Why This Vet Left His Profession

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I found this article interesting.
http://www.pawnation.com/2009/12/04/why-one-veterinarian-quit-disgu...|htmlws-main-w|dl5|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2009%2F12%2F04%2Fwhy-one-veterinarian-quit-disgusted-with-a-profession-he-once-r%2F

Above it the link. It was a lot to copy and paste but still a quick read.

It covers ethics, finances, and pet insurance among many other topics related to pet health.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

My apologies up front to any honest vets out there ...... however, much of the information contained in this article is one of the reasons that it took us 5 years after we lost our toy poodle to decide to get another pet! I would get so angry going to the vet and them trying to run up my bill that I could barely step foot in the door any longer. I was used to small town, farm vets that were in it for the love of animals. When we first got our Toy Poodle the vet we used here in Ohio didn't even charge an office call fee. It was just whatever he did once you were there. They were always very thorough and loving with the animals. Then the original owner retired and along came a new graduate from the city to join the practice and along with her came the office call fees, and the running up the bill practices. She muzzled our little toy poodle the first time she saw her. I was livid. Never went back! That being said, I know there are wonderful vets out there. I have one now (again small town, farm vet, that loves animals). If she made me come in and charged me an office call everytime I called her with a question about one of the girls, I would be bankrupt by now! She normally just tells me what to do over the phone or in the case of Sophies leg, she will work her right into the schedule and charge me no extra emergency fee. I understand they are in business to make money, but you can tell when they are running up the bill. I used to work for a lady whose husband was a dentist. He quit a couple of different practices because that was the practice mentality. He finally opened his own practice and ran it the way he wanted.

[Shanthala Rajagopala]

Luch and Sophies Mom, I have to get your vets number then...I have not had good luck with vets. I had to change from my first vet for couple of reasons...The main one being that they did not give me an option to choose to my first dog home after neutering. He was just 3 months old and I had heard that usually males that young rarely have any complications. On top of that, it was a clinic and I just couldn't understood how is it safe to leave him in a crate in a building where there is no one at night v/s sleeping in our bedroom that night. The current vet that I have is okay but I never feel that they go extra length...They do not do phone consultations I think because any time i have called them, they have asked me to come in...so, the office chare. But this is what happened recently - 3wks back I took my shihtzu for his annual check up and vaccinations. During the visit, I declined bordatella since I did not have any vacation plans and they do not go to any kennels or daycare. I was also told that it is not necessary and if I need to board him then I can get him 2wks before to get him vaccinated. It so happened we planned a weekend trip and decided to board him...So, called the vet office to get an appt and guess what I was told. My charge would be $40 exam fee plus the vaccine charge...I think this is just not fair since he was seen just 3wks back and he is normal healthy dog. I understand that the vets have to make a living too but this in my opinion is blatant rip off.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It is. I do bordatella separately from rabies and everything else; I brought Jack in and a vet tech administered the bordatella vaccine intranasally. Jack didn't even see the vet, and I was charged $38 for the bordatella, period. No office visit, and no other charges.
There is a "low-cost vaccine clinic" at Petco now, operated by an outfit called "Luv my Pet" clinics. I don't know much about them, and I certainly wouldn't use them for their "vaccination package" which is a cocktail of 5 different vaccines. But they do bordatella for $18, according to their price list on their website. It might be worth looking into that if the situation comes up again. I don't know if there are any additional charges involved.

