The Pet Owner’s Guide to Emergency Veterinary Care

OLD SCHOOL HONESTY AND INTEGRITY VS PREDATORY PROFIT DRIVEN VETERINARY POLICIES: I am not saying that the above mentioned practices should be categorized as honest vs dishonest. However, the Old School approach I was trained and experienced as a Veterinary Technician in the US Army and practiced by Veterinarians with the highest moral and ethical standards is quite different from the New Age Approach that lacks complete honesty , empathy and an ability to balance the need of the patient with the financial capabilities of loving and caring pet owners. These two styles of veterinary practice start with the exam fee. During normal business hours and a non-emergency practice, this can typically run between $35.00 and $50.00. The exam for an Emergency Vet Hospital typically varies between $75.00 and $100.00 which is fair. But it is what you get for this exam fee that makes all the difference and you can quickly determine what type of practice you find yourself in and most importantly, demand the type of approach you can afford and that your animal deserves. First of all you should expect a differential diagnosis as part of the exam fee. That is an honest old school Veterinarian will examine your pet, take an educated guess of what the problem is, and if it’s not a critical situation, might recommend a treatment or inform you of the need for bloodwork, x-rays or other diagnostic test needed for an accurate diagnosis. A differential diagnosis is a list of different illnesses or problems based on the skills and experience of the Veterinarian. THE EXAM FEE: The initial examination by the veterinarian is where you can determine an honest, goodhearted, knowledgeable and experienced Veterinarian who cares about you, your pet and willingness not to take advantage of your emotions and love for your pet over financial incentives. What is critical for you to understand is that you are paying for his/her ‘Knowledge and Experience to be able to examine your pet and take a good guess of what is wrong and what it takes to remedy your pet. Let’s say Fifi jumped off the couch, screamed in pain and started limping, not putting any weight on the rear foot. So the first thing a Veterinarian would want to know is if the bone has been broken or fractured. The honest, experienced Veterinarian would get the dog excited with a piece of meat or toy and try to get her to walk without thinking about the pain. If the dog then puts weight on the foot, guess what ? The leg is not broken or fractured. He might not have to do x-rays and them prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug and recommend rest and see what happens. If the problem persist or gets worse you can return and then might require x-rays or other diagnostic testing. He gets his exam fee, and the profit on the medication and all is well. You leave with a $100.00 to $200.00 bill, the bigger the dog the the more costly the medications.and you still get to pay the electric bill on time or take the kids out to eat! Compare this to the Veterinarian who wants x-rays, bloodwork, chemistries right off the bat so he/she can read the results before even thinking about a treatment or diagnosis.