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View Full Version : Dog Hospitals What are your thoughts?



Wise Old Owl
08-07-2009, 10:40
Recently My dad was forced to use a Pet Hospital on a weekend after a Pit Bull broke away from the owner and mauled Jack (a Jack Russel)

The gash was so deep it didn't even bleed at first, yet it was down to the bone and required several layers to be stitched.


When he turned up at the Hospital the rabies tag was not enough, he had to provide the paperwork as proof of shots, something he wasn't prepared for.


My dad lost it when he was told what the bill was going to be. Well over $800 for twenty stitches, Well he exploded and told them $600 and not a penny more, and guess who had the dog? they did, and wouldn't return the dog until he paid cash? A check or credit card was suddenly a huge issue to the people behind the counter.

He proceeded to tell anyone and everyone how bad it was to go there.

I have heard of similar stories from other pet owners, and without getting into a blame game, was interested in your experiences.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg275/MarkSwarbrick/adt040.jpg

Colter
08-07-2009, 11:26
I think the pit bull owner should pay $800 for the stitches.

Wise Old Owl
08-07-2009, 11:55
I think the pit bull owner should pay $800 for the stitches.


well He turned out to be a dead beat with no money.... I will ask if it went to court.

Rouen
08-07-2009, 12:00
I think the pit bull owner should pay $800 for the stitches.

usually that it requires a small claims court. though animal control should be made aware of a dangerous dog in the area.

I find it best to go to smaller vet clinics, when Sam died she was at a smaller one-vet clinic. They charged me $700 for everything, exam, ex-rays, ultrasound, surgery, medication, and boarding. if I had taken her to a different clinic the bill would have been well over a thousand dollars.
smaller vet clinics usually let you do payments instead of paying full upfront, and some will agree to an amount before doing any work.

Wise Old Owl
08-07-2009, 21:02
Well we have several good freinds as vets, few if any are available on a Saturday. But we learned a big lesson.

STEVEM
08-07-2009, 21:07
People need to train and control their animals.

1. Pay the Vet his full fee.
2. Report the incident to animal control and the police.
3. Sue the pit bull owner.

You shouldn't let it slide, no doubt the dog will injure or kill someone elses pet or perhaps bite a child. I'd hate to hear that the dog seriously injured someone and know that I hadn't done what I could to prevent it.

Wise Old Owl
08-07-2009, 22:23
Thank's Steve but thats up to dad and he was so mad I am sure he persued the guy, but that wasn't what I was looking for in the thread. I was more into the idea of reading other experiences with the Vet Hospitals.

sasquatch2014
08-07-2009, 22:33
I recently ran into Ducky up at the Copper Lodge Camp in VT. Earlier in the week her Dog Madison slipped off a rock at a high water crossing and was quickly swept down stream and off a 30 ft waterfall. she was able to take it to a Holistic Vet (remember we are in VT after all) in Manchester Center. The vet said that while the dog was banged up that stitches would be purely cosmetic at this point and the two were off and hiking a day or so after the incident.

elmotoots
08-07-2009, 22:34
Our vet did pet house calls in a big van, i can not believe she is so cheap. She says it is because she does not pay for a building. When gas got real high she quit driving and still had us bring the dog to her house and worked on it in the van. She liked it so well she leaves the van parked in the pole barn and has people bring the pets over to her. And she is still very low cost and does a great job.

Steve

dmax
08-08-2009, 10:52
I'd find a new vet. $800 for stitches? The vet should be sued. In the spring my dog spent three nights in the hospital. Total bill for all services rendered was $175.

CrumbSnatcher
08-08-2009, 11:39
i love dogs to death, but i had two german shepards bearing down on my dog once and she was a few feet ahead of me and she stopped. i ran ahead of her and stuck my leg out straight and stiff,and crushed the first dogs head . the second one bit me in the arm right before i body slammed it. they ran off quick. i had no problem taking the bite. it pissed me off,but at least my BEARdog was ok! the only other time i was pissed is when a jackass tried to sneak around me to kill my dog. he tried to stomp her! i whacked his ass hard with my trekking poles. i hope your buddy is better soon.

Wise Old Owl
08-08-2009, 12:29
I'd find a new vet. $800 for stitches? The vet should be sued. In the spring my dog spent three nights in the hospital. Total bill for all services rendered was $175.

FYI there is a huge difference between visiting a local vet and going to a vet hospital, in terms of overhead, xrays, ultrasound etc.

Hence the ridiculous costs.

Sort of like taking Barbaro the race horse with a broken leg to a vet vs going to the New Bolton Center down the road from me.:(


Crumbsnatcher - wow hell of an event there! Wait the owner of the other dogs tried to get around you? wow.

CrumbSnatcher
08-08-2009, 12:35
FYI there is a huge difference between visiting a local vet and going to a vet hospital, in terms of overhead, xrays, ultrasound etc.

