vet bills????

[pabstman]

when did a brucelosis test cost $60, and why every time you take a dog to the vet to just get a test like brucelosis done and they want to try to give you the 411 on what the dog needs and how your supposed to take car of them, trying to run the bill up on ya in a blink of an eye. The way things are these days i can't afford to pay for s**t paper to wipe my a** with, let alone afford to take every dog i own to the vet when they need an annual, or something simple done that i can do for them a lot cheaper. Shawn (IN)

[Chuck Terry]

Most of us do a lot of "doctoring" and routine treatments ourselves. I know what I can handle and what I can't. I take mine in for Rabies shots (state law) and Brucellosis tests when breeding outside my own kennel or if I purchase an adult beagle. That is generally it other than surgeries or life threatening emergencies. I have encountered snooty folks who say we houndsmen are "cheap" and that we do not care about our animals. Of course, that is far fom the truth! Many of us keep a dozen or more dogs HEALTHY and have less vet expense than they do with a couple of "lap dogs". Worming, flea, tick, heartworm prevention, and skin ailments would cost me tens of times more (thousands of dollars a year!) if I let the vet do it all with Presciption products! Not to mention procedures such as tail docking, teeth cleaning, and dew claw removal. Thanks to all of you that share home methods of treatment! Hooray for Ivomec Cattle, Cattle Ear Tags, Safegard, Paratak, Mule Team Detergent, Sevin Dust, Sulphur, Turpentine, Iodine, Penicillin, Sulfadine, Monostat, Tinactin, Bayer Tree and Shrub, and Happy Jack Products! Too bad this is not bass fishing - I would seek sponsorships!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KILLNTM]

You need to find a good country vet. The first vet I went to was the same way as you describe. I go in for a rabies shot and find myself in a room watching a video on how to brush a dog's teeth. What gets me is when you fill out your initial paperwork on a new dog, they have a question, "Is your pet just a pet, or a member of the family?". Is that really a relevant question? I think the only reason they ask such a question is to gauge how much they think they can guilt you into overspending on your pet.

BiL

[pztrailman]

My last brucelosis test cost me $30 for the office visit, $42 for the brucelosis, and $10 for the blood collection fee. I really felt like I got ripped. The blood collection fee is what really pissed me off, isn't collecting the blood how the test is done? I found out later I could have had it done for $20 at the stud's vet. I wish my old vet was still practicing.

[lowell robertson]

My Vet charged me $29 for a Bruce test and I had the results in 20 min., that fee included a check for parasites and the office call. Not all Vets are rip-offs. She has a huge lab machine tied in with Auburn U. and can do any blood work within minutes and treat your dog without your leaving the dog and having to make two trips. She also tells me the best home remedies for various problems so I can treat the least expensive way. She is located in Columbia, KY.

[Windkist]

The days of the good ole country vet are almost gone. I'm lucky that I have one and that his son (my age) is now in practice with him. The ones coming out of vet school now are only looking at how to market their practice and how to bilk their customers out of every dollar they can. most are Animal rights nuts too. Its very discouraging to go to a vet and spend 30 min filling out paperwork, signing consent forms etc.. seeing a assistant first and THEN.. seeing a vet who goes to his computer and tries to find every test know to man to do on your dog. If I go to a vet like that I decline most of the nonsense they are offering.

so, again.. thank the lord I have a great old time country vet with good common sense! he is worth every penny.

Leah

[TC]

Find Ya a large animal Vet...Most that i have run across are pretty Decent Folks I STAY away From the Pet Clinics as much as possible...We Got real lucky here as our Good Friend Oakhill was able to introduce us to her Vet.. He is a No NONSENSE type and Will tell ya Straight up!!!! AND havin over 10 hounds dont hurt either he just figures he is Gonna get a return on his investment Sooner or later LOL.
I think he thinks more on the return Customer than he does his Pocket book

[Larry Dean]

Like one of the guys said in the earlier post. You'll have to find a good country vet, or two. I use two different vets. Both are reasonable in their own areas, one that I prefer, can't do the brucellosis tests and have the results in the same day, so I use my other vet. I believe this year the test went up to $20 in 10-15 minutes, with no appt. just walkin. But I have heard from some other local vets, that cost $50+ and they still have to send the test out. I guess, if its a money thing, then shop around, but its good to have the vet that works with you.

[brookbro]

Got one going to the vet monday morn, $52.50 for a brucellosis test. I have a few local old timers that have much knowledge and always helpful with home remedies. If they don't know they usually know someone else we can get the answer from. I really appreciate these guys advice and help.

[green river]

You need to find a good country vet. The first vet I went to was the same way as you describe. I go in for a rabies shot and find myself in a room watching a video on how to brush a dog's teeth. What gets me is when you fill out your initial paperwork on a new dog, they have a question, "Is your pet just a pet, or a member of the family?". Is that really a relevant question? I think the only reason they ask such a question is to gauge how much they think they can guilt you into overspending on your pet.

BiL

I agree. My vet is a large animal vet that use to work for a vet in town. After having a baby she decided to work out of her home and she is much, much cheaper than the vets with the large office with a staff to pay. She takes care of a lot of hounds around here and is very friendly.

[cooper]

I just had a brucellosis done last week for $25 and that included everything. Get this the Vet I went to, practices/owns three different places. I called the one in the smallest town and he wanted $40 and 10 miles down the road in the next town he wanted $25. Now once I got there they wanted to test my dog for everything. If the vets didn't try to pressure you to get all these tests done everytime you walked in the door I would probably go more often. Tom

[coolbrze]

I'm getting one of my FCs bruce tested this week and it's costing my $40 but a buddy of mine who is a vet is doing it free, minus the charge to Antech or whoever he said they outsource it to. I called a half dozen places in Northern VA and the average fee for the vet visit, blood work/physical, & bruce test was $90 And... they wouldn't waive the 1st 2 things. Rabies shots cost close to $50 per hound now after you factor in a $35 office fee!!!

[brookbro]

When i made the appt. friday they said a bruc. test would be $52.50. My dad brought the bitch for her appt. for me and the bill was $80.09. I guess i also need to find me an old school vet.