I sad No and Vet did surgery anyway.

[grandma98765]

my 10 year old min pin had exray that showed 5 stones in Eurethra. large and vet said were embeded deep. He was to cath my dog and try to push stones into bladder then give him special food to break up the stones. 300.00 OR we could have major surgery and cut them out but he would have to have a special incision to urinate and stuff like that. I told him that I could not afford the surgery and paid for the CAth procedure.  I was very clear with them that they were NOT to do the surgery.. I told the nurse at least four times that they could NOT do the surgery that I could not afford it.  If it didn't work we would consider letting him go because he seemed to be suffering. I get a call that they did the surgery partially and they were going to do a second surgery the next morning.  They wanted me to come pay them.  they told me I could not talk to the vet at 3 pm because he left for the dayl. I had already paid for the Cath procedure with my electric bill money. I told them No NO NO. but they said they had to because it was a life saving procedure. I told them we were going to let him go if this procedure didn't work and now they said the vet is going to do the second surgery anyway and only charge me for that one and not the first.  I do not want him to suffer peeing through a tube for the rest of his life.  I told them no but they wont listen. what can I do? do I have to pay for these surgerys that I said no to?

[Ghilly]

I would get in touch with the AVMA to see if this vet has a history of this type of thing, or if it is something that happened because his staff doesn't pay attention to what is being told to them, or if there was possibly just a breakdown in communication somewhere.  If there is ANY instance of this or something similar happening with this vet it will help you immensely should this end up in court.

Why the staff wouldn't let you speak with the vet is beyond me.  Vets have home phones and cell phones just like everyone else and in an instance such as this, where a surgery was performed that should NOT have been performed, they absolutely could have called him at home to explain that it was imperative that you talk to him right then and there.  That instance alone tells me that there might have been something hinky about this whole thing.  Vets should never not be available for a pet owner to speak with, especially if his clinic is still open and there is a new surgical patient in the kennel.  

Please keep us posted on what happens.  

Ghilly

[ginger899]

This is a legal issue.

I can understand if the vet was overcome with a desire to help save the dog, and couldn't bear leaving him without surgery, and in that case I would expect his work to be voluntary, and on his own time.

If the dog is well now....then that is good. That is what matters in one way. But in another way you were pushed into expensive debt, which is wrong.
Do you have any witnesses who heard what you said to the vet?

[lindapalm]

I wouldn't pay anything beyond what you talked about.  Like Margot49 said, they should have called you, right after they were sure the cath procedure wouldn't work.  When we took a cat to have come teeth pulled, the vet called me while the cat was still under to tell me the few teeth he had left were all bad, and would I give permission to pull them all out..That's how it should have been done with you, no surprises.

[Jerry_NJ]

I would discuss with the vet about filling a complaint with the Better Business Bureau - and maybe someone here can identify a national association of veterinary medicine.  You ask you vet to give you contact information for filling such a complaint... then I'd say goodbye.  If the vet talks about going to court, I think you don't have to get a lawyer to appear in local small claims courts - I think your case is iron clad safe to win such a hearing.  I'm not saying you take him to small claims court, but he may say he will have to do that.  Other than that all he can do, I believe, is not provide any future service..to which I'd say "hurray"  

[Margot49]

This is not acceptable as you seem to have been very clear about not doing the more extensive surgery.  And, they should have called you before doing so.  Did they give you an initial bill stating what was to be done?  I am so sorry about this and I doubt I would be paying fir that surgery.  
Please keep us updated.  So sorry.

[amielynn24]

Consider signing up for Care Credit.  Sometimes you can finance the full amount for 0% interest if paid off in full.  

My vet has never made me sign anything prior to surgeries being performed, but understood that communication works just as well.  

[Jerry_NJ]

I don't understand how this can happen.

I believe you do not have to pay, indeed they should have to produce a signed approval from you for any surgery done. This approval has to pre-date the surgery, it is not a follow up procedure.

Did you sign anything related to this problem?  Did you read the "fine print" if you did?

In my experience my vet requires a signed approval before any serious work is done.

Regular checkup and my verbal approval for shots and lab tests go in my "surprise" bill, that is I don't get an estimate of cost (and I don't ask) and just pay the bill. But I have never been subjected to any surgery on our dog until I have signed an approval of the estimated bill and details on what will be done including anesthetic/lab costs associated with the surgery..usually some time in the clinic (dog never had to stay overnight) ,  This has happened at least twice in the last couple of years, so my recollections are current/fresh.

Don't pay.