[Shanthala Rajagopala]

Thanks Karen!!! I did check for low cost vaccine and found a vet clinic about 12miles from me who does this. The bordatella is just $16.76 and vet tech will administer it. It is drop in so i have taking him right now. My dad is a doctor in India and I have seen how he works - free treatment for anybody who cannot afford, late hours call without any hesitation and not charging extra, and most of the people in the town were his friends so pretty much free treatment...I understand now that he was in it for the love of it. I see the doctors here( both human and pets ) and it is so sad that there are really handful of these kinds of people. My kids' pediatrician is the only one i have come across taking time to talk etc. I always think this is what capitalism and materialism results in:-) Well, I still have hope that someday I will meet some vet here that will put my faith back in the profession. I am not asking for a free treatment but I certainly would like to feel that they are not taking me for a ride:-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's horrifying to think that a vet would prolong an animal's suffering to run up a big bill, but I'm sure it happens. Just like with medical doctors, there are the minority whose ethics are not what they should be. And just like with medical doctors, we need to be aware of these things and move on when it doesn't feel right to us.
Like Lucy & Sophie's mom, I'm blessed with a wonderful vet who truly puts his patients' welfare first. Jack's vet doesn't charge me for phone consultations, follow-ups, or even quick office visits. I bring Jack in every week or two to have his shot administered by a vet tech, and there has never been a bill.
I also have had better luck with older vets in private practice who have lots of experience. The clinics that are sponsored by corporations (for example, Banfield is owned by Mars, Inc) and staffed with young inexperienced vets seem to follow a standard agenda and make more recommendations that are geared toward profit rather than the best interests of the animals. But I don't think it's good to generalize...I think you have to judge each individual vet on his/her own performance.
This is a great, informative article.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The place where we took our toy poodle in Florida was a big practice. There was only one vet there that I would talk to as his philosophy was along the same lines as mine and therefore I trusted him. When our little Asti got sick and he told us it was kidney failure (she was 16) he was very honest with us that there wasn't too much that could be done, but he would recommend we try this one process for three days. It could help. If it didn't, that he would just recommend we keep her comfortable and not proceed further. We tried the procedure and he called to say that she had not gotten better. We arranged to come and pick her up to just take her home with us. He said that he wasn't working that day but that we could go pick her up. When we arrived we were told "Oh, Dr. so and so is just getting ready to send her to the 24 hour emergency care clinic for round the clock treatment! We were appauled that she was getting ready to do that without even speaking to us after we had already been told that there were not treatments that were going to help her. Over the next 3 weeks that she was with us the vet that I liked called me several times at home (and took several calls from me) to just see how things were going and the reassure me! So, like you say there are good gones out there, you just have to shop around just like your family doctors!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

ON NO. Mars Inc. I don't go to Banfield but the thought of Mars and all the food controversy and then they have their paws in Vet Care. SHAME.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And there the Banfield clinics sit in Petsmart, where they sell all the crappy dog food that Mars makes. Very convenient.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just thinking the same thing.
Here let's make your dog sick, then you can bring it to our convenient location for care, and then shop for pet products before you leave. One Shop Dollar Drop

That is unethical!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

The vet within walking distance from me is voted as "Best Vet" in Nashville on an annual basis. I think it is rigged! I am 99% sure they prolonged Taquito's suffering during the pet recalls in 2007. I paid a fortune for tests and they never once considered the possibility of food contamination. They kept saying he had a blockage, etc...Bottom line is I lost my trust in them. Especially after they failed to call me with test results. After paying $1K during only one of the many visits, I had to CALL THEM back to get a response with my results.
Sorry for long story, but I agree you have to be careful with vets. I switched Taquito after that and went to my current vet, whom I LOVE. They were the ones that immediately said diet was his issue and it was the recalls. They were the ones that only charged me $50 for that visit which included medication for him and valuable advice. Peri goes there now. Only complaint I have is they still recommend Hills for Tacky's kidney issues, but that is just my personal opinion that it isn't good enough for my guy!
Oh and DH and I call probably every other week asking about random things. I always talk to a vet tech for a long time and I never get charged!
There are still very, very good vets out there...just have to find them :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

When my poodle died four years ago, I got a card from the University of Illinois Veterinary School informing me that my vet had made a donation in memory of my dog.
There are lots of cheaper vets; I'm sticking with mine.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree 100%!!!! My pups and I get the same treatment as you describe Jane...and they are not necessarily the cheapest in town by any means! I have had so many follow up calls regarding Peri and Taquito it is amazing!