Why are vets so expensive

[bevelino]

My precious dog has been treated by our local vet but is now an in-patient at a veterinary hospital. The cost so far is way more than the cost of treating a human for the same condition privately,

Motorina Fortunately it was covered by insurance, but it took me about 10 weeks to be back at work. My spayed cat seemed completely normal the next day! My dog was a boy and I don't think he even noticed when he was castrated, though obviously that's less invasive than a spay.

@3JsMa
It's pretty awful that UK does not recognize support animals as a necessity (and I know few people where their GP was happy to confirm that their pet was definitely contributing to their recovery and well-being)
Any responsible pet owner will have pet insurance although we should be sensitive to those who can't afford one but their pet is a 'lifeline'

I agree, but it shouldn't be up to vets to subsidise this. People in receipt of a mobility allowance can spend it on leasing a car through the Motability scheme, but the motor industry does not subsidise the scheme. In the same way, people whose mental health will benefit from a pet in their life can choose to spend some of their Personal Independence Payment on pet insurance.

@Veterinari thank you for that.

The external wound was about the width of a little finger, so not insignificant.
I guess I need to suck up my annoyance of them down playing the injury and now charging me through the nose again

The cost for a ICU bed is a couple of thousand pounds a day. Does it cost £2k from the vet to have a dog in overnight? No.

Vets are AMAZING value. I can take my dog/cat/lizard/horse/parrot to the same person and they'll be able to treat them.

Anyone that can keep my dog happy and healthy can have as much of my money as they like!

[quote NiceTwin]@Veterinari thank you for that.

The external wound was about the width of a little finger, so not insignificant.
I guess I need to suck up my annoyance of them down playing the injury and now charging me through the nose again [/quote]
They aren't 'charging you through the nose'

They're charging you a reasonable cost for a fairly significant injury.

[quote NiceTwin]@Veterinari thank you for that.

The external wound was about the width of a little finger, so not insignificant.
I guess I need to suck up my annoyance of them down playing the injury and now charging me through the nose again [/quote]
Additionally any injury in the lower limb will be difficult to close. A finger width is big!

There's no 'spare' skin there to pull across and the wound will be under tension. That increases the risks of wound breakdown.
It's a difficult injury to treat

@BadEyeBri

If you don't like paying vets fees don't have a pet. It really is that simple.

And that’s why we don’t have any pets.

However I think that’s a pretty shitty attitude to take unilaterally as you are then excluding children from poorer families the privilege of owning a pet which can be incredibly life enhancing.

I don't know and I hope your dog recovers soon.
People looking to finish the NHS should take a look at vet prices..... It's more like what we'd pay.

I’m on a few breed specific Facebook pages
And Im always amazed at how many people will happily pay upwards of a min of £2000 -often £3000+++ for a puppy but didn’t think of what it will cost to insure the puppy
My dog cost me £44 a month for 7k lifetime
That’s incredibly cheap for my breed who are known for numerous problems
I’ve seen it as high as £120 a month for a similar policy
The first thing I did before I got my puppy was check the insurance price as I wanted to make sure I can insure him & didn’t want to get hit with a big bill

I honestly marvel at how extensive a vets knowledge has to be with all the different animals they see.

Its expensive in the sense that when my dogs need treatment Im paying 1000s up front before my insurance claim comes through (is this standard for everywhere?) But in relation to the treatment my dogs get, the speed at which they are seen and the attention they are given on those overnights stays I absolutely do think its great value for care and definitely less than the cost of human equivalents

@Chimeraforce

I don't know and I hope your dog recovers soon. People looking to finish the NHS should take a look at vet prices..... It's more like what we'd pay.

It's about 1/4 of what you'd pay. Look at private human healthcare costs

The cost for a ICU bed is a couple of thousand pounds a day. Does it cost £2k from the vet to have a dog in overnight? No.

I agree - about four years my cat was in for four days on a drip (kidney problems) and the total bill was about £1200, so a fraction of what it would cost for a person. We had two more precious years with him, leading a full and active life, thanks to the treatment he received.

If you can’t afford to insure your pet for the cost of veterinary treatment, you can’t afford to own the pet.

@justanotherneighinparadise so somehow I am now not only responsible for funding other people pet ownership, I'm also single handedly depriving children? Really? Grow up. The sense of entitlement around pet ownership is extraordinary.

