What happens if you can't pay a vet bill?
Posted by Informal-Suspect298@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 196 comments
We were just in the vet getting routine vaccinations and there was a woman in there who had a dog with a dead puppy inside her. She was trying to sort out paying for it (and still failing when we left, as far as we know). She said at one point, "Surely they won't just leave the dead pup inside her!"
What would happen if she can't sort financing? š¤ obviously this is an emergency situation, and the vets can't leave the poor dog like that.
crgoodw@reddit
Obligatory 'I am not a vet'.
We previously rescued a starving cat from our neighbours garden, that had been hanging around there for weeks (my neighbour was terrified of cats, it was desperately trying to come inside, so we intervened). My mum already had 4 cats who were not best pleased with a 5th. No local rescues would take her, so we phoned our local vet.
They took the cat, but wouldn't let my mum pay for treatment, even though she offered. They asked her to donate to a local rescue charity instead and claimed it was something to do with their insurance (no idea if true). They told her they had a hardship fund put aside for this kind of thing and would never leave an animal in pain or untreated if it came to it though obviously didn't make this public knowledge.
I've also had friends who rescued cats while on benefits and I know their surgery offered discounted spay and neutering if you could evidence you were on a low income.
Time-Mix3963@reddit
that sounds super common, vets usually just eat the cost if they really have to but it sucks. iāve been using perfect pet insurance since my dog was a pup and it saves my life whenever something random pops up.
Budget-Lawyer4129@reddit
vets usually do that because they dont want the liability of a stray but its rare. ngl i just use perfectpetinsurance for my dog so i dont have to deal with that stress if anything happens.
Party-Werewolf-4888@reddit
I am a serial cat rescuer (much to the annoyance of my husband). We have one local vet who will take them and treat them without fee, but then they can never rehome and all the rescues are full so if you wont take the cat back it will either be euthanized or just let back out (although at least it will be neutered). Sadly there are plenty of local vets who just refuse to help, ive challenged them all on their duty of care and they just arent bothered.
Its a big problem by me as there are feral cats everywhere. We do have local charities who try to help but there is only so much they can do for free. I try very hard not to intervene with the cats as they are seemingly healthy, however one if my rescues had been shot multiple times with a pellet gun. I cant ignore that.
abigailgabble@reddit
willing to bet that this kind of benevolent discretion is disappearing along with independent vets who all seem to be being swallowed by private equity owned groups.Ā
avemango@reddit
I've taken injured pigeons to vets4pets and they treat them / euthanise no cost
Dependent_One6034@reddit
I was seeing girl who worked for a private vet clinic. She would do work and ask forgiveness later sort of thing. Just because the company isn't great - people who go for these jobs do actually care... The money is better, the treatment is often better. so the higher ups try to not do the normal jobs, as they don't earn any money - they want the call ins, from pet lovers, which would happily bankrupt themselves for their pet...
The vet will almost always help you. Don't even ring them, just show up. They will not turn you away.
Top-Significance8791@reddit
We had a similar situation and the vets said itās not their problem and to put the cat back where we found it.
Couldnāt believe it.
nikkijxd@reddit
Cats Protection and other charities do neutering/Spaying vouchers, they arent usually means tested.
If you have rehomed a pet (i.e. you intend to keep it) do say to the vet. Mine gave a quick checkup to my cat when i got her chipped and explained the situation.
This was a small vets and they were confused as to why it was the first time a 5 year old cat was being chipped. I did so messages of the "keep the cat" from the original owner.
MaizeGlittering6163@reddit
If you canāt pay in advance they are allowed to refuse treatment. Animals are not humans, (most) vets are not charitiesĀ so the rules are different. If itās an emergency presentation they might treat first and ask questions later but you cannot count on this.Ā
If they provide the service and you donāt pay up then expect the usual collections process via small claims etc.
Fehnder@reddit
This isnāt technically true. They have to provide emergency treatment to stabilise the pet. And they will always euthanise if there is no other option.
They can even in some cases refuse to let the owner take the pet back if they suspect the animal wonāt be treated/will be at risk of huge suffering.
littlebird2446@reddit
Not always true. My dog had an emergency. Out of hours vet was going to cost me hundreds. I said I canāt afford that can I pay half and then the rest in instalments (I was a customer there for a decade). They said no, itās your choice whether to come in or not with your dog but we will only treat if you pay upfront in total.
Usual_Wafer1521@reddit
Same with my dog, she needed emergency surgery for pyometra. Her vets had been taken over by a chain and I hadn't realised, they refused to do anything until they had Ā£1600 for the surgery upfront. They were willing to let her die outside the vets with my mum standing there in tears. I had the money luckily but I was away at the time visiting a dying relative so I was in a complete panic trying to sort everything. I paid for the surgery, but I will never use them again and always let everyone know which vets were willing to let my dog die when someone asks for a recommendation. We are lucky to have a PDSA nearby and use them now, I'd rather give them my money especially because we've had a few pets put to sleep there over the years and they've always been amazing.
Fehnder@reddit
Pyo can be medically managed. While an emergency, it is not a true emergency in that they can prescribe medications while you get financials in order.
You always have the option of opting for euthanasia if treatment canāt be paid for. Whether the vets offer it or not, itās always an option.
SufficientFlower8599@reddit
Not true. A closed pyo is ALWAYS a medical emergency. An open pyo can be managed but you risk your dog developing a closed pyo the next time but it can give you time to do a regular spay vs. emergency surgery. But a closed pyo is always emergency surgeryā¦
Fehnder@reddit
Yes it is, but itās not considered a true emergency when triaging. You can still prescribe medications for a closed pyo to buy time. Iāve also known pyo surgeries to be scheduled rather than same day emergencies.
SufficientFlower8599@reddit
I donāt know what clinic youāve worked at but if that pyo ruptures (which I have seen) there is ZERO medical ground to stand on. There have been maybe 2-3 instances in 11 years where iāve seen a pyo come back the next morning but its been very early and the dog was bright which is rarely ever the case.
Fehnder@reddit
I can think of two examples off the top of my head, one a scheduled spay with suspected pyo, and one with confirmed closed pyo that was sent home with medication for two days in a row because the owners didnāt have money and needed time to source it.
I work in a first opinion general practice.
SufficientFlower8599@reddit
So do Iā¦i wouldnāt put my license on the line with those risks but hey thats their choice. Money can always be sourced, a dead patient not so much.
Fehnder@reddit
I donāt know what to tell you, if the owner canāt afford surgery and refuses euthanasia, we go through charity and finance options, we can discuss buying time with medication at the risk of the patient, and the patient is required to come back the following day for assessment.
It allows the owners time to gather money if thatās what they wish to do/whether fundraising or approaching charities.
Our practice rarely does payment plans, we wouldnāt do the surgery without payment (or an agreement from the practice manager) and euthanasia is always an option that doesnāt require immediate upfront payment.
Zealousideal_Scar_40@reddit
I hope Iāll never face a vet like you, horrible, try to be a human sometimes
Fehnder@reddit
Donāt buy pets you canāt afford. Pets are sentient living beings that deserve so much more than people give them. Contingency plans are important.
Vet practices in the uk are not financial institutions, theyāre not bound by the fcsc, we arenāt allowed to offer credit, by law.
