Update on my bad breeder and ACL tear
 

So I just wanted to update you guys. I'm the one that posted a week or so ago about my dogs ligament tear and me not being able to afford another 3k for her surgery and whether it was too late to sue my breeder.

Ok so I went to my local ASPCA to see how much they charge for the surgery and to my suprise they charge $1400. This is a GREAT price but now I'm REALLY angry that my dogs vet recommended me to a surgeon for her first surgery and I paid $3,000 for the same exact surgery!!!! I'm so angry right now I"m seeing red because I paid more than double what I could have paid and I"m still paying this credit card off when I could have had both of her legs done for the price of one. I'm not sure if her vet maybe has some type of deal going on with that surgeon and he recommends him to give him business but I feel like I've been robbed!! I want to report him to the better business bureau or something. I also want to switch her regular vet because I don't trust him anymore and dont see why he would not have recommended this other vet the first time. I dont' know what to do.:confused:

Try not to be upset...I know that's easier said then done. That's great the ASPCA will charge a less amount ~ GREAT NEWS ~ So glad there are places like that. As far as reporting him, well, this is a business right? It's kinda like going to a Private Doctor vs. Planned Parenthood

I don't know what else to say, other than I am truly glad things will work out for you and I hope there's no more Vet bills headed your way (after this) :thumbup:

yeah i know its the difference between privat practice and planned parenthood and I expected it to be about 1k less. But $1600 less??? thats really wrong. And the fact that her regular vet recommended him seems very shady to me. I dont trust him anymore.

That's great that you can get the surgery done for so much less.

I wouldn't feel badly about the last surgery. Many vets donate their time to the SPCA so procedures are less expensive, but not all do.

If I were you I would try not to get so upset with breeders, vets, etc. and try to concentrate on getting your baby feeling better.

with the board certified orthopedic surgeon you are paying for expertise and experience. I'd rather spend the money and get it done right, then spend less just because its cheaper. Determining who does surgery on my pet doesn't come down to price. i want the best surgeon and best results.

you took the words right out of my mouth! :thumbup:

Yes I understand that, BUT this is a really good board certified orthopedic surgeon. I did some research and my vet actually verified that she was excellent. This is what disturbs me. Why did he not recommend her from the beginning? This is what makes me think my vet and the other vet have some sort of agreement and I dont trust him anymore.

I agree with this ! I wish your baby well and able to heal properly.

.....

I'm confused as to why you would report someone to the BBB based only on the fact that you feel you were overcharged. :confused: If you chose to go to him/her and they did a good job- what's the problem?

Agreed.

If you don't understand this then I don't know what to say. If you went to a car dealership and purchased a car and realized you paid $10,000 too much wouldn't you complain to the BBB? There are scammers and schemers out there to get your money ALL the time. I chose to go to him on the recommendation of a vet that I trusted would not stee me wrong. I even asked him about other surgeons and he told me this was the price and this was the best one. When I called him for another recommendation because I would have to give my dog up he then recommended this one at the ASPCA and said she was excellent and just as good as the first surgeon he recommended. I don't know much about dog surgeries why would I doubt him? These types of things is what the BBB was created for. So that people are not duped and scammed. This is why. And I don't know ANYONE that would be ok with paying more than double for ANYTHING when you can get the same exact service and care for less.

I am concentrating on her getting better otherwise I would not have done all this research that I now see I should have done the first time. Even though now its water under the bridge and I can't reverse what happened, that doesn't mean that it doesn't still upset me.

I really think the vet working with the ASPCA is doing it as a public service. Probably for a loss on his/her part. I would just focus on getting your baby well.

I often donate mosaic art that I make to animal charities. I give it away for free to them. Does that mean that when I charge someone for my art that I'm scamming them? No. I was doing a nice thing by taking a loss. You might want to look at it that way.

