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I brought my puppy to the La Grange Park location for his first shot after finding a free visit coupon online. The dog got his shot, was checked for yeast in the ears, was given medicine for yeast in the ears, and I was charged almost $120.00.

Then, three weeks later, I brought him in for second shot; ears were checked again, stool sample was given, monthly heartworm pill w/flea control was given for a total of $190.00. I can't believe it. Both times the receptionist looked at me straight faced. They have got to be kidding.

Now, I was just called because the dog has giardia parasite and I need to get med for him. Do they really think I'm going back?

Location: Chicago, Illinois

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Guest

They should feel bad Kari because a vet has the means to help a distressed or hurt animal. In the very least, if the animal is suffering to euthanize the pet.

Life happens, and people loose their jobs, homes, or split up from a spouse, and sometimes find themselves in a financial bind. I think it is unethical to leave any living being in pain when you have the means to end their suffering.

Anyone that has suffered severe pain would agree. So sad that all that matters now a days is the mighty dollar in animal and in humans.

Guest

Kari I understand you points. I am a pet owner and take seriously this responsibility.

I have paid for eye and hip surgery to ensure they have the best quality of life. Just like with people things happen unexpedently. My husband had 6 surgeries in 5 months draining all our finances. According to your logic we should have given our dogs away because we no longer had the means to care for them should something happen.

Please do not be so judgemental. I commend your boyfriend for caring about both the animals & their guardians (I do not like the word owners). I believe the point all these people and myself are making is that when Vetanary medicine is treated strictly as a business for profit. A lot is lost in the assembly line care of a larger vet hospital.

There is lack of concern, compassion or care for the animals or owners it is all about the #'s how much $ made,how may procedures etc. We are all aware thru our own daily lives there are day to day expenses and salaries to be paid. However finding a local vet who has much of the same expenses and equipment, some expenses are more because they have to sends labs out etc charge less and give better care. Lets face it there are Vets in it for the money only just like there are doctors who choose their profession for the $.

The deal is Vets can charge what they want and Dr. are mostly governed by insurance agreements but Vets can charge what they want holding your pets care and possibly life in the balance!

Guest

Kari I think you are missing the point here. There is a difference between complaining about a certain veterinarian clinics like VCA & complaining about Veterinarians.

I personally love my veterinarian however the Animal Clinic that I had been taking both my Dog & Cat to decided to start charging me extra & unnecessary fees for tests that were unneeded before they would prescribe medication for a regular Urinary Tract Infection my cat would get. The next thing I know they are totally redoing the whole building & have a brand new fancy sign outside.

The money they are making isn't going to pay bills & employees or to the Vets. It's going into the owners pockets just like any other business.

Guest

If you read the coupon, it says "free initial health exam." This means the exam fee is free, not the entire visit. If your pet has a problem, then that is not covered. This was explained to me when they told me about the coupon.

Rosey Pzd

The VCA i work for charges an arm and a leg but they sure don't pay there staff what they are worth. they are more worried about paying the big wigs out in CA. It sadend me that we had 5 different people turn down our tech job due to lack of us being able to pay them.

Guest

I agree whole heartedly! People who choose to have pets as part of their family also agree to have them treated just as they would children.

With that responsibility comes a financial responsibility as well. Don't take in animals if you can't afford to take care of them!!!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-334644

to Kari and Judith, first of all Kari, if your boyfriend really cared about the animals more than the money, then perhaps he could find a way to work with these clients to make out a payment plan so he could help the animal. and while most vets go into the profession because they care for the animals there are still the few rotten apples that spoil it for the rest.

Now on to Judith, tell me Judy, would you give the same advice to a pregnant mother on welfare? Also, I assume you have children, do you take that earned income tax credit for each of your children. Since you liken the care of animals to the care of children, as a host of five animals 4 dogs and a cat, why don't I get a tax deduction. After all my five furry friends are not a burden on the state, or local animal shelter.

I feed money to a multibillion dollar industry in the way of vet care, food, and stewardship. Why are my companions considered less than a human life. no Medicaid for animals either? companions (As I hate the word "PET") are, in my eyes, many times worth more than any human.

the don't call rescue humans they call rescue dogs in an emergency or disaster. I don't see many seeing eye people on the streets either. Having a companion is an act of Love for most of us, what's the dollar value on that in your book?

also you say "don't take in an animal if you can't afford to take care of them" So I should leave the 8 kittens in an alley to sicken and die rather than try and help them, or the puppy dodging traffic and the people trying to kick or abuse it rather than try to help it? you sound like a very cold logical person to me, perhaps you should apply to VCA for a job, sounds like you might be a perfect fit!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-780042

To 'Mouth' What a *** you are! Kari is telling you her boyfriend is a vet who comes home in distress over the animals he wants to help but can't and your answer is that 'if he loved animals he would find a way'!!!

Really!! What a dumb thing to say. Does it cross your self-entitled tiny mind that this is not an option at most hospitals? Unless you are one of the tiny minority of practice owners/corporate CEO's who is in charge of finances you have NO SAY AT ALL in the prices your hospital charges.

I am a Vet myself & have been threatened with being FIRED (that's right, I could have potentially lost my job, my way of paying rent, paying back my HUGE student loans, my way of taking care of my family) because I once discounted a service for someone who could not pay out of pity for the animal. The company I work for told me that was 'stealing' from them & I had to pay back that amount of of my own earnings (a pitiful amount after student loans are deducted). I'm sad to say the owners financial situation is not our fault, we cannot just 'adjust' prices because an o is on welfare. In a dream world, sure money would never enter the conversation, all pets & all people could have free medical care.

But that is a far off dream. But back here in reality medicine is a business & vets are expected to be able to earn enough to cover their time, their nurses pay, their receptionists pay, the rent of their facilities, their X-ray/blood machine equiptment, the medications the use/dispense.

If these things don't get paid for the hospital will not stay in business. Grow up & join the real world.

Guest

So many people on here are complaining about prices. I don't understand at all.

Veterinary Practices are not charities, they have to pay their staff, their vets, and their day to day bills like electricity and phone service, not to mention the cost of maintaining the equipment in the office like x-rays. Compare the cost of human care to veterinary care and you will be surprised how discounted vet care is. Veterinary Medicine uses sometimes identical equipment and medicine as human medicine, but charges much less. I hate when my boyfriend (who is a vet) comes home and tells me about the sob stories that he wishes he could help but cannot because the humans responsible for the animals care and well-being are not able to afford the care the animal needs.

It tears him up every day, and it just makes me so angry to read on here so many people calling Veterinarians "cruel" or "money hungry".

Think before you type people, Veterinarians LOVE animals. That is why they invested their time and money to go to Vet School, this is why they sacrifice their evenings and weekends to be on call, this is why they agonize when a pet has to be denied treatment because the owner cannot afford it.

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