Neighbourhood Vet

[mog1]

Hi,

I have been visiting the Neighbourhood vet for years. Feel a bit hesitant about posting and don't want to raise any concerns, but recently, it seems that they are charging a lot more for unnecessary treatments.

Has anyone else experienced this? Perhaps it is my imagination!

Thanks

[tsalazar]

I have taken my kitten couple times and I do agree they over charge for unnecessary treatments or recommend you to book unnecessary and expensive appointments.

It is not your imagination, I have the same impression

[BJA]

I was overcharged when I used them and I wasnt happy with the treatment. I did raise it with them. I went elsewhere.

I can highly recommend Norwood Vets. The new Animal Hospital in Camberwell is also great, we had to use them for an out of hours emergency and they were really wonderful!

[Mands]

I stopped using them for that same reason.

[P.O.U.S.theWonderCat]

I think it depends on which vet. I found one of the more senior people was pushing for a lot of unnecessary treatments and extras. I am now using a more junior vet at another branch and she hasn't been doing that.

[cactus]

I think I'm in agreement with the OP.

Flea treatment and 1 worming pill for our cat - ?47

5 min consultation and an unnecessary anti sickness injection - ?56

I know as a cat owner I have to factor in vet visits, it's part of the deal when keeping a pet, but the costs are a

bit hefty.

[Phlox]

michelle7984 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have found 'The Neighbourhood Vet' to be

> reasonably priced against other vet surgery's and

> I have never experienced being charged or offered

> treatment unnecessary for my animals. I do feel

> that you should speak to them directly if you feel

> that this has occurred as I am sure that they

> would be more than willing to look into it for you

> as I do not believe that this is a policy that

> they hold.

>

> I recommend them very highly and I spoken to many

> pet owners who also speak highly of their services

> so please don't feel disheartened give them a call

> I am sure this can be looked into.

Which practice do you work at?

[Phlox]

I would be interested to know about these unnecessary treatments. One unnecessary treatment is annual booster shoots for both dogs and cats. Kennel cough shots (bordatella) are also unnecessary. There are too many strains to vaccinate against, and after they have been vaccinated they shed the virus like crazy, and infect other animals. I also wouldn't get a lepto shot, especially lep4.

[Phlox]

mog1 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi,

>

> I have been visiting the Neighbourhood vet for

> years. Feel a bit hesitant about posting and

> don't want to raise any concerns, but recently, it

> seems that they are charging a lot more for

> unnecessary treatments.

>

> Has anyone else experienced this? Perhaps it is my

> imagination!

>

> Thanks

Do you query these treatments? If you think they are unnecessary, then you can refuse them. We have to become our animal's advocate.

[Phlox]

BJA Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I was overcharged when I used them and I wasnt

> happy with the treatment. I did raise it with

> them. I went elsewhere.

>

> I can highly recommend Norwood Vets. The new

> Animal Hospital in Camberwell is also great, we

> had to use them for an out of hours emergency and

> they were really wonderful!

I haven't used the Animal Hospital in Camberwell, but they do sell raw food there, and not the money spinning prescription diets sold by many other vets.

[P.O.U.S.theWonderCat]

In my case, it was a series of expensive tests that mysteriously didn't become as necessary when we pointed out we didn't have pet insurance. A second opinion by a different vet confirmed our feeling that it was OTT.

[Phlox]

P.O.U.S.theWonderCat Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> In my case, it was a series of expensive tests

> that mysteriously didn't become as necessary when

> we pointed out we didn't have pet insurance. A

> second opinion by a different vet confirmed our

> feeling that it was OTT.

That doesn't surprise me.

[Phlox]

Do they still offer a health club to join and pay monthly which includes checkups, flea treatments and yearly vaccination?

[HelBel65]

Yes they do, I joined up and think it's good value actually. I recently took 2 cats for a 6 month health check and was given another three months' flea & worm treatment - didn't have to pay for for the health check or the treatment. Think it costs ?12 per pet per month. It's a way to spread the expense of having pets - tbh I don't think NV benefit from it financially at all.

Not associated with NV other than being a happy customer, extremely surprised to read this post.

Phlox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Do they still offer a health club to join and pay

> monthly which includes checkups, flea treatments

> and yearly vaccination?

[Phlox]

HelBel65 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes they do, I joined up and think it's good value

> actually. I recently took 2 cats for a 6 month

> health check and was given another three months'

> flea & worm treatment - didn't have to pay for any

> of it. Think it costs ?12 per pet per month. It's

> a way to spread the expense of having pets - tbh I

> don't think NV benefit from it financially at all.

>

>

> Not associated with NV other than being a happy

> customer, extremely surprised to read this post.

>

> Phlox Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Do they still offer a health club to join and

> pay

> > monthly which includes checkups, flea

> treatments

> > and yearly vaccination?

You vaccinate your cats yearly?

[HelBel65]

Hm, you've got me there! I have it done when it's due.....can't remember offhand when that is. I know it's included in my monthly fee though.

> > Phlox Wrote:

> You vaccinate your cats yearly?

[Phlox]

HelBel65 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hm, you've got me there! I have it done when it's

> due.....can't remember how often. I know it's

> included in my monthly fee though.

>

>

> > > Phlox Wrote:

>

> > You vaccinate your cats yearly?

Cats and dogs don't need yearly vaccinations. No vet should recommend that. It's malpractice. They should only need their original vax done. You can titer them once, to show circulating antibodies, for peace of mind.

[HelBel65]

I didn't say they are vaccinated yearly, or that anyone at NV had recommended it. I said I couldn't remember offhand when the jabs (and boosters) are done.

So are you accusing the RSPCA of malpractice too?

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/health/-/articleName/CAD_Cats_Vaccinations

[Phlox]

According to that link, the RSPCA has sloughed off responsibility to your local vet. Some vets do want your animals to have an annual booster, because it?s a good money spinner for them. Vets used to send out cards, reminding you it?s time for a visit, and boosters. Like the dentist reminding you it?s time for a check-up. Do you vaccinate your family every year?

[HelBel65]

Well I don't have kids but if I did, I would probably take the 'greater good' approach recommended by the professionals. Pretty much as I do with the cats in fact.

[Take Note]

Phlox is right about annual boosters.

[sedm]

This was a couple of years ago, but I had a very poorly cat with complex illness and the Neighbourhood Vet did an amazing job - I credit them with him growing into healthy & happy cat.

They actually advised against any future jabs for him because they suspected an adverse reaction to his initial vaccines (not done by them.) So I'm a very happy customer.

[Phlox]

Animal vaccines can cause many complications, inc death, epilepsy and cancer. The size of the dose is also important.

[Phlox]

sedm Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This was a couple of years ago, but I had a very

> poorly cat with complex illness and the

> Neighbourhood Vet did an amazing job - I credit

> them with him growing into healthy & happy cat.

> They actually advised against any future jabs for

> him because they suspected an adverse reaction to

> his initial vaccines (not done by them.) So I'm a

> very happy customer.

That?s really good to know. Which vet was it?

[edcam]

Many, if not most vets recommend unnecessary treatments. We buy all working and felt treatments on the internet. I agree with Phlox, annual vaccinations/boosters are unnecessary in most cases. Everyone should stay away from Lepto 4 under all circumstances. Other Lepto jabs generally unnecessary too. As is kennel cough vaccine.

Camberwell Animal Hospital is brilliant by the way. It's not just for emergencies, they're mainly a "normal" vet. Lovely people there.