Cheaper vet fees needed

[Nankie]

Hi... I have a dog with a pendulous cyst on her foot... it flaps about and gets sore. I've approached 2 different vet surgeries & they have quoted between £500-£600 for the 15 minute procedure.

If I had the money, I'd pay... but since I have only a very small state pension, I can't even afford insurance, let alone this kind of expense...

I don't qualify for any benefits, so can't get free treatment from the PDSA, but I was wondering whether anyone knows of a charity which would offer treatment if I was able to pay something towards the cost?

It does seem to be an awful lot of money for such a simple procedure.

I'm in Essex.

Regards, Nx

[ChunkyloverSV]

Do you not have an animal trust near you?

[Jevvy]

Sorry to hear about your poor dog, I hope you get sorted.

Are you anywhere near Dartford? We used a local easipetcare and found them to be very reasonable compared to all other vets in our area and there is one in Dartford:
https://www.easipetcare.com/dartford/

Good luck!

[Olas]

The Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals is a very noble and respectable charity. \

Google 'PDSA'.

[Who me ?]

Olas said:

The Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals is a very noble and respectable charity. \

Google 'PDSA'.

OP said:

I don't qualify for any benefits, so can't get free treatment from the PDSA, but I was wondering whether anyone knows of a charity which would offer treatment if I was able to pay something towards the cost?

It might be worth a chat with PDSA to see if they can help, or even going to a place like CAB to see if you qualify for any benefits .

[ChocolateFrog]

Vets fees do seem to be going up. I've just changed vets as I got the feeling that everytime I went in it was cost £100-£150, didn't even fix the problem the last two times.

They also tried to charge for a full separate operation when he had his rear dewclaws nipped off when he was under for a castration. A job that takes less than 2 mins per side when they're just connected by thin bit of skin, scissors and 1 stitch and they're done.

[Mr Tom]

ChocolateFrog said:

A job that takes less than 2 mins per side when they're just connected by thin bit of skin, scissors and 1 stitch and they're done.

If you wanted it to bleed profusely and look cosmically awful then yes how you describe would perhaps suffice.
If you wanted to do it in a manner that would look acceptable, haemorrhage less and have less risk of infection then taking time to clip the hair off, prepare the area aseptically, drape it separately, make a nice clean incision with a scalpel, ligate the artery, suture the first layer with a dissolvable suture, suture the skin and repeat on the other side takes considerably longer.
I hope this helps with you ignorance

[bexVN]

Op - I am sure you may still use the pdsa even if not on benefits becasue you are on a pension. They will charge as a normal vet but usually a lesser amount than a private vet

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/treat

I hope you find a way to get the operation done.

[mojitomax]

I know I’m going to get flamed but...

Ferrari costs need to decrease.

I really want one but have a normal job and can’t afford it.

How about everyone lives within their means instead of moaning about how expensive non-essential items are

[bexVN]

mojitomax said:

I know I’m going to get flamed but...

Ferrari costs need to decrease.

I really want one but have a normal job and can’t afford it.

How about everyone lives within their means instead of moaning about how expensive non-essential items are

Tbh you are encouraging a flaming with your language. Anyone who refers to a pet as a non essential item obviously really doesn't understand the bond between us and our four legged furry friends. It is not right to compare a dog to an inanimate object.

It is quite possible that the OP did have the means when he first took on his dog, circumstances change.

My one criticism with the OP is claiming it is a 15 min procedure because unless it is possible to do under local (probably not) it will be much more than 1/4hr once all the pre op, peri op, and post op procedures are taken into account.

Edited by bexVN on Friday 6th March 20:47

[Turn7]

mojitomax said:

I know I’m going to get flamed but...

Ferrari costs need to decrease.

I really want one but have a normal job and can’t afford it.

How about everyone lives within their means instead of moaning about how expensive non-essential items are

Brads67, is that you ?

[Nankie]

mojitomax said:

I know I’m going to get flamed but...

Ferrari costs need to decrease.

I really want one but have a normal job and can’t afford it.