[quote TibetanTerrier]@3JsMa
It's pretty awful that UK does not recognize support animals as a necessity (and I know few people where their GP was happy to confirm that their pet was definitely contributing to their recovery and well-being)
Any responsible pet owner will have pet insurance although we should be sensitive to those who can't afford one but their pet is a 'lifeline'

I agree, but it shouldn't be up to vets to subsidise this. People in receipt of a mobility allowance can spend it on leasing a car through the Motability scheme, but the motor industry does not subsidise the scheme. In the same way, people whose mental health will benefit from a pet in their life can choose to spend some of their Personal Independence Payment on pet insurance.[/quote]
At no point did I suggested that vets should subsidize medical care for pets.
I am just shocked by the general attitude by some vets that treat some people in need with such an abhorrent attitude.
For me vet equals someone who truly cares and loves animals.Clearly not.The thing that transpires in this thread with those who decided to call themselves vets is that if you are not loaded you are not deserving your pet,you are nothing to us.Not a single attempt to be kind and tactful.

@3JsMa stop putting words in my mouth. I am not loaded. Because I have pets I don't have other luxury items. No one should have to subsidise other people's wish to have a pet.
Perhaps if you spent a month walking in my shoes you would understand why I have those views.

The cost for a ICU bed is a couple of thousand pounds a day. Does it cost £2k from the vet to have a dog in overnight? No.

Agree with this. I worked icu a few years ago so my costs here will be out of date!
Our area
Icu bed per day = 1800
Blood transfusions 1600
Some medicines ie profanol = 900 a syringe .

Now work on a normal ward.
Again prices maybe out dates
Ward bed £375 per day
Cost of wage of staff
The nhs probably spent over £1500 to treat one of my patients yesterday.
Would be interesting to know how much a vet would charge for

1 night stay
Iron infusion (£600 just for additive)
Iv antibiotics TDS
IVF
Vet wage.

I expect slightly cheaper than human treatment.
My vet gives good value treatment. I don't moan. Pets cost

@3JsMa and let's move this away from what people deserve and re centre it around what pets deserve. If you get a pet you make a commitment to look after it. If you cannot live up to that commitment either financially or otherwise then you do not deserve that pet because YOU cannot met it's needs.
Pets are living creatures. Not appendages to human life. That you continue to centre this around human needs speaks volumes.

Apologies for grammar and spelling. I'm really cross

Aaaaaand we're pretty much back to that old chestnut, "You should do it for free if you love and care animals." Love and care for animals doesn't pay the overheads of running a veterinary surgery.

Totally agree @BadEyeBri

Vets and their fees do vary, a lot.
We have two vet practices in town. One charges almost twice what the other does for some drugs and procedures , to the point that insurance companies refuse to pay out the full invoice. Both are part of small chains with similar facilities.

I use the cheaper one, because of their ethos. Our vet is lovely and very frank talking about what treatment is worthwhile for the animal.

I would much prefer uk human health care to be like my vets. Much better value, much better accessibility and for a fraction of the price.

Vets get a shitty end of the stick from some people because they want NHS standards and no cost and they because they love their pet then vets should just love animals and live on thin air.

P.s. I am not a vet.

If you need medication then it's far far cheaper to get the vet to write a prescription and you can buy them online. My dog needs 3 different medications and including the frankly ludicrous £38 charge for the bit of paper from the vet, the medication has cost £130 for a three month supply. Getting it from the vet would have been over £500.

@BrigitsBigKnickers the piece of paper costs £38 because it is a private prescription. The charge of for the professional time and knowledge of your vet to ensure the dose, schedule and continuation of the medication is safe and appropriate for your pet.
Can I ask, in your job, do you work for free or do you expect to be paid for it?

@Veterinari may I be cheeky and ask a question too please?

My cat was hit by a car on 30th October. He had to have his jaw wired together and his hip joint removed. (We got him to the wonderful vet within an hour of his accident)

We followed all the guidance and he was finally allowed outside unescorted on 1st January.

Will he always limp? Or will it go away once he forms that false joint the vet talked about?

Vets are the cost they are, I'd have paid double to look after my cat. Insurance is vital if you have a pet.

Plus in a prepping situation it's good to have a vet on your team. They can apply their knowledge to humans (in an emergency) but human healthcare can't apply their knowledge to animals! Obvs best to have both but a vet is fab in so many ways