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Old 31-05-2007, 01:32
||The Citizen||
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Let me explain the problem. My bird's (cocktiel) foot keeps flinching like it has a tick, it seems to be flinching everytime it's heart beats. He's also gone really quiet, along with the fact that his dropping have changed.

I called up the the local vets for advice but there all closed, so i then went on to call the 24 hour emergency vet for my area, only for them to say they can't give me any advice and that I would have to come in. That's fine but the price they quoted was £60.00 plus VAT and whatever medicine they give him.

I can't afford this and I'm really angry that i can't do anything but sit here and watch my bird suffer until i can bring him to a cheaper vet in the morning - if he even makes it to the morning.

Does anyone think it is really unfair to have an animal suffer because of over priced vet fee's? Also could anyone give me any advice on what could be the problem.
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Old 31-05-2007, 01:57
Billy 577
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Sorry cant help you with the problem but symperthise with the amount they want to charge . Vets have you by the balls you either pay their extortionate charge or loose your pet. Just shows what scumbags they are , i hope your pet gets better. I put Vets on a par with Estate Agents , hope they go to Hell for being money grabbing b******
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:01
mavis b sausage
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I'm sorry, i don't know what could be wrong, unless he's hurt his foot in some way, the flinching sounds like a pain reaction. There is probably no great need to rush to the vet tonight, just try and keep him warm and quiet.
£60 is a lot, my vet would charge £24 plus vat for an out of hours consultation, slightly more for a larger animal. One thing the vet you spoke to is right about is that they CANNOT give advice as to treatment over the phone for an animal they don't know, that is the benefit of being registered with a vet, plus once registered you should be able to get hold of them amy time.
Call your chosen vet first thing in the morning and good luck to you and your cockatiel
PS Even if your vet doesn't know much about birds they should be able to ring the nearest vet college for advice. I took a terrapin who had fallen out of his tank and broken his shell into my vet the other day and she hadn't a clue what to do. She rang the experts and I now have a happy, healthy terrapin
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:02
mavis b sausage
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Sorry cant help you with the problem but symperthise with the amount they want to charge . Vets have you by the balls you either pay their extortionate charge or loose your pet. Just shows what scumbags they are , i hope your pet gets better. I put Vets on a par with Estate Agents , hope they go to Hell for being money grabbing b******
Not all vets are like that, mine's lovely
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:10
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Thanks for the comments guys.

I understand about the vet not being able to diagnose what is wrong or give advice over the phone but the price for him to be seen is just horrific.
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:13
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I doubt it's a pain reaction because it just started while he was sitting on his perch, however he had been prunning himself alot today, maybe he bit a nerve...
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:20
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I had to ring our vet the other night out of hours because our cat had started bleeding from her eyes. He was able to reassure me it was only an infection and that she'd be fine until I took her into the surgery first thing in the morning.

He was right and she's recovering nicely.

Anyways, OP have you tried ringing the likes of Blue Cross or the PDSA? They might at least be able to put your mind at rest.
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:21
mavis b sausage
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I doubt it's a pain reaction because it just started while he was sitting on his perch, however he had been prunning himself alot today, maybe he bit a nerve...
Yes he could have, or he could have twisted a toe or something like that. Is there any blood?
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:29
||The Citizen||
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I had to ring our vet the other night out of hours because our cat had started bleeding from her eyes. He was able to reassure me it was only an infection and that she'd be fine until I took her into the surgery first thing in the morning.

He was right and she's recovering nicely.

Anyways, OP have you tried ringing the likes of Blue Cross or the PDSA? They might at least be able to put your mind at rest.
I havn't how would i be able to come in caontact with them?

Yes he could have, or he could have twisted a toe or something like that. Is there any blood?
Nope there no blood, that's what i find confusing he seems to be in minimal pain apart from the flinching. He seems tired because he keeps closing his eyes and opening them again shortly after. He is walking normally because i put my hand in the cage and he became active.
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:38
mavis b sausage
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Maybe it's one of those pains that only comes when he's sitting still, he doesn't notice it when he's busy? Try not to worry as he will pick up on how you are feeling but I know how difficult it is when a pet is unwell. Vet in the morning and hopefully some reassurance for you and a cure for him
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Old 31-05-2007, 02:46
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Maybe it's one of those pains that only comes when he's sitting still, he doesn't notice it when he's busy? Try not to worry as he will pick up on how you are feeling but I know how difficult it is when a pet is unwell. Vet in the morning and hopefully some reassurance for you and a cure for him
Thanks for the reasurance, I'm going to go to sleep no so i can get him to vet very early in the morning, without having to take out a loan to get him seen.
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Old 31-05-2007, 08:29
Phil 2804
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Let me explain the problem. My bird's (cocktiel) foot keeps flinching like it has a tick, it seems to be flinching everytime it's heart beats. He's also gone really quiet, along with the fact that his dropping have changed.

