[Film] How RISK is pushing up vet bills

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Judith Joyce — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 20:24:19 GMT

I am aware of and have used peripatetic services (veterinary and musical ) but this is different. I'll put some details in the thread and would be glad to hear thoughts (positive and negative)

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Sarah Keir — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 20:17:48 GMT

[quote userid="13891" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246425#246425"]standalone diagnostic centre where first opinion vets could outsource the work rather than invest in the kit, then take back the case to treat in house[/quote]

They already exist - we're called peripatetic services. I offer ultrasound/cardiology/medicine, others offer endoscopy.

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:58:17 GMT

[quote userid="13891" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246425#246425"]Hope you can help. [/quote]

OF COURSE!!

Sounds to me like an interesting idea. However I can help, just say the word.

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Judith Joyce — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:13:15 GMT

Hi Arlo,

As I think I mentioned before, I am doing a MBA project through OU on rising costs in veterinary industry which has narrowed down to provision of diagnostic imaging services. Would you be ok if I sent a question to the forum asking for their views on doing diagnostic imaging differently - through a standalone diagnostic centre where first opinion vets could outsource the work rather than invest in the kit, then take back the case to treat in house rather than the traditional case referral? It would be really useful to sound out a mixed bunch of practitioners (even if they are mainly of the more established variety? A bit of robust to and fro in the forum could help me formulate my questionnaires and no doubt supply me with some rich qualitative data at the same time.

Hope you can help.

Judy

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Judith Joyce — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 09:25:23 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246384#246384"]vets need to be mindful of when laying[/quote]

Agree we do get a bit keen on differential lists and treatment options giving them A<B<C or 1,2,3 labels which imply a pecking order. Clients do though often say they should have brought their pet sooner which reinforces what you're saying, along with some other fears -- cost, euthanasia, etc.

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Judith Joyce — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 09:23:05 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246384#246384"]cheaper solution that may have been less than ideal for the dog. [/quote]

But perhaps the cheaper solution wasn't less than ideal for your dog?

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:46:20 GMT

[quote userid="13891" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246368#246368"]It made me cringe[/quote]

Sorry!

[quote userid="13891" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246368#246368"]I think you will get flack too[/quote]

Not so far, but maybe people are too busy cringing

[quote userid="13891" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246368#246368"]Worse, I think many clients fear we are going to be judgemental and it makes them feel a whole lot worse and delay seeking treatment. [/quote]

I think something else similar but slightly different … when I last went to the vet and wanted to take a different direction to their recommendation, it wasn’t that I feared they would judge me, I was more judging myself … as a ‘bad’ (or at the very least, ‘less-than-good’) owner for opting for a cheaper solution that may have been less than ideal for the dog.

I suspect that self-judgement is at play as often as fear of judgement by the vet, and I think it is probably something vets need to be mindful of when laying out options - ie trying to present them in such a way that the owner feels good regardless of which route they opt for.

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Judith Joyce — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 11:03:15 GMT

Hi,

It made me cringe and I think you will get flack too, but I think the film is really good, impactful (if that'a a word) and the content is right. Someone's got to say it and the clients often do 9definitely with budges, used to be more so with rabbits, and less so with dogs) Vets can often seem judgemental when clients don't want to keep going, but we probably don't mean to, we are just doing what we are trained to do, explore every avenue. Worse, I think many clients fear we are going to be judgemental and it makes them feel a whole lot worse and delay seeking treatment.

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:31:58 GMT

[quote userid="2490" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246357#246357"] it’s interesting because I think we just have different values when it comes to animals and money as do our clients[/quote]

Well yes, and that is a very important point I made in an earlier film: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hvWxKOlI2_I

But I think what you are talking about here, having a different set of values relating to animals, goes a bit beyond what I said in the film. And I think you are right, most vets will have a different (higher) set of values about animals to the man on the street.

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:02:33 GMT

Fair enough , it’s interesting because I think we just have different values when it comes to animals and money as do our clients which is why it is difficult to satisfy everyone. I think your films are an excellent idea

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:50:10 GMT

Hi Clare Tapsfield-Wright

Thanks, and very interesting and helpful.

First thought through my head is whether I am going to reshoot the whole thing (which is never impossible, but it is more time-consuming than it looks).

I only say that to explain that I have to weigh up the feedback vs the work etc refilming, and whether the former demands the latter.

I was conscious of being jovial at the start about attitudes to risk / death / being blown up (to slightly soften the nevertheless serious point).

However, I thought (even when rewatching) that I was being very much more matter of fact by the time I talk about pets.

[quote userid="2490" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246355#246355"] I would emphasise if it is fair or sensible to put the pet through treatments rather than accepting palliative care , being made comfortable and a good death.[/quote]

I do think that is a very good point and probably worth a film in its own right, but I'm not sure it's directly relevant to the point of this film, which is to explain that vet bills are rising because we are all becoming more risk averse.

[quote userid="2490" url="~/f/vetsurgeon-film-club/31114/film-club-how-risk-is-pushing-up-vet-bills/246355#246355"]You sound as if you are talking about a new carpet or a car rather a pet who for many is a family member, and not easily replaceable. [/quote]

Thing is, the (perhaps uncomfortable) point I am trying to make here is that pets ARE easily replaceable. That is not to say that they are not important, or that we do not grieve their loss. But I don't think it's in any way comparable to losing a parent or a sibling or a child. And the sadness of losing a dog is, in my experience (of my own dogs dying and watching other people's reactions to their dogs dying), quite short-lived.

I think we fear the prospect far more than the reality deserves.

That really is the point of the whole thing, and my point about whether it would be better to spend huge amounts trying to avoid risk (and then resenting the bill), or instead give a nice home to a Battersea dog, is a very serious one.

That might get me some flak, but I don't think its an unreasonable point to raise.

RE: Film Club: How RISK is pushing up vet bills

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:51:50 GMT

Hi Arlo , I like the content apart from the jovial approach to transient grief on early euthanasia and getting a new pet . I cringed a bit and thought you might get quite a lot of flak for that. I would emphasise if it is fair or sensible to put the pet through treatments rather than accepting palliative care , being made comfortable and a good death. You sound as if you are talking about a new carpet or a car rather a pet who for many is a family member, and not easily replaceable.