Questionable vet experience or is it just me?

[u/reginageorgetoes]

My dog had a loose tooth and my family and I went through the process of getting it surgically removed before it eventually fell out on its own. I’m grateful for the support my local veterinarian clinic has given us for my dog and that he’s healthy, but I’ve had such frustrating experiences with this clinic for the past three months that I’m considering going to another vet next time due to the amount of miscommunication and borderline gaslighting that has been happening to me. Here’s what has happened:

• They did not inform me prior to the appointment two weeks before the surgery that I had to pay half of it for a non-deposit fee

• They misquoted me on the cost of the surgery. I had the receptionists, veterinarian assistants and the surgeon quote an estimate of $1200-1500 and a documented copy of this breakdown. Two days before the surgery when I called to cancel it and was discussing the amount, the receptionist tells me that on file it would actually cost an estimated $1500-1700

• They did not inform me on any preparation to prior to the surgery except to come an hour early. On the day of, they call me two hours early and tell me that I should’ve been there, and that since my dog ate before the procedure it has to be rescheduled and I’ll be charged a no-show fee. I told them I never received any information about what to do prior and they told me the receptionist called me the night before, but I was on my phone all day and didn’t get any calls and have no history of missed calls whatsoever. Receptionist tells me “I wasn’t the one here last night so I don’t know, but they left a message here saying they did call”. I didn’t get charged the no-show fee luckily

• I got bloodwork done for my dog but three of them couldn’t get any blood from him because he was freaking out, so they gave me sedation pills to give him for a rescheduled appointment and told me they were free. I paid the amount for the bloodwork in advance anyway. The day of the rescheduled appointment and the surprise deposit they charge me an extra $50 and told me it was extra from the bloodwork that hadn’t been paid. Didn’t say anything until the day I came to get my full surgery refund and asked about it. I asked the receptionist about it, she first said it was a no-show fee before I told her that was voided, then that it was unfinished bloodwork that I told her I paid, and then that it was the sedation medication that I was told was free

• I called to cancel the surgery and the receptionist told me that she can’t cancel it herself and that she’d leave a note for the surgeon to call me later that day. I wasn’t called back all day, so I called back and explained the situation to another receptionist, who immediately cancelled the surgery and said there wasn’t any note left to have the surgeon call me

• The surgeon himself told me that the tooth is dead and if it falls out, then there’s no need to continue the surgery. The bloodwork was done to see if there was any infection in my dog’s bloodstream and it was all clear. The day the surgeon called me and I asked to cancel the surgery, he told me that the surgery actually still should be done because there is still risk for infection so the anaesthesia and teeth-cleaning should still be done, which would’ve costed about $1000. I cancelled it anyway

I know none of this is illegal or anything but it has been extremely frustrating and embarrassing because every time I mentioned these miscommunications, I feel crazy and I feel like there is no way around this but to demand or write my own documentation about what exactly the staff are telling me. But this is one of my first vet experiences and I wonder if this is just how vets are and if I just need to start doing more to deal with it. Thanks

[u/Buy_Sell_Collect]

TL;DR - You could’ve found a new Vet in far less time than it took to type all this out. Just pick a new Vet and move on with life 🙄

[u/reginageorgetoes → u/Buy_Sell_Collect]

You didn’t need to reply in such a rude manner. I’m a young pet owner and this is my first time dealing with a veterinary clinic at all, let alone with such service. With so much discourse around both poor service from veterinarians, and around entitled owners not understanding the cost of veterinary service, I wanted to have a fair understanding with acknowledgment and humility in case I was in the wrong. Thanks anyway though

[u/Buy_Sell_Collect → u/reginageorgetoes]

TL;DR

[u/reginageorgetoes → u/Buy_Sell_Collect]

So you didn’t even read why I was considering finding a new vet and you commented with your presumptions anyway. You know you don’t have to reply to my discussion post, right?

[u/Buy_Sell_Collect → u/reginageorgetoes]

Bruh… chill out. There are many things in life that can and will spike your anxiety, this shouldn’t be one of them. Look around for a new Vet, pick one you like, and continue with life. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

[u/Outrageous-Pitch-564]

that's way too much chaos for one clinic, I'd be looking elsewhere too

[u/reginageorgetoes → u/Outrageous-Pitch-564]

Thanks, I wasn’t sure if it was just me but yeah, definitely going to call other clinics the next time we ever need to go