To Pay or not to Pay - that is the question!

[Marshfield]

@equiniphile

And yes, a combination of sedatives is often used and drawn up in one syringe to avoid poking them more than necessary. To whoever mentioned controlled drug logging in the U.K…the regulations in the states are a bit different. Controlled drugs (Tramadol, Beuthanasia, Ketamine, Hydrocodone, etc.) need to be thoroughly tracked, but things like Dorm/Torb/Ace don’t need to be recorded. Vets usually just make a note of which combo is used for sedation but don’t necessarily note the dosages.

Torb aka butorphanol is absolutely a controlled drug and should have detailed records kept on it’s use

[Haylter]

You Fng calm the F down and call the office like a calm rational adult to discuss if there was an accidental billing error and get an explanation of each charge. There may have been a misinterpretation of “everything” meaning everything dental no matter how simple or complicated it was and everything including farm call and extra tranqs. I had an instance once where the office accidentally included a med for another horse on my bill, billing mistakes happen. A standard amount of tranq may be included but if horse needs more it may be an additional charge. My gelding took 3 shots of tranq and 20 minutes because he needed so much work…my mare 1 shot and 5 minutes.

[equiniphile]

@Marshfield

Torb aka butorphanol is absolutely a controlled drug and should have detailed records kept on it’s use

Thanks for the correction! Yes, I misspoke (mistyped?). Torb is controlled.

[supershorty628]

@streamline

What do everyone’s farm call usually cost?

I had a horse that got smooth wire wrapped around his fetlock, tight. There was no way I was going to get it off without injuring him more (or myself) or course this happed right at 5:40 😂 after the vet office closed.

vet was out within 10 minutes, she sedated him, im looking at my bill right now. 1 sedation of ace/dorm/trob/Xyl and then there’s a 25$ charge for Rompun EQ (what that?!?)

I was super pissed off that I got a 50 dollar charge for an ‘exam’. Vet just sedated my horse, my husband is actually the one who cut the smooth wire off of horse and I’m the one who did the shot for whatever vaccine she gave me (eq vetera gold)

Doesn’t look like anyone has answered this yet - Rompun is xylazine, which is another sedative. Often used in combination with other drugs.

[soloudinhere]

@streamline

What do everyone’s farm call usually cost?

I had a horse that got smooth wire wrapped around his fetlock, tight. There was no way I was going to get it off without injuring him more (or myself) or course this happed right at 5:40 😂 after the vet office closed.

vet was out within 10 minutes, she sedated him, im looking at my bill right now. 1 sedation of ace/dorm/trob/Xyl and then there’s a 25$ charge for Rompun EQ (what that?!?)

I was super pissed off that I got a 50 dollar charge for an ‘exam’. Vet just sedated my horse, my husband is actually the one who cut the smooth wire off of horse and I’m the one who did the shot for whatever vaccine she gave me (eq vetera gold)

my vet’s regular farm call is $90 and emergency call is $150.

[streamline]

@soloudinhere

my vet’s regular farm call is $90 and emergency call is $150.

I would of felt better if she just had listed the emergency call at 130 instead of charging me a 50 dollar ’’exam” she does her own billing. I guess 80 for an emergency call isn’t bad, I wonder if it would of been different if she wasn’t in her office or if it was a weekend etc.

[TheJenners]

@soloudinhere

my vet’s regular farm call is $90 and emergency call is $150.

Same

[S1969]

@16 Hands

I called the office and they knocked about $100 off the bill. I paid it and the matter is now closed and I won’t be using them in the future. Thanks all for the responses.

What did they take off? E.g. hoping they removed the vaccines that weren’t administered?

Great that they were willing to knock the bill down, but not sure it was $100 over based on what you described. Not telling you about a farm call charge is poor customer service, but not a charge I would expect them to waive just because you didn’t know. I’ve never heard of a vet that didn’t charge a farm call.

[S1969]

@candyappy

I’ve only had a handful of floats( they just never needed them) done on my many horses over the last 42 years, but I prefer sedation no matter what type of float the vet deems necessary.

