Vets say they are under pressure to bring in more income per pet.

I gather that independent vets hire the facilities of the big vet
that has hospital accommodation and 24 hr care .

I bet there will be a Panorama programme about veterinary services and costs.

I would only treat my pets if I saw a flea or a worm .
I've never had to but all the puppies I've had have been treated before I brought them home .. I agree about puppies and pregnant dogs needing to be treated .

I've had dogs all my life and have done a lot of research into different breeds. There are some breeds I'd never have because they have lots of health issues. You'd always be at the vets with some breeds.

I don’t think it is just vet care that we are being charged so much for. In UK we seem to be charged so much more for many things than other countries.
When travelling abroad I am frequently amazed at how much cheaper and often better things are , often food but also services too. I have come to the conclusion that we are being exploited here and getting poor service at high cost but what can we do ?

IAm64, I got my present dog from a rescue that specialises in disabled dogs, The woman who runs the rescue is not in it to make money but to find suitable homes for wheelchair dogs. She is expert in the rehabilitation of wheelchair dogs, who has a personal interest in the dogs she treats and rehabilitates.
(My own dog is not paralysed, just aged but healthy enough.)

I hope this makes you feel better about wheelchair dogs.

I thought drops were used instead of flea powder these days?

IAm64, I am concerned about the wheelchair dog you mention whose feet and legs drag on the ground surely the wheelchair is not big enough, or is not fitted properly, don't you think?

We had a lovely vet in our previous town, I always wished he was my doctor! We’ve moved now and go to what seems to be a local vet but it’s part of a group. They’re ok, though you don’t see the same vet so don’t get a chance to build a relationship with anyone except the receptionists.

I am a bit wary of what the vets tell me now, because of the concerns outlined in this thread. I get constant three-monthly reminders to get our young cats de-flea-ed and wormed even though they’re indoor cats and don’t go to catteries. Our previous vet recommended that annual treatments were sufficient for indoor cats who never met other animal.

Allira, I used drops against dog fleas for years with complete success but recently I heard the drops are bad for wild insects I forget how.

Oh, I suppose they are not flea-specific.

The powder was more likely to spread, I would have thought.

SueDonim

We had a lovely vet in our previous town, I always wished he was my doctor! We’ve moved now and go to what seems to be a local vet but it’s part of a group. They’re ok, though you don’t see the same vet so don’t get a chance to build a relationship with anyone except the receptionists.

I am a bit wary of what the vets tell me now, because of the concerns outlined in this thread. I get constant three-monthly reminders to get our young cats de-flea-ed and wormed even though they’re indoor cats and don’t go to catteries. Our previous vet recommended that annual treatments were sufficient for indoor cats who never met other animal.

I Have an indoor cat and apart from finishing the course when she was a kitten I've never used flea or worm treatment on her . She hasn't got fleas or worms , she never leaves my home , never mixes with other cats so why would I want to use medication on her ? It's for the vets benefit, big money in these so called treatments .

Allira, I think it may be that flea drops have a systemic effect unlike powders that will not be excreted in the dog's urine.

I am so angry about the way we are ripped off in this country over things we are held to ransom over, emotionally. By all means have vet practices who are owned by a large corporate, but legislate to allow only a propotion of them to become so. Between them, big pharma, who hold the monopoly of some vital drugs (Apoquel for one - a lifeline drug needed by many and whom my vets charge £6.55 per TABLET ( x 365 days per year, for ever - you do the maths...) It really is outrageous. I'm so fed up of the rich getting richer in this country and the rest of us are left to rot.

Caleo, my concern is for this very old dog, without the wheels he wouldn’t be able to ‘walk’. He often stops. He’s clearly in pain, yesterday he was walked down to the village centre, where I saw his painful progress. Some time later he went slowly past mt house, legs trailing feet being pulled along the floor. I may be wrong I accept that but this very old dog really doesn’t need a 2 mile walk.

There are some pages that pop up on Facebook that show rescue centres that show paralysed dogs that drag themselves around and have to wear nappies. I must admit to finding them very upsetting. I did speak to someone the other week who has a terrier that uses a walking frame and was surprised to hear that although the dog was paralysed he wasn’t incontinent. However I can’t help but feel that such dogs must be in pain and that dogs are very good at hiding pain. Even my whippets, who are the biggest wimps ever in some ways eg if they stab their toe or have to go out in the rain, are unbelievably stoic when they are seriously ill.

