New urgent care vet experience

I think anyone who has lived in Bloomington for a minute knows that we are short on veterinarians, especially for after hours or emergency care. So I was really happy to learn that we were getting an urgent care vet clinic. 

I finally had reason to go when my cat developed a limp that was worsening over time. My regular vet could not get her in for several weeks, so I called the urgent care. Were they busy? No, I could bring her right in. The exam fee was $110, which was high, but I figured it would be worth it for my kitty’s pain relief. (Compare to Arlington Vet's $60 exam fee.)

I arrived to a clean, empty office. The staff were prompt and polite. I was immediately ushered to an exam room. A vet tech came in and asked a few questions and then whisked the cat away “to get some vitals.” That was the last time I saw my cat until the end of the visit, so I never saw her exam that I was paying $110 for. I was also never given any report of said vitals.

The vet arrived and said she had a “slight limp,” and recommended x-rays. This was what I guessed, so I said ok to a quote. This was the only time I saw the vet - for about a one minute conversation. Recall that the office was not busy.  

The vet tech returned with a quote. $500. Now, I’ve been to many vets and have spent a lot of money on critters. But $500 for a slight limp? I don’t think so. The tech put the form in front of me that I was to sign to agree to the charges. I declined. 

The tech disappeared, then came back. Not with my cat, but with another offer! How about two types of pain meds for about $150 total? (On top of the $110 fee.) Again, having much experience giving various medications to animals, I was starting to feel exploited. I know that pain meds for cats do not have to cost $150. You can get gabapentin or something similar for under $20. So I declined, again.

The vet tech came back, again not with my cat, but with another form: This one stating that I had declined any medical advice and that a potential outcome for my cat was DEATH. Given that the diagnosis was “a slight limp,” this seemed a bit much, but I signed. 

I asked the vet tech if I could call in a little bit if I decided to get the pain meds after all. Yes I could, but that would incur another $110 fee. Ok then. I asked if I could get gabapentin or another kind of more affordable medication. Oh no, the $150 med was the best, which is why the vet recommended it.

Finally, I got my cat and left.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to go there when I did not face a true emergency. I felt extremely pressured to pay lots of money (would have been upwards of $800 if I had gotten X-rays, which no doubt would have been followed by the pain meds), had I accepted their pitch, and could walk away because 1. My cat was not in extreme distress and 2. I have enough experience with animals and vets to know I was being exploited.

A proper interaction would have included a conversation with the vet - not a tech - about options, including X-ray, pain meds and other possibilities. Instead I was offered the most expensive thing first, then offered the less expensive option. That’s a sales tactic, and it’s gross. 

I can’t express enough how not busy they were. The vet had time to talk these options over with me. Instead it was orchestrated so that I’d feel pressured into paying a lot of money.

This is just my experience. If you have a true emergency, it’ll be a good option to have, but otherwise, it’s an avoid for me. Has anyone else gone there?