I called up the the local vets for advice but there all closed, so i then went on to call the 24 hour emergency vet for my area, only for them to say they can't give me any advice and that I would have to come in. That's fine but the price they quoted was £60.00 plus VAT and whatever medicine they give him.

I can't afford this and I'm really angry that i can't do anything but sit here and watch my bird suffer until i can bring him to a cheaper vet in the morning - if he even makes it to the morning.

Does anyone think it is really unfair to have an animal suffer because of over priced vet fee's? Also could anyone give me any advice on what could be the problem.

Dear God, Vets in business to make money shocker, as they don't receive any money from the state the price you are qouted is the true reflection of the cost of care.

Why didn't you take out pet insurance? Its the only sensible way of owning a pet if you cannot afford the fees.

Sorry to sound do harsh.
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Old 31-05-2007, 08:40
innocent.
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I can't give advice on the cause of the bird's problem , but I was thinking about the cost of the vet.

One of our dogs tore her belly on barbed wire, and the vet put in 5 stitches and cleaned the wound.

When it came to paying, the nurse asked us for £210 which was a huge shock. My husband questioned it and commented that it was a large bill. The nurse went back into the vet and came back and said the price was now £130.

This made me wonder whether it might be worth telling the vet that you simply can't afford the higher price. I do appreciate that they put their skill into helping, but sometimes the bills are huge.

Our dogs now have pet health insurance.
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Old 31-05-2007, 08:53
Dancing Queen
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Sorry cant help you with the problem but symperthise with the amount they want to charge . Vets have you by the balls you either pay their extortionate charge or loose your pet. Just shows what scumbags they are , i hope your pet gets better. I put Vets on a par with Estate Agents , hope they go to Hell for being money grabbing b******
I work in an estate agents (I do all the admin and 'real' work )....however they put up with all the sh!t - vendors & purchasers - lazy solicitors.....heated arguments everyday - long hours/weekends - some Bank Hols (on rota).....I think they deserve their commission - and it's not as much as you think only the managers and directors rake it in
Back to the parrot - it has been said that unless you can afford the vets bills etc etc then don't have an animal - or maybe get pet insurance - which can save you hundreds in the long run
Poor parrot tho' - hope he gets well soon
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Old 31-05-2007, 10:10
Porcupine
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Why didn't you take out pet insurance? Its the only sensible way of owning a pet if you cannot afford the fees.
Pet insurance is great - but there is (nearly) always an excess. It would hardly be worth making a claim on a £60 bill.

I have two dogs, and they are both insured. It costs me about £25 a month for the platinum service. The last couple of times i have taken them to the vets the bills have been around £50. Thats the excess on the policy.

Sometimes i wonder if the vets have 'deals' with the insurers, and try and make sure that the bills are around the £50 mark - unless of course its a major op, and not something small and routine.
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Old 31-05-2007, 10:51
dancing lady
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any news about the bird yet?
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Old 31-05-2007, 11:11
Taglet
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I have two horses and a dog and all are insured for vets fees - I'd be crazy not to. The bottom line is that veterinary treatment comes with the job of pet ownership and my view is that if you cannot afford to get treatment when the animal is ill you should not take on the responsibility of the animal. It is a welfare issue (dont forget there it a welfare bill about this issue so you can find yourself in trouble with the law if you dont get treatment for a sick animal).

Vets are not rip off merchants. Their training takes longer than a GP and they also have to specialise in a wide range of creatures making their skill and expertise much greater. £60 is not excessive - try getting a plumber to mend a leaking tap for less.

My last bill for a cloudy eye was £800!
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Old 31-05-2007, 11:19
stumblebum
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I have two horses and a dog and all are insured for vets fees - I'd be crazy not to. The bottom line is that veterinary treatment comes with the job of pet ownership and my view is that if you cannot afford to get treatment when the animal is ill you should not take on the responsibility of the animal. It is a welfare issue (dont forget there it a welfare bill about this issue so you can find yourself in trouble with the law if you dont get treatment for a sick animal).

