Emergency service
The Federal Council has approved the new “Emergency Service Fee Regulations” (GOT). From February 14th, 2020, higher prices and different night / weekend times will apply. The increased fees are stipulated by law. We as veterinarians are therefore obliged to collect these.
Always call the veterinarian first
If your veterinarian is unavailable, they should provide information on their mailbox about whom to contact.
TIP: Your animal has not been okay for a long time? Then you should make an appointment during the normal opening times.
Calls during emergency service hours are only intended for acutely life-threatening conditions.
New: 59.50 euros emergency service flat rate (including VAT)
The following new fees must therefore be billed in the future:
- A flat "emergency service fee": In the future, it will be 50 euros for a visit to the vet during emergency duty (see below). If there are several animals to be treated, the fee is only charged once.
Danger: The GOT fee rates are net amounts. 19% VAT (€ 9.50) is added. The The customer has to pay 59.50 euros once. - A minimum rate: In the emergency service, at least 2.0 times the GOT rate must then be billed for veterinary services.
- A maximum rate: In contrast to the “everyday GOT” (a maximum of three times), veterinarians in the emergency service will in future be able to bill up to a maximum of four times the GOT single rate.
The GOT also regulates the times at which these new emergency service fee rates apply with precise time information:
- The night starts daily at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 a.m. of the following day.
- The weekend starts at 6 p.m. on Fridays and ends at 8 a.m. on the following Monday.
- Public holidays the emergency service fee applies from midnight to midnight
Payment in the emergency service in cash or by EC card
- Treatment in the emergency service costs more than an agreed appointment (usually more than twice as much)
- The exact costs cannot be predicted. They start at around € 150 and can rise very quickly depending on the examination and medication. Please refer GOT §3
Emergency service fees required by law:
General examination with advice for dogs and cats approx. 40 euros
X-ray image radiation diagnostics (very often 2 images are necessary !!!! Please note: every image counts!)
1 picture - 76.33 euros
Injection (Please note: every syringe counts! Up to 3 or more syringes can quickly be used) 13.74 euros + plus drug costs
Infusion 50 euros + plus drug costs
Blood sampling and blood tests: from 120 to 200 euros
Anesthesia, anesthesia from 80 euros + plus drug costs
Emergency service
What is an emergency? Quick help for dogs, cats & Co.
Time and again, cases end up in the emergency service that could have been dealt with during normal office hours. Therefore, the Federal Veterinary Association (BTK) has created a new flyer “Fast help for dogs, cats & Co.” to inform pet owners about the emergency veterinary service for small and domestic animals.
In the emergency service, patients receive veterinary care outside of normal office hours, at night, on weekends and on public holidays. However, if the pet has shown symptoms for some time that suddenly worry the pet owner, you should consider whether the visit to the vet can wait until the next working day. Because the emergency service should be reserved for emergencies! In addition, the pet owner must be aware that, due to the availability of staff for the emergency service, the costs for emergency treatment are several times higher than those for treatment within normal office hours.
Recognizing an emergency in your own pet is not always easy due to the emotional entanglement. Routine treatments, vaccinations, or treatments for illnesses that have been around for a long time and are not life threatening are not emergencies.
In the emergency service, patients are treated after an accident, with life-threatening illnesses or severe pain:
o Loss of consciousness, breakdown
o shortness of breath
o excessive or insatiable bleeding
o very light / pale mucous membranes
o seizures
o Problems urinating
o Persistent, bloody diarrhea or vomiting with blood, increasing weakness
o sudden paralysis of the legs
o eye injuries
o Ingestion of foreign bodies or poisons, scalds, burns, heat stroke
o serious traffic accident
Emergency treatment is intended to stabilize the patient and, if he is in pain, to alleviate it. As a rule, no complex examinations and diagnostic procedures are carried out. Further treatment is usually carried out by the veterinary practice.
That is why the BTK appeals to all pet owners to only use the veterinary emergency service for emergencies!
You can download the flyer from the BTK:www.bundestieraerztekammer.de/presse/tipps-tierhalter/
First point of contact for found animals or wild animals, also to ensure that the costs are covered:
Kreistierschutzverein Heidenheim eV Tel .: 07321 41100
Ordnungsamt Heidenheim Tel .: 07321 3271511
Heidenheim police station Tel .: 07321 322-432
Fire brigade control center Ostalb Tel .: 07361 951-320
Depending on the wild animal, the corresponding number of the wild animal help is also here:
www.wildtierschutz-deutschland.de
Bird catching station Günzburg eV, Tel .: 08374/25107
Private wild bird aid (Renschler) 07363/8162058