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Vets' Bills can often be avoided
Sometimes there is no choice. We have to rush our animal to the vet - yes, I paid £289 to save my sick kitten's life - or reluctantly take it along for its final peaceful end. But I cured my female cat of cystitis in three days with diluted Cystemme, because someone who clearly knew what they were talking about wrote on the internet that the cure is similar to that for humans (a vet took a month to cure a friend's cat - big bill). Another friend healed her dog's sore with Germolene (the vet couldn't heal it after weeks of treatment). I first became annoyed with vets when one took out three cat's teeth without my permission and before first trying antibiotics, which would have solved the problem. Then I found another vet, where it seemed that the main aim was to make as much money as possible (£89) out of a small injury which I later realised would have healed itself. Maybe we could share our knowledge and experience without feeling guilty? We are persuaded into believing that If we love our pets, we will spend a fortune on insurance and never hesitate to take them to the vet! (My two cats are spayed but never have jabs.) I would love to hear other people's views and experiences.
Comments
I agree that basic care can be given at home (Milton fluid is great for cleaning minor wounds - also for getting rid of black mould. From bathroom tiles, not from cats) and that people should know more about early indicators of illness.
But I don't take my cats to the vet out of guilt - I take them because they're qualified to diagnose and treat, having studied animal medicine for many years.
Perhaps you need a different vet. I go to Zasman, who are very helpful at recommending preventative measures and low-cost alternatives to medical interventions wherever possible.
Zasman is more expensive, but I trust them and think in the long run they've probably saved me money. Vet's fees need to be put into perspective though - the cost of small animal medicine isn't supported in the way that private human medicine is. There's no equivalent of indirect NHS subsidy (e.g. use of hospital buildings and machinery). There's no state or charitable funding for developing drugs or therapies. It's all private business right the way down the supply line, so what we pay at the vet bears a true relation to the cost of treatment.
Add to that the economics of small business and I'd say the ones making the least profit out of all of this are the vets. Even senior vets (practice leaders) will very rarely make as much as £50k, which again suggests that their mark-ups just aren't that high. And that's before we get into the ethics of unnecessary medical interventions and assuming that vets push them as a matter of course.
Don't talk to me about vets.............
I've had all sorts of bother with vets from various veterinarian surgeries , the only vet I found that is worth his weight in gold is a chap named Nick from the Green Dragon in Hornsey Road ( a really nice guy and a really good vet ).
Since being made to live on a naff wage I have undying praise for the ladies and gents at Sonderburg Road (RSPCA).
I maintain an insurance policy on my puddy cat because you never know (if you know what I mean), but the crew at Sonderburg Road are fantastic.
Oh , hello btw.
Now waiting to hear the results and hoping that the results are positive.
Could really use some positive feedback from you guys.
Barebackreader, I understand what you are saying about the economics of vets' practises. My main point was that we could often treat our cats for minor illnesses and injuries if we knew how and that regular booster injections are not necessary. Even children don't
have them.
Cookie, you will be pleased to know that the Sondeberg Road clinic still exists, but I thought that it was available only to people on benefits. Have I been misinformed? What was the matter with your cat? I mean what were her symptoms? We are waiting for the result of her bloodtest, so keep us informed. Best wishes.
It's true that free or low cost services are harder to find, but it does take a lot of work to become qualified in this specialist field. Even then the money is not brilliant unless you focus on specialist activities or work in a prosperous area (and then of course have high overheads). Fewer people are coming into the profession for this reason I'm told.
Chang
Only just seen your comments, thank you for your thoughts. Had to rush my little cat to the vet on sat am as she had suddenly deteriorated overnight. Her temp was 105.1. The vet wasted no time and put her on a drip, antibiotics, anti emetics, did xrays, and took more blood samples. She would not eat, so had to be syringe fed, and would not pee. She hid herself under her blanket, which did not help with her temp. She was dreadfully stressed. The vet is at a loss as to what is wrong, and today we agreed that I should bring my little girl home to see how she would fare in her home with medication. I do not want to tempt fate, but tonight she ate a little cat food which contained her medicine, and she is purring away and laying on the bed. I hope and pray that she is on the way up. She is such a dear, gentle, soul who went through hell a couple of years ago when we were burgled twice in less than a year. I will never forget the sight of her sitting on the bedroom windowsill, shivering with fear when I arrived home from work,to find that we had been burgled. They had trashed our home. She fears strangers, so who can blame her. Have had her since she was a Kit @ 8wks, she is now 6. To say that she is so much loved is an understatement.
Little Skeeleys, thats my cats name, has deteriorated today. She is going back into vet hospital tomorrow for further investigations. It worries me because she gets so stressed.
Don't look now, I just want to cry,
I know EXACTLY what you mean when you mention the reception staff at the Dragon Clinic.
Hi .
I get all of my cats medical needs online , even the prescription meds , well I used to until I was deemed medically not fit to continue with my work. That's when I discovered the wonderful world of the RSPCA.
I think I'm correct in saying that in order to qualify for discounted treatment at the RCPCA , you need to be in receipt of 'A' benefit , be-it help with your rent , or unemployment benefit.
I think you qualify if you are on a low income - what the threshold is I have no idea.
You do get all sorts being given assistance with their pets at Sonderburg Road .
The last time I was there I saw a London black cab driver bring (what seemed to be) his own dog along for treatment.
If a London cabbie qualifies - then I thing most of the people in London also qualify.
Initially , I stopped taking my cat to the Dragon clinic because of utterly disgraceful conduct by the person that answered my call.
My cat was in a lot of discomfort being unable to take a pee and Nick had told me not to waste time in the future if my cat showed any recurring symptoms.
I wont go into the details , but I ended up taking my cat to another vet down in BLAH BLAH BLAH Road , Islington.
Who proceeded to try and extort money from me in ways I could never have dreamt up.
I feel for ya , try and stay optimistic .
My thoughts are with you..
I think at Dragon's they have one full time person just processing insurance claims. I thought at the time when I was taking my cat to the vet that they always wanted to do something to her, whether it was more and more tests, putting her on a drip, keeping her overnight for observation etc. It's quite hard to say no sometimes, but it can become endless, especially with an old cat. I'm not sure that it's always the case that the vet wants to make loads of money, it's just that they want to do what they to do, which is vet stuff.
It was a one way trip for my little friend.
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