Hence the ridiculous costs.

Sort of like taking Barbaro the race horse with a broken leg to a vet vs going to the New Bolton Center down the road from me.:(


Crumbsnatcher - wow hell of an event there! Wait the owner of the other dogs tried to get around you? wow.
i spent over a thousand dollors to the emergency vet when i took bear in the night before she died. big difference than a regular visit cost. dogs cost alot of money! im sure i spent a couple thousand or more evey year i had bear. she almost made it to 15 years of age.

dmax
08-08-2009, 14:09
If I'd taken my dog to a reg vet around here it would have cost a ton. Thats why we took her to a vet hospital so she could have the x-rays and the extra work done. You just need to find the right hospital. Some others in the area probably would have charged 6x's the amount. Be sure to ask the animal owners you now and you'll soon find the cheapest [and the busiest].

dmax
08-08-2009, 14:27
Its kinda like bottled water.
You can go down the street abd buy a bottle for 75 cents. Or you can drive up to the country club and pay $4 for the same bottle of water.

CrumbSnatcher
08-08-2009, 16:11
FYI there is a huge difference between visiting a local vet and going to a vet hospital, in terms of overhead, xrays, ultrasound etc.

Hence the ridiculous costs.

Sort of like taking Barbaro the race horse with a broken leg to a vet vs going to the New Bolton Center down the road from me.:(


Crumbsnatcher - wow hell of an event there! Wait the owner of the other dogs tried to get around you? wow.
the jackass was on the trail in a pen where you had to pass thru a farmers field just a few miles south of(newport turnoff?) the big oak up in virginny.we had to pass thru a farmers property. the ass was slick real friendly to me and slowly walked around me, i should of known something was up the way bear was acting! leash or no leash she was lucky! she tried to stay behind me and when he came at her she slipped trying to turn and the full weight of the ass just missed her. they had at least 20 donkeys. they were all in the other attached pen,and after i wacked the donkey he went to the other pen. i should of said the german sheperds were my deaf neighbors up the street from me in my town. NOT the trail. they were very aggressive when ever we walked by(USUALLY FENCED) and my dog was always nervous. she was so scared just standing there waiting for her fate. those dogs were always quiet after that when we passED. :D

ce_rubicon
08-08-2009, 17:57
Just pay the bill and go after the owner. A vet hospital is no different then a human hospital. When you see the word hospital just expect a large bill.

dmax
08-08-2009, 19:13
I didn't really mean "sue" the vet.:)

shelterbuilder
08-08-2009, 20:52
I agree - pay the bill and try to get a judgment entered against the owner (even if the guy has nothing, the judgment will still stand for about 20 years, so you stand a fair chance of getting your money back, if your Dad can wait for it a while).

I'm assuming that this incident took place somewhere in SE Pa.? You have to realize that the closer you get to Philly, the more the price goes up. Even here in Reading, I would expect to pay $500 to $600 for this - and with it being a bite from an "unknown" dog, the vet was within his/her rights to ask to see the certificate (tags can be switched very easily from dog to dog). In my area, there's only 1 or 2 clinics that have "emergency weekend hours", and you have to pay over $150 JUST TO WALK IN THE DOOR!

One of my girls recently had surgery to repair a torn ligament in her rear leg - had I gone to a specialist in the Philadelphia area, the bill would have been close to $3000 - with no real guarantee that she would ever be able to race again. But I asked some of my "dog friends" and they told me about a local vet surgeon who was willing to do the surgery for less than $2000 - still no guarantees about the running, although she seems to be making good progress with her recovery and therapy.

Does your Dad have medical insurance on himself? Next time, tell HIM to take the bite instead of letting the dog get bit...HIS medical insurance will pick up the bill, and Animal Control will then be justified in picking up the other dog...and your Dad can STILL SUE the other owner!!!:D

And tell your Dad that I said "good luck and speedy recovery" for the Jack Russell.

LockJaww
08-08-2009, 22:08
Well of course the veterinary hospital is due it's money. Your father took his dog with IT'S emergency to them for their expertise...unsolisted...When your animal has an emergency its a poor time to shop for bargin treatment. I recently paid $ 9000 in veterinary costs for a horse in an emergency situation....the monetary value of the horse?.....In todays market maybe 3 grand....His value to me?...Priceless
How could a leashed dog fall off of a waterfall?...Wouldnt it only fall as far as the length of the leash to be easily retrieved?
Two unleashed roaming German Sheperds attacked your dog?...Wow....Im glad to hear that you and your dog survived. Sounds dangerous...
The pitbull's owner should be accountable for your fathers expenses....

Wise Old Owl
08-18-2009, 20:29
I have no idea what my dad is waiting for, its been a month and he has not made a move, and it happened in Delaware.