Kirk W Posted April 29 Report Share Posted April 29 In a thread currently running on the fulltime forum, one of our newer forum members, LiiveWorkDream has given some information that to me is so important that it needs to be shared where it will be read by as many members as possible. I am quoting the information he has shared below. Quote I work with the veterinary industry, and you really want to look for an AAHA-accredited vet clinic. These clinics are the only ones guaranteed to follow the highest standards of care available (unlike human hospitals, vet practices are not required to undergo any inspections from an accreditation organization. Only AAHA clinics voluntarily go through it to ensure that pets get the highest and safest levels of care). I may be the only reader who didn't know this but since I suspect that it isn't common knowledge, am repeating it here as I believe that it is important for us to know. We are not currently traveling but we have traveled with a dog on most of our RV travels as well as when traveling by car. I also just checked to see if the vet clinic we use at present is so accredited and it is! 😊 Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkie Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 (edited) In Texas all veterinarian clinics have to be certified by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners which sets standards that seem to me to be very similar to AAHA. Clinics are subject to no notice inspection for compliance. In our time in Texas we have had vet care at 3 different clinics, none of which are AAHA. In Colorado we had one vet for over 20 years which is AAHA. Quite honestly I don't see that our pets have had a different level of care between the AAHA and non-AAHA clinics. One thing that I found interesting was the AAHA seems only to deal with vets that are solely in the dog and cat realm which leaves a large swath of outstanding veterinarians that also deal with large animals and exotic animals out of the picture entirely. Which I suppose is why there isn't a single AAHA vet within a 50 mile radius of my sister because a rural vet can't afford to only treat cats and dogs. Edited April 30 by Chalkie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 And honestly, in a crisis situation, I'm not shopping vets based on how many alphabet letters are behind their name. More likely I'm looking for one that even has exam room availability, as vets are very busy, and can shop their clients vs. clients shopping their vet. Quote I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 30 Author Report Share Posted April 30 (edited) Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners I must admit that I don't remember ever checking for a veterinarian's license or any type of clinic accreditation when choosing a vet. I can say that not all vet clinics look the same here in Texas or probably any other state. On the occasions that we needed a veterinarian when we were on the road we did always get a recommendation for someone locally and the same has been true even here in Texas. Our current vet clinic was recommended by 3 of our neighbors who also have dogs and 2 of them went there after being less that satisfied at another clinic. The cost of veterinarian services has risen markedly over the years and very often the cost of needed medical care is such that a pet is put-down (a nicer way to say killed) because one can't afford necessary care. As a result, the level of care and of veterinary clinics varies widely in an effort to make such care affordable. I remember back when our youngest son spent a day with a vet as part of a HS career day, the vet he was with told him that the reason vets weren't making what medical doctors do is because of health insurance. The rise of pet insurance may well be part of the current prices. Just over a year ago we adopted a dog who needed to be rehomed at 7 years old. He had not had regular health care and the owners had only occasionally visited a vet shot clinic in a parking lot and nothing else. Tyson (our dog) was taken to our current vet care facility and we had him completely examined which resulting in him having 14 teeth removed, 7 of which were impacted, for a cost of $2800. He did much better after that and so things went well for the next several months. One evening when I took him out before bed he would try to pee and start crying in obvious pain. After several attempts he did finally relieve himself but the next morning he was back to see the vet. X-rays showed that he had 3 bladder stones in his urethra and several more in the bladder. Our vet said that the needed emergency surgery was more than his facility could do and that our choice was an emergency surgery clinic or put Tyson down. He recommended MedVet, Dallas and cautioned that the cost would be at least $3500, possibly more. I swallowed hard but he was a significant part of Pam's happiness and even I had become attached so off we went to get emergency surgery. The cost turned out to be $6000 but while I didn't really want to spend that much, how can you say no if you can afford to do otherwise? MedVet Dallas is an emergency hospital that is on a par with most hospitals for humans. There is at least 1 vet and 2 licensed vet techs on duty there 24/7 and they have a staff of about 20 vets or pretty much every specialty that there is. The recovery room after surgery has a vet tech for every 4 patients and the facility has all of the same equipment for pets that you find in any major hospital. They do not do routine care and are emergency or veterinarian referral only. Had I known a year ago what Tyson was going to cost, I'd never have agreed to adopt him but what do you do once his is in the family? If you ever need emergency care for a dog or cat in the Dallas area there is none better than MedVet but it is probably also the most expensive. Tyson has turned out to be by far the most expensive pet we have ever had, and he was given to us free! Edited April 30 by Kirk W