Vet bill break down

[Jag]

I called the vet's office.. she claims she never got a message that I called, and told me that there's 'no way' that anyone would be able to have this testing done for any less. She said that the psittacosis test is NOT normally done on a new or well bird check up, and it is sent out to another lab with the DNA test. She says that those 2 things made the difference in the bill. Since I don't know what everyone else has had done.. here's the breakdown to see if he's out of line or not. They made ZERO appology for the $300 difference, BTW.. and have ZERO interest in doing anything (other than to see if they can cancel the tests which isn't really an option).

Exam................................ 58.50
Anesthesia-restraint 1......... 32.50
CBC.................................. 34.50
Lab profile......................... 75.00
EPA disposal....................... 6.50
Fecal wet mount................ 24.50
culture and sensitivity......... 95.00
DNA sexing........................ 95.00
Psittacosis........................ 85.00
Grooming (nail clip/beak trim) 24.50

Total of ............................531.00

I asked if I could bring a card in for the DNA testing blood spot to be done with a clipped nail. I was told "I don't think so... that is something you'd have to do at home on your own." So apparently the doc has no idea what things cost, as I told him the price I was quoted after he talked bout what he suggested doing (all of the above). When I told him the price he nodded, and said "Plus the chlamydia". Which would have made it $230 plus $85.00, not $531. I said that I wanted the test results on paper, as I wouldn't be having any treatment done there. I told her that I'd heard that others had 'new bird' testing done, and it wasn't this much. She said "Maybe they didn't go to a good vet." Which REALLY burned me up. I asked for (on the phone) CBC, fecal, chem. profile, DNA, and the chlamydia. ALL of that is on there. I'm not getting anywhere with them. They refuse to refund some and let me make payment on what is over what they told me. I really hope that word of mouth is enough to keep people from going to this guy's office. Also, I know that the 'put talc under the wings' is the WORST thing to do to a bird! Even in the hospital (where we often use a lot of powder in the ICU where people tend to get 'stinky' fast) we joke about giving them 'white pneumonia'... unless (of course) they are intubated. We're careful about people... why on earth would a vet suggest that for a bird with a very delicate respiratory system?

Sorry, but I had to wait to post this, because I was just too ticked to even begin to. Soooo... tell me how much you paid and what was included. Is psittacosis testing generally not done on a new/potential carrier bird?

[asulli]

I think the DNA sexing is over the top. My vet only charges $35.00. Mine does not charge for the nail and charges $11.00 for the beak. The grooming does not sound outrages.

I will be taking Baby Isis to the vet tomorrow and with all the testing minus the beak and sexing if probably about $220.00 and that includes a treat I usually buy. If it is going to go above that, they tell you before and make financial arrangements, especially if they feel that other tests are necessary to make sure that the bird does jeopardize any other birds or even other pets in the household.

My vet is a certified avian vet and in fact has won awards. He is a respected vet who yearly participates in the Houston Human Society Fund Raising Event, Petapalooza. He is also very involved in the Wildlife Rescue mission. His staff if very knowledgeable on parrots and the receptionist can usually answer a lot of my questions.

In fact I told my vet that I like using talcum powder after my bath and he said that if I do it will have to be in a closed space where the bird does not go and I cannot go handling the bird after that....there goes the talcum unless I use it at night before I go to bed.

By what you are saying it seems that the staff is not very nice or sympathetic.

When I ask my vet about the Psittacosis he said symptoms in birds include "inflamed eyes, difficulty in breathing, watery droppings and green urates."
He also said that some strains remain quite in birds until activated under stress.

Tonight when I get home I will pull the bills and see what they say and get back with you.

[tanya85]

I only paid 40.00 for DNA sexing and have only one vet in my town that would do it and that was less than a year ago.

[sugarbeth]

My avian vet is like this:
exam $50
CBC/Chem $90
oral/fecal cultures $50

This is what they quoted in the email they sent to me when I asked before I went in, and this was exactly what I was charged. But I didn't have DNA or clipping added in. I think you definitely had a communication breakdown, and perhaps the lesson learned is to ask for an itemized list/breakdown before the visit.

I would ask what "Lab profile" is. Because that seems sorta tacked on and everything you had done should be covered under the other charges. DNA for $95 is outrageous.

Put a critical review on Google. That always makes me feel better. :)

[perchingbird]

One board-certified avian vet clinic in San Diego, CA on my Sun Conure:

Office exam................. 49.00
CBC............................ 54.00
Bile acid...................... 76.00
Beak/nail trim.............. 25.00
X-ray......................... 129.00
PBFD probe ................. 56.00
Psittacosis DNA probe.... 56.00

A different AAV member vet clinic in San Diego on my new GCC:

Office exam........ 60.00
DNA sexing......... 61.00
Polyoma vacc...... 37.00
CDC/MA Provile ....75.00


A vet clinic in Barberton, OH on my sun in 2003
Office exam..... 44.00
Blood count .... 31.00
Gram stain ..... 20.00


... I have more. ><

[Congobongo]

I had a wellness check on my Blue and Gold in Ohio just a month and a half ago and had the beak and claws dremmeled and the wings clipped. I know the entire bill was less than $150. but I did not have a DNA, however their DNA charge is $45.

They did all kinds of testing. Blood, liver, kidneys...you name it.

They told me I had one of the healthiest birds they have ever seen. But not for over $500!!!!

I would complain to the BBB as well.

[Lisa B]

here in nj,
just to walk in, its at least 119.oo- 149.00 depending if you go to NYC, Philly, or another Board Certified vet here.
then the other tests that Jag posted are just about right for this area.

I paid over 700 on one well birdy visit with the initial first tests of the diseases.

Last time I went in with Emma, my bill was over 900 for xrays bloods and exam.

[DaFrank]

My vet wanted to charge me $150.00 for a nail and beak trim on my Amazon.

[Congobongo]

You could also see if some of your local news stations do some type of 'rip off' investigation and see if they will look into your issue. It is worth a try.

There may be some out there gouging people because avian veterinarians are hard to come by. I am very fortunate that in my area of Columbus, Ohio we have The Avian Vet Clinic run by Dr. Mohan. All they do is birds and nothing else. And the waiting room is never empty.

[Kachina]

The sexing is the only thing on there that looks over priced.

Looks to be right on par with what costs come to when you add in the extra testing for Psittacosis and the culture. Those types of things always tend to be expensive because they generally will send those out to a lab to be done. My avian vet won't allow payments on the labs, but the in-house stuff yes.

A regular new-bird checkup runs about $300 around here with the CBC, 2 gram stains, and exam. I've only sprung for the extra testing when I was totally unsure of the bird's history. And both times yes, it came out to over $500.