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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To still be angry 3 days later…

154 replies

Somethingintheheavens · 19/03/2026 05:58

I’m not even sure if I’m angry or if I’m still upset tbh.

I Have a golden retriever who is 2, they have a very rare medical disorder that took us nearly a year and nearly 10k to be diagnosed (thankfully they have very very good insurance).

Anyway after several different interventions we finally have a diagnosis (sort of, as it’s rare they don’t have a name for it but we know what the condition is and therefore now how to treat it, as a result she now has the medication and treatment - practically healthy - if she doesn’t have her medication she loses control of her back legs and is in significant pain.

her insurance has now ran out so I’m paying for the meds out of pocket for 3 months (most of the money was used up on MRI’s etc) - I went to her vets on Monday and got her new meds for the month - £390!! I had no idea they were that expensive as previously it had all been on insurance.

I paid and then got into the car and burst into tears - I don’t have £400 a month! And I sat there realising that after everything she’s been through, despite now being a ‘normal’ healthy dog, I might have to put her to sleep because I won’t have her back in the pain she was in before.

I then googled the prices of her meds - the medication that they had charged me £300 for a month is 15p a tablet (she is on 3 different types of mediation)

£15 for 100 tablets which is what she needed.

I went back into the vets (looking like an absolute wreck at this point) and demanded a refund, arranged a private prescription and the meds were delivered yesterday.

But I’m still seething. I have spent an absolute fortune (well the insurance company has) with these vets - I feel so let down and angry over it.

i knew meds were more expensive via the vets but that is insane - and now I am left with all those emotions (despite the situation being resolved) and I don’t know how to let go of it.

so AIBU to still be so so angry? And if so, what do I do to get rid of it?

OP posts:

FlaggedParrot · 22/03/2026 01:31

Has been a well known fact since the dawn of time that the same meds bought from a chemist not a vet will cost a fraction of the price.
Can't see the point of getting worked up over such a commonly known thing that was resolved immediately.
But then the world is such a mess that I guess I look at the big picture - that I can't fix - screwing us over.

EdithStourton · 22/03/2026 08:27

TutiFrutti · 21/03/2026 22:42

The VMD regulate the veterinary industry. Under certain circumstances vets can prescribe piriton but cannot advise you to get it directly from a chemist and pretend it's for you. The RCVS also advise against it but that's a recommendation.

Show quote history

Interesting, thank you for responding.

I have saved myself a fortune in vet bills over the years by treating things like allergic reactions and cut pads at home, using over-the-counter (or straight off the shelf) items like antiseptic cream. I have a sizeable stash of vet wrap, wound powder and so on. The initial outlay has long since recouped itself, and I have plenty left.

Labelledelune · 23/03/2026 12:12

PlanBFertility26 · 19/03/2026 20:50

Urgh. I always try and refrain from commenting on these posts but here goes.

Speaking as a vet and a business owner. Are we ‘in it for the money’? No. Do we need our business to be profitable so that we can stay open and provide care for pets in the community, yes. As do any other businesses.

It blows my mind that in this day and age people are still comparing online prices to clinic prices. Of course they’re cheaper online. The online company can buy the meds CHEAPER from wholesalers than we can. They have minimal overheads. No staff training costs, laboratory costs, instruments and supplies etc. Our drug prices take in account our overheads and the fact you can get them there and then.

Yes the CMA is investigating us. And I whole heartedly welcome some of the recommendations. Do I agree it should be my job to constantly remind people they can buy drugs online cheaper? No. My job is to diagnose and treat patients and inform owners. An owners job is to make us aware of your financial limitations so we can help.

For everyone that throws mud at us - please remember we are humans. Humans who put their life on hold to pursue a job to help animals. I definitely would have been much wealthier (and a lot less stressed) in numerous other professions but I don’t see them get daily bashing. You don’t see the patients I’ve had signed over to me so I can fix them and re-home them; strays I’ve fixed and re-homed; wildlife I’ve nursed back to health and released in my garden. All the majority see are pound signs.

I urge you to be kind. If you want to openly discuss finances, do so! We want to help you just as much as we want to help your furbabies

I see your point but for a vet to charge £30 for a prescription is ludicrous.

thesurrealist · 23/03/2026 12:34

I feel your pain! I have a two year old golden too and despite being "well bred" - mum and grandmother live with the owner and Dad is KC registered, he's recently been diagnosed with hypermobility and hip dysplasia. It just the luck of the draw. He's also highly anxious and that presents as being a pain in the arse - barking, mouthing etc. So he's on fluoxetine for that and also got some good pain relief now, so he's getting there. It is a well known fact that goldens are slow to mature, so don't expect a civilised dog until they are at least 3!

I'm with an independent vets and also have really good insurance - he was insured from the day before his first vet check up with the breeder as I was paranoid! My vets are so reasonable with their pricing and also do direct claims for insurance for big things like x-rays or elective surgery. They are also fantastic with him as he's really nervous going there and hates to be examined. They were also amazing with my previous dog who had a lot of complex medical issues in the last few years of his life.

I know how stressful it is as they can't tell us what's wrong and we have to advocate for them and make decisions for them....but they love us and we are their entire worlds so we owe it to them to give them the best life, and it sounds like you are doing that. Your girl is so lucky to have you and here's hoping that she has a long and healthy life - and calms down to become the cuddle bug that is the heart of a golden.

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