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Veterinary Care Costs - Viewer Comments
Continued from page three

Vet costs & Comments
Submitted by Susan
While it's been my experience that there are some vets who charge (at times outrageously) exhorbitant fees, I can choose to live with it... or find another vet.

My big complaint about veterinarians relates to a common practice of unilaterally separating owners from their pets during examinations, treatments and/or procedures.

Of course, I'm speaking not of surgical procedures, etc., but of simple, general examinations and the like. Also, I understand that some pet owners might be uncomfortable watching these processes and their reactions may be disruptive.

However, my personal reaction to having my pet taken to a mysterious nether-world behind closed doors is resentment, discomfort and worse, a lack of clear information.  

Vets should talk with clients to learn their attitudes, abilities, thresholds & expectations. A vet opposed to including owners during pet exams & treaments should disclose that fact if it's a client issue. No vet has ever inquired about this with me.

A vet's exclusion of me from procedures resulted in, when my dog & I were on vacation, a splint on her leg came off. While her injury had been briefly "explained," I found myself helplessly trying to provide information about which I had no real understanding.  

Putting a splint on a dislocated leg is a perfect example of why the pet owner should be present during the procedure. Had I watched what was done, and how, panic, frustration & worry could have been avoided and both the emergency vet and I would have been able to handle the situation-in this case, a no brainer-competently.

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