What a nice thing the ASPCA vet is doing. :)

Yeah I guess I didn't think of it like that. I guess I'm more angry at her current vet for not recommending the ASPCA from the beginning. I really think they are in cahoots. He even had brochures in his office for this vet. So he must get some kind of commission for every person he recommends and this is what is shady to me.

Medical professionals do this with drug companies all the time. They get a little bit from the company when they prescribe a specific brand of drug. I know they get free samples for other patients when they do that also. This way they can help others who can't afford the medication.

I see this as part of the bigger picture. These are all reasons why our medical and veterinary care systems need to be rethought.

But, in their defense, I'm sure they would never recommend someone who wasn't good. It's their reputation on the line as well.

Surgeons charge prices that they think their services are worth. The orthopedic surgeons i work for also charge $3000+ depending on what needs to be done.

maybe the orthopedic vet that does the procedure at the aspca volunteers her time and doesn't require payment for her part. she probably just charges for instrument and implant use, plus anesthesia and monitoring, which is why it would be cheaper.

the fact that the other surgeon charges more does not indicate them scamming you. he can charge $10,000 for the procedure if he wanted and there would be people that would pay that much for excellent services. contacting the BBB isn't the answer and you shouldn't report a good vet just because you don't like the price.

I doubt your vet and the surgeon have some type of "deal" together. the surgeon is just the one that's closest or the one that your vet feels is best for his clients. As a client of either vet your job is to do your own research and if you want to 'shop around' for the surgeon your most comfortable with then by all means do so.

I know the vets that refer to my hospital do so sor a few reaons: we are the closest referral hospital, the referral vets trust our doctors the most and know they are the best for the job, they've had bad experiences with other referral hospitals, etc...

if you truly believe your Vet is in "cahoots" with this surgeon then by all means, find a new Vet. I'm sure he or she would have a hard time ever recommending someone to you.

Best of luck with your babie's surgery!

OMG that really is alot...WOW I just had my big dog (90) pounds have ACL surgery this weel and it was ALOT less than both your vets.
I am afaide to tell you how less. But about half is what I'll say..
I hope that you can get something worked out.

She's in New York, though. Vet's prices vary around the country and New York prices are very steep.

I'm sure a lot of it has to do with where you live. BIL & SIL just had thier lab's ACL surgery for $1000 at a private vet, here in Indiana.

Sorry But I do not see why this is like this.! I mean shoot she could have brought her pup here for surgery and saved at$ 3000.00 at $1,200 cheaper price! that is just really sad. I am so sorry you were so OVER charged. I would never go to a vet who is in it for just the $$$$ My vet truly loves animals.

Unfortunately not all of us have the luxury to actually be able to pay that much money even though we would love to be able to. I understand that more money USUALLY means better results/qualifications, but 1500$ isn't pocket change, and I have never heard any bad stories from friends going to places such as these (i even had a friend go to the University of Georgia veterinary school) for treatment on her dog....whereas I have heard horror stories from people going to normal surgeons etc.

So I think it is circumstantial and I wouldn't hold it against her for preferring the less expensive procedure...

I'm happy to see that you found someone to help you out. Sometimes it might be wise to check around before you allow anyone to touch your baby. Just because one vet states this person is good, you can always find at least two people that would state something else.

Good Luck :)

surgery
 

My thoughts exactly and the most expensive surgeon isn't necessarily the best surgeon. Just because you pay more doesn't guarantee that you will get more and the most expensive isn't necessarily the best. I don't have unlimited funds and doubt that very many of us do. I have to consider the quality of care and the cost of care. I'm lucky to live where those costs aren't the highest, but I would check everything out and make an informed decision. You can't blame anyone for considering the cost along with the quality of care. I want the best for my furkids, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to pay the highest prices someone wants to charge. There are some money-hungry vets out there just like in any other profession. You need to be sensible and pay attention. I don't see anything wrong with going to the ASPCA for surgery. It's not hard to check up on a vet's credentials and you could probably find some folks who have taken their pets to him/her. Some of the best vets in the world volunteer at the ASPCA.