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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think I’m being ripped off by the vets

60 replies

Fcukthisshit · 27/12/2019 12:48

My cat is having a general anaesthetic today and was originally having 1 tooth out but is now having 2 teeth out.

I’ve been told that the cost is edging up towards £400 plus I’ve signed to say that I’m happy to pay an extra £35 for IV fluids whilst under anaesthetic.

Could anyone in the know tell me whether this price is reasonable and also if IV fluids are required, surely this should be included and not optional?? I don’t have a huge amount of faith in the vets after today and I’m considering changing but not sure if IABU or not?

It’s a national chain if that makes any difference.

OP posts:

Doodledoom · 27/12/2019 12:50

Sounds about right to me. Anythink to do with the teeth is very expensive no matter what vets you use.

Fishcakey · 27/12/2019 12:50

I paid about £400 for my dog to have 22 teeth out. It's pretty usual I think from what I have read.

Kakibob1924 · 27/12/2019 12:51

Again, the price sounds fine.

Whatsforu · 27/12/2019 12:51

I don't know about extra for fluids but surely if required should be included. I was 360 for dental, that was for a dog.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 27/12/2019 12:52

Much more than our vets, £250 to have 6 teeth out including the additional IV fluids.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 27/12/2019 12:52

Yes it does sound about normal.

We're all a bit spoilt in this country with our free medical care, so it always seems like a lot when we have to pay out for our pets.

hettysdrawers · 27/12/2019 12:53

We were quoted £400 just for a tooth clean under anaesthetic with extra for any extractions

Vinorosso74 · 27/12/2019 12:53

Dental work is expensive. Trouble is with vet fees you have the 20% VAT on them which soon pushes the bill even higher!!!

Obligatorync · 27/12/2019 12:53

Standard price I think.

jinglebellz · 27/12/2019 12:53

In 2018 my small dog (6kg, so not far off cat sized) had 11 teeth out. Cost me £700. Around my way it was a reasonable price. As expensive as it sounds. I don't think £400 is unreasonable.

Sofast · 27/12/2019 12:54

I'd say that's normal, as someone who works in a (albeit not small animal) vets

Ariela · 27/12/2019 12:58

I find vet fees for dogs abnormally high compared to vet fees for horses. Given that it's a mobile vet so vehicular costs also involved, and call out charges too (although there are free days for pre-booked vaccinations routine stuff). Maybe because they're mobile they have to be more competitive on price as there are other vets readily available? Luckily one of our horse vets also does dogs of existing horse customers

villainousbroodmare · 27/12/2019 13:01

That's reasonable. Fluids are left as an add-on because while all animals benefit from perioperative fluids, some really need this and for others it's less vital. Extracting teeth from the fragile jaw of a cat while maintaining it safe and comfortable under anaesthesia is a pretty skilled and potentially lengthy process. So if price is your issue, it's not an unreasonable price. However, it's important to trust your vet, so if you are not content with other aspects of care, you should look at switching.

anon2000000000 · 27/12/2019 13:01

That's much more than what I paid for my dog to have 3 teeth, general anaesthetic, fluids, scale and polish, aftercare, tooth brush and toothpaste plus a check up a week later. I was £205 ish.

MissConductUS · 27/12/2019 13:02

That's a bit less than I paid recently in New York, so yes I think it's fine.

Laiste · 27/12/2019 13:03

Why is it so expensive? Can anyone break it down for me?

I understand that our human health costs are subsidised so we don't see the true cost of medicine, but how does the cost of taking 2 teeth out of a cat add up to 4/5/6/700 pounds? And such variation across different areas? Is that just the difference in what they charge for their time ?

vroc81 · 27/12/2019 13:04

Sounds about right - seem to remember our cat was about £350 or a bit more for the same work a few years ago..

Agree with the pp though the cat always seems sooo much more expensive than the horse.. at least it’s not a sliding scale on weight though !

RingPiece · 27/12/2019 13:04

Sounds reasonable. In London, we paid almost double that inc VAT for two extractions plus a clean under general anaesthetic, painkillers and antibiotics.

Elphame · 27/12/2019 13:05

That seems a bit high. My bill for my cat. was for under £300 for a general and two teeth out

Cost of a general for my dog to have a wound dressed and cleaned and the antibiotics he needed was £150.

ViaSacra · 27/12/2019 13:07

I paid £450 recently for my cat to have a GA and two teeth out.

That sounds absolutely right - especially if you’re in the SE/London.

Justsocross · 27/12/2019 13:11

I was quoted £450 to have 10 teeth taken out of my cats and for I’ve fluids ! In the end he had 1 taken out and a descale and the cost was £250 this was 3 weeks ago

Flibbitygibbit · 27/12/2019 13:14

Is it Medivet ?

scoobydoo1971 · 27/12/2019 13:15

It sounds about right to me. Quite reasonable compared to some vet charges tbh. I just spent £500 quid on a stray cat we are adopting...that is a microchip, GA castration, 2 prescriptions of metacam pain relief and a vet-approved flea treatment...three vet consultations at £40 a pop. Animals are not cheap! Maybe you could look into pet insurance options.

Livebythecoast · 27/12/2019 13:16

Our cat had 2 teeth out and a scale and polish 3 weeks ago. Cost £350 plus £30 for antibiotics after as she got an infection.
We pay £15 a month for pet healthcare. Would have been £400 without it.
It's been an expensive month on top of Christmas!

DrunkSanta · 27/12/2019 13:18

Have you asked your vet for a breakdown of costs? A dental procedure in a cat is something that is time consuming and takes a great deal of care and skill. Included in your £400 will be drugs including up to an hour of anaesthetic, use of fairly specialised dental equipment, the vet's time, the nurse's time and hospitalisation of your cat. It may also included sutures in the extraction sites and pre and post extraction xrays. When compared with private medicine or dental fees I find vet fees very good value. Recently I paid £250 for a 15min orthopaedic surgeon consultation. Makes your £400 look good value don't you think?

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