Do you think any veterinary professional enjoys watching animals be euthanised because their owners didnāt give them what they deserved? Do you think itās fun watching people refuse to pay for their dogās life saving medication? Or people asking to euthanise their pet because they donāt want to pay for allergy treatment?
In my above example, the pyo that was sent home with medication, got the surgery and then died during the recovery period anyway. Iāve seen someone walk away with their dog who had a stuck puppy, saying heād rather his dog died a horrific painful death than have a section to save her life. Vets arenāt the ones that need reminding to be human.
Zealousideal_Scar_40@reddit
They are clearly if they refuse to treat a dog that will die in the parking lot without upfront payment even if the owner gives full consent and promise to payment. youāre out of your mind
Fehnder@reddit
Youāre right, the vet practice should subsidise for that owner, instead of the owner practicing responsible ownership. Weāre lucky in this country to be able to medically terminate pregnancies with alizin. You shouldnāt be allowing your pets to have babies when you have no money for emergencies. In what world is this the fault of the vets?
If someone cannot afford a vet bill, and the animal has to be humanely euthanised as a result, that is the fault of the person responsible for the animal.
Zealousideal_Scar_40@reddit
I cannot DISAGREE more peopleās financials can change- they couldve adopted the animal when they had good financials and when they get laid off or something should they just euthanize their animals? Youāre making no sense and talking like a true corporate monster. Iāll say it again- I hope Iāll never face a vet like you. Try to be a better human
Fehnder@reddit
Iām sick of the entitlement. Sick of it. Because of peopleās entitlement, animals suffer. Do better.
Zealousideal_Scar_40@reddit
No one is trying to run away from the payment. Youāre the one suggesting euthanasia many times if they cannot make the UPFRONT payment. Have a little empathy and decency.
Fehnder@reddit
I wonder if my dentist will do my kids orthodontics with consent and a promised payment? Maybe the bank will be happy for me to promise to pay my mortgage when I can afford it. Perhaps nothing is actually my responsibility and someone else should pay for me despite my own life choices.
Do you know what responsible pet owners do? They have emergency credit cards, they have savings, they have insurance, they are financially responsible for the LIVES that depend on them.
If an owner is unable to pay for their pets, itās not the vets at fault, itās the owners responsibility to find their way to provide for their pets. Stop blaming the people who spend their lives caring for animals, treating them, saving their lives, your blame is misdirected. If it truly bothers you that people are expected to be responsible, perhaps petition the government to revise the law.
Pet insurance should be mandatory for all pet owners. Period.
Zealousideal_Scar_40@reddit
You have serious problems with your reading comprehension skills. I have never said they should treat the pets for FREE. Iām talking about the upfront payment and refusal to treat an ANIMAL thatll DIE in front of their eyes. How the hell is that good medicine? Iāve never seen a human doctor refusing to treat LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS.
Also, maybe if you tried not to rip off people too much they would be able to cover the costs just maybe. Iāve probably paid more than 10k for my girl and Iāll do it again in a heartbeat, youāre being ridiculous.
Zealousideal_Scar_40@reddit
i really really hate some of you, how can a human being can be so cold blooded about killing a living being just because and brush it as āyou can always opt for euthanasiaā if you dont even have basic human decency and empathy then why the fuck are you even working in medicine? go be a mechanic or smtn ffs
Usual_Wafer1521@reddit
I wasn't offered anything in terms of medication or anything, I was told she needed emergency surgery and that was that. We did phone around other vets in the area but noone could get her in and my mum genuinely didn't want to risk moving her from the carpark because she was that bad. It was three years ago now so I don't know if I still have recourse to complain but it was traumatic enough and she's fine now. The only good thing I will say about the place is the actual vet who did the surgery was amazing. He was her original vet when I got her as a puppy and I could tell by the way he looked and spoke to me afterwards he was just as disgusted as I was but at the point I was just glad she was alive.
Fehnder@reddit
That is very sad. You certainly shouldnāt have been left to just stand there. They should always be keeping you informed of ALL of your options and while not considered a true emergency, it is definitely important for some sort of plan to be in place before you leave the practice, because no treatment at all will obviously result in suffering and likely death, which would of course be a welfare issue. Even down to discussing what charity options are available to you (local vets know their local offerings the best to be able to inform owners!) and finance options etc. I do think itās wrong for them to send you away without a plan for your dog.
Iām unsure about complaints, but I would definitely consider looking at making one!
Usual_Wafer1521@reddit
Yeah except that's not what happened nor what I was told. I was told directly told by the vet that they will not do anything unless I paid. My mum literally asked them if they were just going to let her die in the carpark and they said yes, so there you go. It was not medically manageable, her womb was completely full and needed emergency removal and she was already leaking out too much for anything else to work. As I said, they were aware I had the money, but they would not touch her until I paid. The second I did they rushed her in for surgery. š¤·š»āāļø I'm hardly going to just make this shit up for shits and giggles.
littlebird2446@reddit
The person youāre replying to seems to think theyāre the authority on every vet practice. I had the same experience as you. Clearly it happens.
Fehnder@reddit
No one said you were. You need to report the practice. Thatās unacceptable and not legal. The RCVS is the best bet initially.
Even closed pyo isnt classed as a true emergency however (although I appreciate it is very much an emergency)
Beartato4772@reddit
"You always have the option to murder your family member".
Fehnder@reddit
This is true. You have the option to go to any vets for treatment. Try presenting at the clinic with a true emergency (which you should always do, and call on the way) and they have to stabilise while you make financial decisions.
Vets are regulated to do payment plans, so they largely donāt.
deerme25@reddit
I work in a vet (not as a vet) and weāre obligated to provide first aid, pain relief or euthanasia in emergency cases with financial concerns. If they told you, you werenāt allowed to come in at all then Iād complain about that.
gentle_gardener@reddit
Yes. Once an animal is in the vets they are obligated to provide treatment to avoid suffering, according to RVCS rules. If you have no money it's likely that all they will offer is euthanasia, but they are obligated to prevent unnecessary suffering, if they do not, a complaint to RVCS would be in order.
Frantastic79@reddit
This must depend on the vet, because one of my pets was very ill recently and when I was shocked at the price of a couple of tests (nearly Ā£1k), they said I was free to take him home without any tests/treatment. They were perfectly happy to leave him to suffer if I couldn't pay.
Fehnder@reddit
Depends on whatās wrong with your cat.
The bar to keep the animal on welfare grounds is incredibly high. In fact weāve had an issue exactly like the op where the dog wasnāt progressing in labour. The owner took the dog home and the rspca had to confiscate in the end. The dog had the section and was rehomed, the puppies all died.
Emergency stabilisation and welfare euthanasia is all dependant on the issue with the animal. If your cat has nondescript symptoms and youāre aware that taking the cat home without diagnostics is against vet advice, thereās nothing theyāll do at that point. Unless the cat is unresponsive, in respiratory distress, seizing for a length of time etc
Frantastic79@reddit
It was a dog, he was vomiting and having diarrhoea with blood in it. They wanted to test his poop and do an x-ray. I expected a couple of hundred pounds, which is what I've paid for similar tests in the past, but they wanted Ā£900. I was shocked at the price and they just shrugged and said: "Well, you don't have to have it done. You can just take him home." I did ask if they would seriously let me take him away in that condition with no treatment (or offer of euthanasia), and they said yes.
