Someone is taking the p….

Unfortunately using an out of hours veterinary service is always going to be more expensive. Add to that the cost of the drugs administered and prescribed and your bill was probably about average. As humans we're accustomed to free medical care on the NHS so we may not fully appreciate the true cost of the medicines/treatments/tests etc that we receive.

Pet insurance has become extremely expensive and with the high excess limits it's often not worth claiming for treatment. We cancelled our pet insurance this year after premiums doubled following a small claim made last year. We have set up regular payments to a separate account towards any future treatments. Our insurance was with Many Pets and I certainly can't fault their service or the way they deal with claims, and I would recommend them to anyone - if you can afford them. It's just a pity there's not an NHS for animals.

I have had dogs since I was 5 years old, and the first few dogs never needed the vets at all. But as time has gone on, a trip to the vets is not unusual. Although I am in my 70's now and have two dogs that are getting on a bit, I certainly would not contemplate any more. I consider them as a luxury now, an unaffordable one, mainly due to extortionate vet's fees.

I think the PDSA is a wonderful organisation that receives no Government or Lottery funding it survives on donations made by the public.

Thank God we humans have the NHS!

There was an article in the newspaper last week about the outrageous cost of vets fees. The problem has increased since many small independent veterinary practices have been taken over by large chains whose main object is profit. They even have a saying for them, something like cash raisers, can’t remember the exact saying. It’s the main reason I’ve not got myself a little dog. Even the insurance is out of my pocket and doesn’t cover everything. It’s a racket that really needs investigating.

I did notice at the vets for pets clinic while we were waiting (the one where we had expensive teeth treatments!) that it was about £280 for an emergency out of hours visit just to see vet- more if they came to you and of course the treatment added on top! Its probably a lot more now with cost of living now.

Unfortunately that’s the price of being out of hours. I had to do same thing for mine once but if you love your animals you will pay anything to help them not suffer. I lost mine and would give anything to pay a vet to bring my dog back.

Broken heartedly we recently had to have our little (14 yo shih tzu) put to sleep at out of hours vets… £450!!! We knew the consult would be £200 but the drug was over £150, the cremation was the most reasonable price (of course it was, not done by the vet) of course we do anything for our pets but this charging is just despicable and making profit from misery 🥲

Theres not many PDSA or RSPCA run vet surgeries any more though unfortunatly- when my cat needed teeth treatment (twice, despite trying best to keep clean!) it cost well over £500 at a vets run inside pets at home store- i had insurance but didnt know dental was not covered! Id only just finished paying first bill off (more or less) when had 2nd done.The nearest pdsa was about 15 miles away but we "werent allowed" to go there as we were 'out of district'- yet it was the ONLY one around in whole of lancashire so what are we expected to do! The old RSPCA clinic had reopened nearer but now was actually owned by a private vet and yet still kept the RSPCA in advertising (dont know how, i think its because they were connected to a vet training college?) and still charged normal vet fees. I wasnt 'allowed' to go to other next nearest non- profit vets (animal trust run) either as 'not in area'- it was about 20-25 minutes drive away!) So there you have it- theres a real need for more PDSA or RSPCA run clinics- there used to be one in almost every town! Maybe we need to get a petition up of some kind.(ive now moved near sons college but its also nearer animal trust vets-so thats a bonus! I still had to sign up for a monthly fee scheme though at £14.99 a month (will probably go up quite a bit next year ?) And pay for some costs towards pills or injections treaments etc.but not as costly as its not run for profit.

We never renewed our pet insurance, it felt as if they put the price up if you were claiming.
Instead we put a small amount of money away each month incase we had a large bill.
Our springer spaniel Henry had a bramble thorn in his eye, we had to take him to an opthalmic vet, who treated him, but sadly Henry got a secondry infection and had to have his eye out. The operation, over night stays, Sunday visits, medication etc all came to £300.00 This was several years ago , but at the time we thought we we had taken the right choice in not paying for vet insurance. They always ask you first if you have any !!

Apart from the Pet Plan to cover annual needs we don't have insurance for them but do have an account labelled "If shit happens " should it be required.
I agree that you were charged a vast amount but as others have said this is now big business over which vets, sadly , now have very little control.

