I was a Vet Tech for many years in the state of California, it's sad to see how Veterinary medicine has changed from caring for animal to taking advantage of pet owners and not doing even what is necessary for the health of an animals, now they tell give the highest estimate to that person just because they see them driving a nice luxury car or have a nice watch and for the people that don't have money they still overpriced all the lab work and medication to the point that lots of people opt to euthanize their fur babies. As a vet tech it's so demoralizing to see all this injustice and no one does anything about it. I always did my best to help people by giving them numbers and addresses of clinics that are not so pricey

This guy is one of the good guys, a good Veterinarian; and utterly honest!

You are one of the few honest and trustworthy veterinarians out there. I know you have to make a living too, but the fact that you're willing to share these details says a lot about you. God bless you!

i was a poor student, and had adopted an outdoor homeless cat. One day my now indoor/outdoor cat was limping around my feet and acting really skiddish, but eating and drinking fine. i thought maybe someone in the apartment building had kicked her hard or something. After a day i decided to take her to the vet, where she jumped down from the exam table a couple of times as she tried to escape the inspection. Finally the vet handled her and she didn't meow or give any signs of pain but the vet said she needed to sedate the cat, shave the area, and xray her to "know" if her hind leg was broken! This was going to cost $450. i straight up said "no, she just jumped a meter to the floor a couple of times, and allowed you to handle her legs. She's eating/drinking/pooping just fine. How is it that you would even think it might be broken?" the vet was really annoyed with me and treated me like an irresponsible parent. i left with my $45 office visit charge, only to find out a few days later that she had been bitten and the leg got infected and the scab came off and puss oozed all down her leg! How did that vet not even find the puncture wound!! ?? I put her in the sink to wash her leg off and it was really hot, and i just put pressure on the leg and it all oozed out, i shaved it so i could keep my eye on it healing process and everything turned out ok.

I've worked in cat rescue for 15 years now. Some time back, I had a cat who was lethargic and losing weight, couldn't get into regular vet right away, so went to new vet's office. Big, nice vet's office with 4 partner vets. In exam room and vet tech comes in, and without even looking into carrier to see my cat, starts asking about symptoms. Tell her and she immediately says cat needs blood work AND xrays to see if there's a blockage in intestines or whatever. I say okay, tech leaves with my cat in carrier and goes into back. I thnk for a second, follow her, and come into a room with a lot of vets, techs, and animals. I see my vet tech talking to a vet. My cat is STILL in the carrier and hasn't been looked at. I got angry, said no one had even EXAMINED my cat yet (that I could even have a dead cat in my carrier and they wouldn't know) and said I was taking my cat and leaving. One of vet partners came over, obviously unhappy with me, and said he would first examine my cat before any tests. I was there and cat not well, so I agreed. He sent me back to exam room. A couple of minutes later, he came in and said the cat was CONSTIPATED. That's all. NO TESTS were needed to tell that. If a vet had just EXAMINED the cat first, we would not even have had to discuss testing. Never went back there. Disgusted that what they obviously did is first send in a vet tech to SELL testing before cat is even examined. What a total rip-off of a place. Bottom line I guess: NEVER agree to any testing until the vet examines your cat IN YOUR PRESENCE. That is ALSO something I had a problem with. Your pet should never be taken into another room for an "exam". You should get to OBSERVE the exam and the vet should be discussing their findings as they're doing it. And, without observing the exam, how do you know the vet looked in the mouth, checked the ears, etc?

Dr. Jones, you are the best. We need more veterinarians like you!

You are a wonderful person. This world needs more people like you.

I am an aunt to my favorite dog who became violently ill & diabetic overnight apparently. The mom (who is on fixed disability income) has him on a plan that I feel is too expensive but she needs to budget the expense. So her dogs see the vet quite often (even before the illness) Vetsulin would have cost her another $125 a month & her budget was already maxed out. No one in the vet office even suggested any other option other than putting him down. I did lots of research & found that human insulin works. We had a lot of opposition at first to helping calibrate the non vetsulin dosage. An equal amount (strength not volume) of the nearly $50 bottle of vetsulin cost $10 at Walmart for Relion Novolin N ($25 bottle for 10ml 100iu/ml) He even seems to be doing better on the human insulin that the vetsulin & it's been year & a half since switch.

