Question:
I had two chin boy's into the vet this week for eye infections. This is the first time I've ever taken in more than one at a time.
Maybe I was wrong, but I was under the impression, from other people's post's that taking in two or more would cost the same as one for the consult fee.
WRONG!!! I was expecting the bill to be around $100 for the consult, eye drops etc. The bill came to $141. Charged for two consults at $48 a piece for 15 minutes work I might add and then the dye in their eyes and the drops added onto that.
Of course I'm glad that I took them in and their getting the meds they need. BUT if it's going to be this way I may look around for another vet. If I ever have to take a mom and several kits in there's no way I'm paying $48 each for them to be seen!

carleen


Answer:
Isn't it insane Carleen? $48 is the exam fee for my chins too. I work for a vet but he doesn't see any type of rodents so I have to go elsewhere. I can tell you as a vet tech that wrestling a dog or cat during an exam is far more difficult than a chinchilla. I suspect the vets feel they can charge more because a chinchilla is labeled as "exotic."


Answer:
YES it is INSANE! I wouldn't mind so much if it was $48 for them both to have been seen at the same appointment. It seems the very word EXOTIC carries with it a hefty price tag, and really are they Exotics any longer? Guinea Pigs come from the same part of the world and they are treated as domestics.
I agree a Big dog is much harder to deal with than a chin or other small animals. As it is I'm the one who held and calmed the wriggling chins.
I have heard many people say that it's the same price for a helath certificate wether you take in one, two, three or more chins, so why should a consult fee be any different?
I will be phoning around to some other Exotic vets in town and asking that very question.

carleen


Answer:
Carleen, there is another exotic vet on 17th Ave. that is supposed to be decent. Was it Dr. Philips that you went to? I found her VERY by the books. She charged me for absolutely everything. I'm not really used to that because my regular vet is quite lax and usually gives me breaks.


Answer:
I'm not too fond of the people at the 17th Ave clinic. Yes it was Dr Philips that I went to. I have been going to her for the last few years. I have been told of another one here in the South East, I think his name is Dr Jerome or something like that. I will have to try and find out. Heck I don't even mind going to the one in the N.E that Courtney mentioned if they are fair.

Carleen


Answer:
So you've been to the one on 17th...and they aren't good? That's good info to know.

Maybe it was just because I was so stressed with Anya being sick but I was a little miffed when Dr. Philips charged me for the consultation the last time that I took Anya in. After all, I dropped another $300...you'd think she'd waive the $48 fee.

Where is Dr. Jerome?


Answer:
I must be lucky,,,

do you guys have to pay a fee when you get the needles?? I dont, I just pay for the needles,,,

also my vet only charges $28.00.....but when I took Sasha in for her ear infection I only paid $21.00...that was for her meds only, I didnt have to pay the $28.00,,,,shes really nice,,,

but she only sees cats and dogs


Answer:
Three years ago when we took Shauna to the emergency clinci that I had mentioned earlier, it cost us $600. Which I think was pretty fair, she spent the night, was on an IV and pumped full of meds. They also let us pay the next day instead of when we first took her in. Without the meds and IV she would have died. I hope you can find a place that is cheaper than where you're going currently, that just doesn't seem like a fair price at all


Answer:
The first exotic vet I used was the same way. He charged every little bit he could. $48 for each chin brought in. He was a very good vet but come on....that is a bit crazy. The woman vet I have now Dr. Elizabeth Borgmann is amazing. She knows I am a breeder and gives me breaks on everything. I get loads of free vet visits and she only charges once even if I bring in more than one sample for fecal tests. I am really impressed by her knowledge on chins as well. You just know she absolutely loves exotics and isn't in it for the money. She understands that people doen't have an endless supply of cash.
After each vet visit she always wants a little cuddle time with my chins and even when they aren't the cuddliest chins they all seem to just love her.
She always spends so much time with each animal and always asks about all my other chins when I am in. I never feel rushed at all and she takes so much personal time explaining things and getting my feedback.
for Dr. Elizebeth Borgmann, Bakerview Pet Hospital, 1305 Sumas Way, Abbotsford, BC. 604-864-8960


Answer:
Dr. Philips is a great vet, from what I've seen. It just sucks that she can't give a little here and there. Another thing, she doesn't take payments which confuses me a bit. Will she actually turn away a customer with a sick animal if they can't pay thousands of dollars up front?

Brandy, yes, with Dr. Philips, you pay for everything.

However, with my other vet, the consult fee is much cheaper and if there is going to be any type of expense after that (meds or a procedure) he will forget about the consult fee. I can take both cats and the dog in there and never have to pay for all of them to "see" him.

Even the emergency clinic that I go to is very good. When Syd had her ultrasound, they only charged me for that, and not the physical examination.

It just seems so silly...especially when the rest of the bill is a substantial chunk of change.