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

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."

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

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

So true. My daughter is head vet nurse in her practice. She works for Vets4pets and people think they are a huge group but don't realise that each practice is usually owned by the senior vet in the practice, they just have the umbrella of V4P for help or guidance. The amount of abuse is dreadful. I've seen them at work and their care for the animals brought to them is exemplary, as I suspect is the same for your daughter

I used to work for an independent vet unfortunately a lot of clients expected the James Herriot experience which translated into reduced or free treatment. It was unsustainable a vet trains for years but very few clients appreciated the professionalism and dedication of the practice and resented paying for a consultation by a trained professional.

Our vet's practice is owned by a large group. Every time I take my cat in for treatment the first thing they ask is whether or not I have insurance. I always say that I'd prefer not to claim as it will inevitably increase the premium the following year which they say is totally untrue. The premium this year is £1600 pa for one cat! That's with a £60 excess. The vet we see is always very vague about the cost of treatment and the surgery are always reluctant to give you a bill, preferring to send it direct to the insurers. When my other cat was PTS at New Year they were on the phone within 30 minutes of going home to ask me to return to fill out the claim form. They even claimed for cremation inspite of the fact we had brought her home. I was too upset to argue with them.

I use 2 independent practices. Great service. Never any pressure to do more treatment. High cost usually from cost of medication, rather than from vet work. Rural, so maybe that makes a difference.

JdotJ

My daughter-in-law is a senior Vet at a group practice in the North of England.

The verbal abuse she encounters from some pet owners is beyond belief.

She herself has adopted both a dog & a cat from owners who just literally walk in off the street and dump their pets. Most of the staff have rehomed animals that gave been 'left'.

The suicide rates for vets is at an all time high.

That’s awful 😔🤬 My vet has told me the same.

I went for a repeat prescription to our local country 'vet' last week - 10 prednisolone tablets for my cat. My husband asked how much when I climbed back in the car and almost fainted when I said £4.50. A year ago when we lived in London, I had the exact same prescription and the cost was £43.00. That particular practice had been a lovely independent at one time but taken over by a huge corporation in what seems to be just a job creation activity for administrators and insurance companies, and profiteering for shareholders - nothing to do with pet care. It threatens pets rather than helping them.

Sad to see comments on gransnet again about what people can afford - I'm with you escaped - we shouldn't judge how others spend their money unless it's interfering with us.

Both our dogs died last year. My son was about ready to look for a puppy but he's been completely put off by the vet/big business thing. He's on a low income and can't afford the bigger and bigger charges. He read that the vets have to play on your fears for your pet to suggest more treatments and expensive emergency appointments.

lizzypopbottle

Both our dogs died last year. My son was about ready to look for a puppy but he's been completely put off by the vet/big business thing. He's on a low income and can't afford the bigger and bigger charges. He read that the vets have to play on your fears for your pet to suggest more treatments and expensive emergency appointments.

Might he consider getting a retired greyhound. I believe that the rescue agencies will always take them back if there is a change of circumstances?