Thank you, Dr Jones. I wish there were more vets such as yourself.

I love my vet. He's done extra tests (even xrays) at no cost to me. Drop the dog off, discuss sypmtoms and they mention what they think it is and what tests need to be done. I leave, come back when they call. Sometimes (not super often) they found no issues in what they thought, so they do extra tests and find the issue. My vet could really take advantage of me if they want to. I always tell them that what ever tests they need to do, I'll cover it as long as my dogs can feel better. If you live in lancaster or palmdale CA, I highly reccomend Boulevard Vet. Such a gem we found while shopping around and asking alot of the same questions in this video. There are caring vets out there!

Such a breath of fresh air. I've been saying all this for years but it's great to see a pro vet go public on what many of us already new. Especially those of us with lots of animals.

Wow most vets don't seem to actually like animals but you seem to actually like your patients.

I just started to follow you and I appreciate your views. It definitely has become very expensive to have a pet, almost to the point where people are either forced to not have one, not to adopt, or to euthanize. I feel the veterinary community are contributing to the many pets who are euthanized because people realize how much it is going to cost them to take care of a pet and don’t adopt. Could go deeper but wanting to keep it simple. Thanks.

Thank you for caring for the pet owner as much as the pet's Your my new BEST friend.

We need more vets like you doc! Who actually shares knowledge of free !

Doctor Jones, you are the best!

I wish I watched your videos years before but I believe it is never to late to change and grow. Thank you for empowering pet owners!

Wow, this was so helpful. It can be so stressful when your best friend is sick and the expense you're worried about as it is; for them to take advantage of that or add on to that stress is really quite cruel.

I love this man !! Such a life saving Angel. Best, most caring, honest human I have ever known in my entire life.

I’m so thankful for honest vets like you!

U have such a kind, calming voice & demeanor which I bet helps calm some anxious pets coming to see u.

I'm so glad I found you Dr Jones.

I raise Australian Shepherds. My old vet retired and sold the practice. I took one of my females and her 8 pups to get an 8-week wellness checkup before they went to their new homes. I de-worm and vaccinate all of my dogs and puppies myself and only go to the vet for a yearly a heart worm check, or if there is an illness or injury which is very rare. The new vet inspected the pups skin, ears, paws, teeth and gums, but when I told him they didn't need worming or vaccines and that I took care of that myself, he was so pissed he just announced "We're done here!", turned around and walked out of the exam room, and had the front desk charge me 9 separate office visits for all 9 dogs, $32 X 9 = $288, even though he saw them all at the same time and the whole thing took less than 5 minutes. I knew the woman at the front desk from the previous vet and asked if this was normal with this new vet. She quietly told me it wasn't and he was mad about not being able to collect for worming and vaccines. She also informed me that he instructed her to inform me that he would be dropping me as a client. I wrote out a check for $100, handed it to her, and asked her to inform him he wasn't getting another penny from me because he didn't earn it. I found another vet who is great and not upset that I vaccinate my own dogs.

What a good person you are. Thank you so much for sharing your advice with us again! This is exactly what I'd expect a vet to be like. Reasonable and honest.

thanks for all the info, doc. btw, that has to be the most relaxed dog i have ever seen!!

Asking the vet for a RX rather than buying the meds at the office...such a great tip, and I'm going to see if I can get that done. Thank you!

I was recently charged 452.00. it was a complete surprise. I was shocked. He had fluid retention and she put him on Prednisone. Nothing to tell me why he had this and only he didn't have any issues she could see from All The Tests. Once she said he needed leg surgery on his back leg, but soon a huge boil popped on his behind and he never limped again. I don't think I can afford this and not many pple can. She said his teeth were great. He's never had his teeth cleaned either. I was so upset when I left that office but I was more worried about my dog. He is getting better.

