I have heard good things about http://www.gopetplan.com and intend to insure my next pup through them. The prices seem quite fair considering the level of coverage they offer.

For me:

Regular Vet Consultation: US$30
Regular Vet Consultation if I am also buying meds: Sometimes free
Midnight consultation with my regular vet who then sent me on to e-vet: US$30
E-vet, 2 xrays, ultrasound, and non-emergency operation the following morning: US$500
E-vet consultation before 10pm: Regular daytime prices
E-vet consultation after 10pm: I forget, it was something like +25% or +25 euros
X-ray at local vet: US$70
Consultation with overpriced ortho specialist in Antwerp: US$60
Consultation + 2 xrays with contrast injection + sedative at overpriced ortho specialist: US$550
House visit from a people doctor: US$40

Pet Meds are available from either the vet (small stock) or any pharmacy in the country. Any med can be ordered and picked up same-day by 5pm at any pharmacy.

Equipment and expertise are as anywhere else, ranging from average to state of the art. I was even able to get "Cartrophen Vet" here, a "wonder drug" for dogs with HD or osteoarthritis that hasn't made it through the FCC yet.

My vet doesn't have vet techs or receptionists. Its just her, I deal 100% with her. Her only employee is another vet, who takes over entirely twice a week.

I don't know anything about the public healthcare system here, I've always gone private. I have limited experience with the UK's free healthcare system. It sucks for anything major, but its free.

As for all this comparison people are always doing between the US and Europe, I don't get it. Sure, Europe is cheaper for SOME THINGS when it comes to medical care... but the cost of medical care is only a TINY FRACTION of all the other costs you will incur from living here. The grass is always greener on the other side right? I really like it here for many reasons, but the cost of living isn't one of them

Thanks, Melissa, appreciate your comments. Sorry to hear about the insurance companies, I guess I have to set up a savings fund for emergencies myself.

My reg. vet totally misdiagnosed, he took 2 x-rays and saw the food in the dog's stomach. Since my dog was still trying to vomit in the vet practice (only bile and water coming out) that clearly points to a stomach torsion. The x-rays did not show the torsion, but the symptoms were ALL there. My dog even peed when the vet touch-examined him and had blood in his urin. Vet thought it was non-related and most likely some kind of infection of bladder. For that he gave anti-biotics.
The past few days I have been educating myself about stomach torsion and bloat and my vet (or ex-vet) should have for sure seen the emergency there and then. The E-vet confirmed later that this was an emergency already in the morning.
My reg. vet was informed via fax by E-vet and he called me to apologize and offered condolences. I was in no state of mind to argue with him or accuse him, I just pointed out that somehow he misinterpreted the symptoms.
Now that I feel a little better I will write him a letter to ask for the money back, as he charged me over $300.

My father who lives in Germany talked to local vets over there and was told that for a bloat surgery they would charge 1,000-1,500 Euros max. ($1,500-2,000). This is for a completed surgery. My E-vet would have charged me initially $4,500 minimum and later told me that it could go up to $10,000 if they were to proceed. The reason I am bringing this up is not solely to complain but to compare notes and to demonstrate that in another developed Western country the vet prices are regulated to a maximum, so that affordable health care for animals can successfully be rendered. In my view, the vets here are allowed to charge way too much in the US and the "business" of health is out of control. I am in no position of moving as some have suggested, but I need to learn from this experience and adapt myself to these circumstances. Again, thanks to everyone for their opinions and input. Jens Kruse

Vets are not infallible. Unfortunately. If something does not look right or sound right get a second opinion immediately.

My current vet is great. BUT she missed a MAJOR diagnosis and I almost lost the dog. The dog had gotten hit by a car. Paul rushed her to the vet and she was given fluids and Xrays were taken. The vet did not find any fractures. Paul brought the dog home.

The next day, the dog seemed so much worse. I took her to the University of MN Vet School and there, lo and behold, they found 3 fractures in her back. $8,000 and a week later, I took the dog home with 3 brackets in her back.

Yes, I paid a lot for this dog. BUT I would do it again.. for any of my dogs. The vet school actually did 4 different surgeries on her and discounted the entire price of one of them. Something they did not have to do.

I think we have all walked out of a vet's office or Dr's office feeling like we had just been screwed. It is human nature to think that we could have gotten a better deal somewhere else.. even in Germany I am sure.

