MMM_donuts
New Member
They're on my poo-poo list now so I thought I'd share my experience. Take it for whatever it's worth.
I liked the staff at Breton Vet and ignored my coworkers when they said that they charge waaaaay too much. And then my dog had a loose tooth that resulted in the extraction of, like, 12 teeth and a hefty $1400.00 bill. They seem to have gone over everything with me pretty well so I felt that was probably the going rate, albeit slightly more expensive, for that sort of thing these days. All charges for services so nothing I could really definitively pin point as being inappropriately priced.
Until my mother, in Tennessee, had her older dog's teeth cleaned, 6 extractions - $170 - and they even clipped and painted the dog's nails.
Then today. Last night I noticed that my dog had an ear infection. Since I've never dealt with one before, I called the vet this morning and scheduled an appointment. They're very friendly there at Breton Vet but this time Dr. Fenwick started out with a speech about how I should be giving my dog a supplement for his knees that will one day be arthritic and how they can sell me one that is proven to work, unlike the others that claim they work but ultimately go unabsorbed. I declined but stated that I am not opposed to a glucosamine supplement. I would gladly accept her recommendation then research it on my own. Maybe come back and purchase it if I felt it were necessary and the price was reasonable.
So they do a smear of my dog's ear goo and tell me he has a little doggie ear yeast infection. Easily treated with this prescription medicine - they'll flush my dog's ear and show me how to use the medicine. I allowed that to happen. I then faced the sticker shock as I was leaving.
Exam - $46.20
Ear Smear Analysis - $29.69
Ear Cleaning - $39.35
Malacetic Otic Ear Cleaner, 4 oz - $16.69
Conzol 1%, 60cc - $36.49
Total = $168.42
$168?!
And I'm supposed to go back in two weeks to make sure his ear has cleared up. Which I asked why I'd need to go back for that, wouldn't it be obvious? But they said no, they have to check for resistant bacteria.
So I did some shopping around for the medicines. I did an internet search and then called around to some of the local places like Petco and Well Pet. That Malacetic acid (which is just an acetic acid - as in vinegar - and boric acid solution) that I bought goes for about $6 for the 4 oz or more typically about $16 for the 16 oz bottle. And the Conzol costs about $21. I would still need a prescription but only for the Conzol. Breton charges a $7 fee to write a prescription that you take elsewhere but the point is that I just paid double the actual cost of the medicines and could have still gotten them from local, reputable, insured places of business. DOUBLE!!
I called them back and asked them if I could return the medicines since I hadn't even opened them. They said no. Of course.
I certainly do not appreciate this. And I'm back in the market for a new veterinarian. Why is a trustworthy veterinarian so hard to find?
I liked the staff at Breton Vet and ignored my coworkers when they said that they charge waaaaay too much. And then my dog had a loose tooth that resulted in the extraction of, like, 12 teeth and a hefty $1400.00 bill. They seem to have gone over everything with me pretty well so I felt that was probably the going rate, albeit slightly more expensive, for that sort of thing these days. All charges for services so nothing I could really definitively pin point as being inappropriately priced.
Until my mother, in Tennessee, had her older dog's teeth cleaned, 6 extractions - $170 - and they even clipped and painted the dog's nails.
Then today. Last night I noticed that my dog had an ear infection. Since I've never dealt with one before, I called the vet this morning and scheduled an appointment. They're very friendly there at Breton Vet but this time Dr. Fenwick started out with a speech about how I should be giving my dog a supplement for his knees that will one day be arthritic and how they can sell me one that is proven to work, unlike the others that claim they work but ultimately go unabsorbed. I declined but stated that I am not opposed to a glucosamine supplement. I would gladly accept her recommendation then research it on my own. Maybe come back and purchase it if I felt it were necessary and the price was reasonable.
So they do a smear of my dog's ear goo and tell me he has a little doggie ear yeast infection. Easily treated with this prescription medicine - they'll flush my dog's ear and show me how to use the medicine. I allowed that to happen. I then faced the sticker shock as I was leaving.
Exam - $46.20
Ear Smear Analysis - $29.69
Ear Cleaning - $39.35
Malacetic Otic Ear Cleaner, 4 oz - $16.69
Conzol 1%, 60cc - $36.49
Total = $168.42
$168?!
And I'm supposed to go back in two weeks to make sure his ear has cleared up. Which I asked why I'd need to go back for that, wouldn't it be obvious? But they said no, they have to check for resistant bacteria.
So I did some shopping around for the medicines. I did an internet search and then called around to some of the local places like Petco and Well Pet. That Malacetic acid (which is just an acetic acid - as in vinegar - and boric acid solution) that I bought goes for about $6 for the 4 oz or more typically about $16 for the 16 oz bottle. And the Conzol costs about $21. I would still need a prescription but only for the Conzol. Breton charges a $7 fee to write a prescription that you take elsewhere but the point is that I just paid double the actual cost of the medicines and could have still gotten them from local, reputable, insured places of business. DOUBLE!!
I called them back and asked them if I could return the medicines since I hadn't even opened them. They said no. Of course.
I certainly do not appreciate this. And I'm back in the market for a new veterinarian. Why is a trustworthy veterinarian so hard to find?
...you needed a vet to sign for a wheelchair??? I have purchased two chairs in my day.. and never had to have a vet sign anything!!
on the bill... sounds like an er bill 
.... (correct food)