Routine small animal vet care.

[iberianfan]

For the past several years I have used the same vet practice for my home critters. I have just pretty much done everything they recommended.

The vet I really liked moved and I am not as fond of the current vet I am seeing. And, this clinic is very expensive. Just background.

So, it was time for one dog to be hw and fecal checked. I was told that I also had to have a wellness exam before they would sell me any medication. And, they will not write a prescription for hw meds.

I feel a little held hostage and forced to have the wellness check just to get my hw meds. Do all vets do this? I am used to country vets that are plenty busy without forcing stuff on patients.

Is this normal for small animal city clinics? Am I just being an old curmudgeon that gets a little weary of $300 vet bills…

[jen-s]

[QUOTE=iberianfan;8675377]
Do all vets do this? Is this normal for small animal city clinics? Am I just being an old curmudgeon that gets a little weary of $300 vet bills…[/QUOTE]

I’d say most, rather than all. Yes, quite normal. And I won’t comment.

It’s no different than your family doctor wanting to see you once a year prior to refilling your blood pressure meds. Because heartworm meds require a prescription, most vets won’t prescribe it without an exam. And some would likely require a negative HW test as well.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

My vet pretty much required an annual exam, including a HW negative test. I never asked not to have an annual exam, though, since I only had one dog and it seemed like a good precautionary measure. They did allow me to opt out of certain suggested things that I didn’t think were necessary (such as full ‘senior’ blood work when she was still a relatively young dog).

There are low-cost clinics that offer a variety of services–definitely rabies and other vaccines–provided by the ASPCA or other organizations in some areas. They may do fecal and HW testing as well, depending on the clinic.

[SmartAlex]

Normal. When I was at my vet last, withing 6 months ago, I was listening to the receptionist handle a phone call. People, probably new in town, wanted meds without a checkup. Policy was, the people could bring in a sample and they would run the just the screening test without seeing the dog, but if it was positive they would not write a script without an exam. So they could rule it in or out before committing to the whole shebang.

[js]

Our vet clinic is like that and costs about the same. However, they’re a great clinic and will go above and beyond for our pets.

[Marshfield]

Not writing a prescription is unusual. I stock a generic version of Heartgard and a box of six is priced right in line with Drs. Foster and Smith. However, I am just glad the pet is on heartworm prevention and will issue a prescription. I usually ask them to request the medication and have the pharmacy send the authorization as they won’t take a prescription faxed to them by the pet owner.

An exam within the last year is pretty much the standard for prescription medication.

[iberianfan]

oh I certainly expected the hw test. But if most vets require the routine exam as well, I shall quit complaining. Just be glad I can take my dogs to the vet!!!

[SquishTheBunny]

A good vet will insist on an annual physical exam. Usually heartworm is offered at the same time as pe for vaccines but depending on location may not be needed year round.

[betsyk]

I took my dog in for her heart worm test and a couple of shots earlier this spring. The vet wanted to check bloodwork because there was a liver value she wanted to check, and I agreed. Her platelets were off the charts low - as in, if we hadn’t come in that week for heart worm, she could have bled out and we never would have known why. As it is, she’s been on high dose steroids and has had all the side effects of that, but shes still here. I’ll never gripe about an exam and bloodwork again.

[BuddyRoo]

I think it’s pretty reasonable to expect an exam. I can understand wanting to do it all on the cheap, but honestly, a doctor should have the opportunity to do an exam and certify that the pet is well when it’s their name on the script. Now the in house vs out of house is up for grabs. Some docs won’t script out. Most will or they price match.

[DogIsMyCopilot]

I moved to Canada from Germany in 2009 and honestly I am a bit shocked by the attitude and prices of small animal vets here.
I can understand a clinical exam before e.g. vaccinations, blood test before anesthesia, or hw tests before hw prevention. But really, I don’t want to pay $70-$90 for an exam every time I go to pick up dewormer.
The other day I took my dog in cause he was bitten by another dog in the cheek. The “exam and consultation” ($90) lasted less than 3 minutes, in which the vet not once touched my dog, and then prescribed antibiotics. I never once left the vet clinic with a bill under $200. That’s a bit ridiculous.

