Price gouging and unethical
I was misled and l believe purposefully by the vet tech because they earn commission on selling a wellness plan. Here is what happened to make me say stay away as this practice appears to prioritize profits over the health of your pet.
I was took my cat in for shots and asked if they would trim his matted hair while l was there. I told that my cat would have to be put under in order to get his hair trimmed around his bum. I specifically asked could l not just take him to the groomers? The answer came back that l wouldn't find anyone to do it. The area is too sensitive. The cost of the procedure was going to be astronomical. This is when she said you need to buy a wellness plan and you should get the dental plan so that is the only way to get some discount on the anesthetic and so we will shave him as you've requested and we can also clean his teeth at the same time.
The wellness plan would cost me at least $900 plus the sign up fee so just under $1,000 for a year. I understand that some plans covered by vets can save you money, but in my experience this plan is deceptive and is predatory.
Moreover, I don't believe that any human or animal should be unnecessarily put under general anesthesia. The vet herself told me that the cat had a heart murmur which she said could mean he had roughly a 25% chance of not surviving the procedures. I now question whether that statistic is close to true but regardless, there was risk involved. The animal would have to be very closely monitored and given special blood work prior and a special anesthetic. They were willing to put the health of my cat at risk completely unnecessarily.
Having signed up for the plan after being made to feel scared and pressured, l left. I then went to a local groomer and they took care of the cat for a reasonable amount of money in a very short period of time. The cat was very well-behaved at the vet and also at the groomer. There was no reason to think that he would protest to a degree that he should be drugged.
I was supposed to have the exam covered by a promotional $75 discount. The cat had a one year rabies shot and a distemper shot and the visit ended up costing me $340 with the discount applied. I was supposed to be able to cancel the plan anytime and just choose to pay full price for the services rendered. That price was over $400! What a nightmare.
UPDATE
I called and l spoke to the doctor afterwards because l was so upset. She tried gaslighting me. She told me that they were going to put the cat and only because I requested his teeth be cleaned. No! I was only having his teeth cleaned because l had to pay for the wellness plan that included dental inorder to get a discount on the anesthesia. Vet tech told me that the matting iwas pulling his skin, would only get worse and that it was very painful for him. I also told her they charged me for cutting his nails although the tech said they should wait and do everything at the same time. She said she couldn't remember and so the bill could not be adjusted. It was only $21 but it did add insult to injury