My vet has become a big business office and so I shopped and found a better fit for what I'm able to pay. This new veterinarian has a sliding scale. I've stopped vaccinating my pets a long time ago - boy what a racket they are!! Thank you for talking about vaccinating👍 I am becoming EMPOWERED ... love your channel❣🐾 Thank you 🤗

I love that he keep it so real

I am so sick of vets charging me $400-$800 and the end result is that I need $15 worth of medicine.

thank you so much for being a man of immense integrity, and a true gentleman.

I work at a clinic and I can say yes, it's super important to ask questions and be up front with your financial situation so we can work around it while providing the most quality care we can for your pet. You wont be judged

I left my last veterinarian because her vet tech tried to up sell me after every appointment. My current veterinarian is very reasonable with pricing and there is no upselling. I realize this is a business just like healthcare is a business. I've never been approached at the end of the visit with the pricing list/menu as I have been many times before at my other vet. My current vet/ owner of this practice is not money hungry and his practice is full. I think a lot of veterinarians should follow that business ethic.

this is a good tip for me and my husband cause we are on SSI

Dr. Jones, Thank you for shifting your career in order to both 1)maintain the highest level of integrity, and 2) to genuinely help everyday people who love animals like you do.

Yes, the overcharging goes right along with the money-hungry dentists too. Disgusting.

Always talk to your neighbours and ask them about their experiences with their pets, where do they go, how satisfied were they, the costs, the attention given, the staff, everything; especially if you're new to that neighbourhood. Good luck!

I'm so thankful for this. Very appreciated and helpful. I've followed your advice during emergencies and all I can say is, it worked. God bless.

I have a 5 year old male, red nose Pitbull name Big Boss and I'll be getting another pit puppy very soon. Dr. Jones I'm very thankful that you took time out to make this channel for us, making us more knowledgeable on how to keep our pets well/healthy and how to treat them when they get sick. You doing this is saving us on budgets and fixed incomes a lot of money by not always having to take our pets to the vet for basic thing.

Great video!!! Thank you for your honesty about these issues and advice❣️

Sometimes the Humane Society has a reduced price veterinarian clinic for those with low income. The Humane Society also has regular shots/deworming etc. clinics here on Fridays . In my area there is a veterinarian who travels around and he only charges for the medication. Often if you have a pet that has an issue you have dealt with before you can call the veterinarian and they will just sell you the medication. In my case I had a pekingese who scratched her eye every 2 months or so and the vet finally just sold me eye medication for 5.00 every time I called and told them who it was for.

You are a treasure to animals everywhere.

God bless you, you're one of the good ones. When it comes to pets, it's all emotional, and they see you coming and going. Me and my cat thank you so much for all you do.

That is one calm dog

I’m so thankful for finding you. The quality vets here in California are few and far between because corporations are taking them over. If anyone has any good vet recommendations in central California, please let me know.

Thank you Dr. Jones. A few months ago I was telling my vet that I was really short on money but needed to get my dogs skin condition cleared up. She finally after all these years said she could give me a prescription for the medications. I took them to Walmart and the prices I paid with Walmart in combo with GoodRX I paid less than a quarter of what the vet was going to charge me.

We need more vets like you 👍

Dr.jones I am so glad I found you..my vet for the last 35 yrs. Passed away tragically, & the young vet That took over his practice is all about the money..it is sad. Dr.Curt Barnette was like you..pet first..pet parent 2nd..$$last.

Can't thank you enough Dr Jones for providing so much information to help us learn to be responsible and informed pet lovers!!