I scraped the money together. Sadly he didn't make it. :(
Fehnder@reddit
Iām very sorry for your loss. This is a very difficult one because the symptoms are very non descript and could really point to lots of things from gastroenteritis to blockage.
Fecal tests are insane amounts to be fair.
From what youāve described it wouldnāt flag as a welfare issue unless they were confident they could palpate some kind of obstruction. Lots of people do refuse treatment for gastrointestinal issues/take home pain relief etc opposed to diagnostics.
Frantastic79@reddit
They could feel mass in his abdomen, which turned out to be an inoperable tumour. :(
redreadyredress@reddit
To be fair, been to 5 vets in different areas, they have never asked to pay in advance. Itās always after treatment has been carried out.
Iāve also dropped off wild animals and offered to pay (we have a pet seagull) - the local emergency vet has never taken payment for them, and gets reimbursed by RSPCA or RSPB.
All I can suggest is that people pay for pet insurance.
Zealousideal_Scar_40@reddit
I cannot DISAGREE more peopleās financials can change- they couldve adopted the animal when they had good financials and when they get laid off or something should they just euthanize their animals? Youāre making no sense and talking like a true corporate monster. Iāll say it again- I hope Iāll never face a vet like you. Try to be a better human
DizzyMine4964@reddit
Whatever the bot says, the PDSA only operates in certain parts of the country. There is nothing here in Norfolk.
VetStudentJack@reddit
Theres RSPCA vets in Norfolk
BobMonroeFanClub@reddit
Nothing near me either. At all.
Flat_Development6659@reddit
Euthanasia presumably.
I paid \~Ā£3500 for an emergency surgery for my GSD in October last year. The alternative was to put her down.
fruittheif50@reddit
Euthanising costs hundreds of pounds so Iām not sure this would be a fall back option either
Curiousinsomeways@reddit
To you it does, not to them.
Frantastic79@reddit
I was charged Ā£100 to put a mouse to sleep. A mouse. We're talking about 30 seconds of work and a couple of pence-worth of medication.
ImmediateRelative216@reddit
Get a vet degree and do it yourself then. It does not take 10 seconds to euthanasie an animal making sure they are not suffering.Ā
Frantastic79@reddit
It literally does. I was there. I've had many pets euthanised over the years and have never had one given anaesthetic gas first. It's a simple injection. Needle in, needle out. Done.
deerme25@reddit
Anaesthetic gas for small pets e.g. rabbits, mice, rats is standard and the an injection directly in the heart afterwards. Unsure where you were getting it done without the gas but where I work it is a must.
Frantastic79@reddit
Interesting. I've had all the animals you mention euthanised, plus hamsters, lizards, snakes and more. This is at various different vets in different areas, both years ago and recent. No vet has ever suggested anaesthetic gas before the injection.
deerme25@reddit
To me that is very odd as finding vessels in small, wriggly animals like that is much, much harder which can make it infinitely more stressful for the pet. Iāve worked at several vet practices or the last 8 years and anaesthetic has, or sedation, has always been accepted at the most human way for euthanasia.
Itās also generally regarded as normal practice online. The RCVS doesnāt have any specific guidelines but the BVNA and UK-Vet (CPD platform for vets) recommend sedation of anaesthesia prior to euthanasia.
Frantastic79@reddit
Yes, I've always been there, and it's always been very quick and humane (which I obviously appreciate!). The injection was generally in the back of the neck rather than a vessel.
deerme25@reddit
If itās phenobarbital (most common way to euthanise) then it needs to be in some kind of vessel or directly in the heart as it needs to be carried by the blood stream to cause death. What youāre describing sounds like cervical dislocation which severs the spinal cord from the brain.
Ok_Young1709@reddit
It doesn't take long, but how long would it take you to figure out how much of it to use for each animal? 10 second job to them because they are trained, many hours if you had to do it.
It only took 10 seconds realistically to put my horse down too, cost over Ā£500. But there's no way I'd let just anyone do it. If you don't like the cost of vet bills, stop owning pets.
welshlondoner@reddit
My dog didn't die from the first or second injection. They had to try and sedate her then inject directly into her heart. It was one of the most horrific things I've ever seen and she was terrified. It's not always simple at all. It wasn't the vet's fault, she was being out to sleep because she was terminally ill and the illness made it hard.
It costs because the vet has training that means they know how to do it and what to do when it doesn't work. You're not just paying for those few minutes and the drugs but for the knowledge, the rent, the electricity bill, the nurses time and training, the syringe, the disposal of the syringe, the vet's time writing it up afterwards etc etc .
Frantastic79@reddit
I'm very sorry about your dog, that must have been very hard. I do see your point about other costs. I honestly wouldn't have objected to Ā£100 for a dog or cat, but for a mouse ... it just seemed excessive.
redreadyredress@reddit
Our hamster had to be gassed first. I watched them put him in a different plastic pod. Vet said it would be significantly distressing and suggested I leave. Cost Ā£35 to put him down and the body disposed of.
The vet said he wished more people were like this and took rodents in to be euthanised. Takes a caring owner to take the empathetic and costly route in these situations.
Frantastic79@reddit
I'm sorry for your loss, and glad none of my pets had to have that. Ā£35 is a perfectly reasonable price, that's about what I was expecting to pay. Ā£100 just seemed excessive.
RnLee20@reddit
I shovel would have been cheaper
fruittheif50@reddit
Ah thatās awful. Iām sorry for your mouse too. My cat was Ā£220
Frantastic79@reddit
Oh no, I'm sorry. It's bad enough losing a pet without having to worry about paying for it too.
deerme25@reddit
If they canāt afford the emergency surgery and no treatment would result in pain and suffering then on welfare grounds theyāre obligated to euthanise them.
bow_down_whelp@reddit
Fuck, my hamster was a fiver
the95th@reddit
Had the same with my dog, lost my job that week - then she had two emergency surgeries back to back for Ā£2k each (4k total) even with insurance, I was out of pocket about 3kā¦.
Absolutely skint, the landlord wasnāt happy !
GLS1994@reddit
My registered vet point blank refused to help or offer a payment plan. I was a student, my mum had just died and I was left looking after the pets, unable to afford even the basics. Because I was a student I wasnāt eligible for any benefits and therefore PDSA wouldnāt help, the only financial support was Ā£10 a week discretionary from the Student Union. Fortunately I found a vets who reluctantly allowed payment discretionary plans but only after contacting multiple practice managers directly and not without threatening letters following this that it would be sent to debt collection. It was a horrible situation and compounded by grief but the vets donāt care, itās all about money. I did pay it off eventually when I started working but I agreed a payment of Ā£5 a month just because of how nasty they had been and I was being petty.
One-Peach-1525@reddit
If you take on a pet, make sure you can afford to insure it, and get it spayed to avoid instances like this. No doubt the owner would have made money selling the puppies, but couldn't even get some protection put in place for her dog.
Much as I hate rip off vet fees, they can't afford to treat pets for free or they'd go out of business. Its ultimately the responsibility of the owner to pay.
Yes, people's circumstances can change, but if you're skint don't let your unspayed dog get pregnant.
Logical_Magician_468@reddit
https://www.animaltrust.org.uk/
This may be if use to some people. They're a not for profit vets.
