Letters to the Editor

• vets cut costs?

  [Read the article: What I wouldn't do for my cat]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  After running through several letters posted, it's clear to me that no one yet is asking if it is necessary for the vet to charge so much for costs. The cost of care may well be high, but it's just as clear to me that (aside from the decent vets, and there are decent vets) there is a tremendous degree of sheer greed and guilt-tripping out there, masquerading as care and concern. Also a considerable degree of guesswork masquerading as science. I wonder just what the results would be if one were to do a cost-effectiveness study of selected veterinary practices? Shocking, I'd guess. As for me, I'll struggle to pay for my pet, but not the doctor's Porsche.

  Somewhere I'd guess there is a handbook that tells the unscrupulous vet how to load on the tasks and the charges when it's clear a pet is going to die, or maybe it's on the job training. At those moments, or really at any time, one needs a second opinion, either a vet or a convenient reference manual. For a manual, I'd recommend something called the "5 Minute Veterinary Consult" which is a reference book on a wide variety of diseases for generalist vets that is relatively comprehensible to the layman armed with a medical dictionary. At least it offers you the opportunity to consider alternative diagnoses and to ask probing questions.

  Permalink Friday, February 8, 2008 08:27 AM