Dispute on vet bill advice

Jemima09

Air_Cooled_75 wrote: »

When one of my cats had an open wound on his paw we were told we should have all sorts of tests done blah blah blah. After a bit of back and to-ing (no tests though) I *suggested* just putting a bandage on it to see what happened. I think the vet agreed just to humour me. Low and behold his paw got better.

Don't get me started on the other cat who fell out of a window and damaged a tendon....she kept taking the plaster cast off (in their care) and they tried to charge me every time for the new one. I refused to pay and they did relent (it was a few hundred pounds).

This was about 15 years ago (before insurance) I don't know how successful a bill challenge would be these days.

I think I must have just been really fortunate with vets! when my cat pulled her bandages off while still at the vets they didn't charge me extra for the second attempt! that does seem a bit unfair, I'm not surprised you challenged it!

Air_Cooled_75

This was an actual plaster cast rather than a bandage but they obviously didn't secure it enough

The best vet I ever saw was when I had an egg bound quail who needed the egg removing, he did it and asked to see her in a few days to see how things were healing. Got my purse out at reception after the consul and was told there was NO CHARGE...I nearly fell over

Jemima09

Still, it's hardly your fault the cat took offense to it..
Yeah I've been lucky enough to get a couple of no charge follow ups as well! I don't think I ever want to leave my vets..

Hintza

tomtontom wrote: »

Because then you don't get hit with bills you cannot afford to pay.

You don't need to spend that amount of money, it is a choice.

aileth

Our vet is pretty good, aftercare consultations are all free.

I have insurance for our pup, but only because no matter how careful you are, I dread thinking if he was attacked by another dog when out and needed surgery and I couldn't afford it, I couldn't live with myself if he died or suffered because I simply didn't have enough moulah in my bank account.

unholyangel

Regarding compulsory insurance - all fine in theory but what if the person can afford the vet bills? What if the dog is ancient and would be possibly best put down if something quite serious happened?

My neighbour was over £100 a month for her dog as he was 17 (no underlying conditions).

May be worth asking the vets if they offer any type of plan themselves. Mine will (for £14 a month) offer all annual stuff (flea and worming, boosters and a couple of check ups per year) plus accident insurance and 20% off grooming/food products and any other fees plus the option to spread the cost of the treatments at a rate you can afford (no idea how low they'll go, I imagine would depend on personal circumstances).

pimento

Don't the PDSA exist for people like the OP who can't afford insurance?

marliepanda

pimento wrote: »

Don't the PDSA exist for people like the OP who can't afford insurance?

Only for people on certain benefits.

If you can't afford insurance, it sounds harsh, but you cant afford a pet.

Having a pet means being able to afford to look after it fully. If you cant afford insuranc,e you cant afford vet bills.

I have 2 cats, and it costs me £30 a month for insurance (£15 each)
If I cant afford £15 a month to ensure my cats are well if needed, then I cant afford my animals.

Pet insurance doesn't go up if you make a claim (at least thats Petplans policy), to avoid people 'not claiming' to avoid losing 'no claims bonuses'

neilmcl

marliepanda wrote: »

If you can't afford insurance, it sounds harsh, but you cant afford a pet.

Peoples circumstances change. If you no longer can afford the insurance what would you have them do, take little Tibbles down to the waste incinerator!

Lip_Stick

marliepanda wrote: »

Only for people on certain benefits.

If you can't afford insurance, it sounds harsh, but you cant afford a pet.

Having a pet means being able to afford to look after it fully. If you cant afford insuranc,e you cant afford vet bills.

I have 2 cats, and it costs me £30 a month for insurance (£15 each)
If I cant afford £15 a month to ensure my cats are well if needed, then I cant afford my animals.

Pet insurance doesn't go up if you make a claim (at least thats Petplans policy), to avoid people 'not claiming' to avoid losing 'no claims bonuses'

The PDSA exists to help those on a low income. They recognise that animals need owners and that some people benefit from having an animal. A person's only quality of life might be their beloved pet.

An unemployed lone parent should have been able to use the PDSA.