Below are some of the questions we commonly receive about our “No Consult Fee” policy.
Findon Vet and Seaton Vet’s “No Consult Fee unless treatment or service provided” policy means that even if you decline an advised treatment, there is no consult fee charged. A consult fee is charged if you return to go ahead with the dog, cat or rabbit’s treatment. Services range from specialist referrals to insurance pet health checks.
*** NOTE: NOT AVAILABLE SUNDAYS OR FOR PHONE CONSULTS ***
The cost of staffing on Sundays is very high, therefore a SURCHARGE is chanrged and our “No Consult Fee unless treatment or services provided” is NOT AVAIALBLE. Consults and other visits that must be seen on a Sunday are considered a valuable SERVICE to Adelaide’s pets and pet owners and THUS a consult fee is always charged PLUS the Sunday Surcharge.
If I have never been to the Findon Vet Surgery or Seaton Vet Centre before, can I still get the No Consult Fee?
Yes, certainly. We welcome all new clients and our No Consult Fee policy is the same whether you are new to us, or you are a long term client of ours. Many clients have come to us initially because we offer this and as long as we don’t provide any service or treatments, we do not charge a consult fee. Please look at examples of these on the policy page.
I am happy with my current vet but would like a second opinion as I am aware that there are often alternative treatments available. Will I be charged a consult fee?
If we examine your pet, go over current treatments, give our opinion and even advise on alternative treatments, or further diagnostic tests, IF you do not accept any of these and no treatment or other services are provided, you are NOT charged a consult fee! Often we can confirm that the tests and treatments your pet has or is already receiving are appropriate and you will feel reassured that your pet is being looked after correctly.
I worry about all of the little things about my pet, skin lumps, he missed a meal, she vomited once a month ago, a small cut that looks to be healing… but I don’t really think it needs any treatment. Should I get it seen to and will I be charged a consult fee?
We
much prefer that you have even every little thing checked out, and in
most cases of minor problems, no treatment is required – so no charge.
Sometimes we may suggest a treatment option but advise that even without
it, it may get better, and if you decide not to treat, then no charge.
If you agree and go ahead with treatment then, yes, a consult fee is
charged.
Some, seemingly minor problems end up as difficult and costly-to-treat cases if left untreated in the early stages. So if there is a potential problem, it is much better for your pet AND much better on your finances, to have it treated early before it becomes very bad or complications set in.
I went to see a vet there a while ago and the lump we had checked out last time seems to have grown. We weren’t charged a consult fee then… will we be charged this time if we get it checked out again?
Many benign (non-cancerous) lumps do grow, and we may again advise to keep a lump that is growing slowly, under ongoing observation and you will not be charged a consult fee, again!
We usually advise that any growing lump be tested to check that it is, hopefully, non-cancerous – BUT it is your decision whether or not to have a lump tested or biopsied. You will only be charged a consult fee if you decide to have the lump tested, or removed by surgery.
If we strongly believe a lump should be tested but you decide not to have it checked, this is your choice, and no consult fee is charged as long as no other treatment or service is provided!
I like to consider all of my options first before making any decision. If I take my pet to you and you say it needs to have treatments, can I go home and think about it… and if I do, am I charged a consult fee?
Because we have not provided any treatment, and if no tests were performed, you will not be charged a consult fee.
If, later, you decide that it would be best for your pet to have the treatment, or diagnostic tests, or any other service we have advised – you will be charged the consult fee when you come in to pick up the medications. If you are coming back to have some tests done, or another type of service, you will be charged the consult fee then.
If you decide not to go ahead, you will not be charged a consult fee.
I need to see a vet but believe I will need a referral to a veterinary specialist. Will I be charged a consult fee?
Yes, you will. Writing a referral letter takes a significant amount of time and takes up more of our time than your initial consultation period. We often have to contact the specialist/s to determine which one is best to handle the case. So providing a referral is considered a service.
My pet needs a medication that requires a prescription to get it from a chemist. Will I be charged a consult fee?
