We had to drop a urine sample in to the Vets this morning, I called them to make sure it was OK to leave in their post box as I had to get the OH to do this on his way to work.

The receptionist said that was fine, and I doubled checked the cost of them checking for a UTI. She said that she couldn't tell me the exact cost as she wasn't sure what tests would be run but that EACH test was £9.91 and seeing it was for a UTI would probably only be just the one. I said I would call and pay later.

I called at about 11.30 to be told, by a rather rude receptionist, that they couldn't give out results it had to be the vet - strangely I've had results off the receptionists before - and that a vet would call me after surgery finished for the day at midday.

Fair enough.....except no call Now I'm sitting here freaking in case they are running all sorts of tests without speaking to me and racking up a bill.

I am not impressed!!!

Are you insured Hun? I don't think they can do tests without your permission I know my vet wouldn't as Tiga has the Torovirus at the moment there was a point where the vet thought it could be something else but as Tiga has made progress he is sure it is not anything bad but he did ask did I want blood test done but at the same time he told me that I would be wasting my money as he is definatly on the mend I would keep phoning the vet to find out what is going on as they should not keep you in the dark like this it is unfair. Keep us posted please I hope all is ok with your little one

Viv xx

Sometimes you can get really competent people i have changed vets 3 times, one wanted to put down my kitty because she fell and hurt her leg!!!!
The second vet refused to do a biopsy on my little bella who is over the rainbow now she had a tumour but the next vet i went to gave her an extra 9 months pain free!

Then i left this vet cause they were obsessed with making money and not caring for the animals. Now i have a great vet where even the receptionists are lovely and knowledgable !

If your not happy though with your vet its best to change as you have to really trust them.

No, he's not insured. Insurance wasn't really the "thing" when I got him 18 years ago, and he's not, thankfully, spent much time at the vets until this year. The only reason he's being checked for a UTI is because he keeps having accidents on the sofa

The vet is almost sure its an age/deep sleep thing but wanted to rule a UTI out. It's not the money per say, but like everyone these days am watching the pennies, its the lack of communication. Am sure they wouldn't run loads of tests without my permission. They sure will know about it if they have!! Will be on the phone first thing Monday morning.

Hope Tiga continues to make good progress xx

Unfortunately we only have 3 in my area. I did leave the one I am with now as I wasn't happy with the vet who saw Oscar earlier this year when he suddenly collapsed. The next vets, who I found out are part of P@H, diagnosed him with CRF and seemed to be really good...but then they started to mess me about with the cost of treatments and just seemed to want to do this, that and the other with him. So I went back to the original vets after I had a long chat with the practice manager and sorted out the issues from when he collapsed.

The only other vet practice is also part of a chain and I haven't heard many positive things about them.

It cirtainly sounds like it could be an age deep sleep thing I hope all is ok will keep my fingers crossed

Viv xx

Talking about lack of communication, when I lost my Pinkie I left them my works phone number and told them when I would be there, also my home phone number. The vet, who was deaf, phoned my 84 ye4ar old mother instead of me and wanted to know immediately if we wanted her cremating. Then, to cap it all, I found out later that they found she was a he and they hadn't contacted me to ask if I still wanted the op doing. I wrote to them and complained and they wrote back and told me all that was done clinically and said they were sorry Pinkie had died. However, thos I was happy there had been no clinical negligence I was still not really happy with the communication business and was seriously thinking of putting in a formal complaint to the RCVS. However, having read the rigmarole that involves I decided it was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut when really all the receptionist needed was a good telling off. I won't go back to them, that is all. They used to be a really good private vet but the main man retured and they were taken over by Vets for Pets, tho they said the staff was still the same

Well at least you sorted it out with the practice manager. As long as your are blunt with them you'll be ok and make sure they understand that you need to be made aware of everything including prices. I was really lucky with my new vet cause the lovely receptionist went and photocopied their price list for me which is very good to have!

I am nothing if not blunt, especially if I think someone is trying to pull to wool over my eyes

That's the one thing I don't like with the vets is there is no visable price list and when you ask, you kinda get "oh well I can't be sure, it's normally this much" blah blah. With the other vet I was with it was a different story, they had a visable price list but when you got to reception to pay it was always more . I left after I was told his treatment would be £60......I got the desk and it was over £100 . By the time I left they were in no doubt about my feelings

OMG it's ridiculous this country our vets can pretty much do what they want! I couldn't believe it when one vet told me to put down my bella cause she had hurt her leg, it was a bit of arthritis so some anti-inflammatory helped what idiots. We should start a thread vets to boycott lol!
Also try asking one of the more senior members say you need to know what things will cost demand they give you a price list lol!

See i'm horribly blunt as well luckily my new vet finds it hilarious