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

You seem to get better value for large animal and tiny animal treatment. I think the main profit comes from dogs and cats. I feel sorry for vets who obviously go into the job wanting to help animals but now have pressure put on them to get extra work done on their patients. To be fair to them, it’s probably a good idea to have dental work done on a middle aged dog because I know of several that have had major problems when they get old. I am concerned about the amount of chemicals pumped into our pets bodies, though.

I think, too that there is suffering for those pet owners who cannot afford to pay for vet care and have to have the pet put to sleep.

There is a very sad thread on Mumsnet by a pet owner who cannot afford the operation and treatment for the pet.

The general concession is that the posters have sympathy with her. I think in this time it must be no fault to be unable to pay for expensive treatment, and hope that others agree with me.

We used to have saver independent vets in our area as we’re in a semi rural location, but that no longer seems to be the case. When we had dogs we always used the local vet, who we knew was well respected by the local farmers and by friends whose children had ponies and horses. When he retired an associate took over the practice, but she has since retired or moved on and the vets in the practice don’t appear to be as well liked. Some people I know now use the vet in our local Pets at home for routine care. As we’ve not owned dogs for quite sometime I haven’t any experience of either.

With regard to staff at vet practices being abused, it’s sad but seems to be the norm these days. My DD is a radiographer in a major nhs hospital and regularly comes home with bruises where patients have bitten, scratched, punched or kicked her. Some of which she can understand if a patient has dementia, and they don’t understand but others are just down right nasty people.

Your dog doesn’t need a lot of the treatments the vets are told to give out. One of them is monthly wormers and anti flea drops. Dogs nowadays don’t often get fleas, but if they do, treatment is easy. The dog doesn’t need to be have chemicals pumped into it on a regular basis.
The dog can be treated for worms monthly up until 4/5 months, then it should be clear for roundworms. For other worms you can do a twice yearly test called Wormcount. My dogs ( eight of them) never wormed have very rarely had them and it can be easily treated.
All these chemicals not only harm your dog, but also harm the environment and possibly children who then handle the dogs.
Many other treatments are not needed.
Try finding a Holistic vet, or at least one that doesn’t belong to a large company such as Mars.
For instance, Mars produce dog food, drugs , Crematoriums, etc. as well as owning the vets. Please please do your research for the sake of your children, the planet and the dog….oh also your pocket!
I could write a book..it breaks my heart

Fgt, my DH sold out to a conglomerate because they offered him the best price, and that was his pension. However, he agrees with comments on here about unnecessary treatment offered these days, we no longer have pets as we are too old and probably couldn't afford the fees!

My dogs had lepto 4 with no reaction at all. We were told in the large city we came from it was necessary. 2 spaniels and a cockapoo

My daughter is a senior vet of 20 years. She does Locum work but will only work with independent practices as she doesn't like the 'attitude' of the Corporate Vet Practices. She would rather put the health of the animal first over making money for the sake of making money for big corporations.

Whitewavemark2

I have thought that for quite some time now.

It started when the independent vets were bought out.

Now it is more about profit for the big companies more than care for animals.

Saying that , the hospital facilities and equipment are so very expensive it must be very difficult for independent vets to provide that as well as 24 hr/365 days care, which we have had to use in the past.

Unfortunately vets are left right in the middle.

Much of this sadly true for the larger companies, but they are businesses not charities.
We used to have a really good independent vet that became part of a large group and they were given price lists that applied even if the treatment had been less expensive. I remember being charged £450 for two tiny stitches in a cat's paw, thirty years ago. When I queried the bill it was dropped to less than half.
My daughter used to go to the PDSA for treatment for her pets, but you have to have a limited income to do that I believe. Pets at Home are probably the best local vets here, but they are still ferociously expensive.

My last whippet had had a cancerous lump removed. When she then had another lump removed it was only when I picked her up that they told me they had x rayed her prior to the operation. All of her skin was raw from being shaved and the scar was huge. It turned out to be a non cancerous cyst which a needle aspiration would have shown. It then turned out that my insurance didn’t cover it. I now ask to know exactly what the vet intends to do. My current dog almost had a claw removed but on the day of the planned operation I asked for it to be reassessed and it was ok after another course of antibiotics.

Many years ago my local vet referred my lovely bearded collie puppy to a specialist vet in Manchester. As I carried him into the surgery, the first thing said to me was "credit card details please" before even examining my very poorly dog. The vet treating him had featured in a Granada TV programme & he thought he was the dog's nuts. They had him a week & were no nearer a diagnosis but had him on life support! When I told them I didn't have pet insurance, they decided his time was up & I not only lost my dear friend but was several thousand pounds lighter. The assumption seems to be everyone has insurance & money is no object. I know I should have had him insured but simply didn't get around to it. Lesson learned. Having pets is an expensive choice.

We have been going to a lovely family-run vet practice for years, but we have noticed a huge change since they were taken over by one of the big firms just recently. There is a newly-opened independent vet practice nearby now though, so we might change to them.
As an aside, I did work in a vet practice for a short time and although most of the vets, vet nurses and other staff were all lovely, the most senior vet was all about the money. I was told by her to always tell people they needed to come in to see the vet (even in circumstances where it was clear they didn't) - as 'that's how we make our money'. She was always telling me to try to sell people additional stuff such as vitamins, supplements and so on too. She was very good at her job, but had absolutely zero people skills whatsoever.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Why do independent veterinarians allow themselves to be bought out? If they resisted, pet owners would have more choice. Word would get round and their businesses would boom.

If you're retiring you will want to get the best price possible for your practice. Unfortunately the Bank of England and successive governments have failed to support small and medium sized businesses by providing soft finance for just these sort of transactions. Japan and Germany grew strong on the basis of relatively easy commercial loans. If quantitative easing had been used for that, rather than being plowed into inflating asset prices, GB would be a world beating economy now. And vets would, mostly, still be independent.

We're fortunate enough to have an independent vet practice owned by a lovely young couple. They've invested so much money in the practice, I hope they never decide to sell up. They're by no means cheap but I'm glad what I pay isn't going to shareholders.

My dog is diabetic and I have to give him injections twice a day. Along with the insulin I get charged for the syringes and even the plastic container to put them in when used. This is a life long disease so costs a fortune.

These big companies never help any business, just look at water, gas, electricity, they need profits for shareholders so will pressure vets.
we use Martin & Manifold in Cirencester, a couple of lovely women who own their own practice. They are great, still costs a lot though but we don't do regular worming etc cos I never wanted to expose our dogs to chemicals unless they needed it

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Why do independent veterinarians allow themselves to be bought out? If they resisted, pet owners would have more choice. Word would get round and their businesses would boom.

Probably so they can afford to retire

My local vet is independent, but still horribly expensive. I took my elderly cat last week and agreed to antibiotics, painkillers, blood tests and an operation, followed by... euthanasia. I thought if only the vet had had the courage and the wisdom to say in the first consultation, "I'm so sorry, I think this is the end of the road for him."

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 😕

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

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

Courage mon ami!

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

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

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.

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.

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.