worried!

[*Lassie*]

I changed vets 2 years ago, not because I was unhappy with the vet but they were very expensive, lot more than other vets in the area.
Both dogs were insured but if the dogs had anything done you were required to pay the full cost when you picked up the animal. The current vet you just pay the excess and he claims off the insurance for the rest. If I could afford to pay big vet bills all at once I wouldn't have insurance.

A friend has her dog on some expensive medication and her insurance cover runs out soon ( only covered for 12 months) her vet said not to worry they can work out something cheaper.

[Sweetypye]

I do not comment on anything unless I have all the facts.

Vets are businesses and will charge what people will pay, if people vote with their feet they either change the costs or go out of business.

Of course overheads are the same for ANY business, large or small etc, however there is a great deal of difference between the OUTCOMES of mistakes in veterinary practice as opposed to a wool shop etc!

I am not trying to justify anything, just that it is easy to moan and point the finger at something or someone without knowing ALL the pertinent factors relating to EVERY individual case.

All we (and vets) can do is what we think is best at the time.

In another scenario you might want to INSIST the dog is opened up which is what I did with both my dogs which had torsion; the vet thought it was unlikely, I knew my dogs so well that I put money on it.  Unfortunately I was right.

Vets, like us, are human, and like us, make mistakes.  To demonise or idolise them is pointless.

[*Lassie*]

Vets, like us, are human, and like us, make mistakes.  To demonise or idolise them is pointless

I would not wish to do either but like any professional body we have to trust them to do right by us.
Sometimes this can be hard to do when the first question you are asked is, 'is the animal insured' when most vets want the money up front anyway.
It can be very hard if not impossible to complain about a vet, most don't even tell you their arrangements for after hours cover either.
To find a good vet that will listen and not be condescending, who will take your concerns seriously and trust that you know your own animal are very hard to find.   

PS nice to have a decent discussion on here again

[Val]

As Lassie say's You have to be able to trust them.
And that is just the point there are a lot of vets you can't trust.
Having been grooming for more years than I care to count I have seen a lot of abuse by vets, not everyone knows their animals like we do SP I see it time and time again first time owners thinking the vet is doG believing everything they are told, they think they can make the rules up as they go along prices too.
As I said There are good ones but there are also some not so good
Val

[Sweetypye]

Absolutely, just as there are good people and bad, good dog owners and bad etc etc etc