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

My poor daughter with a toddler and a four month old baby has had a bill of £15,000 to operate on her cat’s broken leg. The insurance covers about £10k of that.

My own very independent vet told me it used to be that only a vet could own a vet practice. This law was changed some years ago, and as a result the vets practices attracted big investors who have no interest in animals, only in making money — think pension pot type investments. She said many vets sold to them because the strain of running a vet practice is so huge, and they didn’t have any idea of the down sides of selling. Now even more vets feel the mental health strain of being a vet — she said many are required to insist on totally unnecessary procedures, medicines and medical interventions with the sole purpose of generating income. She said there is no regulation of their world in the way human health is regulated, and these big companies just see a guaranteed income from a nation that dotes on its pets. It is much the same for children’s homes — local authorities have a statutory duty to house children in care, and those that must live in a residential setting do so at exorbitant, eye watering cost to the LA, who can do nothing except pay up. Those investors care nothing for the children or the local authority that is being made bankrupt by their fees, just as these care little for our pets and their vets.

Rant over. But do seek out independent vets, and if in doubt ask your vet who owns the practice. Once you find one independent one they will know of others when a referral etc is needed.

The CMA was investigating the pricing practice of the big Veterinary Companies. I had the misfortune to be involved with Linneaus when my lovely Ebony was poorly. The local vet put her through two months of invasive tests with no answers to her problem, they referred her to a larger practice for further tests, and finally diagnosed a terminal Lymphoma. She was subjected to six months of (in my opinion) cruel illtreatment before they told me they could do nothing for her. I had to take her to be PTS last September. The vet bills came to thousands, far beyond the cover of her insurance. When I got the invoices for her treatment, I compared the charges with human private medical costs for the same procedures. In all cases, scans, biopsies, lab costs, etc were all double the cost for a cat than for the same procedures on a human. How is that justified? When I queried it, I was told that was the cost, they do not have to justify their pricing. I sent Ebony's file with bills, emails etc to the CMA for inclusion in their investigations. I don't regret a penny of the costs, but I do regret that she was put through six months of distress before they told me that they could do nothing for her.

ChillyMilly

The CMA was investigating the pricing practice of the big Veterinary Companies. I had the misfortune to be involved with Linneaus when my lovely Ebony was poorly. The local vet put her through two months of invasive tests with no answers to her problem, they referred her to a larger practice for further tests, and finally diagnosed a terminal Lymphoma. She was subjected to six months of (in my opinion) cruel illtreatment before they told me they could do nothing for her. I had to take her to be PTS last September. The vet bills came to thousands, far beyond the cover of her insurance. When I got the invoices for her treatment, I compared the charges with human private medical costs for the same procedures. In all cases, scans, biopsies, lab costs, etc were all double the cost for a cat than for the same procedures on a human. How is that justified? When I queried it, I was told that was the cost, they do not have to justify their pricing. I sent Ebony's file with bills, emails etc to the CMA for inclusion in their investigations. I don't regret a penny of the costs, but I do regret that she was put through six months of distress before they told me that they could do nothing for her.

The RSPCA have the animals welfare at heart yet are funded by charitable donations whilst pet owners pay thousands to big vet practices whose main concern is profit!
Could RSPCA scale up and become like the NHS for pets? I'd certainly prefer to pay a non profit making organisation.

Apparently Lepto 4 is because more dogs are coming in from other countries.

My current pair, One came from Spain on Lepto 2, boosted the following year Lepto 2, then boosted last year Lepto 4 (ok, I admit, I didn't notice!)

My other dog, born in this country, she started on Lepto 4, then last and this year, boosted Lepto 4.

Now, when I took them for anal glands (I'll do many things for my dogs, anal glands NOT being one of them) the nurse said to me, "we're On Lepto 4 now, so when they come in for their booster, they need to have 2 jabs as it's a new, so it's a primary and a secondary ".

So that got me thinking, got home, checked their vaccination records. UK born, as said, already On it, Spain born not, BUT she only had the booster not the restart.

I was at the vets this week for the UK booster, and asked the Vet, I said "the Vet who jabbed Spanish pup, if the nurse says the dog needs the primary AND secondary jab, WHY didn't the Vet tell me and treat her that way?" The vet I was speaking to said she didn't know.

We (me and dogs) are here at.home or rarely in car so she should be ok! Oh, when I paid the bill, £51 I was asked for. I said for what? The booster!

The joys of pet ownership!

