Where would you file a complaint against a veterinarian? - Page 6

While I understand that state law mandates how rabies vacs are to be administered this is not what the cashier told me. This is not a vets office, but a clinic set up inside of the local Animart pet store to administer low cost vacs. So it was not even the vet who told me the info on the vac, but a cashier and she yold me basically the 1 year vac knew it was only a 1 year vac. That's laughable, the vet that administered the vac was not my vet, but one who comes in to do the vacs for the clinic.

My vets push vaccines and speuter too.  Everytime I go in I remind them "NO thank you, I don't need an appointment to neuter my dog" (they first asked when I wanted to schedule it when he was 7 weeks).  Then we have to go through AGAIN that I vaccine every THREE years (which still fulfill the requirements by law and the requirements of my dog boarder).  Last time they told me (this is no joke) that "there is no such thing as a 3 year vaccine".  Well DUH, they are all the same you just give them every three years.  I'm not that dumb, or that rich to not notice, lol.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a vet hater or a vaccine hater (as for myself, I get every recommended and available vaccine, always have, never had a problem).  If I were to have to leave a dog of mine at my vet hospital I'd definitely have *my* vaccine protocol left in the dogs file in writing as a "cover my ass".  I like the facility and the staff and no one's perfect, this is my one beef with them and if it saves someone else's dog from parvo or having an unplanned litter and dumping them at the pound, I can deal with the annoyance.

In the OP's case, I personally would be far more pissed that my explicit instructions were not followed.  So this time it was "just" a vaccine but what's next?  What if the dog had other special needs like an allergy, drug reaction, etc and the instructions were ignored?

Yes, that's exactly why I'm pissed. I was quite clear. Other than the moronic suggestion that I camp out there the whole time he's in the hospital, what else should be needed besides clear instructions that he is NOT to be vaccinated?

The $116.25 is an "intact fee" put in place to "encourage" those of us who are irresponsible and stupid to neuter our animals. You have to pay it or they won't give you the rabies certificate.

"The $116.25 is an "intact fee" put in place to "encourage" those of us who are irresponsible and stupid to neuter our animals. You have to pay it or they won't give you the rabies certificate."

Holy crap. Is that a state law where you live? Actually glad to live in NC right now, even though the vets here love Science Diet and lecture me every time I come in about neutering my dog. As if by not being neutered, he's going to magically create puppies by walking near female dogs. He must have nearly 1000 offspring by now...maybe some German Doodles!

It 's a county fee. My old county was $150, but what I don't understand is only certain ones get charged. For example, I got Chausser's pup her rabies shot and she was over 6 mos. old, no fee. Maybe it's a year and older?

"As if by not being neutered, he's going to magically create puppies by walking near female dogs."

I think the vets are just sick of hearing about all the "accidental" breedings.  Nothing magic about it - they're brought up here on the pdb constantly, and you'd think these at least would be people who knew what they're doing, but nope, there's a lot of posts on here about "accidents."  So it's frustrating for those of us who are responsible, but yeah, the vets have heard it all before....LOL, maybe I'll ask my vet how many "accidental" litters she's seen in the past 12 months from "responsible" breeders.  Bet it's quite a few.

In addition, they get (a LOT) from people - "I didn't think I had to keep them apart because it's his own [mother, sister, other close relation] and surely they just WOULDN'T!!!!!!" 

"Why do they charge $30+ for a shot I can buy at Farm and Fleet for $4.99?"

oooo, oooo, pick me, pick me, I know this one!  That's an easy answer:  Vets charge $30 for a shot you can buy for $4.99 because the vet has to pay for, in addition to the shot, all kinds of stuff that I don't have to pay for:

building
grounds
utilities on same
maintenance on same
taxes on same
x-ray machines
techs salaries & benefits
computers
all other equipment (tables, scales, etc.)
microscopes
office supplies
insurance
Oh, yeah, and how about a salary for the vet??
and the $100,000+++ student loan debt the avg. new vet has today

Ok, yes. That's my point. MONEY. I don't really give a rat's ass what their expenses are. They are not my problem.

Interesting to note the ONE holistic vet in my area is so booked, you can't get in for at least 3 mos. Now, don't you think she's making money? She charges consultation fees. She truly tries to find the root cause of what's wrong w/the dog, and only vaccinates as necessary. So here she is, making money hand over fist, and yet animals are not being harmed in the process. Huh. What a novel idea.

They all need to remember the "do no harm" oath they took. Regardless of their f'ing student loans.

Oh give me a break! I am not saying that a vet doesn't have the right to make money, but didn't they get into this for the love of animals???? I have been to enough vets through the years to know that most of them are full of it. I have also been to vets that have more than one on staff and they both charge different fees, the one with less experience is the one who charges more. I have also been to offices that have vets on staff that HATE German Shepherds, only you are not aware of that until they walk in the room. Vets also get discounts on most everything in the office with the exception of the obvious.

 Honestly the point is that they should be following the owners direction to the letter as far as I'm concerned. If the owner of the dog does not want said test, vac, or whatever done, it should not be done.Period!!