Oks I am freaking out over the cost!

[CrazyDaisy]

Got quoted 125 for a teeth floating and got charged twice that. Now she is in pain so I am giving her bute they sold me another 25. Now they want to come back out to check her over again and charge another 100. I run a animal rescue and I am not use to vets treating me like this. :confused: :(

[intouch]

Was this a vet or a DT? Vets don't know what to charge, and I wouldn't let one near my horses teeth - or feet! My DT charged me £50 for almost an hour's work on my old TB. That's too much - and there shouldn't have been that level of pain or distress. Let them know you are not happy. :mad:

[CrazyDaisy]

It was a vet. I let them know and they still want to charge me 140. I feel like crying. I feel so bad for my girl. She was in NO pain before this and I feel like its all my fault now that she is in pain. *cry* :(

[galadriel]

If something *they* did has been bad for your horse, then they should be eating the financial burden of treating it. Tell them so. They also shouldn't be charging more than they quoted without having gotten your permission. Tell them so. Make a big fuss. Threaten to complain to your consumer advisory board (whoever that might be).

[CrazyDaisy]

Her teeth were not even done a year ago. The vets said they were really bad and they are claiming that was the reason they charged so much. I just don't know. I can't believe I got charged double what I was quoted to begin with. I wish they would of warned me of the cost. Is it normal for a horse to hurt after a float? It will be a week in the morning since they were done. She is still spiting her carrots out and leaving hay behind. Also her jaw poped when she was eating! None of this happened before her teeth were done. I wouldn't know were to begin in contacting to complain.

[galadriel]

They should have told you *before* they got started if it was going to cost more than the estimate.

No, my horses aren't usually even sore right after their teeth are done, much less a week after! I've never heard of a horse having that much trouble, except for dental work which was badly done.

Someone closer to you might have an idea about where to complain...

[Naturally]

Definately get a second opinion here. Ring around until you can find someone to help you. Can you call an RSPCA vet (or similar) and get some advice?

You're doing a great job, so don't let the turkeys get you down ;)

[CrazyDaisy]

I have a vet coming out in the morning to look at her. They are charging 300 to fix her up. I hope it works because my bank is getting a little low. Wouldn't of been so bad buy I found a stray dog that got hit by a car and had her fixed up. I really need to raise more donations lol.

[CrazyDaisy]

I got a vet out tonight. One of her teeth was so loose they wiggled it once and it fell out. Also she had to be put on antibiotics. I don't know if the first vet was at fault now or not?

[intouch]

I would seriously get a solicitor on this one. If the tooth was loose the first vet should have seen it, unless they caused it! Are you in the BHS? If not find someone who is and get them to ring the BHS solicitors for you - advice is free to members. Write down all the details. I could weep for you - and the poor horse!

[Peace]

Things may be different in your part of the country, but around here vets are taught next to nothing about teeth - about 2 weeks out of their entire education.

I always get an equine dentist out. Some will let the owner buy the anesthetic and administer it to the horse; others require the horse be anesthetized by a vet.

I had a vet checking my young horse's teeth regularly, and he kept telling me they were fine. Dentist came out, and once the speculum was in the horse's mouth, even I could feel the razor sharp points on his molars! :eek:

I'd raise cain with the first vet and try to get a refund if I were you, and I'd ask around for a good equine dentist in your area to take care of your horse's teeth in the future.

[sidesaddlelady1]

Got quoted 125 for a teeth floating and got charged twice that. Now she is in pain so I am giving her bute they sold me another 25. Now they want to come back out to check her over again and charge another 100. I run a animal rescue and I am not use to vets treating me like this. :confused: :(

Not too au fait with the exchange rate but $125 sounds extortionate for teeth rasping (which is what I assume you mean) We pay £15 and only if he does something - no charge if nothing needed. We use a qualified equine dentist though, not the vet.

[sidesaddlelady1]

I would seriously get a solicitor on this one. If the tooth was loose the first vet should have seen it, unless they caused it! Are you in the BHS? If not find someone who is and get them to ring the BHS solicitors for you - advice is free to members. Write down all the details. I could weep for you - and the poor horse!

She's in America and a solicitor is something quite different there( ;) ) but there's probably the equivalent of the British Horse Society over there.

[Peace]

She's in America and a solicitor is something quite different there( ;) ) but there's probably the equivalent of the British Horse Society over there.

I don't know of any organization here like your BHS. However, most state bar associations have a toll-free "ask a lawyer" telephone service available at no charge. Whether they know anything about equine law is another matter. :rolleyes:

In my state, she'd probably wind up going to magistrate's court and representing herself, if the vet wouldn't make it right on his/her own.

[galadriel]

$125 sounds about par for the course for dental work from a vet, here.

Seriously, this sounds like somehting that you could definitely take to your consumer's advocate, or to small claims court (you don't need a lawyer, and it's a lot easier than you'd think).

Here's a link to the Consumer Protection agency in NM:
http://www.ago.state.nm.us/divs/cons/cons.htm

and the NM Better Business Bureau:
http://www.bbbsw.org/BBBWeb/Forms/General/Home.aspx

At the very least, they should not have charged you more than they estimated without first informing you of the changes and getting your permission. That's something that you can be absolutely sure is not right. On top of that, the quality of their work leaves a lot to be desired, and they probably should give you a total refund AND pay for the additional necessary work.