Logical_Magician_468@reddit
My girl needed two major operations within a 9 month span, for two different things. The second one I couldn't afford, the vets wouldn't do anything but directed me to a much cheaper not for profit vets, still costed me a few grand. Unfortunately if her cancer comes back or she has anything go wrong with her again, she will have to be put to sleep because I just have no money left. In the last 28 months between two dogs I've paid out about 9 grand. No I didn't have insurance and it's a long winded reason why, but now I'm fresh out of funds.
If anyone is struggling, have a look at the animal trust cic. They are a bit for profit vets, and not means tested. It is a lot cheaper than private vets and they're opening lots of clinics around the country. What vets for pets were going to charge me Ā£2000, it was something like Ā£900 with the animal trust
PeasTea@reddit
I went Ā£880 into debt to pay for my cats vet bills. most vets allow you to leave with your animal if you don't have the money on you right there, since they have all your info they can chase you for payments later. I did that, then when I couldn't pay, i went into conversation with their finance person, then began dodging finance persons emails and letters. eventually got my act together and set up a payment plan when they threatened to give my bill to debt collectors
badgerbiscuits85@reddit
Years ago, I rehomed a dog that became very poorly, very quickly, late on a Sunday night. I drove to the PDSA hospital and they wouldn't see him because I wasn't on benefits, i told them i would pay for treatment, they still refused. He died in the car park
FakeBotSimp@reddit
I donāt know about all vets but my local Vet does have a payment plan for people in need but itās not something they advertise, I only found out about it when I had an emergency over Christmas and couldnāt pay the full amount at once.
There are charities like the PDSA that offer free/ donation based vet care though so she could try to take her there if the vet wonāt help - realistically though, if the PDSA isnāt an option and the owner canāt get vet care sorted her best option would be to look at handing the dog over to a the RSPCE or rescue/shelter who will be able to provide the care it needs.
geeered@reddit
The PDSA offers some options...
Free Service - free treatments and medications
To qualify for free treatments and medications, you must live within the postcode catchment area of one of our Pet Hospitals and be receiving at least one of the following benefits:
Our Free Service is only available for one pet per household. Any additional pets can be registered for our Low Cost Service.*
Low Cost Service ā low cost treatments and medications
To qualify for low cost treatments and medications, you must live within the postcode catchment area of one of our Pet Hospitals and be receiving at least one of the following benefits:
Our low cost prices are typically 20% to 30% lower than private veterinary practices. This can vary, depending on the treatment.
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
!answer because while it doesn't technically answer the question I think its very important information everyone should know
DjurasStakeDriver@reddit
This comment says their prices are 20-30% lower than private vets but Iām not sure about this.
If you are on a low income and in receipt of benefits they can offer free vet care.Ā
When Iāve taken my cat to the PDSA hospital, when you check in they ask for a donation and suggest Ā£25, which is low so Iāve always paid that, but I think you can give a lower donation if you canāt afford much at all.Ā
I donāt think the PDSA has services nationwide though. When Iāve been somewhere else I used the Blue Cross who also work on a donation policy.Ā
So if you a genuinely on a very low income I think you can likely find vet care that is affordable or free.Ā
Unfortunately though I think as pets are seen as property and donāt really have rights as humans do, paying for care is on the owner.Ā
geeered@reddit
Copied directly from their website - note the first part discusses free vet care, then the second bit is the discounted vet care if you don't qualify for the first.
dinkidoo7693@reddit
Its great if you have a PDSA vet nearby, theres none round here. I was on a college course with a lass who is now a local veterinary nurse, she said the clinic she works at keeps getting turned down for PDSA status.
Familiar-Woodpecker5@reddit
Iām 5 miles out of the catchment area
acceberbex@reddit
It does however depend if you have this in your area, and if you qualify. And only one pet. And doesn't help in an emergency situation necessarily. From the website, I'd assume you have to be within 25 miles to be in their catchment area.Ā
BobMonroeFanClub@reddit
I'm on UC and took in an elderly neighbours dog when she passed. No PDSA or RSPCA anywhere near and no vet will let me have a payment plan. I've had to borrow from family :(
TheDisapprovingBrit@reddit
Which is all well and good, but minimum wage pays about the same as those benefits in many cases, and those people get no assistance whatsoever.
Queen_of_London@reddit
I get a tiny amount of universal credit and that qualifies me for the PDSA, and we're fortunate enough to have one in our local area. They seem to be better than the private vet we previously used when I wasn't eligible (which was a terrible vet), so I'm very glad I have this option. The cat charity we adopted our cat from also sort of offers low-cost treatment, but in practice it's rarely available.
A lot of vets will offer a payment plan or access a hardship fund, especially for cases like the OP where it's not necessarily something she could have planned for, especially if she adopted the dog not knowing it was already pregnant.
It's hard, though - vets don't make a lot of profit for what is a really difficult job, and if they allowed it too often they'd end up losing too much money to be able to stay in business.
TheDisapprovingBrit@reddit
See, your situation leaves me conflicted and highlights the problems with the current system.
Used to be that you either worked or claimed employment related benefits, not both. That meant that if you got a job, you lost access to services like this, which cumulatively made it uneconomical for many people to enter the workforce. Not ideal.
On the other hand, it seems completely wrong to me that working people should also get employment related benefits. Thatās not a comment on you but on the situation that exists - if youāre working, your employers role is to pay you enough to cover all of your expenses. You shouldnāt NEED to claim benefits, because you have an actual income.
Queen_of_London@reddit
Disagree. Tapered benefits have major advantages over all or nothing - that tends to discourage people from seeking work because they can end up worse off; even if they're only worse off for a year or two, that can be too long to be affordable.
Not ideal, but the world isn't ideal, so we have to find ways of adjusting to it.
geeered@reddit
A lot of people on minimum wage will qualify for the low cost service. As I understand it, you can get housing benefit/UC with housing on minimum wage depending on age and cost of housing - I popped the figures in for someone in their 40s living in London on minimum wage on their own and they could get Ā£900 a month or so towards rent and council tax.
An 18 year old living in a small town in Wales I guess wouldn't get anything.
But also - I don't make the rules I'm afraid!
And of course it could be someone earning Ā£65k a year who's outgoings exceed their income, so they don't have any money.
EmptyRestaurant2410@reddit
But that would have been because of their high rent. The post re PDSA specifically says UC without the rent element, so your friend would not qualify for the low cost service as I understand it.
geeered@reddit
They would qualify for the free service instead though? And it then goes on to say that additional pets can use the low cost service.
EmptyRestaurant2410@reddit
I would be very surprised if they got housing benefit as a new claimant, unless they're in temporary accommodation provided by the council or some kind of supported living, which is not a common scenario for people on minimum wage.
AshamedAttention727@reddit
This is good to know, thank you.
candigirl16@reddit
We are actually in the middle of this. Our dog has just had to have surgery on her ears a few months ago, our pet insurance wouldnāt cover it because 8 YEARS before she had an ear infection and they claimed it was a pre existing condition so we had to suck up the cost.
