Hi i'm just wondering my bitch was kept in vets with nercrotic mastitis,came home a week ago and still got to have check ups to see how things are going.
Is this normal to keep paying £30 consultation for every check up as she's only in there 2 minutes??

My vet charges £30 for the first check up and then it goes down for any after that. (not sure by how much but def was not £30 each time) I was shocked when I had a fatty lump removed (well not me personally :-D) and the check up cost £30 for a quick, "yes everything is fine - goodbye" I even asked at the reception if that was right, as I had not been charged for any check ups with previous animals.

Looks like other vets are implementing it too.

It is scandalous but a sign of the times unfortunately. A reasonable £5 would be far more acceptable wouldn't it.

>and the check up cost £30 for a quick, "yes everything is fine - goodbye"

    WOW!  I find that a bit steep!  And I don't consider that my vet is cheap.  If it is a normal check up (when the animal is declared fine) then there is no charge for the follow up visit.  If it is an ailment that needs further antibiotics, tests etc.,  then I am charged a lower consultation fee.  The first is £37 but I think I was charged £21 recently for a follow up visit where a further examination and medication was required.

I even had a bitch that had a flare up after a couple of months, but as they saw her for exactly the same condition, the £21 charge was made.  I do hope that my practise doesn't start charging £30 to say yes it's fine!  Blimey!  :-(

> I do hope that my practise doesn't start charging £30 to say yes it's fine!  Blimey!

Hardly an incentive to take them back just for a quick once-over, is it! Or even having stitches removed... Certainly someone with enough experience and understanding could avoid the need, but many don't have the expertise and might struggle to find the extra cash for that at the time (especially if they have already paid out for the initial op). Is this another example of insurance versus non-insurance?

Some practices include a post-op check and stitches removal in the price for the operation (if additional treatment is needed then that's charged), so it's worth asking about it. Ongoing conditions often have reduced repeat visit charges as well, and it's on the vet's discretion whether a 2-minute check "yes that's fine, see you in two days" is charged for at all. Technically it should be but client goodwill is important!

Mine doesn't charge for check-ups after ops.  In fact, my girl got her stitches removed and then the would started to open again.  I took her back and she got a couple of staples back in and then a few days later went back and got those removed.  I wasn't charged for anything except the ABs.  Check-ups are included in the price of the op.

I don't think I'm usually charged for post op check ups. Mind you my tri girl just cost me over £100 for a sedation and fishing a grass ear out of the ear, so I'm feeling a bit skint!

Vets can charge what they like but because it is up to them it may well be worth mentioning that you would hope a lesser charge could be agreed under the circumstances to help you, if they think about it from your side they may well reconsider.

Ask nicely you have nothing to lose.

my vet is very good no consultation charges for on going conditions and last time we went he said he was putting a 10% discount onto my account.

My Vet does not charge for check up after surgery and in fact I was at the Vet last week with a lump on one of my dogs shoulders. Her microchip has moved to that shoulder so I wasn't sure whether it was perhaps a reaction around the microchip. She thinks that it is in fact a collision lump and she drew some serum from it( the dogs are always running into each other), but as she said just keep an eye on it. She did not even charge a consulation fee even though it was a new 'condition'. I think I would be asking to speak to the Senior Partner and ask WHY you are being charged for each consult. Express your concern that it is not a usual scenario with other Vets so why do they charge.

Just as an aside my new practice don't charge for follow up appointments after ops but I was surprised that Milly didn't get to see a vet, appointments for wound checks and stitch removal are with the vet nurse. As the stitches were dissolving ones (although 7 weeks later one still hasn't dissolved) I probably wont bother going back unless I am concerned then I'd ask for a vet.

> I probably wont bother going back unless I am concerned then I'd ask for a vet.

Well, you are the paying customer :) but it is pretty standard practice to have post op follow up with a nurse for humans so it would not trouble me at all.
I believe veterinary nurses are registered  now and trained to a higher standard than in the past and would imagine they would have pretty specific training and competences if given nurse led clinics.

I believe veterinary nurses are registered  now and trained to a higher standard than in the past and would imagine they would have pretty specific training and competences if given nurse led clinics.
Yes, that is my understanding, too. My cousin is a vet nurse who did on-going training. Now, she is training to be an actual vet nurse who has nurse-led clinics.