Rip off vets

[twiddlingthumbs69]

I'm sick and tired of being held to ransom by vets.
One of my cats has a long term condition which she needs medication for.
This used to require a twice yearly visit to the vets, one for assessment and the other one for blood tests. Both of these totalled £600. A lot of money but I understood the reasons behind it.
They've now informed me that due to changes in guidelines from the RCV they are "advised" to see her every 3 months. This will make the yearly bill nearly £1K.
On the assessments they literally weigh her and that's all.
They won't give me a prescription to take elsewhere without seeing her first (the meds are actually cheap, it's the assessment that's expensive) so, I'm stuck.
The whole process stresses her to such a degree it actually makes her problem worse. I've spoken to them about all this and just get a shrug of the shoulders.
Obvs I love her to bits and would be more than happy to pay to make her comfortable but I feel that they are literally using her as a cash machine with no concern for her.
It's not a chain of vets but an independent.
I'm just fed up with their extortionate fees. I've checked others in the area and they are much the same. Haven't got pet insurance as it's a pre existing condition.
Anyway I have to take her tomorrow for an assessment and I'll just have to bite the bullet but I'm seriously pissed off so just thought I'd offload here

My dog was on long term meds. They were happy to prescribe (either through them or a written prescription) without doing bloods as I said that stopping the medication wasn't an option due to the drop in her quality of life without it. As my actions wouldn't be changed by the blood test they were happy for me to sign a disclaimer saying I knew the risks etc.. Might be worth mentioning?

You are not held to ransom, you can tell the vet you want to stick to bi-annual checks, you can choose what treatment/service to use, and accept any consequences. They cannot force you to visit every 3 months.

I agree OP. It makes me so sad as there so many lovely pets being handed in for rehoming. Having a pet has become a luxury item!

Thank you both, that's very interesting. I was under the impression that they could refuse to prescribe if I didn't go when they asked.
I've made it very clear to them that I'm not happy and that if I thought for a second that she was deteriorating I'd bring her in straight away.
I'll tell them again tomorrow but it really wouldn't surprise me if they refuse to prescribe and tell me I'd get the same response from any vet.
Last time I refused the blood tests ( on the grounds that I couldn't afford it) I was giving a weeks meds and told to come back when I could afford it!

Change vet

@RickyGervaislovesdogs I agree. It's an absolute last resort, borne of desperation, to hand in a beloved pet. It's something I could never do, but I totally understand the circumstances in which that would be the only option left. 😢

My independent vet surgery now also recommends visits each 3 months. The difference is that they do not charge their regular clients for these extra 2 visits each year. Shop around other local vets!

@marmaladegranny wow, really. You've obviously found a vet who cares. You're not in Sussex are you?

@Crossstitching genius!! Never thought of that. Can you use a script more than once though?

Yes because you just send them a photo, unfortunately I had to do this when my very reactive dog needed medication and they wanted him in there every 3 months tranquillised and muzzled just to weight him

I had a 9 month prescription for galliprant last time DDog went in. Then I go on to pet drugs online and upload it, then can purchase it once a month or however many months I want.

Not legally you can't.

I think vets get a bad rep. We don’t pay for healthcare as humans so have lost sight of how much it costs.

My cat has cost me around £1300 recently due to a newly diagnosed health condition, Yes it is expensive, but the vet has to pay for their building, their staff, their equipment and numerous other things. On to[ of that you are paying for their expertise.

If you wanted to see a private doctor it wouldn’t be cheap either.

My vet explained everything regarding my cat’s condition, took bloods, explained the treatment plan, arranged a specialist to do the bits he could not and sorted out medication.

I now get a prescription for the meds and order online.

THe vet is beholden to guidance from the RCV, they can’t just choose to go against that without risking their licence.

Please folks, get your pets insured, yes you might have to pay up front but you will get it back.

And stop blaming your vet for the cost of treatment.

Yes to insurance, but if you take on an older rescue animal, it’s often very expensive for cover that doesn’t include pre existing conditions.

Wonder if vets are getting more requests to euthanise, rather than risk a huge treatment bill? If rescues are struggling to rehome pets with pre existing conditions?

Perfectly put!

This is fraud.

The govt has launched an investigation into vet charges as this inflation is so widespread.

You’re not alone OP. I’ve realised our vet has never once given us an invoice with full breakdown of charges.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-presses-ahead-with-full-investigation-into-vets-market#:~:text=The%20CMA%20has%20today%20confirmed,struggling%20with%20vet%20costs%20now.&text=This%20follows%20an%20initial%20review,working%20in%20the%20vet%20industry.

Feeling exactly the same as you. I have 4 cats all v healthy but get very stressed about vets. I've just been told they must all be assessed every 6 months just to get flea treatment. That's your consultation fees every 6 months and unnecessary stress for them. It feels as if vets are really milking pet owners right now. Off topic but related - I just got exactly the same feeling from my dentist who wanted me to have a set of totally unnecessary X-rays. When I questioned it I basically didn't need them at all. He just wanted to make more money! It's like every interaction is being monetised right now just when people are really struggling.

I have before and intend to use the next one at every online store I can find to buy flea treatment for as long as possible rather than stress my cats with unnecessary consultations!

Agree with @WilmaFlintstone1 We're too used to free healthcare as humans we don't appreciate the training, cost of support staff, running a clinic etc etc that goes into providing vet services. People should factor in all of that (and increasing costs as they age) when considering getting a pet.

And dental X-rays can identify issues that can be solved earlier if known about. So while it may not have been essential, it may result in better early/preventative care.

Professionals generally don't suggest tests and treatments just "to make more money".

Yes, I buy flea treatment and wormer online. My cat was rescued as feral, although she’s very friendly. She gets super stressed and it’s cruel to capture and transport her every six months.

It's not about the costs of the treatments, it's about vet practices pushing for unnecessary treatments and checkups and refusing repeat perscriptions without them. It actively harms, especially older animals, as they can't afford to be stressed that much.

The vet practices that do this don't give a damn about the well-being of the animal. How can it be in anyway beneficial to sedate an old cat, just to weigh them or draw blood when the perscription won't change.

We are trying to keep the quality of life for our elderly pets and some vets are actively working against us.. For that they deserve all the blame.

@Life2Short4Nonsense exactly! Last time I took her for bloods three of them had to hold her down and resorted to putting a towel over her as well. She was distraught and screaming, I was told to leave the room. Considering her condition is bought on by stress it was totally unnecessary and cruel.
Absolutely no consideration was given to her welfare.
It's all profit driven these days and they've got you by the short and curlies by saying it's RCV guidelines. GUIDELINES being the operative word!!
Taking her in at 2pm today and preparing for all out war now

My previous vet office was a little like yours. Often had to come in and she always had to be sedated for blood to be drawn. Her blood sugar was always through the roof because of how stressed she was.

I really hit the jackpot with my current vet and I can't sing their praises enough. They accepted all the paperwork from my previous vet (once I managed to wrangle all the paperwork from them. It was a mess) and they have been giving me repeat perscriptions without ever even seeing my cat. They found the previous medical information more than sufficient.

My cat is almost 18 now. When she dies I won't be getting another one. I don't want to deal with vet's offices anymore, even though I lucked out with my current one.