Do you think "weekend emergency" vets are a rip off?

Question

We HAD to take our german shepard in 2 weeks ago on a Sunday. He was running and caught himself on the corner of the race car trailer and tore his skin bad. He had to have it stapled. 35 of them. The whole thing cost 400.00! Then, he had to go back to get the tube remove, that was there for drainage. That cost 25.00. Now, we got the staples out yesterday, and he needs another surgery, because they didn't cut enough skin when they did the first operation. (From trauma like that, some skin dies off. So they cut some off to take care of it.) He will need about 10 to 13 more staple to finish closing him up. Why do they charge so much just because it's a weekend!?

Answer 1

That's why I only use the emergency vets for the initial emergency. I then take my dogs to my regular vet because she knows my dogs. Yes, they cost more because they are working the hours regular vets don't want to. Where there is a demand there is the cost of going there. My regular vet will call them as a follow up but, I don't take them back there for follow up and such. They will just soak you with a high bill because they know you aren't a frequent customer.

Answer 2

Emergency Rip Off

Answer 3

sorry but that is the way vets are in my area too. I resent most of them and I know it's not fair. I do take my cats for treatment when necessary but on the whole I avoid them. It is because the ones in my area are greedy bastards too and yes, I have had several here say they would euthanize the animal rather than work out a payment plan or even just do the bare minimum treatment that was actually needed and could have been afforded. I have had them turn me away before because "they haven't seen that animal before" when I called to get one of mine in to my new vet. He was ill and had just spent the night at the emergency vet- $700 later and they still had no clue as to what was wrong with him- he just stopped eating. While I was trying to find any vet to take him in, he died in my arms on my kitchen floor. I have been furious with those vets ever since.

Answer 4

well I dont know what it is like to work in an emergency clinic, but I have had to work on weekends. Our clinic was open 7 days a week and we worked in four days on four days off shifts with our team (one vet and at least two techs). We were open long hours so that way people could bring their dog in after 5 and not have to pay outrageous fees. we only charged after hours fees if someone called in 5 minutes before we closed and then took 30 minutes to show up and most of the time we were already there anyway soo we didnt charge them. In your case they probably gave you a good deal for the price. you have to figure the cost of anesthesia in a German Shepherd (which can range in weight from 50 lbs to 90+), the cost of staples, sutures, antibtiotics,etc. and you have to pay the vet and the tech(s) that had to come in to work on your dog. That adds up pretty quick. Unfortunately not all incsions heal properly and sometimes you have to redo a suture site. I would take it to your normal vet and have them perform the surgery if you are unhappy with the emergency vet.

I am sorry that you had a bad experience with the emergency vet. I know that vet work is no 9-5 job. Our clinic was open 7am -8pm Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm Sat, and 12pm -8pm on Sunday, but we were lucky if we left at 8:30 or 9:00pm. Some nights when emergencies come in at close we didnt leav until 11 pm and then had to be up at and working again at 7am the next morning. It can take a lot out of you, so the fact that it is odd hours is probably why you were charged so much. I hope you have better luck next time and I hope your dog gets better. Sorry so long.

Answer 5

You're paying more for an after-hours emergency. Unfortunately most vet clinics don't have ERs staffed 24 hours a day like hospitals/instant care facilities do.

This means that the people who (as Mills said) work 12 hours a day during the week are generally called back in from home to handle the emergency (vet, 1+ vet techs, etc.). Pretty standard stuff for a vet clinic, and not unjustified, I think (speaking as someone who used to work for one and saw plenty of emergencies).

What I don't agree with, however, are the Pet Emergency clinics that are open from 5pm - 8am specifically to cover the off hours for the other area clinics, and yet they also charge huge "emergency" fees...hey! Those are your normal hours, and you're there, anyway!

Good idea to look at an itemized bill. Sometimes there are things like extra vet wrap to take home, etc, that they charge $15 for that you can get at PetsMart for $3.

Good luck with your dog!

Answer 6

35 staples sounds like alot more than a scratch,quite an accident and 400.00 is probally not much more than you would have paid on a regular day of the week.Overhead ,time,meds,everything is so expensive today and chances are help had to be called in to help your vet,not to mention interrupting his only day off.Most vets work 6 days a week and have to pay help for 24/7 hr.help for the very sick dogs within the vet ,just like a people Hospital.Since you are Racing Hobby persons you surely can understand when you think about it how costly it is to take care of the things we love and enjoy.That is just life.I have had many experiences with the vets in my area and this cost was not excessive.Face it he's worth it!!Be proud your vet was available.and saved your best friends life!!!I hope he does well and you won't be sorry you took good care of your family member!!!God bless you!!!

Answer 7

It's not a rip off. You are paying for an extra service, since most vets close on the weekend. Firstly, vets spend at least ten years in school, so they have to recoup that cost and have every right to expect decent pay for having spent all those years learning their trade. Secondly, it is the weekend, and instead of being home relaxing they are working in a stressful ER. Thirdly, costs for the vet clinic increase on the weekend because they have to pay for extra staff and overtime hours. If the person who processes your driver's license or plows the snow from your street gets overtime pay for extra hours, shouldn't the person who saves your beloved pet's life?
Besides, the prices you quote sound extremely reasonable for all the work you had done, especially since it was an after hours visit.

I hope your dog gets better soon, and I hope you will be grateful to the folks who sacrifice their weekends and time with their families to help your pet.

Answer 8

No it's not a rip off. Everyone deserves time off just like you. Do you expect the vet to keep the clinic open all weekend and pay for electricity & for all the staff to be there just *in case* someone shows up? I've had to take my pets to emergency clinics and I'm very greatful for the emergency services. I would rather part with a bit of money than one of my animals.

Answer 9

$400 for emergency surgery doesn't seem excessive to me. Any vet that is open on the weekend is a vet that is giving a lot back to the pet owners. Most vets are only open Monday through Friday. Weekend visits are impossible. That is why Emergency Vet Clinics were started.

We are looking at over $1000 for run of the mill surgery for our dog ... on a weekday.

Answer 10

Actually, I have to say yes and no. It's not a rip-off when you're talking about the saving the life of your pet, but what I do think is a rip-off is that the emergency animal hospital near where I live, charges according to what time of day or night it is.

if you have to bring in your pet, the price goes up according to the time, and that's the part I think is a rip-off. They have to be there anyway, so I don't think it should cost more if you bring your pet in at 3 in the morning instead of 7 at night.