To cut the story short, basically my cat had been hit by a car in the face and his jaw is broken. He was missing for 2 days and we finally found him next door trying to make it back home being sunday evening we rushed him too a veterinary surgery, knowing its expensive. On arrival we were immediately looked after, and my cat Tommy was looked at. basically to round it up, the vet said we will do x-rays and antibiotics and obviously pain relief and wire his jaw back together.

Unfortuanly I am not insured so this was all coming out of my pocket. I go to the desk to fill out paperwork and was quoted around £550-£650. I asked what this was for and my reply was all the x-rays, painkillers and other bits. I also asked how much the operation would cost (knowing I have roughly 700 in my bank account) and was clearly told it would ''more than likely be included in the price'' which took alot of relief off my chest considering 650 is what I earn after tax each month. I get home and later recieve a call due to some complications, and they said they need to do a further test before they could continue which would cost another £40, and gave them the go ahead. Again later they called and said they are getting prepared for surgery, and would I like them to call me after surgery. Being late I said only call if something goes wrong. No call was received so in the morning I go down to pick my cat up, only to be told they couldnt do the surgery because his face had swelling 'duuuh, he got hit by a car'.

Basically the vet gave me a run down of how tommy was doing and sent me to the desk to make payment. They charged me £750 I actually couldn't believe it. I was not only misquoted but no operation was done and my cat was still muddy and smelly from the accident with blood on him.

Ive now taken tommy to the local vet and they are getting ready for surgery, they seem alot more confident and seem to know what they are doing. I didnt feel that with these guys, tbh I feel like ive been robbed. I now dont have the money to actually pay for the surgery and am going to have to use my poor mums credit card.

In my eyes they should of given me the choice to take him home with painkillers, I know that would of been about £200 from a emergency clinic, but they pretty much charged me £750 to keep him there for the night and do nothing.


Please, some advise.

Oh poor Tommy my cat Oscar had similar in June and was a long process and I don't want to scare you but left a bill of £5000 luckily he was insured and cost us £550 excess and 10% the vet originally said to me had he not been insured they would recommend putting him to sleep because his injuries were extensive and there were no guarantee he would survive! He did survive and is now as well as he is gonna get but if I were you I would be asking what the £750 was for? Oscar was in intensive care for atound 10 days and vet care for a further 4 days and in they told me Intensive care is £100 a night and meds, on oscars first night I had £100 upfront to pay and the following day he was sedated while they xrayed I believe the total for all this was around 4 to 5 hundred! Maybe more??? Vet fees mount up considerably when dealing with something like an accident unfortunately! I would stress that you were told the fee would include an op, doubt it will make any difference because I know each of oscars ops cost around £800 alone so although £750 sounds a lot I'd doubt on top of intensive overnight care and needs and X-ray that it included an op too! They wouldn't have let you take him home with pain meds because if anything like Oscar he would have been in a bad way! Even after Oscar was allowed home 2 weeks later I had to syringe the pain meds in his mouth and believe me when you are talking trying to do that with a broken jaw it's not easy ! Good luck and hope your car gets his op soon if you need any help, advice after his op is done re getting him to eat I will help as much as I can xx

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Hope you can make sense of all that I'm on my phone and predictive text sucks

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umm that amount seems a little far fetched to me, I would ask that vet for an invoice with a break down of everything done to him and the price these things cost.

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Yes I got detailed invoices for all of oscars care

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You need to get an itemised bill from the Vets that treated him and see what they have actually done, as then ask to speak to the practise manager and explain what you were told regarding treatments and price and that you are not happy with what you have been charged. Did they do the x-rays and they probably would have been waiting to clean him up when he was under anaesthetic to keep his stress to a minimum, but you need an itemised bill to see what you have been charged for.

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear about little Tommy's accident. I cant imagine what the poor little baby is going through. You did the right thing going to another vet if you werent happy with the first ones. Try not to worry too much about the money, I know its hard to say but just get all the treatment done and pay what you can and then pay it off bit by bit. That's what I do. Though I'm insured I still do get some bills.

I hope Tommy gets better soon xx

I have heard plenty of horror stories about emergency vets and sad to say this does not sound at all out of line with what I have heard previously. Moral - when considering what vet to use, always always consider emergencies if you do not have insurance, vets that do their own emergencies are a far better option not only because of the cost but also for continuity of care. A saving on the day to day costs can be wiped out very quickly many times over by one emergency visit!

Liz

Just read post, didnt want to read and run, poor Tommy, glad you managed to find him xx

Icve had no experience but i would also try and get a full breakdown of everything.

Good luck and hugs to Tonmy xxx

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One day i'll learn where the spellcheck is on my phone, so sorry for any mistakes

I really hope Tommy recovers quickly.

I would ask for an itemised bill - you are paying, so you should get a breakdown and be able to query each item listed if you want to.

I went back to my vet to ask what 2x £1.41 on an invoice was for, (yes I am that tight!) and found out it was to 'give' a worming tablet. (The worming tablet itself was separately listed)
Had I known they were going to charge me to shove a pill in my cat's mouth I would have done it myself and used the £2.82 to buy them a toy!

The point is I often find vets add on lots of little extras to bump up prices, and when people are distraught the cost is often not argued as much as you normally would.

Definately go back and check what was/was not included in the £750.00. I hope it all goes well. Lots of healing energy being sent to Tommy x

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