How about everyone lives within their means instead of moaning about how expensive non-essential items are

This is an older dog which I have had a long while, from when I was able to afford such things... Do I just get rid of my beloved dog because of my changed circumstances? Do you think I'd take on another dog now that I can't afford it... of course not.

[Nankie]

bexVN said:

Tbh you are encouraging a flaming with your language. Anyone who refers to a pet as a non essential item obviously really doesn't understand the bond between us and our four legged furry friends. It is not right to compare a dog to an inanimate object.

It is quite possible that the OP did have the means when he first took on his dog, circumstances change.

My one criticism with the OP is claiming it is a 15 min procedure because unless it is possible to do under local (probably not) it will be much more than 1/4hr once all the pre op, peri op, and post op procedures are taken into account.

Edited by bexVN on Friday 6th March 20:47

I was wooried about putting her under a full anaesthetic and was told by two vets that it would be a 15 minute procedure... I can only go on what I've been told... but it really does look to be a simple thing... a cyst attached by a loose skin.

[Nankie]

bexVN said:

Op - I am sure you may still use the pdsa even if not on benefits becasue you are on a pension. They will charge as a normal vet but usually a lesser amount than a private vet

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/treat

I hope you find a way to get the operation done.

Thank you... I did wonder as the DWP always call the state pension a'benefit'... which would qualify me for some help at least, I would have thought.

[Nankie]

To the Ferarri man... can I just say that my dogs eat before I do...whatever is left after I have paid for their meds (£60 per month) and gluten free food, that's all mine... even if it is beans on toast every day... but that's me.

If I had a Ferarri, I'd sell it and get a decent motor.

To the rest of you who have kindly responded, many thanks!

Love, Nanki x

[paintman]

Best to ignore trolls. Especially the really moronic ones.

[Venturist]

A friend who’s a vet (and an animal lover) gets torn up and quite upset over this sort of thing very often, because they really do want to treat the animal, but owners don’t appreciate that supplies, staff and expertise need to be paid for either way - we are blessed with our NHS which means people get to forget about the real costs of medical care, and sometimes are only ever confronted with it when it comes to the vet. People need to have pet insurance, or be prepared to pay for care for their pet one day.

I know that doesn’t help your current situation and I’m sorry you’re in a bind. Best wishes that you find a solution somewhere.

[hotchy]

Any independently run vets within a drive? Just wondering because all the chains or groups for my dog to have 2 teeth out quoted £750 to start and more if others need removed when in.

Popped to a local family run practice in a near by village, started at £250. Ended up over 300 as he lost a good few more than 2 lol. Think the costs spiraling because everyone has insurance imo so nobody bothers looking around as the insurance pays it. Similar to car insurance. £7k to fix a bump that a local garage could do for a few hundred.

[garythesign]

Nankie said:

mojitomax said:

I know I’m going to get flamed but...

Ferrari costs need to decrease.

I really want one but have a normal job and can’t afford it.

How about everyone lives within their means instead of moaning about how expensive non-essential items are

This is an older dog which I have had a long while, from when I was able to afford such things... Do I just get rid of my beloved dog because of my changed circumstances? Do you think I'd take on another dog now that I can't afford it... of course not.

Nankie. Please ignore this poster. Dog lovers will always do the best for their dogs.

They are part of the family.

Hope you manage to sort out the situation.

[ChocolateFrog]

Mr Tom said:

ChocolateFrog said:

A job that takes less than 2 mins per side when they're just connected by thin bit of skin, scissors and 1 stitch and they're done.

If you wanted it to bleed profusely and look cosmically awful then yes how you describe would perhaps suffice.
If you wanted to do it in a manner that would look acceptable, haemorrhage less and have less risk of infection then taking time to clip the hair off, prepare the area aseptically, drape it separately, make a nice clean incision with a scalpel, ligate the artery, suture the first layer with a dissolvable suture, suture the skin and repeat on the other side takes considerably longer.
I hope this helps with you ignorance

Definitely no artery there when I watched them do it.

It took literally 2 mins a side. A very easy £250 work.