Yesterday we discovered she may have a heart condition, the tests to check are going to cost us over Ā£1k and thatās without the treatment if they find anything. We donāt qualify for charity support. We are looking at payment plans and talking about taking out a loan just to cover the initial tests, we donāt want to put her down just because one vet suspected it (the second vet who saw her wasnāt as convinced). Iām missing out a lot of the details here but it really sucks that we had to have a conversation about letting our family pet go because of the cost of tests.
meowtsy@reddit
Just wanted to add as someone who deals with dogs with heart conditions to make sure you get your dog seen by a cardiologist regarding any heart issues. Often people think their normal vet knows enough to diagnose but they're more like our GPs, they have good knowledge of the heart but not compared to a specialist. If you've seen two vets and they have different opinions I'd absolutely see a cardiologist asap.
candigirl16@reddit
Thanks for the advice. Since writing this comment last night I spoke to the second vet again to ask why he disagreed with the first vet. It turns out he doesnāt disagree, he thinks it would be best to do the tests to confirm and to try medication before jumping to putting her down, whereas the other vet went straight to saying we need to put her down.
Also when the first vet saw her she was really poorly (not heart related, the heart issue was picked up by chance) and when the second vet saw her she had calmed down a lot and was on pain killers so it may have seemed worse the first time. Iām hoping we spend a lot of money on tests to be told itās nothing.
Glittery_Mermaid@reddit
We had a similar situation with our dog and his ear. He had to be sedated and have a drain fitted, unclear what caused the hematoma but the insurance refused to pay out because in 2015 he had an ear infection in the other ear so thats apparently a pre-exisiting condition!
candigirl16@reddit
Itās ridiculous isnāt it!
Lettuce1939@reddit
Years ago my beautiful kitty had 5 kittens die inside her .. I saw her bleeding so I rushed her to the closest vet .. it wasnāt until the next day I found out my insurance wouldnāt cover it ! They had removed the babies and her womb so it was already coming in at just over Ā£1500 and that was not added on extras so would be close to 2 grand ..I donāt have that kind of money spare .. they refused to help with any payment plan basically told me if I donāt pay I wonāt get her back !! My lovely dad stepped up using his credit cards ..and I paid him back Now I think about it and itās so nasty the way I was treated..
originallyale@reddit
Not a vet but a lot of places will ask you to surrender your animal, then do the relevant health checks and surgery etc, then claim the money back from a shelter/charity that offers to take on the animal. Similarly to if you dropped off a wild animal that was injured! This happened a lot at a local vet and the vet techs would often foster the pets until they found a new home too.
ExoticExchange@reddit
Hard truth: Owning a pet should come with more responsibility and regulation. Insurance should be compulsory like it is for cars. If youāre found with a cat/dog that doesnāt have adequate insurance it should be taken from you or you should be forced to pay for insurance.
Ultimately animals suffer because of bad owners like the woman you witnessed. Who I appreciate is trying to get it sorted and the dog looked after, but should have insurance in place or adequate savings to ensure her pet can be looked after.
Spirited_Opposite@reddit
But what happens when the insurance you have refuses to pay for something?Ā
MindYourOwnBiscuits-@reddit
Pet insurance, crazy as it sounds, is actually less complicated and way more straight forward than human health insurance. I've dealt with it as a vet tech and was amazed at how easy it was to understand and use, from the owners perspective as well ours. You know exactly what is and isn't covered from a simple brochure. We never once experienced an insurance company denying or fighting a claim. The only thing that sometimes didn't have any coverage was dental procedures. However, most companies have an option to add it in.
Tattycakes@reddit
You have to read the small print to realise that some conditions are only covered once and then not again. Realised that after shelling out Ā£700 for a second cat enema ourselves
MindYourOwnBiscuits-@reddit
It might also be different considering I'm in the US. Because again, that's not something I've ever had to deal with.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
Canāt agree with compulsory insurance given how rubbish so many policies are and how unwilling to pay out. Ā Iāve never insured any of my dogs because I rescue older ones but theyāve always had whatever they need, in one case to the tune of about Ā£10,000 over a few years.Ā
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
I agree. I was quite upset when we got home (but I'm also 6 months pregnant, so take it as you will) because I feel the same. We just had a cancer scare with our same cat that was in today and insurance pulled through for her testing.
Especially since this feels like such an avoidable situation. The owner is retired too and I can't help but think... why would you do this? š©
peachpie_888@reddit
When you say sort out payment, was her card declining or was she literally counting cash across her accounts to figure it out?
If card isnāt going through i donāt know a vet who would say sorry until the card machine says āacceptā we wonāt be saving your dog.
In my observed experience what they will or wonāt do will depend on the vetsā¦ my local vets have rescued and treated a few animals in their first years in the neighbourhood. Usually end up adopted by staff and they post updates. I imagine they would jump into helping the dog and figuring matters out after just because of the type of people they all are (wonderful!). Larger corporate chains that operate like your local GP where you never even get to see the same doctor are highly unlikely to so much as be allowed to put a plaster on without logging the cost for the booksā¦
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
They were assisting her to sort finance, but she was struggling with the first partial payment. I think her son was going to send it but she was getting angry at them like it was their fault š«£ they did have the dog out back so I assume she was getting some kind of care.
peachpie_888@reddit
Bless her she must have been stressed. Def no reason to get angry at the vets but I imagine she was worried about her dog dying š I hope she managed to sort something out.
Unfortunately pets are very expensive and sometimes when a surprise issue comes along, Iām sure it can hit hard if you donāt have that safety net ready.
Iāll never psychologically recover from my dogās week long norovirus equivalent a few years agoā¦ basically didnāt get any sleep for a week and every day she was in the vets on an IV drip due to risk of dehydration and organ failure. Imagine shitting yourself to the tune of Ā£2.5k š That being said Iām fortunate and could afford it which is by no means the circumstances for most.
I hope she managed to sort it and the dog will be okay ā„ļø
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
We just had testing for a lump to the tune of over Ā£2k that turned out to be early stage arthritis and a weirdo reaction to inflammation, so I get it (thank god for insurance!) and feel bad for her, but really, I can't help but think people should be prepared for complications if they actively choose to breed their pets šŖ
peachpie_888@reddit
Aw Iām sorry I hope your dog (?) is okay ā„ļø Mine just got diagnosed with heart disease like a week ago. Murmur started 6 months ago and now every 6 months she will need a heart scan but thankfully no meds yet!
As I just wrote in another comment too many people donāt realise the costs of vet care before they get an animal in general. Never even mind breeding. I was going to say might not have been intentional breeding but the if youāre not planning to breed, get the dog spayed š¤¦š»āāļø
weightgain40000@reddit
If you breed your dog birth complications arent a surprise issue, even if you decide not to spay and an 'accidental' pregnancy happens or the other complications from not spaying like pyo or cancers etc the owner should research on shit that could go wrong from deciding not to spay their animal, and you should then have insurance and a savings account- but then you should also find out if insurance covers breeding stuff cos it probably doesnt.
Used to work in a vet practice (funnily enough we did do payment plans til medivet took over and people did take the piss sometimes but it was nice and i loved that we did a payment plan) and there was always soooo many frenchie/bulldog breeders that were never financially prepared for the inevitable caesarian/complication and it used to always really annoy me.
peachpie_888@reddit
I mean you can prepare for so much but you truly canāt know what may or may not occur. I have a small dog, sheās 11 now and things like dental, heart disease monitoring etc.
A lot of people donāt realize the lifetime cost of pets even if you exclude accidents and emergencies. Theyāre really expensive. Luckily I knew and I did actually actively consider it before I took the plunge to have my own dog. I grew up with family dogs so I had a decent clue about the costs.
