To think vets charge too much **title edited by MNHQ on OP's request**

[Looobyloo]

I took my 10 yr old cat to the vets earlier for a check up as she has seemed a little lethargic. Vet examines her and says she has a little arthritis in her hip and needs these tablets, one a day. I ask how much, she says £9 a tablet! Everyday for the next, however long she lives. £63 a week!

She gives me a free sample and says if they work she'll give me a prescription So I can get them online. I checked online, 49p a tablet.

We don't have insurance as we've never been able to get her to the vets for injections etc as she's very stroppy (she attacked the vet today)

I know people say don't have an animal if you can't afford and we do have a private cat fund where we put £60 a month into. But even then £63 a week! I'd be torn if it was life and death as much as I hate to admit to it.

Are vets just taking the piss nowadays?

As previous posters have said, an online pharmacy has very few overheads, many fewer trained staff and no need for equipment. I know what I’m talking about, and the average vet salary 5 years post graduation is about £30k. Much less than many comparable professions. Their in house pharmacies have to stock lots of drugs which may be only used 2 or 3 times per year and then thrown out as they are out of date. Every injectable has to be thrown out after 28 days whether only 1ml is used or the whole bottle. This all adds up.

In addition the profession has the highest suicide rate of any profession, and this is not helped by being called “robbing bastards” by clients that are being assisted. As another poster said, I strongly suspect you’ve been quoted the wrong price, and please phone and ask for the cost of a month’s supply. Or ask about metacam, a similar class of drug but often more cost effective. Our practice is about to update their x-ray system. This will cost close to £40,000. It’s an essential piece of kit. Nobody makes huge profit being a vet in their own business, the corporates do better due to their buying power.

Don’t forget 20% of all vet costs are VAT. Disgusting that the govt taxes me on painkillers for my terminally ill dog. Vets do a difficult, emotionally draining job and don’t make big bucks.

For those who assume "the clever vet" does it all. I would like to add;
Please ask your veterinary surgeon: 1)who did what? i.e the vet,a nurse or trainee. 2) was the vet present including recovery time? 3) Have you been charged more because the insurance will cover it? 4) then ask another member of staff the same questions...

Are you serious? She gives you the prescription so you can find them online and you still blame her for the price she charges even though you must know she's covering her massive overheads?

How the fuck are you being 'robbed' by someone who actively facilitated you finding a cheaper option?

And you're an irresponsible owner for not having pet insurance - no two ways about it.

My vet would charge about £15 for a repeat prescription that would last around 6 months, then I'd fill it online at the 49p per tab price, so around £16 a month for 6 months. Plenty change left over from your £60 :)

@Looobyloo

YANBU, vet fees are a disgrace, and I don't give a SHIT that they are 'qualified' and have 'worked hard so they have a right to charge extortionate prices.' No they don't. Not when millions of people cannot afford the bloody fees. I suppose all poor people should not be allowed pets eh???

What would the vets do then eh? If most people had no pets? How would they make their exorbitant amounts of money. See also dentists, and solicitors. All rip off merchants IMO.

Also, 6 posts in, and someone mentions Brexit, and how much worse off we will all be (supposedly!) Fucking hell. Any excuse to mention Brexit on a thread that has got FUCK ALL to do with Brexit.

YANBU, vet fees are a disgrace, and I don't give a SHIT that they are 'qualified' and have 'worked hard so they have a right to charge extortionate prices.' No they don't. Not when millions of people cannot afford the bloody fees. I suppose all poor people should not be allowed pets eh???

People shouldn't have pets they can't afford. You can insure a cat for less than £5 per month. If that is money you can't afford, you shouldn't have pets. Animals are not an entitlement.

Vet fees are high because their overheads are high. The cost of their training, premises, equipment, insurance, staff etc is enormous. They can't do it for free just because you think some irresponsible twat who won't pay for insurance is entitled to a pet.

What would the vets do then eh? If most people had no pets? How would they make their exorbitant amounts of money. See also dentists, and solicitors. All rip off merchants IMO.