My other big pet peeve is “we’ll just take your dog to the treatment area in the back”. I hate it. No other medical professional does this. Horse owners get to be there when the vet x-rays, takes a blood sample, does teeth, etc. Pediatricians don’t send parents out when they do anything. Vets in Europe don’t take the dog to the back. Only North American small animal vets do this. On one of the last visits I took my (healthy) 8 yr old dog for a blood profile just to make sure everything is ok. Not only did they not discuss with me that they were going to take a urine sample, but they took the dog to the back and catheterized him, cause the vet tech was too slow to collect pee. Painful and unnecessary for the dog, and a huge breech of trust for me.

Anyways, rant is over.

[iberianfan]

Well,per the responses, I have gotten over myself regarding the exam. But I have to agree I hate taking the dog to the back. My dog had to be picked up and carried yesterday. I guess that is bothering me some as neither of my dogs seem to care for this vet.
The all-round country vets never took the dog anywhere, except for xrays. Perhaps they realize that horse folks have seen it all and are rarely squeamish.
Thanks guys.

[SmartAlex]

It can be hard to swallow on a young healthy animal, but with aging pets, I feel an annual exam is a must, and I usually do every 6 months. Several times we have caught things in the blood work that has been headed off before it became a problem. Or done maintenance on teeth or ears. Of course I am lucky that my sister works there and we get a discount which is the same as a senior citizen discount. Some of the bills would be a little startling without.

[DrBeckett]

If you ask for a script for meds, they have to give it to you. It’s the law.

[Zu_Zu]

[QUOTE=DrBeckett;8675777]
If you ask for a script for meds, they have to give it to you. It’s the law.[/QUOTE]

Not in all states

[Zu_Zu]

[QUOTE=DrBeckett;8675777]
If you ask for a script for meds, they have to give it to you. It’s the law.[/QUOTE]

?not in all states

[toady123]

The timing of my dog’s annual exam is during the winter so I always have to go back in the spring for the HW testing and meds. They will not require an exam at that time provided she has had one in the last calendar year.

As for prescriptions, they are required to write a script if you ask for it.

[MustangSavvy]

Routine vet care saves lots lives. Prevention is key. At my clinic we require a current wellness visit - before any medications are prescribed. This is for the safety of your pet.

[BuddyRoo]

[QUOTE=iberianfan;8675744]
Well,per the responses, I have gotten over myself regarding the exam. But I have to agree I hate taking the dog to the back. My dog had to be picked up and carried yesterday. I guess that is bothering me some as neither of my dogs seem to care for this vet.
The all-round country vets never took the dog anywhere, except for xrays. Perhaps they realize that horse folks have seen it all and are rarely squeamish.
Thanks guys.[/QUOTE]

I am with you and others in that I hate it when they want to take the dog to the back to draw blood or do whatever.

HOWEVER…having worked in several clinics, I understand the logic.

1. “Pet parents” often make things more difficult. They want to restrain their own pet–and don’t know how to do so in a way that is safe for the veterinarian or technician. They get in the way. They amp the pet up with their own anxiety. They freak out if their pet cries, whines, or shows any distress.

2. Exam rooms are often too small to accommodate everyone who needs to be involved or do not have all of the instruments needed. Ex) It’s MUCH easier to clean ears “in the back” treatment room where you’ve got all of the stuff, plenty of room and can clean up more easily without stopping the flow of exams. Deep cleaning an exam room between appointments causes delays.

3. And lastly…I think some vets/vet techs simply prefer to do things like drawing blood without the pet owner present because if they need to restrain more roughly or muzzle, they can do so without worrying that the owner is going to freak out. I find this especially true with cats where it often takes two or three people to pin the critter down in a way that keeps everyone safe.

Also, this “on the floor” trend w/ dogs annoys me. Most dogs behave much better if they’re up on the table. When you’re down in “their” space, it’s uncomfortable for the tech doing restraint and it’s often more of an issue for fearful dogs than if they’re up on a treatment table.

[Callista17]

What BuddyRoo said, and also vets and techs understand the pet is not in their normal evironment. Some owners get upset saying “Fluffy never did this before, I can’t believe Fluffy!” We know Fluffy, we know what Fluffy is capable of, and yes, a muzzle or leather gloves may be used in the back, and you get to see your normal acting Fluffy.

Also, in pets, weight loss and weight gain may mean something. If you see your pet every day, you may not notice things, but it may be a significant difference indicating a health problem better caught sooner than later.