their basic charge for a dental is (there will be extra charges if there is more to do than just a basic scraping of teeth but if it's more than about £150 I'd say they are taking the weee). If nothing else get your vet to break down the costs a bit more, it'd be interesting to find out how s/he has come to that sum.

kara7758

Thank you all for your replies.

I work and therefore not eligible for other treatments. £200 is a huge amount for me to find at the present. The vet doesn't take payment in installments.

I've emailed a few vets in my area and phoning round today.

To be honest I think its quite disgraceful what some vets charge irrespective of the treatment. I have been attending this vet for 20 years with my animals but won't be going back to them anymore.

Tiglath

Have they done the dental work yet? If not, is it something that could be delayed temporarily while you save up for it?

Person_one

If you decide you can't find or borrow the money (and sound out all your friends and family as well as banks etc.) then please consider asking some cat rescues if you can sign him over to them rather than PTS. I know of at least one dog rescue that regularly takes on poorly or injured dogs and raises the funds for their treatment, there may be similar for cats.

It may be that this vet is overcharging you, but the fact is that vet care seems expensive to us because we have an NHS that shields us from the real costs of our own healthcare. Drugs, anaesthetic, monitoring and surgical equipment, the vets and nurses time etc. don't come cheap and they still have to make a profit in order to run the business and pay the staff.

Dunroamin

kara7758 wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies.

I work and therefore not eligible for other treatments. £200 is a huge amount for me to find at the present. The vet doesn't take payment in installments.

I've emailed a few vets in my area and phoning round today.

To be honest I think its quite disgraceful what some vets charge irrespective of the treatment. I have been attending this vet for 20 years with my animals but won't be going back to them anymore.

If you can get the work done more cheaply then you can take him to another vets, if not, at least you'll know you're not being ripped off.

Do you have anything you can sell to raise the money for this?

System

I have been given today an "estimate" for multiple teeth extractions plus a clean up of £409

What! We paid £126 for my girl to have 4 extractions and a clean up of her existing teeth.