$10,000 for a 20% chance of your dog recovering. While some would freak at that price, others would gladly pay it. My own animals are priceless....

Just my 2 cents....

Kelly

I must be lucky - my vet's practice has several vets working ( at all times it seems, even for a night emergency there were two vets there ) so they often bring in one of the other vets and brain storm when working on their diagnosis.

These guys were my vets when I lived in Georgia, I now glady drive 40 miles to them since we've moved.....they're great and I always recommend them to my club members here.

 Quote: jens kruse

My father who lives in Germany talked to local vets over there and was told that for a bloat surgery they would charge 1,000-1,500 Euros max. ($1,500-2,000). This is for a completed surgery. My E-vet would have charged me initially $4,500 minimum and later told me that it could go up to $10,000 if they were to proceed. The reason I am bringing this up is not solely to complain but to compare notes and to demonstrate that in another developed Western country the vet prices are regulated to a maximum, so that affordable health care for animals can successfully be rendered. In my view, the vets here are allowed to charge way too much in the US and the "business" of health is out of control. I am in no position of moving as some have suggested, but I need to learn from this experience and adapt myself to these circumstances. Again, thanks to everyone for their opinions and input. Jens Kruse

Jens - A couple of points.
First, comparing what local vets charge versus what a ER charges is not a valid comparison. The local vets are far less equipped and staffed and will have lower rates due to this - but their ability to do complicated procedures is also limited. Plus they're only open for 1/3 of a 24 hour day.
This is exactly like comparing the cost of a human ER visit to a visit with your family doctor. The ER visit costs far more, due to having to staff for being open at all hours and having to be equipped for all sorts of procedures.

Next - regulating *anything* is bad. Lower costs may look good to you, but the free market is the American way. Health care costs would be far lower with less government interference and regulation, not higher. The market would adjust the prices.
And as far as thinking that Vet care is too expensive - do you know how long and hard a vet works to graduate Vet school? And what kind of school debts they usually have? And a vet starting out their practice makes *less* than a postman. Some reward for all that hard work, eh?

Finally, owning a pet is a privilege, not a right. If you want to own a pet, you take on the responsibility of paying for that pets health care. It's your responsibility, not the tax payers. And while wanting to use the force of the government to make someone charge less money may be a popular concept in Europe, we Americans don't like socialism for the most part.
That's why our ancestors came to this country....
( and I'm saying this as a first generation American who is glad to have escaped the socialism creep of Canada )

Will, thanks so much for your honest opinion, I know how you meant to be honest and helpful. Your posts are always interesting to read.

I agree with you fully about regulating anything is bad. To me I would make an exception when health care is concerned, but I am no expert and am learning about these things.

One thing I would like to respond to is that Europe is not socialist, all EU members are democratic, so these regulations were done by democratic means. And as a US entrepreneur for 17 years I have come to experience first hand that there is LOTS of regulating being done by the US government. I don't think anyone can dispute that and in the current elections this is a big issue: Both candidates admit that the government is over regulating. Not to turn this into a political discussion, but just to point out that regulations by governments are NOT a sign of socialism, it is being done by governments in the West as well (in lesser form of course). Having said this, I would like to thank everyone again for helping me get the most out of my experience. Much appreciated ! Wish you all the best, Jens Kruse

Jens,
thanks for taking that the way that I meant it....

Kelly, with the 20% the E-Vet meant survival chance. She then said that once stitched back up a lot of animals die afterwards and if they don't die there will be very serious health problems for the rest of the dog's life. My wife and I decided the best thing for the dog was to pass on and die without further pain. He will be in our heart forever ! Thank you for your input.

Part of the reason E-vets are so expensive...

A DVM goes to an expensive school for years. Racks up tons of bills paying tuition. Graduates school, and sets out to work.

Now he's working at an E-vet, long hours, never seeing his family or friends because he works at night, and sleeps during the day.

He deals with the most challenging of medical problems.

Even on his days off, he is on call.

The staff, vet techs, receptionists, etc, have to be paid a higher wage than a regular vet, otherwise, why would they work such odd hours?

I spent $420 for fecal tests, x-rays, an antinausea shot and antibiotic prescription at my e-vet just two weeks ago.

My dog cost me a lot more than that when I bought her, and she's worth... well, she's priceless.

Edited by (09/04/2008 11:06 PM)
Edit reason: Oops... I just read Will's post