I was recently charged £56.00 for medication a small bottle, I found I could buy online for between £16 - £22.00 . You have no choice but to pay at the end of the Consultation but it makes me wary about saying yes to future medication. Evidently I can pay the Vets £25.00 for my prescription to take elsewhere for dispensing - so not much saving if I do that in future. I have insurance for amounts over £100.00 .

Vets cost a lot more than doctors but then people don’t visit vets unless there is something fairly serious apart from routine vaccinations. I guess they have to make a living somehow and the training is long and expensive.

As a past owner of 2 dogs with medical issues, pet insurance is a rip off. Every time we claimed for treatment, that particular treatment and medical condition was excluded from the policy the following year.
In defence of vets, we had a decent vet (long since retired), who didn't charge us for repeat consultation /follow up visits, and where pain relief was needed, used to advise us to buy it at the supermarket, for mild stuff like paracetamol and advised us re dosage.
In defence of veterinary staff, my DIL is a veterinary nurse, and is on a rota for overnight attendance for post operative patients being kept in, so understandably her out of hours pay has to be covered.

We had cat insurance through Argos which was pretty expensive for the top tier for an older puss. However when she developed 3 different serious problems they paid up promptly, in full and with supportive, caring emails. The vets and assistants from our local Pets At Home Practice were outstanding in their efforts and in my opinion went above and beyond…even calling in on their way home to check on puss or taking her home one night rather than leaving at the surgery.
The bills were eye watering but we didn’t pay an extra penny so the insurance should be considered as part of the cost of having a pet.

yes, the other day my Mum went to get her dog's usual meds and it was £100 MORE than the last time!

Exactly Iam64

Nannylovesshopping

Had to take beloved spaniel to out of hours vet yesterday, we were there for 45 minutes, diagnosed severe water infection, so wee tested, antibiotics and pain relief injections and five day’s antibiotics and pain relief, ye gods, the bill was £521, some one is getting very rich, I think this is utterly outrageous!

It's what the price would be for humans if no NHS

The vet I saw at the weekend was not at my usual practice. This company just operates out of hours, I am complaining bitterly about their prices, I get out of hours consultation fee, but not costs of meds, outrageous.
My beloved spaniel was a rescue 6 years ago, she was 3 when she came to live with me, she has anal gland problems so are often at vets, on a special diet, expensive, am very personally
responsible as well as emotionally attached to my lovely girl.
My opinion is still the out of hours vet company take the p…

The PDSA scheme is good. Our town also has a not for profit vet practice. I don’t see my vet as greedy. She’s a skilled professional, great with her patients and their people. Vets train for years, at their own expense.
Owning pets is always expensive. Like having children or going on holiday. I don’t mean to be heartless but personal responsibility is needed not just emotion.

It's ridiculous what vets charge and this is part of the reason that so many animals are put into dog rescue centres because some people don't realise how much it can cost you having a pet and they end up not being able to afford to keep the poor things. My dogs insurance is an awful amount and the company know they have got me as she has epilepsy which is an ongoing illness. Greedy insurance companies and greedy vets.

As I am on Pension Credit I qualify to have my dog on the PDSA scheme . Only couple weeks ago I had to take my dog in emergency out of hours , he were kept in overnight, were put in an oxygen tent and on a drip, next morning he were well enough to bring him home , along with two bottles of medication . Even though what you pay is contribute to what you can afford to pay , the actual bill came to £480 .

Farmor15

I think the fact that many people in UK have pet insurance increases the costs. In rural Ireland, pet insurance is not common and vet's charges seem much lower. I had a male cat neutered earlier this year and I think it cost about €60. I know this is much simpler than for a female and only takes a few minutes - (I witnessed 2 cats being done by previous vet - while I waited!). I suspect it could cost a lot more at a vet in city.

I expect in rural Ireland vets do it out of love of the animal and because they probably know the animal by it’s first name
Yes, veterinary fees for animals in any city in the UK can be eye watering.

If anybody is getting rich it won't be the vet anyway. Once you've paid the full price for all the medication and test. there won't be all that much left for 45 minutes of the vet's time.

Welcome to the world of private medicine!

The reason they are so expensive now is because most vets are no longer independent but have been taken over by huge umbrella groups for whom vets are just a money spinner. Examination and treatments needn’t be so expensive but because there’s very little competition, they just charge what they like , knowing full well that most of the time insurance companies will just pay it. Some vets also encourage people to subject their pets to numerous , very expensive and often painful procedures, simply because it makes the business more money, not because it’s in the interest of the pet.