Yes, you will. Writing a prescription is listed as a veterinary service. It is no different than us prescribing a medication from our surgery, only that in a very small number of cases we have found it more cost effective for clients to purchase their pet’s medication from a human pharmacy. This is often because the medication is subsidised and our veterinary drug suppliers cannot match these low prices. Therefore we offer a prescription in the (financial) best interests of our clients, if it is appropriate.
Pets on on-going medication require a six monthly consultation for vets to be able to supply a prescription for a chemist.
I have a rabbit and it is not well and I need to see a vet. If I don’t want or need any medications and just a change in diet, will I be charged a consult fee?
Yes, a consult fee will be charged. Exotics (rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, rodents, reptiles, fish and amphibians) are considered different in that almost all of thier problems are a result of their home care or management, including diet and housing/environment (husbandry). Exotics consults are long and detailed, require in-depth investigation into their home care, followed by advice and often handouts on changes to this care. This is considered an important and valuable service and takes us MORE time to cover than a normal consultation for a dog or cat. Even though exotics consultations usually take significantly longer than a cat or dog consult, we only charge a routine consult fee.
I have already been in for a consultation and my pet has been placed on treatment, but the vet advised that I should have a revisit after a certain amount of time… I think things are going well, if I have the revisit and no further treatment is needed, will I be charged a revisit fee?
Yes, most definitely. A revisit is a continuation of the initial consultation where treatments were obviously given or tests done. A revisit is part of the on-going management of your pet’s case and even if no further treatment is required, a revisit fee is charged. In some difficult or lengthy cases, more than one revisit may be advised, and a revisit fee would be charged each time. Often advice may be given about how to manage your pet’s previous problem at home.
My pet needs ongoing medications and has been on them for a couple of years. It seems to be going well, but I have to have a recheck every six months to be able to continue its treatments. Will I be charged a consult fee?
Yes, a consult fee will be charged. One of the two visits per year will be your pet’s vaccination, and because we examine pets as part of this service, no additional consult fee would be charged with a vaccination. However the other visit in between vaccinations is charged a consult fee.
You may pick up more medications at the time of the medication or if not specifically needed at that time, we will write an in-house prescription on your pet’s records allowing any of our staff to dispense that medication until six months after a consultation or until that script runs out as determined by the prescribing vet.
Many pets on ongoing medications require a specific blood test for that particular treatment, ideally every six months. A consult fee is charged when these tests are performed.
I visited a vet and they pulled a grass seed out of my dog’s ear. No treatment was given, but I was charged a consult fee. Why?
Removing a ‘foreign body’ (eg a grass seed) is a veterinary service. Even though we thought your pet didn’t need any further treatments after it was removed, we did provide a service – much to your pet’s relief! In MOST cases a heavy sedation is required to remove a grass seed, and as you would expect, a consultation is also charged then. Often there is enough inflammation in the ear to require even a single dose instilled at our surgery, to settle the sore ear down.
I saw a vet that I hadn’t seen before at one of your surgeries, he/she was really good but I normally see another vet there. If I then ask to see my normal vet, will I be charged a consult fee?
You can certainly ask to see your usual vet! Occasionally our reception staff will not be aware that you prefer a certain vet, and if they are consulting at that time, you can see him/her in the next consultation slot they have available. You may not be able to see them that day though, if they are fully booked! Simply then waiting to see your preferred vet, and it may be the next day or later, you will only be charged the one consultation and only then if treatments or services are provided! Often it is not advisable to wait to see your usual vet if the problem demands immediate attention. A consult fee will be charged if treatments or tests etc are performed by the initial vet, even if they are not your usual vet.
If you decided not to have any treatments or services initially with the first vet, you won’t be charged for that consultation anyway. If treatment was necessary and you have started treatment, then you would have been charged a consultation fee. You may then decide to see your usual vet for its revisit, and a normal revisit fee will be charged.
If your preferred vet was not consulting when you needed to see a vet, that cannot be avoided. We have enough vets and surgeries that we can see most emergencies or fairly urgent cases as and when needed, but it may not be with your preferred vet if the consult was booked at short notice. We will do our best to have your pet attended to as soon as possible and if it turns out that it was a false alarm, eg a pet crying in pain is suddenly perfectly OK by the time you get to see the vet, no consult charge! Believe us, it happens!