MayBee70

There are some pages that pop up on Facebook that show rescue centres that show paralysed dogs that drag themselves around and have to wear nappies. I must admit to finding them very upsetting. I did speak to someone the other week who has a terrier that uses a walking frame and was surprised to hear that although the dog was paralysed he wasn’t incontinent. However I can’t help but feel that such dogs must be in pain and that dogs are very good at hiding pain. Even my whippets, who are the biggest wimps ever in some ways eg if they stab their toe or have to go out in the rain, are unbelievably stoic when they are seriously ill.

I agree with you Maybee70
I too find the ads on dogs using wheels to get around very upsetting . Dogs hide their pain well .

I can't watch the ads on those poor donkeys that need treatment but the owners can't afford it and still make the donkeys work . If that happened in the UK people would be prosecuted, and rightly so .
Some people abroad shouldn't be allowed to keep an animal !

Iam64, it seems to be a clear case for advice from a vet. I'd be very tempted to stop the owner and tell them so.

Nanato and Maybe, I am concerned about this too.

Dogs can't communicate how they are feeling, at least not reliably ,as you point out.

But there are visible or tangible signs when the the dog is suffering.
If a wheelchair dog has injured his feet by dragging them then he needs to stop the effects of drag, even when this involves not going for walks. He needs to have his injuries treated and to wear comfortable and strong covers for his feet in future.

Pippa000

Took my dog to the vet a couple of weeks ago about a lump on her back leg. Diagnosed as a hystocytoma. Discussed the possibility of investigations, vet said she could do a biopsy to confirm but thought this would be a unnecessary expense. If the lump hadn't decreased or even disappeared within the next couple of weeks to go back. The surgery is part of a nationwide group, but there is no push to spend. Form what I've read so far I'm very lucky. The lump has almost vanished.

I always ask for a needle aspiration if I find a dodgy lump on my dogs ( unfortunately or fortunately you notice lumps on whippets that you wouldn’t even be aware of in other dogs. But I’m currently trying to stick by some advice I was given which is to ignore anything till it gets to the size of a pea. Current dog is very prone to blocked hair follicles so I’m constantly monitoring things. Most recent lump has, thankfully, just disappeared after 5 or so months. Having, in the past, ignored a lump ( on the advice of my vet) that turned out to be cancerous, I am paranoid about lumps and bumps.

My over-riding concern in all of this is that some people will not take their dogs to the vets because of the cost. Rescue centres have been saying that (some) pets are being handed in due to the cost of living crisis and this is heartbreaking.

We insured our dog the moment he came to live with us. We insured him on the 'Premium' rate, which 'guaranteed' lifelong cover. That was until he turned 10 and they wrote to us saying that due to a change in underwriters they were unable to continue his cover. Chatting to the vets they told me they had heard this from other people too.

Worrying times for owners and their animals.

It’s what we’ve always suspected for quite a while now isn’t it?
Vets persuading owners to have unnecessary work done at exorbitant prices.Not all vets of course, but those that work for the big boys who are told to make more money.
Of course it’s a business but vets always had a vocation to help animals.
Owners need to stick to their guns and when the vet recommends something say sweetly, yes please if it’s free! I can’t afford it otherwise thanks.

Caleo

I gather that independent vets hire the facilities of the big vet
that has hospital accommodation and 24 hr care .

I bet there will be a Panorama programme about veterinary services and costs.

File on 4 have already done a program today.
It’s more shocking than people realise.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029yx0

Caleo

Iam64, it seems to be a clear case for advice from a vet. I'd be very tempted to stop the owner and tell them so.

Caleo - I’ve been so tempted but avoiding conflict.
Years ago I took our 17 year old border collie cross rescue for her annual check up. She was the sweetest gentle girl. I explained she’d often really struggle to her feet, get to the middle of the room and clearly think - ah where am I going?

The vet was so kind. She explained our girl couldn’t tell us the pain she was in with hips causing her struggle to stand etc, she advised me to think very hard about euthanasia. We did it then, these days id have arranged to have the vet come to our home but I was a younger woman

This experience stayed with me. I have arthritis. I know it slows me down. I feel the dog I see isn’t living its best end of life time

IAm64, you have both empathy and sympathy and an intelligent vet too.

Courage mon ami!

They are just plain greedy. Example. lst vet quoted £3,500 for treatment, another quoted £1,500 for the same treatment.

My vets practice was lovely but now I rarely get to see the main man and feel pressured by the new team vets. I have used a country, house visiting vet recommended by a colleague and they have been wonderful. Diagnosed the problems without extensive/expensive unecessary tests and dealt with quickly. Also came to my home to put my beloved dog to sleep in a calm and loving manner. Not as expensive as the "quote" sent by my usual vet to do home euthanasia nor was the cremation service (who were lovely, very personal) they recommended. No more pets for me now and sad that my long term vet practice has become one of the type of vets mentioned in the OP 😕