Do vetrinarian clinics rip you off?

Question

My friends dogs only go to the vet twice a year. When dogs are puppies I know that dogs are suppose to go a lot but my dog is no longer a puppy. They tell me I miss heart worm months but I am almost positive that I don't. Its costing me a lot of money that I don't have. It seems like everyone in town goes to them and they have also been there the longest.

Answer 1

Veterinarian clinics are expensive, but worth the trip. Our dogs usually go for a check up once a year or so. In some cases, you can just buy their shots through the vet's office and give them yourself at home. This saves money. About heartworm, I hope you have a calendar where you are keeping track of each dose; heartworm is so hard and expensive to treat and is usually lethal. It's easier to just bite the bullet and be responsible now. The truth is even if veterinarians are "ripping" us off, there isn't much we can do; this is one of the things you must consider when deciding to bring an animal into your home. I say, continue to have your dog checked out when his shots are due or if anything comes up. And don't forget his heartworm medicine!! Also, puppies tend to go in more to the vet's office because they get a series of shots called boosters. It requires them getting a shot once every couple months. Adult dogs don't require this, but vet trips are still a must occasionally!

Answer 2

Vets cost a lot less than human doctors for the same treatment. A year ago, my little dog had back surgery. It was $4000 but the same surgery on me would have been $50000. (I think it's because there is no insurance company to rip off.) Heartworm is a very serious disease and prevention is REALLY the best medicine. The chewable pills are reasonably cheap compared to having to treat a dog for heartworms.

All dogs should go to the vet at least once a year to get boosters and a physical exam. Nobody ever promised you that having a dog would be cheap. So, we just suck it up and pay the bill. Good luck, kiddo.
-MM

Answer 3

It is very expensive to run a veterinary clinic. The vet has to pay for staff, a building, expensive equipment, medications and professsional liability insurance, never mind the cost of his education - all of which are very expensive. Most vets work hard to keep costs down by doing things like vaccination clinics, but it is an expensive business to run.

Keeping up on heartworm prevention is critical -your dog could die from it.

If you can't afford proper vet care, you should seriously think about whether you can continue to be a good pet owner.

Answer 4

My vet is awesome. He knows I do whatever is needed to keep my 4 dogs and 2 cats healthy even though I can;t always afford it. In fact he often gives me a break on charges.

Once I took my Chihuahua in because she had fallen on some steps and was limping. He did xrays on the leg and gave her a pain killer. Thankfully it was just a sprain. He said call it warrantee work as she had been there just a few days before to get her shots. I was expecting a bill of $200 or more, but he didn't charge anything. He even called me later that night to see how she was doing.

Maybe most vets ate not like mine, but most do it for the l;ove of the animals and don;t rip you off.

Answer 5

Hurray Bozema! The lady knows what she's talking about.

Just write on your calendar when you're due heartworms meds, then you'll be positive if you've missed any or not.

If vets REALLY wanted to rip you off, we would tell you not to get any vaccinations or deworming or any preventative measures at all - then we'd make LOADS of money from all the tests and treatment when animals come down with parvo, cat flu and all the rest of it!

Think about THAT.

Answer 6

I am sorry to hear that your dog is not on some kind of heartworm preventative. I recently lost my adopted Katrina dog to heartworm disease, and we are still reeling from the pain. All of the pain could have been prevented if the shelter had done the test at the correct time. I have 5 dogs, and ALL of them go to the vet once a year for their shots, heartworm test, bloodwork, fecal exam, and of course their medication. Is it expensive? Of course it is. Would you deny your child the medical attention he or she needs to be healthy? These are living beings, and they rely completely on us to keep them safe and well. If mortgaging my house could have saved my Maddie, I would have done it in a heartbeat. What price do you put on unconditional love? As a sidenote, mosquitoes can breed in the dead of winter and hatch during a warm spell, infect your dog and kill it. Heartworm preventative should be given monthly throughout the year. In addition, the medication protects your animal from other problems, such as internal parasites and fleas. I have owned and fostered many dogs, and have never had a flea in my home or on my dogs. Please reflect seriously on the fact that you have a life in your care and the continuation of that life depends on your attitude toward it.

Answer 7

If you don't have enough money to take a dog to the vet for check ups and booster shots each year, you shouldn't have the dog. Yes, Vets are very expensive, especially when your pets are sick. I have 3 cats and I spent almost $500 in 7 days to treat 2 cats of conjunctivitis, 1 cat of the flu and spent $30 on a bag of cat food to help one of the 3 cats lose weight. That will teach me for getting my precious cats from stupid backyard breeders who don't vaccinate or worm the kittens. Anyway, as long as the Vets can treat your pets and get them healthier, I'm willing to spend as much as I need to.

Answer 8

look seriously, its YOUR dog. Full stop. Just make sure you get the immune boos every year and that your all good with fleas/worms meds. i've never took my dogs to the vet unless vaccines. the rest its done at home with good food and good fle/worms meds. as simple as that. yes vets do rip you off thats why you try avoiding them by giving your dog all the right things for a healthy life and very little vet trips.

Answer 9

keeping up with heartworm is up to YOU not them, they simply provide the heartworm meds unless you get it from an outside source. same with flea/tick prevenative. as for seeing the vet, really the less visits the better though having a yearly check up couldn't hurt, just like with humans. you should only ahve to come in about once a year minimum due to getting vaccinations, as most are yearly vaccines, rabies vaccines can be given every 3 years (granted the dog is given a 3 year vaccine).

if your vet is ticking you of, go to another, just because one has been there the longest doesn't mean diddly squat. and I will admit, vet's do charge a bit more than they really need to, but alot of what they make goes to things other than the vet's themselves, such as payments on the office, to buying new equipment, new meds, upgrading old equipment. our's even donates to research and we practically donate services to our town's humane society in spaying/neautering their animals and fixing anything else that needs fixing.

Answer 10

branch of demanding artwork. they have an internet site and a help line and each little thing. in case your an wide-spread worker, then that is unlawful for him to not pay you, or to attend until eventually a resources is offered. you ought to not comply with artwork less than those words because, it would want to take years to promote a resources. Or it would want to under no circumstances promote in any respect.