first the back story:
The vet we have been using is young, just a couple of years out of school. He is very pleasant and pretty easy to deal with, though he is somewhat inexperienced. Time will help him there. Two years ago he came out and castrated a half dozen bull calves, but left long pieces of tissue hanging and there was a fair amount of bleeding. He returned that night to check on the calves and clamped and cut off the tissue. This was the first time we had ever had any problems at all with castrations. Vet did not charge for return visit. I felt that was fair.
yesterday the same vet came to castrate 5 bull calves, calves were up and things went fairly smoothly, though one calf left the chute bleeding. He was put back in and the vet clamped everything off.
When the vet left, everything seemed status quo, though when I returned 3 hours later to move the herd to new grass, we found one calf, a different one, bleeding fairly steadily...there were small puddles all over the field. This was bright red blood, calf was a bit slow..I am not sure how, but we got the mother and bleeding baby back into the barn. I called the vet and first he told me I could pack the scrotum with a facecloth and safety pin it in place!...um, no not doing that. he said he would come back and take care of him. Which he did. the fix involved sutures and some pain meds.
I paid for the first visit before the vet left …$198 …..for 5 calves.
I have now received a second bill for the return visit, another $150...in addition to which I had to buy a new gate that the distressed mother cow destroyed in the dark last night. Which would not have happened if the vet had not had to come back..gate was 120 plus two other charges, this makes a very expensive castration event. Nearly $500 for 5 castrations.
I am asking for suggestions as to whether or not I should broach the idea of him not charging me for the second visit. He is not the only vet in the area, and according to him he has never had this problem any other place except our farm. which means nothing.. I probably will not have him back unless I am in a pinch. I certainly do not want to alienate him. He is a decent person, but seems to have gotten more into the detailed billing...a charge for everything..a farm call fee does not include any exam...that's an extra. as well as any treatment...plus meds if necessary.. I think a farm call should include at least a basic assessment of the animal?? Plus they charge an hourly fee..
Before I respond to this latest bill, I would like to hear your ideas so I don't go off the deep end.
Is this the norm now for vets ? thanks for any advice. I want to pay for services that I ask for, and always have paid promptly. If this had not happened before I might be more generous in spirit.
The vet we have been using is young, just a couple of years out of school. He is very pleasant and pretty easy to deal with, though he is somewhat inexperienced. Time will help him there. Two years ago he came out and castrated a half dozen bull calves, but left long pieces of tissue hanging and there was a fair amount of bleeding. He returned that night to check on the calves and clamped and cut off the tissue. This was the first time we had ever had any problems at all with castrations. Vet did not charge for return visit. I felt that was fair.
yesterday the same vet came to castrate 5 bull calves, calves were up and things went fairly smoothly, though one calf left the chute bleeding. He was put back in and the vet clamped everything off.
When the vet left, everything seemed status quo, though when I returned 3 hours later to move the herd to new grass, we found one calf, a different one, bleeding fairly steadily...there were small puddles all over the field. This was bright red blood, calf was a bit slow..I am not sure how, but we got the mother and bleeding baby back into the barn. I called the vet and first he told me I could pack the scrotum with a facecloth and safety pin it in place!...um, no not doing that. he said he would come back and take care of him. Which he did. the fix involved sutures and some pain meds.
I paid for the first visit before the vet left …$198 …..for 5 calves.
I have now received a second bill for the return visit, another $150...in addition to which I had to buy a new gate that the distressed mother cow destroyed in the dark last night. Which would not have happened if the vet had not had to come back..gate was 120 plus two other charges, this makes a very expensive castration event. Nearly $500 for 5 castrations.
I am asking for suggestions as to whether or not I should broach the idea of him not charging me for the second visit. He is not the only vet in the area, and according to him he has never had this problem any other place except our farm. which means nothing.. I probably will not have him back unless I am in a pinch. I certainly do not want to alienate him. He is a decent person, but seems to have gotten more into the detailed billing...a charge for everything..a farm call fee does not include any exam...that's an extra. as well as any treatment...plus meds if necessary.. I think a farm call should include at least a basic assessment of the animal?? Plus they charge an hourly fee..
Before I respond to this latest bill, I would like to hear your ideas so I don't go off the deep end.
Is this the norm now for vets ? thanks for any advice. I want to pay for services that I ask for, and always have paid promptly. If this had not happened before I might be more generous in spirit.
. A helper can keep mama calm. Newborn banding doesn't set them back in performance like banding weaning age calves. I know some people immunize at birth as well as give a tetanus shot, but my vet advises against both. He's been practicing 45 years and has never seen a tetanus case from banding IN OUR AREA, and says to wait 6 months at least for vaccines as it will be more effective.