Itās one of those things thatās I think sometimes not spoken about enoughā¦ or considered by people when choosing a breed either.
Grouchy-Ad1447@reddit
My vets let me pay a few days later, they just send me a payment link
Careless_Squirrel728@reddit
The thing is, while it may feel urgent for the owner, it is not an emergency in the truest sense of the word. I.e., it does not need to be dealt with immediately. The pregnant dog can be put down. They arenāt people.
peachpie_888@reddit
What the fā¦
Careless_Squirrel728@reddit
What? It isnāt a person - if people canāt afford veterinary care, the human option is to put the animal down. People do it all the time
peachpie_888@reddit
The āthey arenāt peopleā part was unnecessary. Euthanasia should be last resort.
Most people see their pets as family members, valuing their lives as much as those of human family members.
So when you say āitās not an emergency, they arenāt peopleā - maybe the lady who may or may not have family other than that dog certainly feels itās an emergency and doesnāt thrive at the efficient and convenient solution of just āputting it downā instead of trying to find a solution.
Just to mention euthanasia often isnāt free eitherā¦
Careless_Squirrel728@reddit
I fundamentally disagree - obviously you should not willfully harm nor neglect animals but there is a point where reason must win out. This woman cannot afford the procedure - should she get herself into debt and financially precarious situation for herself for the sake of possibly keeping the dog alive for longer? Itās silly and reckless.
There is someone I know who spent Ā£12k on credit cards for treatment for her dog. She didnāt have Ā£12k and she is not in a financially secure situation. She has set herself significantly back and made her life a lot harder now and in the future, for an animal which is probably going to live only another 2 years anyway. Itās foolish and allowing emotion to get in the way of reason.
QuarrieMcQuarrie@reddit
Fwiw as an ex vet nurse and someone who adores her animals, there is a hard financial line for me whereby I will not put myself in huge debt for them. Mine are insured (three cats, 2 dogs, two ponies), I would use a CC within reason and these days I do have some savings. Euthanasia is not a welfare problem. I worked with many vets and not one of them would want to put an animal down for financial reasons but neither can they take on every animal. My vets are independent and as they are also large animal vets, they do allow for monthly payments.
Insure.your.pets. Is it expensive? Sure. But my dog has cost me Ā£6k in vets fees since December 2025 for pneumonia and a stay in a vet hospital.
Beartato4772@reddit
"My family member is inconvenient so I shall murder it".
Careless_Squirrel728@reddit
Thank you - itās all relative.
weightgain40000@reddit
The woman put her animal in that situation in the first place by not spaying and not researching what can go wrong, so she should have been prepared for what could possibly happen from not spaying, this isnt just an unfortunate thing that happened out of the blue.
We know animals arent people but if we bring them into the world (as we overbreed animals for profit) then we should care for them, they shouldnt be seen as just things you can dispose of because of your bad decision making, they are living things with feelings, personalities, emotions etc and dont fucking come at me telling me not to anthropomorphize or whatever.
Beartato4772@reddit
I hope you never know peace.
dogtor-assistant@reddit
Not a vet but a nurse so can provide some clarity.
If it was a full term puppy then likely the only solution would be to do a caesarean section. Some practices may have the option of payment plans but if they do not then theyād likely try and send the dog to a charity practice if stable. PDSA, Blue Cross and RSPCA are the main ones, some charities will offer payment plans or services at a reduced cost, Celia Hammond in particular will quite often take on surgical cases. PDSA will agree to carry out C-Sections on the condition that the owners agree for the dog to be neutered at the same the time. The owner is also welcome to find another practice that may be cheaper (we usually know which practices around us may be cheaper and will direct them there).
If they are not eligible for charity or they still have no money at all, then we would recommend euthanasia and we would write off the bill, if they owners decided that. Nobody ever wants that but unfortunately a surgery like that would be thousands of pounds and is not necessarily easy (depending on how long the puppy has been dead), thereās a high risk of post op complications, sepsis, all which will require additional care.
With all the current discussions around the veterinary industry at the moment, we never want to have it come down to money, money that we donāt even see. But unfortunately that is the reality of owning a pet. They are a luxury.
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
I think full term was the case, yes. It was Ā£1k (very small surgery, very loud woman š). We were there about 45 minutes because a nurse wasn't available and they were still trying to figure it out when we left!
I felt so bad for everyone, but especially that poor pup in the back. Such an avoidable and unnecessary situation, really.
smellyfeet25@reddit
it annoys me that i have pet insurance but the vets would want the money up front rather than wait.
Tattycakes@reddit
Ours only wants half up front and half afterwards
idris_elbows@reddit
It's a cost to the practice, and there are plenty if policies that gave excesses (so they risk not being paid the full amount). Takes time to get the insurance payout (could be weeks, could be longer). Will it actually be covered? Every owner will say yes, but a policy might have exclusions. And there is always someone who takes the piss and would never be seen again after the insurance decline.
Would Tesco let you buy groceries if you told them you'd get paid in 2 days?
quentinia@reddit
This depends on the vet and the insurance. I'm lucky where I live that when my dog had to have a tumour removed, my insurance was able to pay this directly to the vet specialist. As I didn't have Ā£5k to pay upfront to the oncologist and surgeon.
smellyfeet25@reddit
that is what should happen
Electronic_Cream_780@reddit
unfortunately you can blame all the people in the past who've sworn that they are insured and will have the money in a couple of days who are then never seen again. Same with the demise of payment plans, when so many people default that the business comes close to bankruptcy they are forced to take a harsher stance
VolcanicBear@reddit
Vets are generally for-profit organisations.
They may offer a payment plan, but unfortunately they will turn you away if you can't pay.
My dog recently had an MRI and CT. Had we not been able to pay outright, or sorted insurance details with them, and gone ahead with the procedure with no way to pay, they would have kept our dog and increased the bill until we did.
DisIzwong@reddit
They can't hold your Pet hostage ffs haha.
Imagine the lady behind the counter telling me they are keeping my Dog until I pay, I'd simply go and get her and let them try to pshyically stop me or call the Police
VolcanicBear@reddit
Fair enough.
It was explicitly in the contract before agreeing to the scans, but fair enough FFS haha.
Angrylettuce@reddit
Hi, I'm a vet, we legally cannot detain your dog if you won't pay. That would be theft
DizzyMine4964@reddit
No PDSA where I live.
UltrajetAddict@reddit
My sister is a vet tech. She has a dog that was surrendered to the surgery because it needed an operation that the owner couldn't afford. He was therefore surrendered, and would have been put to sleep instead - the far more affordable option. So she paid the bill out of her own pocket and the dog is hers now. Vets don't want animals to suffer BUT they also can't just do expensive treatment for free. It's very sad when it happens.
Insure your pets.
VictoryAppropriate68@reddit
There are charities/ Charity Vets that can help somewhat, from my previous experience in pet insurance, this would be the best advise I would give someone in this position. Usually it still incurs some kind of fee but usually more reasonable than standard vets
DizzyMine4964@reddit
Not everywhere.
Neddlings55@reddit
No idea why you were downvoted for this, because its a factual statement.
Certain postcodes arent covered by charities such as the PDSA. They offer no help where i am, nor does the RSPCA. Affluent area where the veterinary fees are higher than those in poorer areas- you'd have thought they would help out people who are on benefits and even more financially disadvantaged. I guess is boils down to only so many financial resources to go around.
