Vet care too expensive?

[Mad Murphy]

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I was listening to BBC radio 4 ( yes I am that old) and they were discussing this ongoing issue and that in a review launched last year it has been said that owners may be being overcharged for medication and that many vets dont or wont show prices either online or in reception so that pet owners have no idea what the charges will be. It was also pointed out that in 2013 around 80% of all vet practices were independant but now that figure is much lower in 2021 it was only 45% with most practices being part of one of 6 large chains..

Obviously Im not in the UK and its been a long tme since I used a vet there but I know my brother took his seriously sick lab to a vet in London about 5 years ago and was told he would have to pay £150 before they would even let him set foot in a consulting room. I get that the rent and rates on that practice is going to be miles higher than my vets who have a place in a village of about 800 people in the back end of beyond so obviously that is going to impact on cost.

Here in NL the chains are starting to take off. But Im lucky I have always used an independant and last year I had to change vets because of my move and found a vet nearby that is a private group of 3 practices who treat livestock and pets in the villages in this area. Vets here tend to have a list of charges on their websites or at the front desk and most will offer a payment plan if you have difficulty.. A perk of living in a small community?
I know a lot of people say get insurence and again I cant comment on the UK but here I know I would have paid 10 or 20 times more than Ive ever needed to pay in vet fees and I use a saving plan to put money by for vet care anyway, so is insurance really the answer?

 

[JudyN]

I used to go to an independent vet and was shocked by what people had to pay elsewhere. I went once when Jasper had a slightly runny eye and was told just to wipe it with water regularly and see how it went - sometimes I didn't even get charged for that sort of visit. Other vet practices would likely have prescribed a medication 'just in case' and charged me an arm and a leg for the consultation. The practice has moved to MediVet now so may well have changed. Vets rarely seem to agree to payment plans for clients who can't afford treatment, even when they are regular clients and that this could literally be a matter of life or death for the pet.

Insurance can be invaluable if you can afford the premiums but wouldn't be able to pay for major surgery or a long course of treatment. Most people will lose out by paying premiums, because that's the way insurance works, but it's peace of mind for many. Even if you put money by rather than paid premiums, it would take a long time for you to save for something major. Personally, I never took any out as I had enough savings to cover the worst eventuality (public liability insurance is well worth it though, just in case your dog does something like run into the road and cause a major accident).

 

[Hemlock]

I too was lucky enough to have a really good independent vet within reasonable distance, also one who had bred dogs himself and really knew the score. He has retired now and the practice carries on independently, but how long for is anybody's guess. The big corporate practices I suspect are as hard on the staff as they are on their customers. I particularly have issues with unnecessary procedures and over-the-top treatments being mandated before simple things and common sense have been used.

I stopped using insurance when I went up to 6 dogs, and thereafter kept a credit card and savings for these occasions. But always had public liability cover - I do think this is vital - from joining Dogs Trust.

 

[colettedb]

Our vet is a small chain but also have another larger chain of vets in the area. I have insurance and a pet plan for august so all consultations, and health checks, vaccinations, microchip and neutering (which I haven’t gone for) is included. Only time I paid was for the antihistamine and steroid jabs when she looked like a sharpei puppy and I was so anxious I forgot to claim back on my insurance. I think I would be even more anxious if I didn’t have insurance and am happier paying and hope never to have to use it. I have read how expensive treatment can be if something does go wrong

 

[Biker John]

The vets I use is a three practice group and I am happy with them. We stopped insuring the dogs when we expanded but putting money aside knowing if necessary we could pay if the dogs account hadn't enough in. Of course we had and I still have public liability insurance.

 

[Flobo]

I never understand why vets won't offer a payment plan, it is really heartless.
When my vet retired(he was a general vet, acupuncturist and exotics) I had to start using another exotics vet, same company, different practice. I've been with them for probably getting on 25/30years now and when Iggy was really poorly the first time round and I'd gone to pick him up after tests, literally as soon as I walked through the door the reception woman very rudely demanded payment before I could get him! I did retort in kind, but it was upsetting... It's just another money making business it seems now

 

[Tinytom]

After lockdown our vets fees were literally doubled including consults ....our local Jolleys has an independent vet visit three times a week and they offer boosters at £30 our vets is £69 ....sadly it was taken over by a consortium hence the crazy pricing and why we dont have as many dogs as we used to......

 

[RGC]

Our local vet practice is under the ownership of probably the biggest in the U.K. I too saw the BBC article re corporate practice methods and the investigation thereof. I had to see the vet today and asked if they were aware of the current spotlight. They knew nothing about it - I emailed the link to them upon my return home. I’ll probably get banned from them. £80 odd for a consultation.

 

[arealhuman]

It does seem like a licence to print money, it does need reviewing. Our vet was a part of a cluster of 3 or 4 branches, but is now part of a larger group. Interestingly, when Jimmy was diagnosed with cancer, they referred us to a specialist who had a different name above the door, however it was only later I found they were part of the same larger group. I'm not saying his care was in any way deficient, but I wonder if the cost would have been different if I was referred outside of that group.

 

[JudyN]

My vet used to charge about £30 for a consultation. Someone is making a lot of money out of this, and it's probably not even the vet

 

[Tinytom]

Ours was £30 and went to £69 ,that was last year so goodness knows how much it is now

 

[JoanneF]

I see both sides.

Vets have longer training than most professions, so they do have to claw back a lot of the expense of their education. Their equipment and diagnostics means their overheads are high. And, our perception of the cost of health care isn't well calibrated because of the NHS.

But on the other side, the cost of meds is sometimes very inflated. And, with the best of intentions, I think they do sometimes run test, after test, after test when actually they should be suggesting the pet should just be let go.

 

[Flobo]

And, with the best of intentions, I think they do sometimes run test, after test, after test when actually they should be suggesting the pet should just be let go.

This is why I miss my old vet, he used to go through all the options as opposed to only suggesting this test and that. And he was happy to discuss and explain, I never felt pressured and I felt respected as a pet owner. With Iggy I felt things were taken out of my hands and I didn't feel listened too. I am hoping if ever in that position again it will be different...
That was my point re expense, we are paying a lot of money for each vet visit, the least I would expect is to have all options and possible outcomes explored rather than just being led one way...

 

[JudyN]

I see both sides.

Vets have longer training than most professions, so they do have to claw back a lot of the expense of their education. Their equipment and diagnostics means their overheads are high. And, our perception of the cost of health care isn't well calibrated because of the NHS.

Absolutely - but if vets made a good living when consultations were £30, then where is the justification in putting them up to more than double that? Having said that, their expenses will also have gone up enormously over the past few years, as have those for just about all businesses. They probably face increased supply problems too. And to be fair, they are probably very happy not having to do all the admin side of the business.

They must be making a lot on prescriptions though - it is usually much cheaper to pay them for a prescription form with which you can then buy the treatments online.

 

[RGC]

I’ve had a look at Trustpilot reviews to get some opinions especially regarding the corporates. IVC Evidensia reviews are ‘interesting’.

On a much happier note - the wild garlic’s here.

 

[Hemlock]

We had our first wild garlic salad on Sunday!

 

[RGC]

It gives a boost to appreciate that Spring’s on its way. Still not impressed with corporate vets.

 

[Hemlock]

I agree. It was such a help with my independent practice that everyone knew me and therefore realised I had a lot of experience - and was also ready to learn more at every opportunity they gave me.