Trouble with having only one vet clinic-vent

where I want to · #1 07/13/12, 10:38 AM

I have been having a problem with serious skin scuzzies with my girl Timber. After a number of vet calls, blood work showed she was seriously low on zinc. The vet did some research and recommended a 6 mos continuous release bolus made in the UK.
I contacted the manufacturer and they said they would try sending it but then they stopped responding to my emails asking how to send the payment.
I called the vet clinic and asked if the vet could email them as I thought they might respond to her better.
The vet made contact, set up an account with them and ordered the product. I told the clinic I could do an internation money order but they said they would take care of it.
So I got the boli but they clinic had not yet received the bill. I took and administered the bolus.
When the bill came, I was shcoked to be asked to pay more than twice the cost. When I asked, I was told that the extra $200 was for "consultation," which the vet later told me was actually to cover their time because it has turned out to be a pain to send the money order through their bank.
I can't seem to get over the idea of paying so much for doing something that I offered to do myself and was incredibly easy through my bank. I also was never told about this charge, mostly the vet said because they didn't know that the money thing would be time consuming.
I tell myself that it was kind of the vet to research it and to help. And it's not like I can use another vet- there aren't any. But it rankles that I could have sent the money order myself with ease. Yet I have to pay for their irritation over the difficulties they took on.
And it doesn't help that the stupid boli, which are very expensive, don't seem to be working as well as the daily zinc I giving. Only now, I can't just give her the daily zinc as I have no idea what the bolus is providing.

PaulNKS · #2 07/13/12, 11:42 AM

What that vet did was ridiculous. I would flat refuse to pay it. Tell the vet they were required to disclose any charges upfront. But, you did put them through some extra trouble, so I would offer to pay a consultation, but only a fraction of what they want.

Stand your ground!

andabigmac · #3 07/13/12, 12:02 PM

Ouch. I only have one vet here too so I can feel your pain. I don't think he would screw me over like that though. Did I say Ouch already?

Minelson · #4 07/13/12, 03:01 PM

Oh boy...that really stinks

Backfourty,MI. · #5 07/13/12, 09:58 PM

I think that's terrible what the vet's office is doing & I really would have a serious talk with them about that. I have no problem paying what I owe them or think is fair but it sounds like they weren't upfront with you & just because they found out after the fact that it was a pain in the rear they charge you extra! That's not good buisness!

jBlaze · #6 07/16/12, 05:46 PM

I have tried going in to the vets saying abc is my problem, and how much can they help me, I can only spend xyz on the animal, what are the options. It works better that way, they are much more clear about what can be done vs what they would like to do. If they put you out of business, what business will they have...

**mygoat** · #7 07/16/12, 06:00 PM

If you want to know what your levels of zinc are, there ARE Serum mineral evaluations that can be done. Not as accurate as a liver tissue evaluation... but liver either requires a pricy biopsy... or a dead animal.

You could run them regularly.

Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health

You can submit your own samples. Heck, it would be worth it to give the diagnostic center a call and see if there is a way to do just the zinc.

IMO, I'd check your mineral mix and see about geting a superior mineral. Not all forms of mineral are as available to the animal - oxides, chelates, and sulfates are all absorbed at different rates by animals, so you may need a better form that is more available (and usually slightly more expensive, therefore) to provide animals with the proper amount. If one is deficient, it is likely others are subclinically deficient as well.

Lazy J · #8 07/16/12, 06:04 PM

Bull, the Vet did the OP a huge service by dealing with the difficult supplier in the UK. If it was so easy then the OP would hazve completed the sale herself.