I find it hard to be sympathetic towards people breeding with no means to cover vet bills.
Angrylettuce@reddit
I think I'm the first actual vet to comment
To dispell some myths: no we can't detain your animal until you pay. That's called theft
No I'm not ripping you off charging over a grand for a caesarian section. It's a minimum of 3 members of staff for at least 90mimutes to 2 hours of intensive work plus medication. Big litter of puppies? Even more staff.
No I get no joy out of telling you how much stuff is, but I'm going to give you all the options available to you. That includes euthanasia
People try it on, every single day. I can't pay now, can I pay on pay day. It's my mates, wife's, aunts dog.. not mine, I'm not paying. I'm on benefits, I can't pay. I'll pay you back once I've sold the puppies. Can you not write this in the notes and I'll go get insured and come back tomorrow (no is the answer etc)
So yeah, why don't people get payment plans? - far too many people don't pay. My practices debtor list would make you blush. It's well over Ā£100k. Plus legally vets aren't banks, so it's technically not legal to lend
In your particular scenario, it would depend on the state of the bitch and the puppies inside. If the puppies are alive and ok and bitch isn't dying, then options would be; you pay for a caesarian, you find somewhere cheaper to do the caesarian like a charity, you sign the animal over if we think there's a reasonable chance the practice will find homes for this animal and the practice pays the fee(often not, vet practices are filled with staff members with signed over pets, only so many you can do), or euthanasia as death is not a welfare issue, it's a moral one and I've only had to do it once, ironically whilst I worked for a charity. And I hated that more than anything. It was awful.
If the bitch or puppies are dying, those options change in how viable they are
Happy to answer qs
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
Insurance just paid a little over Ā£2k for xrays and testing on a lump on our cat that thankfully is only a weirdo reaction to early stage arthritis, so Ā£1k for a c-section seems pretty reasonable to me as far as pricing goes. I also know our vets are phenomenal and pull some naughties - they fast tracked our results at zero cost because I'm pregnant and was crying all over them, oops š
They were discussing a lone pup, so we're assuming she'd already birthed any others. We heard a few of those excuses while we were waiting (she's retired, she doesn't have the money, the finance companies they work with weren't accepting her, etc) so I can't imagine what you actually have to deal with. It seemed a sucky situation all around.
Neddlings55@reddit
Could be a singleton pup which is why she hasnt been able to give birth naturally. They tend to be big.
Neddlings55@reddit
Payment plans are an option, as are credit cards. Charities will sometimes help out,
Thats an emergency though, and not something than can be left whilst someone rings around. If she has no way of paying and they wont set up an arrangement, then they will offer euthanasia.
Some vets are more sympathetic than others. I find they are less so when it comes to irresponsible breeding.
MittensTheBear@reddit
Not all vets offer payment plans. I presumed mine would when one of my cats suddenly needed emergency care. The options were, "pay all this money right now for some tests at our other site that might not solve anything and stress her further, take her home to suffer with obvious brain damage and see what happens and distress her brother further, or euthanise because we don't know", simply because her emergency happened at the very end of a payslip. They DO delay taking payment on euthanasia and simply send an invoice to be paid later...
Adnams123@reddit
Puppy go to heaven
sublime_369@reddit
It's a business, it's not like the NHS.
Honestly they're between a rock and a hard place because once the word gets around about freebies it would become freeloader central.
the_Athereon@reddit
They can (unfortunately) refuse to treat your pet.
It's not illegal. Pets aren't given the same rights as humans.
That said, most vets wouldn't do anything that would lead to the death of an animal as that would almost certainly result in court and every animal rights activist going after them.
Most do accept payment plans but not all of them and not always at rates you can actually afford.
There are schemes out there to help cover the cost of emergency treatment but they don't always help.
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
Yeah, the payments was the issue she was running into. Our practice doesn't offer direct payment plans but will work with finance, and she was struggling to get any of them to accept her because she was retired/couldn't make the first payment there and then.
Just made us wonder what would happen if she couldn't figure it out. I can't imagine our practice just throwing her out with the poor thing because they're truly a wonderful bunch, but I suppose corporate rules in the end.
Pitiful_Speed_6050@reddit
Pdsa also do not cover breeding related issues. I'm not too sure how the lady knew the pup was dead as it is difficult to assess a heart beat unless an animal is completely still while ultrasounding.
Informal-Suspect298@reddit (OP)
The dog was in the back, and none of the staff corrected her, so assuming they'd already done some kind of scan to check and confirmed it given the situation.
NoTraffic5064@reddit
Take it to the farm. Bang.
Substantial_War4106@reddit
The fact that my vets had my dog with its eye hanging out and wouldnāt do anything till I paid was so sad. I was shouting just help. They waited for me to go home and get the money before they started any treatment or give him any pain relief.
ImmediateRelative216@reddit
They should have at least given pain relief. It is part if their duty to do emergency treatment and that includes pain relief.Ā
DocBarbie21@reddit
That's kind of crazy. I'm in the US but we will at least stabilize and administer pain meds to keep the dog comfortable in the meantime.
AprilBelle08@reddit
I've often wondered this. I was in the vets with my cat years and years ago and whilst in the waiting room, a woman bought in her neighbour's dog who she was caring for whilst they were away.
The dog was absolutely tiny and was giving birth but the puppies wouldn't come out.
The receptionist was trying to take payment details and the woman refused to pay, as it wasn't her dog. She asked the receptionist if they were just going to let the dog die then.
We got called in then so I never found out what happened
ImmediateRelative216@reddit
Unfortunately is a common thing breeders who dont want to pay say. If they say they are not the owners they can try to get away with not paying because āthe bill is not theirsā. They push the vets to try to get the surgery done but the āownerā is not contactable in any way. I have sadly seen it so many times already.
swordoftruth1963@reddit
People should not be allowed pets without the insurance to cover at least emergency treatment
Origin_Pilot@reddit
I was hoping to see this somewhere. If you can't afford insurance, don't get a pet. We pay Ā£125 a month for 5 cats. They're each all covered up to 6k with a Ā£250 excess payment.
What's Ā£25 a month to cover an animal? And as far as I know, we're probably paying too much but we're happy with the coverage, it's peace of mind.
We also pay Ā£10 a month for each cat to the vets, as it gives us 2 free appointments a year, covers vaccines and top ups and pushes us to the front of the queue if we need it and it's possible.
Frantastic79@reddit
I think it depends on the vet. Some of them will indeed leave the animal to suffer if you can't pay. One of my pets was very ill recently and I was panicking at the cost of a few tests (nearly Ā£1k, and that was just tests, not treatment). They said I was free to take him home with no tests/treatment. They were quite happy to let him suffer if I couldn't pay.
(If anyone wants to know, I scraped the money together. Sadly tests showed he was beyond help).
ReflexArch@reddit
Brutal but I assume the line is:
If you can't afford the life saving surgery we can just kill it for much much less?