Just makes it easier on the horse and the vet as far as I am concerned if the horse is not happy about the procedure.

I find it hard to believe that your horses didn’t need their teeth floated; but more likely that your vet’s opinion of “need” and mine are vastly different.

My horses don’t all need floating every 12 months but I’ve rarely gone longer than that without some of them needing it. (And some need it more than others). And some need it before 12 months.

[candyappy]

@S1969

I find it hard to believe that your horses didn’t need their teeth floated; but more likely that your vet’s opinion of “need” and mine are vastly different.

My horses don’t all need floating every 12 months but I’ve rarely gone longer than that without some of them needing it. (And some need it more than others). And some need it before 12 months.

They were holding really good weight, had no problem eating their feed ( no spills , chewing or other issues) no bit or bridling problems or anything teeth related.

If they had sharp places or hooks etc… they were done, but the majority never had any of that. If they needed it the vet would say so, they aren’t opposed to taking my money. I guess I have been fortunate.

[S1969]

@candyappy

If they had sharp places or hooks etc… they were done, but the majority never had any of that. If they needed it the vet would say so, they aren’t opposed to taking my money. I guess I have been fortunate.

Extraordinarily fortunate. It would be the unusual horse that did not need fairly routine floating. To have owned several is very unusual.

[Synthesis]

I understand the sedation for floating. What confuses the wits out of me is the recent trend in my area of sedating horses to administer the strangles intra-nasal vaccine!

[ecileh]

@streamline

What do everyone’s farm call usually cost?

I had a horse that got smooth wire wrapped around his fetlock, tight. There was no way I was going to get it off without injuring him more (or myself) or course this happed right at 5:40 😂 after the vet office closed.

vet was out within 10 minutes, she sedated him, im looking at my bill right now. 1 sedation of ace/dorm/trob/Xyl and then there’s a 25$ charge for Rompun EQ (what that?!?)

I was super pissed off that I got a 50 dollar charge for an ‘exam’. Vet just sedated my horse, my husband is actually the one who cut the smooth wire off of horse and I’m the one who did the shot for whatever vaccine she gave me (eq vetera gold)

Rompun is a tranquilzer.

My vet’s emergency fee (basically anything after hours) is $100 to step out of his car, plus then the fees for whatever work he does while there.

I don’t recall what the normal call charge is, as they have a program where you pay $X up front at the beginning of the year and it includes vaccines, teeth, and no call charges for the year (plus other things).

[findthedistance]

@Synthesis

I understand the sedation for floating. What confuses the wits out of me is the recent trend in my area of sedating horses to administer the strangles intra-nasal vaccine!

My vet was just saying we should do the Bad Mare’s dental and IN strangles in the same visit next year. She’s quite bad about it, though we can pull it off with a blindfold and some restraint. Sedation would be better for all involved. It’s not trendy in my area, but it’s not necessarily a bad idea.

[Bogie]

@Synthesis

I understand the sedation for floating. What confuses the wits out of me is the recent trend in my area of sedating horses to administer the strangles intra-nasal vaccine!

If you tried to give my draft x mare the strangles vaccine, you might not wonder! Last year she tossed a vet across the field because they didn’t twitch her first (at my recommendation). This year I combined it with a dental exam and even with the sedation we had to twitch her and she tried her best to get out of it. 1400 lbs of seriously pissed off horse is not to be trifled with.

As for the OP’s question, they should have billed you what they quoted unless you asked for something in addition. FWIW, I just had my horses’ teeth floated along with spring shots. Regular float was $85 and sedation was $32.50. Farm call (shared) was $12.50 split four ways. However, they give a special rate for shots.

[JustTheTicket]

@S1969

Extraordinarily fortunate. It would be the unusual horse that did not need fairly routine floating. To have owned several is very unusual.

I have an acquaintance from college who very proudly proclaimed on Facebook that her 25 year old mare just got her first float just a few weeks ago, so I guess its a thing. I also struggle to believe that any horse can go 25 years with perfect teeth, but what do I know?