You are an honorable person to be willing to share the information you do. I am sure there are other vets who are not pleased with your pro-pet-owner approach. I have felt in the last 5 years that vet care and medications have become so expensive that I can no longer afford to have a pet. It feels as though soon only the very well-to-do who will have that privilege. I did want to make a comment about Emergency Pet Hospitals though. There are some very unethical ones that take advantage of distraught pet owners (elderly ones in particular I think) by recommending unnecessary tests and treatment. I took my dog in to be watched overnight since my vet does not provide overnight emergency care. She would be there from 5:30pm until 8:00am when I would take her back to my regular vet. The tech brought in the estimate along with a list of recommended tests that included a urinalysis and a cbc! I asked how a test for red blood cells would help my dog in the short time she would be there for observation. She said it was just nice to know what it was! It breaks my heart to think of the upset pet owners being financial milked this way when they are already paying around $400 just for the basic ER care. Is there some way to report unethical providers like this one?

Rare to find an honest vet. Subscribed!

The beautiful dog on the table doesn't move a muscle. Loves the vet.💝

Regarding vaccines it's not necessarily the vet but the industry in general. For example, doggie day care requires annual bordetella vaccination and others. It would be helpful to sort out the various common vaccinations and which ones may be needed and those which are not. Also if your vet puts an expiration date on the vaccination record, you're stuck, because if you're providing that record to a doggie day care, your landlord, your groomer, etc. then you are forced to get it annually because they require current vaccinations.

Thank you after his first treatment yesterday he didn't lick he feet the rest of the day! Huzzzah! Takes a huge worry off my mind. Thanks again

Thanks for this help - your advice is so appreciated.

I was told about vaccinations by a kennel vet in the 70.s & have saved myself a fortune with my all dogs living beyond life expectation This vets love for animals is heart warming He makes the world a better place

Great tips, thanks, Dr. Andrew!

Thank you so much for this! I just found your channel today and I'm so grateful for all the knowledge! If you haven't done a vide o yet on natural healing of congestive heart failure would you please? My vet has her on enalpril and lasix but I want to try whatever I can for her....my income is cut in half for the next 3 months at least and I'm really scared because she seems to be losing energy.....I can't lose her..

Lewis was such a wonderful boy.He was so laid back and its obvious he knew he could trust you.lots of love and thanks xxx

My cat has digestive problems and this one vet wanted to surgically remove a piece of intestine to biospy. We changed her food to hydrolysed and she is a happy old cat. He also spent 20 minutes trying to draw blood from my docile cat, traumatizing her in the process.

I have a vet with very conservative pricing and even will allow me to make arrangements if an illness or accident happens that costs more then I can afford at one time. However, even given that just watching this channel and reading the information I get from you has saved me quite a bit of money doing things at home that I normally would have taken the pet to an ER vet in the middle of the night. Sometimes my pet still needed to be seen but I was able to stabilize them so the problem could wait for the vet in the morning (broken claw and a limp are two that come to mind immediately). Also changing my pets diet and following many of your recommendations, and using over the counter suppliments has made a big difference in their health. I really appreciate this channel

Thank you for your honesty it's so refreshing. I love my vet he's so devoted and honest like you. God bless you for sharing information and bless the angels from heaven our pets.😘😻💕

Very timely to have gotten this in my suggested videos. Just got a card from a vet I saw only once saying my cat is due for a senior checkup, dental check and something else I don't recall. This 9 year old cat is super healthy and there is no way I would take that bait. I have been refusing all vaccines but rabies for several years after reading articles about pets being over-vaccinated. Thank you for contributing to educating pet owners.

Just LOVE those " laid back" dogs in the videos!!!

Sometimes they wont tell you the price. I take my cats to a low cost vet. They have a cat vet there and they also do surgery. They are really good and gentle with the pets.

I had a vet charge me for a paper prescription. I never went back.

I bought a puppy and I'm not sure whose life was changed more, mine or hers. I love my pup so much I want to do everything I can to be proactive in her physical, emotional, and mental health. Positive reinforcement ONLY with her. I plan on tip #5, but like the others too. So far Samantha's cost was nothing compared to all the rest! This is a big responsibility!

Wow. So happy I found this channel. You’re amazing Dr Andrew and so happy you stuck to your beliefs and stood your ground. Signing up for all of your information and newsletters. You’re amazing.

Thank you Love you so much!! My vet only want sell food.

