The veterinary services market is filled with scammers and unprofessionals. For recommendations on how to navigate it and not spend too much, Life turned to practicing veterinarians and industry experts.

Life began publishing a series of articles about the veterinary industry in Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism). This market is now shaking from a shortage of drugs, high prices and so-called wind breeders. The first to come out was a big investigation – “They don’t treat, they cripple: how do veterinarians profit from you and your animals?”– with characteristics of the industry, analysis of the largest clinics, a review of veterinary medicines that have disappeared from sale and sad stories of victims of false AIbolites.

In this article, the editors will tell you how not to fall for the bait of veterinary breeders and not have your pet killed in dubious veterinary clinics.

What to look for when visiting a veterinary clinic

After analyzing hundreds of negative reviews, Life identified the main complaints people have about veterinarians. The most common complaints are about exorbitant prices and unnecessary procedures. Many are outraged by the unspoken rule of all aibolit not to accept tests done by colleagues, even if they were carried out literally yesterday. They complain less often about incorrectly prescribed medications. There was a case when a baby Yorkie was almost killed by giving him cattle pills. Even in the best medical institutions there remains a risk of encountering medical errors and simple negligence.

Typical complaints about veterinary clinics

At the same time, Life in no way blames all veterinarians. There are conscientious doctors, professionals in their field, who spend the night in clinics to save animals.

Making a home visit is a red flag

When you are literally persuaded to call a doctor at your home, this is a clear red flag. You should not only be wary, but it is better to avoid such a veterinary service.

If you still decide to call the aibolit home, be sure to check his name and read the reviews about him. Most often, dubious specialists, to whom there were previously many complaints, are immediately returned by the search engine. If they do not tell you the name of the visiting doctor, it would be preferable to refuse such services.

Be careful with veterinary clinics and hospitals in basements

As follows from our reader’s story, there is a high risk of running into an unscrupulous doctor in basement veterinary clinics, especially if there is a hospital there. An indicative story happened with the Jagd Terrier of St. Petersburg resident Igor. The dog got dizzy on the street. The owner rushed to the nearby Sotnikov clinic. The whining dog was diagnosed with a hematoma, and the pet was taken to a basement hospital for a couple of days. When Igor took him back, he was shaking and dehydrated. The next morning the dog died, and Igor received a check for 80 thousand rubles, which included… a gastric lavage service, 107 diapers and 100 gloves.

On condition of anonymity, industry experts told Life that in Moscow the niche of such “basement” veterinary offices is occupied by the Biovet network, founded by the father of an infogypsy woman Elena Blinovskaya Oleg Ostanin.

It happens that in one basement of a residential building there are two veterinary offices at once

Prescribing unnecessary tests, or how long tests are valid

According to Life’s sources, in normal veterinary clinics doctors prescribe a lot of tests not because they want more money.

They will get nothing from this, they have a rate and no interest. This is different. If a conditional therapist, relying on experience, does not take some kind of analysis, but it still becomes necessary for a diagnosis, then this specialist will receive a letter from his superiors. As a result, the veterinarian is afraid of not taking something again. In general, screening all specialists is the principle of large clinics. There is such a concept in veterinary medicine: every office must work – this is a business.

You can save a lot on tests by turning to a state veterinary clinic for them, where prices are among the lowest in the country.

The animal will be allowed into the operation only with fresh tests.

General advice from experts. How to avoid getting caught by veterinary scammers

• Try to always read prices for services in advance. Normal veterinary clinics have everything on their website, request an estimate before carrying out the procedures. And discuss all the risks and possible additional costs with your doctors in advance.
• Do not hesitate to ask the veterinarian for documents, especially if you call for help at home.
• Read what you sign carefully. Who is responsible if something happens, where to go?
• Find your veterinary clinic in advance, that is, before something emergency happens. Treat your animal only there and stay in touch with your doctor.
• Always keep your head cool, do everything to make yourself as inconvenient a victim as possible for deception. Then you will have a better chance of protecting your friend.

Why you should be wary

• There is no clear diagnosis. If the doctor describes the pet’s ailments vaguely as kidney disease, weak immunity or stomach problems, then most likely there will be no competent treatment.
• Assigning unnecessary checks. If a doctor prescribes tests aimed at examining organs that are not bothering the pet, he may be trying to invent a disease.
• Attempts to sell specific brands of drugs. If a veterinary clinic strongly recommends buying drugs from it, it is likely that they are sold there at inflated prices.
• Placing an animal in a hospital when it is not necessary. It is advisable to leave pets in clinics for foster care only after serious operations, as well as in cases where it is impossible to provide the necessary care at home.
• Pointless procedures and courses of medications. If a doctor recommends purchasing homeopathic pellets or a vitamin complex from him, it may very well be that he is scamming you.

Where to go if the veterinary clinic inflated the estimate or harmed your pet

If a doctor kills a person during treatment, this is medical negligence. Veterinary negligence as such does not exist. In the event of a medical error and the death of an animal, the maximum that the owners seek in court is compensation for damage to property.

The first thing to do is write a claim and send it by registered mail to the legal address of the veterinary clinic.

Please attach a copy of your payment receipt. Describe the situation, demand a refund of the money paid and compensation for moral damage.

If 15 days have passed since the letter was delivered and there is no response, you can proceed further, that is, sue the veterinary clinic. To do this, it is necessary to prepare a claim, which, among other things, will include a request for a forensic veterinary examination. Provide a list of the most reputable companies that conduct such research. Ultimately, it is the expert’s position that is decisive.

In general, screening all specialists is the principle of large clinics

Complaints to supervisory authorities may also have an effect. Control of the activities of veterinary enterprises is carried out at the federal level by Rosselkhoznadzor (and also by the prosecutor‘s office with Rospotrebnadzor), and at the regional level by veterinary committees (administrations) of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country).

Sometimes a simple statement to the police helps. This is what happened with the already closed Veterinary Medicine Center in Kakhovka. They came to a client from there to vaccinate three cats. Over the phone they promised a price of 6,000 rubles, but on the spot it turned out to be 14,500. The owner went to investigate.

It turned out that the clinic was managed through one individual entrepreneur, the complaint book was registered to the second individual entrepreneur, and the data on the seal belonged to the third individual entrepreneur. The meticulous client achieved the closure of the veterinary center through complaints to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Department of Economic Crimes, and through an appeal to his bank, the return of the funds paid.

Is it worth reforming the veterinary industry – expert opinion

The veterinary market is now at a crossroads: demand is growing faster than the market, and the debate around licensing and liability of veterinarians is becoming increasingly heated. Veterinarian and dog handler Vladimir Urazhevsky expressed his concerns.

The expert noted that the Criminal Code works well in Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) and there is an open press where you can complain. He urged people not to be afraid to go to court to seek compensation. New laws are not needed, Urazhevsky believes. According to him, the industry will be able to solve everything on its own with the help of market competition, and the state simply should not interfere.