For me, it’s not so much the call fee. I am grateful that they are willing to come out to the farm, I really am. Though in your case, OP, I would maybe see if they can look at your horse in the trailer if you trailer in - you mentioned it’s in a “concrete jungle”. As a kid, my non-horsey Dad used to trailer in my horse for weekly appointment held in the trailer that was parked on the local supermarket parking lot next to the urban vet clinic (perhaps an option if there is no where to unload safely and the vet is comfortable looking at the eye while being in the trailer with the horse?).
My issue is mostly the fact that - even from this thread - prices for vet services seem to be all over the place: as in I have 2 local vet clinics (in a 30-40 minute radius). I trailered one horse to each of the clinics for a Coggins last month: one bill as for $77, the other for $35. Both clinics are partnered-owned, similar set up/equipment, etc and both did nothing more that take a couple photos of pony and draw blood…
Well they did send the blood to a lab or run it on their own $$$$$ equipment and interpret the results. You priced human bloodwork (without insurance)?
This is not the cost itself I have an issue, it is the difference between the 2: if one of them can price it at $35 (and still make a profit), why is the other one charging me twice that?
ETA: also (in this particular anecdotal case), both of them sent them out to the same lab.
Higher overhead likely. Costs to operate vary greatly depending on many factors including size of staff, rent/mortgage on the office, what equipment is in the office (dx machines, surgical suite with hydraulics, large imaging capability and so forth. Plus what they carry on the truck and the truck itself.
Older practices have much of the newer technology and may even own the office. Newer practices and vets are stuck with higher costs.
Yes, you are likely spot on: in this case, the “cheapest” one is an older family run practice, the more “expensive” one is larger (and currently remodeling their office).
In my case, I will keep using both (in need “options” in an emergency and need to be an established client) but I will likely limit the one who is padding my bill to pay for their remodeling 
@Blueeyedroan I have a senior that had about a year of corneal ulcers that would NOT go away. My vet ended up having another vet come out to do a newish procedure. It’s been a while so I don’t remember it exactly, but it involved slowly putting something like 60 drops in her eye (I think it was riboflavin?) and then shining in a specific light frequency into it. It was a miracle cure - it started looking better just a few days later and eventually healed completely. Might be worth asking about.
The only time I got annoyed about a farm call was when my horse had an injection and had a huge reaction as soon as the vet started pulling out out of the driveway, They were back within 10 minutes and I got hit with the farm call and an emergency call. I completely understood it but the mare’s timing could’ve been better by about 60 seconds 
I take a stance of “this isn’t something I can diagnose/treat/prescribe/evaluate on my own” and I have to pay whatever the fee is. Eye issues do indeed need follow up. I don’t have the materials to stain the eye, look in it and then determine if it is better or worse. It is just…horses.
I also pay my farrier, my hairdresser, my saddle fitter, my therapist whatever their fee is. They are providing me with a service that I am not able to perform on my own (or am unwilling to do on my own).
I did push back on ONE farm call, one time. I emailed the (now former) vet office for spring shots and chiropratic work. I am fortunate to have a flexible schedule so I said “Just fit me in when you are nearby”. They set the appointment. Appointment arrives and they do spring shots and I ask about pony’s chiro.
Oh! Well Dr Jones does the chiro and she’s not here.
OK, is she coming?
No.
OK, well this was supposed to be both
We didn’t know that.
Fine, I call the office and schedule just chiro again
Dr “Jones” comes out (at their convenience) and I get charged for a farm call and the chiro. I pushed back and resent the emails regarding needing chiro, you guys didn’t send the right vet, I had to reschedule a second visit. That’s a office issue, not a me changing my mind issue. They removed the farm call.
You say this like it is wrong for a vet to remodel their office.
How else should a business pay to update their office?
The posts in this thread (and some of the others) prove that no matter what a vet does, it is wrong. Expecting to make a wage that will cover having the latest technology and a clean and safe place to work is not allowed, but not having the latest equipment that makes them able to provide every option is also wrong.
Clearly they should all come from families with other money who want to spend it on things to make the vet able to provide you (general) with low cost vet care.
Oh, I definitely don’t begrudge anyone making a living or keeping their practice updated and safe! I’m happy to pay fair rates for good care and equipment. My point is just that when a clinic charges nearly twice the local going rate for something as straightforward as a Coggins (which around here is around the $40 for all other clinics in a 100 mile radius - I checked), it’s hard not to question where that extra money is going.