Boy do I wish you were nearby! 😊

I just love Dr. Jones. I have a very expensive vet., but I make many decisions on my own. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks! I enjoyed watching "Pet Fooled" Documentary an investigative film into the inner workings of the industry. Its important not to get over-charged at the vet and to avoid the vet by using a natural biological diet.

Thanks ! I rescue dogs but because of increasing bills I’ve had to cut back on what I want to do . So sadly dogs can’t be homed easily vicious circle

We used a great vet for years then moved to another state . Instead of the country vet who had his office behind his house and worked with his clients now I feel so ripped off every time I take my dog to the vet. I'm on a fixed income and still working in my 60s and recently had to put one of my elderly dogs down. Now my other elderly dog is having major problems and I don't know what to do. The last 3 months have cost me hundreds. After this one passes I will never have another dog. Just can't afford it. BTW the upsell is real as they were trying to get me to have a 12 year old dog's teeth cleaned for $300 . Like the dog is almost at the end of her life and dying buy she's going out with clean teeth.

Thank you for your advice that's why we all love and respect you! You are so honest!

Thank God I have a wonderful vet. Dr Arnold at harmony heights is a true vet

Yup I've been ripped off too. Exact same thing, a cracked tooth removal, same tooth opposite sides, done in two Vets only months apart. One charged less than $400 and that included 2 visits & 2 X-rays. The other over $1000 2 visits no X-ray, the $1000 vet wanted me to come back for a third visit... I pointed out Sorry I cant afford you, you are a thief!

Not that my pets needed them, but I never knew you could take scripts for pets to pharmacies. Learn something new every day. I have 3 cats and it gets expensive for yearly shots. My neighbor told me she never gets yearly shots for hers. Mine are also indoor cats. Talk about expensive, one of my cats had a UTI that cost me $2,100! Then I was told to only feed Science Diet which was $28 for a 3lb bag. I did purchase the SD, but have since went to Wal Mart and got Pro Plan for urinary care. $25 for a 16lb bag. My boxer/pit has bad breath. I wrote to you about this and you had a video for me to watch. I do brush his teeth, and the last time I used a little baking soda, I use this on my teeth too. I noticed his breath wasn't as bad. Is it ok to use baking soda occasionally? Thank you in advance. I love your videos Doc!

Our wonderful veterinarian retired and sold the business to the vet that worked with her. Some things have change, one being where we can get prescriptions. They used to call our prescriptions into our local pharmacy and we use good RX to get it the cheapest. The cheapest was at Meijer. Since the change in ownership the veterinarian wants us to use the "veterinarian mail-in pharmacy", so they will no longer call Medication's in to any pharmacy. We have to physically drive there and pick up the hardcopy prescription, bring it to wherever we want then go back and pick it up when it's ready. A REAL PAIN in the butt considering we had been used to them calling it in. The original owner is still working there part time. When she leaves we've decided to go to a different vet.

Thank you so much for your honesty and transparency!

Thank you for the wonderful, informative videos. I always learn something new.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate this input.

PSA: if you need to get your dog spayed/neutered I HIGHLY recommend going to Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic if you have one near you! I paid $45 for my pug to be spayed, whereas 3 other vets I asked for estimates from said anywhere from $245-$500! Low cost even notified me my dog needed 2 teeth removed that were impacted and they did it during the spay for only $20! They are amazing and did a perfect job, very professional and actually care about the animals not the money.

I've vet hopped a lot and have to drive over an hour to my vet. Also, do your homework and insist on no unnecessary work. I call first and if no satisfactory answers, I try another. My vet gave me her cell number and will come in the middle of the night. No extra charge. Some minor stuff she gives me advice over the phone for a safe over the counter remedy. I plan on helping her with fostering since she does rescue too.

You are wonderful. Thank you.