correct typo Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkie Posted May 1 Report Share Posted May 1 I fully understand taking a deep breath and then telling a vet to go ahead with whatever treatment is needed. Our previous dog, which was a rescue, we got as a puppy and had her for 14 years before cancer took her. She was mixed breed and part Shar Pei which was the cause of a lot of vet visits, that breed has thin or fragile skin so she easily found things to test that and I lost count of how many stitches she required over the years. But she was a member of the family and and an excellent traveling companion so we could do no less. When we got our current little rescue I debated getting pet insurance but I could not find a policy that covered more than routine office visits without costing considerably more. So we are again rolling the dice on vet care costs and so far have been on the winning side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana Wilson Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 On 4/30/2024 at 12:20 PM, Kirk W said: Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners I must admit that I don't remember ever checking for a veterinarian's license or any type of clinic accreditation when choosing a vet. I can say that not all vet clinics look the same here in Texas or probably any other state. On the occasions that we needed a veterinarian when we were on the road we did always get a recommendation for someone locally and the same has been true even here in Texas. Our current vet clinic was recommended by 3 of our neighbors who also have dogs and 2 of them went there after being less that satisfied at another clinic. The cost of veterinarian services has risen markedly over the years and very often the cost of needed medical care is such that a pet is put-down (a nicer way to say killed) because one can't afford necessary care. As a result, the level of care and of veterinary clinics varies widely in an effort to make such care affordable. I remember back when our youngest son spent a day with a vet as part of a HS career day, the vet he was with told him that the reason vets weren't making what medical doctors do is because of health insurance. The rise of pet insurance may well be part of the current prices. Just over a year ago we adopted a dog who needed to be rehomed at 7 years old. He had not had regular health care and the owners had only occasionally visited a vet shot clinic in a parking lot and nothing else. Tyson (our dog) was taken to our current vet care facility and we had him completely examined which resulting in him having 14 teeth removed, 7 of which were impacted, for a cost of $2800. He did much better after that and so things went well for the next several months. One evening when I took him out before bed he would try to pee and start crying in obvious pain. After several attempts he did finally relieve himself but the next morning he was back to see the vet. X-rays showed that he had 3 bladder stones in his urethra and several more in the bladder. Our vet said that the needed emergency surgery was more than his facility could do and that our choice was an emergency surgery clinic or put Tyson down. He recommended MedVet, Dallas and cautioned that the cost would be at least $3500, possibly more. I swallowed hard but he was a significant part of Pam's happiness and even I had become attached so off we went to get emergency surgery. The cost turned out to be $6000 but while I didn't really want to spend that much, how can you say no if you can afford to do otherwise? MedVet Dallas is an emergency hospital that is on a par with most hospitals for humans. There is at least 1 vet and 2 licensed vet techs on duty there 24/7 and they have a staff of about 20 vets or pretty much every specialty that there is. The recovery room after surgery has a vet tech for every 4 patients and the facility has all of the same equipment for pets that you find in any major hospital. They do not do routine care and are emergency or veterinarian referral only. Had I known a year ago what Tyson was going to cost, I'd never have agreed to adopt him but what do you do once his is in the family? If you ever need emergency care for a dog or cat in the Dallas area there is none better than MedVet but it is probably also the most expensive. Tyson has turned out to be by far the most expensive pet we have ever had, and he was given to us free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana Wilson Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 Yikes! That is terribly expensive! We love our dog Maxwell almost as much as our children. He travels with us everywhere we go and is a great companion. I heard about an on-line service called GoLEXI that is like telehealth for pets. They can advise on most health issues wherever you are in the country with a licensed vet in the area. And if your ped does need to go in to a veterinary clinic they can advise on a reputable one wherever you are. It even comes as a phone app, check it out and let us know what you think. Sounds pretty convenient though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted May 19 Author Report Share Posted May 19 7 minutes ago, Diana Wilson said: That is terribly expensive! That it was but it was emergency surgery or put him down. Left as he was would have been a very painful death over a few days. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce t Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 Kirk do you think/believe that vets play on owners emotional attachment to their pets to, in part, justify their costs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_12078 Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 4 minutes ago, bruce t said: Kirk do you think/believe that vets play on owners emotional attachment to their pets to, in part, justify their costs? Some may, but I think most are responsible caring doctors that try to do what's best for their patients and their owners. Try comparing similar treatments in both veterinary and human care. The effort and training required for both is about the same, but vet care is typically much less expensive. When our last dog had heart issues, our vet called around to other vets and found a donated pacemaker that kept our girl alive for several more years. The cost for the surgery was just $2200. Compare that to a human patient in similar circumstances. Oh, and when our girl passed, her pacemaker was donated for another animal that might need it to use. Quote Dutch 2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A F-53 Chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS 2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted May 20 Author Report Share Posted May 20 (edited) 12 hours ago, Dutch_12078 said: Try comparing similar treatments in both veterinary and human care. The effort and training required for both is about the same, but vet care is typically much less expensive. When our youngest son was in HS(a,most 35 years ago) and was wanting to be a veterinarian, as part of a career day he spent the day with a highly respected veterinarian in the community. Our son mentioned the similarity of training and services with the disparity in incomes. The vet told our son that the #1 reason that doctors get paid more and have better facilities is health insurance. As pet health insurance has become more common, the price of vet care and the availability of more technical services have both increased. The decision to let a person or a pet die because of the cost to keep them alive is and always has been both an emotional and a financial one. Edited May 20 by Kirk W add a thought Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_12078 Posted May 20 Report Share Posted May 20 19 minutes ago, Kirk W said: When our youngest son was in HS(a,most 35 years ago) and was wanting to be a veterinarian, as part of a career day he spent the day with a highly respected veterinarian in the community. Our son mentioned the similarity of training and services with the disparity in incomes. The vet told our son that the #1 reason that doctors get paid more and have better facilities is health insurance. As pet health insurance has become more common, the price of vet care and the availability of more technical services have both increased. The decision to let a person or a pet die because of the cost to keep them alive is and always has been both an emotional and a financial one. That makes a lot of sense, Kirk... Quote Dutch 2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A F-53 Chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS 2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce t Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 My best friend ever was my dog. I would have sold the wife to pay his vet bills. (Only joking Pam). But you get my point. I can understand folks who will do anything for their pets. Where I have an issue is when I see kids who are sick and missing medical care because of the cost. But folks spend more on their pets. I'm sorry if the above upsets some folks. But it is food for thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkie Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 10 hours ago, bruce t said: My best friend ever was my dog. I would have sold the wife to pay his vet bills. (Only joking Pam). But you get my point. I can understand folks who will do anything for their pets. Where I have an issue is when I see kids who are sick and missing medical care because of the cost. But folks spend more on their pets. I'm sorry if the above upsets some folks. But it is food for thought! While I agree with this, it should be pointed out that in the US, at least, anyone can go to an Emergency Room and receive medical care. Not so for pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted May 21 Report Share Posted May 21 6 hours ago, Chalkie said: While I agree with this, it should be pointed out that in the US, at least, anyone can go to an Emergency Room and receive medical care. Not so for pets. Emergency Room care is expensive! Quote Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/ Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkie Posted May 22 Report Share Posted May 22 21 hours ago, sandsys said: Emergency Room care is expensive! Yes, it is. But, sadly this a way many people get their medical care. I have a friend that works for a large hospital group and she works at one of the their Urgent Care locations. If someone comes in and they do not have insurance they will not treat them but will advise they go to the Emergency Room. Even worse, even though a person will get ER care and they do collect financial information for payment, most end up in collection and the credit reporting companies do not include those debts in scoring or place very little weight on them. In the end, the debt get written off by the hospital and the hospital cost go up for the rest of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce t Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 Fortunately medical care in Australia is free. Even in ER. But that's in the public sector. In the private sector ER starts at A$500.00. I've used ER in the USA. They saved my life. The cost later on almost had me back in ER!!!! Back to pets. Here in Australia pet health sky-rocketed at the same time as pet insurance became "the thing". Maybe there's a correlation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pollies Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 (edited) I had such an experience, but in reality it just sounds scary. But it requires careful planning. Ensure your pet is comfortable and has all necessary supplies. Especially prescriptions, consider using services like Pet Prescription Without Vet, which offer pet prescriptions without a vet visit, making it easier to manage your pet's health on the go. Edited May 30 by pollies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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