Vets are not rip off merchants. Their training takes longer than a GP and they also have to specialise in a wide range of creatures making their skill and expertise much greater. £60 is not excessive - try getting a plumber to mend a leaking tap for less.

My last bill for a cloudy eye was £800!
Ha - I can beat that. My cob got a puncture wound from a fence nail in her stifle. She almost died and ended up in hospital. The bill was a little short of £3,000
Thank goodness for insurance!!

Mind you last year one of our Jack Russells ended up having to have a caesarian and the bill for that was £450 - which insurance doesn't cover
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Old 31-05-2007, 11:20
Dancing Queen
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I have two horses and a dog and all are insured for vets fees - I'd be crazy not to. The bottom line is that veterinary treatment comes with the job of pet ownership and my view is that if you cannot afford to get treatment when the animal is ill you should not take on the responsibility of the animal. It is a welfare issue (dont forget there it a welfare bill about this issue so you can find yourself in trouble with the law if you dont get treatment for a sick animal).

Vets are not rip off merchants. Their training takes longer than a GP and they also have to specialise in a wide range of creatures making their skill and expertise much greater. £60 is not excessive - try getting a plumber to mend a leaking tap for less.

My last bill for a cloudy eye was £800!
try getting a plumber full stop
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Old 31-05-2007, 11:26
Taglet
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Ha - I can beat that. My cob got a puncture wound from a fence nail in her stifle. She almost died and ended up in hospital. The bill was a little short of £3,000
Thank goodness for insurance!!

Mind you last year one of our Jack Russells ended up having to have a caesarian and the bill for that was £450 - which insurance doesn't cover
I've had bigger bills but that was my most recent, either way it certainly rams home the point doesnt it?

I do hope your cob made a full recovery - sounds really nasty.

Last year our little daxie got a really bad stomach (a bit gory but he lost a lot of blood from his rear end ). He went to hospital and there was a bit of a fight to save him. The receptionist looked very sombre and said in a whisper that it would be very expensive. The bill was £300......EXPENSIVE?, who was she kidding, significantly cheaper than I usually see.
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Old 31-05-2007, 11:27
Taglet
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try getting a plumber full stop
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Old 31-05-2007, 11:32
Caxton
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I cannot see how £60 is excessive for veterinary fees. As Taglet said a vet is a highly specialised profession, just think of all the different sorts of animals they have to treat and the wide knowledge that is required to carry that work out. They are not just a animal doctor but also a surgeon.

There is staff to pay -- nurses and receptionists and the wide range of equipment they need for their practice, things like x-ray machines cost thousands of pounds. The property the use also has to be paid for. Overheads are high.

I have a lot of respect for vets when you compare them to a family doctor who just diagnoses a problem and if not sure or further treatment is needed pass you on to a consultant or the hospital. Vets take on the lot.
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Old 31-05-2007, 11:40
Dancing Queen
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£60 is only equal to a night out - no contest... animal or peeing it up the wall
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Old 31-05-2007, 12:13
Vodka Squirrel
 
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I cannot see how £60 is excessive for veterinary fees. As Taglet said a vet is a highly specialised profession, just think of all the different sorts of animals they have to treat and the wide knowledge that is required to carry that work out. They are not just a animal doctor but also a surgeon.

There is staff to pay -- nurses and receptionists and the wide range of equipment they need for their practice, things like x-ray machines cost thousands of pounds. The property the use also has to be paid for. Overheads are high.

I have a lot of respect for vets when you compare them to a family doctor who just diagnoses a problem and if not sure or further treatment is needed pass you on to a consultant or the hospital. Vets take on the lot.
To be honest I agree. £60 for an out of hours vet consultation is not all that much money. I had to take my housemate's cat to the vet during surgery hours and it was £70 though I think medicines were included in that.

The other examples on this thread also make the point. Pets get ill and that costs money, and how you can expect a vet to respond out of hours for less than £60 is beyond me, you're talking about them seeing an animal outside normal working hours. Do you expect them after all the training they have done and at whatever time it is to do it for a tenner?
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Old 31-05-2007, 12:23
Mexie
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Vets do not actually earn particularly high wages compared to other professionals in private practice and even NHS doctors. The high fees do not translate to high wages.

Vets have to pay for their building, their extremely expensive specialist diagnostic and surgical (i.e. hospital) equipment, drug stocks and their staff.

If you are not willing or able to pay vets' fees when your animal gets sick, then you should get pet insurance.
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