Good video! My dog, Bella and I are going through all this now. She has a dreadful yeast infection that we can't seem to get ahead of and the practice we've gone to for the last couple of years hasn't gone into enough depth in explaining the causes and treatments to even give us a chance at licking this. They did perscrib an ear drop called Patt Otic, which is for fungal conditions and this product has worked in her ears, but then they prescribed as antibiotic, which is for bacterial infections. Why this vet would perscrib an anti fungal agent and then an antibiotic for the same thing is beyond me. I've had dogs all my life but I never had one prone to this particular thing. I'm definitely on the learning curve. I've been trying to get a call back from the doctor that sees Bella in order to see if he can recommend some ointment or preparation I can use around her eyes, preferably an over the counter medication because if I go in I get charged an office visit and the perscription fee as well and for the remidy on top of that. I've turned to you tube because I can't afford a vet who gets no good result. I'm on dissability and wanted a dog long before I got Bella and rescued her and a really awesome senior dog directly from the people who were abusing them. They surrendered them to me to avoid a charge of animal cruelty. The older dog died over a year ago of too many birthdays and now it's just Bella and me and the cost of her health Care is still killing me (my reason for viewing this video). I did discover Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo which has a couple of pretty effective anti fungal ingredients and that's worked fairly well, but it's not safe for her eyes. That idea I got from a pet care video. I won't give up. My dog will end up being healthy again, but it would be good to find a vet who really cares about my animal.

You have been an enormous help to us. The cyst video saved us. I got DMSO yesterday from farm store. I am thinking of seeing a holistic vet down the street from my regular vet. Thank you so much for helping us.

Thank you for this. I realize that vets have to make a living and pay themselves as well as for their facilities and staff, however, I am chronically ill and we live on what my husband makes, which isn't a lot and providing our 2 furbabies with vet care is becoming very difficult. Every time we go it seems we have to pay $400 to$500 dollars. Their appointments cost more than mine do! We are doing what we can, but in the end their care will come down to what we can afford. That said, we are able to do their annual check ups and shots and we found a place online to get their heartworm at a much lower price, which is a blessing for us. In our area we have a vet that comes once a month to do a clinic and he does vaccines and other small procedures like heartworm tests, microchips, etc. That has been very helpful as well. There are also lots of spay and neuter clinics as well to help with those costs.

Thank you for your time🙂

Thank you so much for caring more about the animals than the money. ❤ I treat my own pets and they are so healthy. 😁

Dr. Jones you are the absolute Best!!!

My 3 staffs have a better quality of life since I've been watching your channel. I cannot thank you enough. You are such an inspiration to us all. God bless you x

Thank you so much for making this video it helps me a lot and keep up the good work God bless you

They know you love your pets. They know you'll pay. If you don't the next pet owner will. Nice racket.

I'm in the UK, and honestly it's like the wild west out there. Vets used to be honourable. Small independent practices who knew you and really cared. They've mostly now been taken over by large corporates who are preoccupied with the bottom line. I think some individual vets are still great, but they're under the thrall of their management, and don't have much agency. It's a sad state of affairs, and makes it very difficult for people on low incomes to have animals.

I too was a Vet Tech for some time.. It always got to me, when we cleaned teeth and one tooth was loose and came out. We had to tell the owner it was bad and we had to pull it. The owner was charged more money, for a tooth that was ready to fall out. What aline of bull. Thank you Dr. Jones, your a great person.

Hi, although I avoid these public communications, I've seen a lot of your videos, purchased a couple of your books, and often read the comments people make. In this video you made reference to a blog and a newsletter. I would like to know how to access those, especially how to receive the newsletters. Lastly, I want to thank you for your courage in standing up to the college in such a serious and respectful way. Thank you for your perseverance. I hope the Lord will continue to bless you and your family and to provide faithfully for you all. Thanks too for sharing Lewis with all of us, even down to his final days. Blessings and please let me know about those newsletters. Sincerely, Melinda A.

LOVE YOU LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!! THANK YOU for all the help & Home remedies!!!!

California Pet Pharmacy usually has the best prices on prescription medications (even with shipping). And they regularly send you emails to save 10% on your order.

So proud of you!! Love you!