I totally get the need to cover overhead. I run a lesson program myself and believe me, I’d love to charge more so I could for instance put up a heated indoor. (That would be nice, I hate the winters here ). But I can’t just double my rates and expect clients to roll with it when there might be other barns nearby charging much less. Isn’t it also about what the market will bear and what feels fair to the customer?
Honestly I just pay the vets whatever they bill me and thank my lucky stars.
Of course we have no choice but to do exactly that for those who have fewer options.
However, I think the number of us who have our own money tree is probably slim to none and I k know I’m not independently wealthy.
In the case of my vet, I think he’s getting just a wee bit greedy with his fees and shortly he will tip the scales to his detriment.
He already insists that you use them for all
Your vaccines etc. or they will not respond for anything else.
that’s ok I realize it’s their bread and butter so to speak…
However
They charge double for the vaccines plus the barn call of $75 plus the mileage fee that they have yet to share with us, plus the exam fee and the exam is just listening with a stethoscope and that’s it.
My bill for vaccines for 3 horses spring shots and coggins was almost $1000. Times 2 again for fall shots.
I think that might be a bit much.
Sounds about right to me.
It’s worth the peace of mind knowing that when the sh** hits the fan (or doesn’t, for impaction colic) we’re in good standing with our vet and she’ll be there at whatever ungodly hour of the morning, on a holiday weekend, despite a rainstorm or icy roads, to save that big goofy creature we’re really attached to.
Dang horses would’ve gone extinct without people, I swear.
I have lived places with no vet and it’s a horrible feeling to have a colicing horse or a massive injury and no vet. And if the traveler is there that day they are going to be busy so you are thankful for what time you get. People feel so entitled to everything these days, they have no idea.
I too have felt helpless in an emergent situation. There are not words. I grew up on a dairy farm. Our ‘regular vet’ was put in the hospital by our bull. He transitioned to small animal medicine when he recovered. For several years we did our own ‘medicine and surgery’ and we understood why…guess why I was dubbed the kid who would go to vet school…I do realize that being without is tragic and at times even being with can still have tragic outcomes. I feel terrible that anyone has to go through such helpless times. On the other side, we all have to make a living and time, effort, skill do come at some price. When I recently paid $85 to have nails done for my step daughter’s wedding (took 35 min), I had a moment of consciousness especially when I looked around and noticed every chair was occupied and people were waiting in line…let’s just say.
This. My 2 yo popped two splints and I had my vet out for rads to make sure they weren’t in bad spots etc etc. She looked, said they weren’t a big deal, said she was going to waste my money on pictures and had me fura wrap for a few days and keep her in and wrap for a month. Giant baby isnt exactly pleased but oh well. Happily paid the bill.
Not all vets would do this.
She also answered when I called the following Sunday evening and asked, is it more likely that yesterday’s trim made her lame or did I do something while wrapping and eff up my giant baby horse sniffle, I pulled her out to take off the wraps and she’s off and I hosed and washed the fura off her legs JIC and everything feels okay but sniffle? She asked, barefoot? Yes. Oh god yeah the trim, she’s fine, you didn’t do it, give her bute haha. So anyway. It sucks but I pay it. I could never do a corporation vet I couldn’t call and snivel to like that tho.
Same. And this thread has me thinking I will go ahead and send a thank you card to my vet clinic as I realize (again, and again, and again) how lucky I am to have a growing practice (they just added a 4th vet!) with vets that truly, deeply care about my success - personally and that of my mare.
Due to a host of issues (hind suspensory injury rehab, plus a horse who once or twice a year likes to get herself into some type of emergency trouble), plus routine maintenance and care… we see a lot of our vets. They have a brand new clinic (which is beautiful! I was just there yesterday ) and also do farm calls. I will pay whatever they bill me and continue to be grateful for their prompt, expert, friendly care.
Ha ha, I am sitting at my barn on a Sunday morning waiting for the on call vet for an under-the-weather donkey that probably could wait till Monday. But the vet on call happens to be the donkey’s regular vet, and coming today works much better for the vet. So I’ll get a farm call charge as well as an out of regular hours charge. And will be happy to pay it because my vets are great, I have everyone’s private cell #, and I want them to be here for me when I need them.
somewhat off topic but at my local TSC Vetricyn ophthalmic products rank near the top of frequently shoplifted items and are often not in stock even though the store computer shows them in stock. They’re just gone, so add it to your barn emergency supplies when you can-just in case. This I learned from the store manager.
My husband was an electrical contractor. It was $75 for him to set foot on your property. Now it would be $100. If he walks in and finds you plugged four space heaters into a power strip and tripped a breaker, that’s at least a $75 charge. You are paying for expertise.