Cold. Anyone know if that is true? Obviously they would butter it up a little I'm sure.
mrs_shrew@reddit
It was many years ago but I've had a couple of pets put down because we couldn't afford the treatment. It's not very nice but it's better than them suffering with no help. It was a choice between feed the family or help the animals, which isn't a choice really.Ā
acceberbex@reddit
Truth but phrased better. Euthanasia is an acceptable treatment option. Vets are there to relieve suffering and someone not being able to pay doesn't automatically mean free treatment. The relief of suffering can be euthanasiaĀ
Curly_Boy_Milkshake@reddit
Vets have a duty to provide emergency treatment, and this does include euthanasia.
In this situation that will be discussed as all options should be mentioned to allow the clients to decide. When it comes to payment some will offer payment plans (less likely as these are difficult to enforce if someone decides not to pay), credit such as PayPal/Klarna or referral to somewhere more affordable such as a charity.
Charities may not be able to offer help in this situation if it was an intentional breeding, which is understandable as this was an avoidable situation and part of responsible breeding is knowing the risks involved and being prepared for these.
Ultimately, this is a very expensive surgery and many vets (particularly independant) wouldn't be able to afford to carry out without payment. It's a difficult situation for everyone but ultimately its the owners responsibility to make sure they are able to provide the level of care required.
SpaTowner@reddit
Who is the duty imposed and regulated by?
Curly_Boy_Milkshake@reddit
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Vets have a duty of care to relieve pain and suffering, which could be anything from pain relief to euthanasia.
mother1of1malinois@reddit
Itās imposed and regulated by the RCVS
acceberbex@reddit
It's a requirement in the UK for vets to be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).Ā And vets can be struck off the registerĀ
IndividualCurious322@reddit
Euthenized unfortunately.
txe4@reddit
Unfortunately the NHS has poisoned peoplesā minds in to thinking that highly skilled professionals not only work for free, but should be berated for having the temerity to ask for payment.
The vet can either be hard nosed, or be ruthlessly taken advantage of by (large numbers of) people who will simply refuse to pay.
It is extremely ugly, as is the way people treat the reception staff.
A vet degree is just has hard as a medical degree but they earn perhaps half at best of what a doctor gets.
in1998noonedied@reddit
We have a local charity that will pay your vet bills for you, but you do a few shifts in their charity shop in return. It's a nice balance, people don't feel like they're getting something for nothing, and sometimes people carry on volunteering after. I've heard them refusing service once, for someone who was clearly using his dog to breed puppies.
Fehnder@reddit
Euthanasia. It would be a welfare issue so no, they wouldnāt leave the dead puppy inside. They might see if there was a charity she could be signed over to in order to get the surgery she needs. But ultimately, euthanasia ends suffering.
Large_Haggis@reddit
I'm sure PDSA can help in those kinda situations?
CornishDebs@reddit
The PDSA cover costs when needed but you need to ba at a vet that accepts it. They do all the paperwork. They helped me when my cat was poisoned and needed hospitisation for 3 days plus medical needs. It cost over a Ā£1000. The insurance didn't cover.
DizzyMine4964@reddit
No PDSA where I live.
CornishDebs@reddit
Bummer. That's not good.
Plus_Pangolin_8924@reddit
Sadly my vet is owned by private equity company so nasally cough up or sod off is their motto. They will attempt send you to collections after 2 weeks as well even if they are the ones to forget to provide information on what is dueā¦ they are scum but no others close byā¦
Hairy_Ad5141@reddit
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) may be able to help.
DizzyMine4964@reddit
IF they are in your region. Otherwise, no.
J-H2000@reddit
My grandparents used to run a charity that helped people who were unable to pay bet bills, Iād presume/hope thereās similar charities set up all over the country. So hopefully they couldāve got help from one of them.
No_Mood1492@reddit
Depends on the vet.
When my mum was a kid, she had a cat that was attacked by dogs. She got a lift off someone and took it to the vets, but because she wasn't able to pay upfront they turned her away. The cat died without any medical attention.
When my dog was dying, and the vet knew we were struggling financially, they gave us a few freebies.
andercode@reddit
Unfortunately it often comes down to Euthanasia. If you cant afford the treatment, and cant get financing, then often healthy dogs/cats are put down, as that procedure is a lot cheaper.
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
OP marked this as the best answer, given by /u/geeered.
^(What is this?)
BroodLord1962@reddit
It's not the vets job to carry out any work that can't be paid for
acceberbex@reddit
Depends on the vet, the situationĀ The kind fluffy answer that people like - offer a payment plan, treat the animal and let it go home even with the client owing money
The slightly hasher answer - treat the dog but it's not released back to owner until bill has been paid (some vets will do this and charge a kennel cost)
The sad answer - euthanasia is deemed to be a treatment. So if you can't afford to treat the dog or agree a payment plan (not going to argue it out but they are a business and have costs so they're under no obligation to offer plans), you can have the animal put to sleep. Some vets will ask if you'd rather sign it over and they will re-home it.
Daughter of a vet...I know all 3 options are used. Basically the vets first due is to provide relief for suffering (be it treatment or euthanasia). Got 3 of my pets through "owner doesn't/won't treat this animal and wanted it put to sleep" - vets will do this but mum decided she'd offer a re-home option knowing we'd have them so it wasn't like they'd be waiting for homes.
harlequin_24@reddit
Seek help at a rescue shelter for dogs. They generally offer a financial payment plan or reduce the rates of services as their priority is the health & safety of the animal, and to avoid separating owners as itās worse of all in the long run
honesto_pinion@reddit
Honestly depends on the vet, but by and large if it's a big company they will prioritise payment over welfare, sadly. Our worst experience was taking a wounded stray cat to (then) our vet, a part of a chain, the RSPCA refused outright to contribute any funds as we'd taken the cat to the vet already so it was their problem, turns out the RSPCA will only fund it if they instruct you to go to a vet, no homes were available to take him on, full to capacity in our area, and the vet refused to treat him without payment. It's how we got our 5th cat, and a new vet. Same vet, the year before, one of our cats needed dental work around Ā£900, when we asked if they do a payment plan the manager told us that if they don't receive full payment they send the bill to a collections agency. So yeah...that was nice.
New vet seems nicer, and while nothing has been put to the test and they're still a chain, they at least have payment plans.
NewDate6115@reddit
They pass it on to a collections agency. That's what happened to my cat's previous owner (he gave her to me because he couldn't look after her any more). When I took her to the vet she was registered at, I had to re-register her under my name to get medical treatment for her.
Ordinary-Mind-7066@reddit
My vet has let people pay in instalments before, I overheard someone coming in to make a payment. My previous vet also once allowed me to pay in instalments.
I think a lot of them would, as long as you have a history with them, make a reasonable payment offer, and stick to it.
I've also had 2 vets only charge me for medications, not the consultation fees, when my pet had a long term condition and needed regular appointments. One case was feline FIV when it was the first case the surgery had seen, many years ago. The other time was a genetic disorder causing my cat to go blind.
I'm sure there are vets who won't be flexible, but have found most of them genuinely want to help.
iffyClyro@reddit
Small claims court or theyād maybe sell you finance to pay it up?
Itās just like any other product or service you have to pay for it somehow or face legal consequences
FritzlsChild@reddit
Depends on the vet, my friends collie ate batteries and she was in a tough financial position waiting on her next wage coming in (week later). The vet allowed X-rays and treatment to be done and pay when she was paid.
My vet personally allow you to run up a bill and pay within a set amount of days. Found this out 2 years ago when my dog ended up with Hepatitis and IMHA and she was in every other day for injections etc.
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