Dr. Kemmerer:
>...The reason I don't post more is because there's a lot of vet bashing
>on this list.  It's usually subtle, but there are lots of snide little
>comments.  <fin>
 
I'm horrified that you feel intimidated about posting on here.  Please,
don't go away we need people with your type of specific knowledge to keep
us on the rails around here.  Unfortunately in any open discussion group
the risk exists that people are going to post something that may infer
something (hopefully unintentionally) that puts another person's
profession in a dimmer light.
 
I would like to apologize for those among us who have been unfair to vets
on here.  In some cases it is not intentional (i.e. someone is just
frustrated) and in others people are out of line.
 
I would also like to thank you and your colleagues for the great work you
do keeping our critters (ferrets and others) healthy and treating them
when they take ill.  In my opinion you generally don't get thanks enough
for your efforts.
 
TO THE REST OF THIS LIST -
 
I know vet bills aren't cheap, but keep the following in mind.  Medicare
does not pay for any pet bills so owners are liable for all costs around
their animal's treatments.  I have volunteered at a vets office and let me
assure you they aren't making $$ hand over fist.  The fees are necessary
and justifiable.  If they don't charge for their services they can't
afford to practice medicine, and if they can't afford to practice medicine
there isn't a clinic.
 
Everything costs $$ to provide.  I would rather sink $50-100 into my
animal to find out that I have panicked over nothing than wait and be
sorry.
 
I know some people have a gripe over the cost of the annual
vaccination/check-up.  Of course the vacination does not cost anywhere
near $35-50 to provide.  However, the monies from these exams keep the
clinic running so that they don't have to scalp you on more serious health
emergencies.  The extra amount they charge for this exam goes towards
equipment, medications, and wages for staff, to ensure that there is a
well stocked clinic with competent staff ready to assist you when you have
a genuine emergency for your critter.
 
Most vets I have known donate time to assist stray animals with shelters.
Many of them also donate part of their services with programs for pets
belonging to poor families who can't afford any vet care.
 
Another credit to vets is that when an emergency occurs they will try to
accomodate most owners with some sort of payment plan for larger emergency
bills just so long as immediate expenses (for example lab fees where a
third party is involved) are covered right away.  They won't give you
forever to pay the bill, but they will give you some leeway.
 
They don't have to do any of this stuff.  Nowhere in a vets job
description does it say they must do anything for purely humanitarian
reasons.
 
Many of us don't take the time to think "Will I be able to afford a real
emergency for this cutie?" when we are getting a pet.  The possibility
that some day you may have to spend several hundred or even a couple
thousand dollars to save your pets life is something you should consider
and try to plan for.  This is also part of responsible pet ownership.
 
Hats off to vets.  They are there when we need them!
 
Lorraine
[Posted in FML issue 3679]