The vet at my partners says if a dog switches to Lepto4 they have to start a course of it. I thought they only caught Lepto 4 from things in the environment, not other dogs? The vet did say that rescue dogs from other countries are bringing in more diseases. Although I have considered just having my dog titre tested instead of having annual boosters I’d still want the Lepto vaccine.

Chilly Milly, a conscientious vet will explicitly advise me when my dog is terminal and suffering and let me know her opinion as to when to do it.

I had been dissatisfied with the regular vet , and vet nurse. regarding their advice.

My dog who died last January : I engaged a separate vet who charges a lot, every penny well spent ! She charges nothing for initial consultation regarding timing and justification for euthanasia. Then subsequently, at my discretion, euthanasing the dog in the best possible circumstances in my dog's own home, on my bed with me right beside him on the bed. This vet's condoling follow up with the bereaved owner and her respect for the dying of the dog are very comforting.

This vet specialises in home euthanasia, and only within a limited geographical area in England. I learned about her euthanasia service only in time to benefit my dog who died last January, unfortunately.

Before I chose a vet for my present dog ,my Romanian, I asked her to recommend one, whom I then registered with.

Many vets will not even euthanise a dog in his own home.

My stock question to a vet when I have a sick pet is, if it was your pet, what would you do. Of course, they won’t necessarily answer it but it works sometimes.

I have no faith in vets anymore. The vet practice I am with now - 2 of the 4 vets had never seen my dogs breed before- he is a giant breed and were scared to go near him. I dont take my dog for regular annual check ups - the last one cost me £75 and they just looked at him and said yes hes fine. I know if there is something wrong with him and have built up a large first aid kit at home.

Sad but probably true the majority of vets will recommend the £££ treatment offered. Kerching.

totally agree. Vets push for annual checks, annual vaccination boosters, monthly flea and worm treatments. Why? because they make huge profits. It is not truly for the good of the animal. Vets no longer recommend frontline flea treatment (now sold over the counter) but only ones you can get on prescription from them at treble the cost. I brush my dog every dog and check for fleas and ticks and if he ever does get one then il treat accordingly.

An independent vet we used to use, told me ages ago, in my disgusted tones, that the chains were always putting pressure on vets to maximise profits per ‘unit’, i.e, for each owner coming through the door. They were required to flog all sorts of products in addition to actual treatments.

He later left the area and sold up to just one such chain! 🤬

It is a great shame but when my cat George dies I will not be getting another one. The fear of bills is far too great..
I think a few people will feel like this and a lot of the cats and dogs that need rehoming will just stay where they are unfortunately…. 😭

My dog was PTS in December. He was very old and lost the use of his legs, bladder and bowels.

The one thing that infuriated me was the charge for inserting a cannula. It took between 60 and 90 seconds - I happened to be looking at the time when it was done - and on the itemised bill that was charged at £44+.

I thought that too supernal. When our poor boy was put to sleep last year we were very surprised at the cannula palaver. Other cats in the past have been sent peacefully on their way with a straightforward injection.

janipans

The RSPCA have the animals welfare at heart yet are funded by charitable donations whilst pet owners pay thousands to big vet practices whose main concern is profit!
Could RSPCA scale up and become like the NHS for pets? I'd certainly prefer to pay a non profit making organisation.

I did have a cat that had to have two injections because the first one didn’t work, which was very distressing for all of us. Maybe that’s why they use a cannula now?

janipans

The RSPCA have the animals welfare at heart yet are funded by charitable donations whilst pet owners pay thousands to big vet practices whose main concern is profit!
Could RSPCA scale up and become like the NHS for pets? I'd certainly prefer to pay a non profit making organisation.

I don’t trust or have a lot of faith in the RSPCA.

My daughter had to take one of her cats to a vet last Friday, her
Vets no longer works bank holidays.

Medication to calm the cat, look into her throat, a small seed found which they said would pass, £1,300

Anniebach 😯! That really is daylight robbery.

It’s unbelievable isn’t it ? but it is true, she is so use to vets bills, 4 dogs and 3 cats, but this has angered her . Two of the dogs are mine

Vets will really have to watch it. At those extortionate prices people just won't be able to afford pets.

Maybe if pet owners voted with their feet vets would have to rethink their exorbitant prices.

Unfortunately, they've got you over a barrel really - what's the alternative? Most pet owners will stump up to save their much loved animals.

Remember the ‘olden days’ when families had a pet dog and animal insurance was completely unheard of? Say in the early ‘60s. How did we become this mess? Expensive scans, blood tests, diagnostics were unheard of and yet people still loved their pets and continued to have them. Maybe we weren’t so soft.