To think vets are overcharging

Important point. Unfortunately private equity has taken over most large chains . We moved to a local independent and are charged at least 1/3 less for all procedures, treatments and drugs.

My Guinea pig had an abcess. They gave him antibiotics, nothing invasive! I was billed £200! The Guinea pig died in the night anyway!

They don't overcharge. The problem is paying a highly trained specialist to do something that any old cretin could do with a bottle of detol and a cotton bud.

What type of vets is it? As in independent or a chain/big business type?

I've just paid less than that for a medium size bitch spay and then an emergency visit the next day and anti sickness meds because she couldn't keep anything down. It's a small independent and the cheapest in the area, all the rest are big companies except one who I'd use it mine ever closed.
I also think their care is superior and they look after the animals and the owners well with a personal interest, but the frills aren't there, it's clean and functional but it's not shiny and corporate which I think people use as a marker of how good the care is, when in reality that has nothing to do with it. They've a huge waiting list.

That does seem expensive for what you've had done, however if the dog needed sedation then there's that plus a VN's time to administer and monitor, the vet examination and treatment, products and equipment to do that and then the pain relief, plus the admin that's needed. Those things don't come cheap.

I pay about £50 pcm insurance for my two young cats (it will increase).

One had to have some teeth removed a few months ago. 26 in fact. General anaesthetic, blood tests, pain killers. Dental aren't covered by insurance. It was about £600. I thought it very reasonable.

If the dog isn't insured at age 11, I imagine you are saving at least £80pcm. I can't see the issue.

Recently I saw an endocrinologist privately. £250 for the first appointment, £100 for telephone follow up. Blood tests were £620. Covered by PPP for which premiums are £250pcm. I think my tax contribution monthly for the NHS is about £450 - I got a statement once breaking it all down.

The sedation, the vets expertise, their wages, insurance, the nurses wages, the receptionist’s also, the light, the water, the medical equipment, the admin time, the clean down time, the time spent post op monitoring. It all adds up. We have been spoilt having the NHS for ‘free’ at point of use, so we feel any medical bill (pet or human private medical treatment) is expensive.

Is the Pope catholic? 😁