My point wasn’t what a great pet owner I am (they own me, anyway). It was that the vets I have encountered have been the most wonderful, compassionate, honest and helpful people I could hope to have treating my precious fur babies. If I’ve left a practice (only occasionally) it was due to disorganization of the office staff or difficulty of getting appointments or getting in for emergency situations. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I feel it takes a very special person to be a vet.
I don’t think people are complaining about the cost of fair and necessary treatments. Healthcare is expensive. We all get it. What we don’t appreciate are vets who seem to be pushing tests and treatments based on what’s most profitable. Why would a vet suggest a $2,000 series of tests without first ruling out a bladder infection or offer a treatment that costs thousands of dollars for a 13-year-old dog without mentioning alternatives? There’s no good reason for it.
There are situations where we did pay. When I met my husband he told me about the beautiful dog he used to have. His former girlfriend took custody during the breakup. One day she called him and said the dog got hit by a car and she’d just dropped her off at the vet’s. If he wanted her, he should call the vet right away. He did call and the vet said she needed immediate surgery. It cost several thousand dollars and there was no guarantee she’d survive, but she was young (2 or 3, maybe) and if she did she had an excellent chance at living a normal life. He okayed the surgery over the phone. It took a long time for her to heal, but she did and went on to live a happy, active life.
We had that dog for many years. She had one litter of pups, and the one we kept passed away from old age at 16. Raising animals isn’t cheap, so I’m sure we spent a decent amount of money on her over the years. But we didn’t make her endure unnecessary tests and treatments. The fair and necessary ones we paid for without complaint.
I have to inject a little humorous anecdote here for some levity. Our dog started vomiting frequently, like every 30 mins, basically coughing up clear liquid we went to see our regular vet and she wasn’t in, but her father was - they’re partners in the practice.
So I’m expecting a little bit of a doddering older guy, but in walks this huge, buff, handsome, rugged guy. Like Clooney if he was 4 inches taller, spent more time outside, and had an extra 40 pounds of muscle from working out in the gym or bench-pressing cows. Or that Aussie vet from that tv show if anybody watches, but 20 years older. Or maybe Dr McSteamy from Grey’s Anatomy.
So the guy starts talking and not only does he look amazing, but he’s got an incredibly patient bedside manner too. I’m a straight-up hetero guy but I was totally man-crushing on this dude. We walked out of the appointment (turns out our little girl has pancreatitis, not serious just needs a low-fat diet) and I complained to W and D - “OMG I hate that guy!”
They were shocked but when I explained why they just totally cracked up! Oh, total for the visit was like $300 and we got the test results in 30 mins while we waited, just to stay on topic.
I have a crush on my dog’s oncologist. I think I’m not the only one, however; other folks who have taken their dogs to this clinic seem to be in love with the veterinarians, too.
Our neighbor was a veterinary pathologist. To supplement her income she was a mortgage broker or similar, I believe. She was married to a pediatric infectious disease doctor. They had an adorable family, including a beloved dog.
The location of the particular vet can have an impact too! We recently moved away from the major city center and were shocked at how much less expensive the veterinary care is out here.
I’m sorry some people have had issues with vets trying to upsell. I do not believe that is the norm, at least in my area. My sister is a vet and we’ve talked about the cost of pet care, and she is very sensitive to the cost to the owners. If this is a problem you may want to find a new vet.
Years ago we were told our dog had bad hips. He was in some discomfort but was getting around ok. My vet mentioned that there is, in fact, total hip replacement for dogs. My H said we would opt for total dog replacement first. (Dog died of aggressive nasal cancer a year or so later.)
@eastcoast101, I like your husband’s sense of humor. I appreciated very much that the veterinary resident decided to not even tell me during our in-person meeting that the most “comprehensive” way to treat my previous dog’s oral cancer would have been surgery: removal of half her face.
After paying $80 a visit for 2 visits and 2 shots, I am today taking my puppy to Vetco for a $69 series of shots and a $19 microchip insertion. Our local vet is lovely, but I just can’t afford that level of cost. I really didn’t want another dog, but she’s a purebred teacup Maltese that my son got for free from an overwhelmed woman who couldn’t deal with the fact that the 2 adult Malteses she paid $3500 a piece for reproduced. The dog is adorable but I am not funding the vet’s retirement at the expense of my own.
To add a bit more humor to this thread, and off topic, but I give vets and groomers all the credit and my money for taking care of our beloved pets:
10 reasons why grooming your dog costs more than getting your haircut-
- Your hairdresser doesn’t wash and clean your rear end.
- You don’t go eight weeks without washing or brushing your hair.
- Your hairdresser doesn’t give you a sanitary trim.
- Your hairdresser doesn’t clean your ears.
- Your hairdresser doesn’t remove the boogies from your eyes.
- You sit still for your hairdresser.
- Your haircut doesn’t include a manicure or pedicure.
- Your hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head.
- You don’t bite or scratch your hairdresser. and finally……..
- The likelihood of you pooping on the hairdresser is pretty slim.
^^^ That’s adorable!
WAIT- You aren’t allowed to bite or scratch your hairdresser? I didn’t know that! 
‘WAIT- You aren’t allowed to bite or scratch your hairdresser? I didn’t know that!’
I’m sure I get a discount for doing that!