Most vets aren't treating pets, they're working in the farming industry, and most pet owners have insurance anyway. I very much doubt vets would miss the few arseholes whose cats are put down prematurely because they can't afford treatment.

Our vet has a sign up saying the cost of a prescription is £X

So you have the choice to pay the prescription fee and then get the cheaper tabs online so you could still be saving.

Vets spend years in costly education, have insurance costs, professional registration costs, overheads and staff to pay so have to charge a prescription fee.

The companies charge big bucks for the medication, independent vets aren’t going to have the big buying power of a big pharmacy (like my independent opticians want to charge me £25 a month for my contact lenses that Asda can charge me £10 a month for) this is why it’s always worth insurance for your pets. Saving £60 a month in a cat plan when insurance could only have cost 8-15 £ is crazy.

I didn't realise vets had the highest suicide rate, that's so sad. I maybe shouldn't have said 'robbing b'stards' I'm seeing both sides now and generally our local vets are very good.

I will ring and ask about the other drug or see if I can get this cheaper, though I can live with paying 50p a day.

It is sad that you need to have a decent amount of money nowadays to own a pet. I know lonely elderly (and young) who get a lot of pleasure from their animals.

I’m not sure that some owners realise you can ask for a prescription to be emailed. My vet charges £15 for this and I can double up on meds so it’s only once every 3 months for lifelong meds. I understand the whole overheads/storage/wages issue, but I do feel some vets are reluctant to offer this option. When I see that they’ve charged £££ for a pair of disposable gloves used during a £3000 operation (I have the same ones at home, £7 for 100) or other very inflated price, I do get a bit annoyed. Yes, vets work long hours and train for years, same for me!

Dentists & solicitors have spent years training & again have overheads. Why the hell should they see you for free???

Vets are not robbing b'stds. There's no national health service for animals and vets have to run their practices with staff whom they pay. It's a difficult job too but worthwhile. If you can get the prescription meds for your cat somewhere cheaper, do so. I know Viovet dispense and there must be other places.

I think some vets definitely take the piss, my old cat had a lot wrong with her and was covered by PetPlan. I changed vets as I felt she was being milked like a cash cow at one point.
My current vet isn't cheap but I trust them.
This vet doesn't sound too bad, they pointed you towards a cheaper source of the tablets.
I agree it's best to get insurance. I usually just pay myself for any bumps, scrapes or minor illnesses and don't bother claiming, but if a cat or dog becomes seriously ill or injured it can quickly run up a massive bill.

Yay, vets have pretty much the highest suicide rate of any profession in the country so on World Suicide Prevention Day let's have a thread with people calling them bastards just for doing their jobs! How wonderful.

Oh aye, robbing bastards with their 6 years of student loans and ZERO state funding. There's no NHS for pets, responsible owners get insurance.

I was just shocked at the cost and very worried that I couldn't afford it, I don't want my cat in pain

If you can't afford insurance premiums you cannot afford a cat. Get a fucking grip. If you genuinely gave a shit you would insure your cat.

We have this on our wall at work.

Yanbu...daylight robbery.

If you can’t afford vet bills/pet insurance you can’t afford a pet.

I was charged £35 for a box of Cystaid for my cat by the vet,needs it for the rest of his life. £6 a box or even less when we buy in bulk. I agree OP

Typical cat spey at ours £45:. This involves 1 x Nurse to set up theatre and premed using drugs. 1 x vet for Op. Spey kit used which needs to be sterilized after with new swabs/ drape and bag. Anaesthetic machine switched on using electric, o2 and isoflo. Cat prepped using electric clippers cotton wool and scrub. Stitch up using thread or glue. Pain relief meds. All that comes in at much more than £45! It's not the NHS !!!

You should try horse vets.

'How much is your insurance limit Mrs X?'

'7k'

'Grand, that'll be 7k then please!'

**online

Cherrysoup those are not the same gloves! They are much better quality, come in half-sizes for a perfect fit, are individually packaged and are sterile. That's only one tiny example of the hundreds of pieces of expensive equipment involved in any piece of surgery.

All those in agreement with the OP (although glad to see OP is starting to understand) - you do realise that the money you pay at the desk doesn't go in the vets pocket, right?