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,

The other thing that bugs me is some of the people grumbling about vets will stupidly pay thousands to buy dogs, as though it’s a one off cost.

[quote SciFiScream]@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 [/quote]
@SciFiScream if he had a femoral head and neck excision then that limb will be shorter than before and he may well always have a limp. However as the joint stabilises and the muscles strengthen it will probably become less obvious. He'll very likely regain much of his previous athleticism. Cats are incredible

@Veterinari, apologies... that’s mind-bogglingly low. I hope nobody saw the salary I posted, and now thinks vets are rolling in it...

@Honeyroar

Yes vets earn a lot less than people think and work very hard. My vets are very good. Always been fair. They know me pretty well after years of horses and dogs, and know we don’t insure. They will often discount medicines for me so they’re as close to the online pharmacies as possible (I have a lot of elderly animals on long term meds). They know wherever possible I will buy from them. I’d rather pay a little bit extra at the vets than online - our vets is still independent.

Totally agree @Honeyroar. I don't see these online companies holding my hand when lizard dog nearly lost an eye. That's worth a profit margin on prescription drugs IMO. bloody love my vets. They're all wonderful.

And whilst @bevelino has left the thread. I should probably apologise on the off chance you're still reading. I was short this morning. Your question wasn't unreasonable, though it was poorly worded. It was getting less than half a dozen posts in and the 'greedy' slandering starting already that pissed me off, and I lumped my responses altogether in one post.

I know you'll be worried about your dog so sorry if I added to that

You are welcome @Veterinari

I cannot think of a single vet that has not been visibly and genuinely concerned when my dogs have been in real trouble, even more so when the time comes to PTS.

That also goes for the other vet staff. Only a few days ago a vet nurse remembered my dog and asked about a previous issue, just based on her memory of him. Including giving accurate commentry on behaviour changes since she saw him last. For this to happen, the memory must have registered as worth saving, in her mind, iyswim.

I do not believe he is just £ to them. He is an individual who they remember caring for.

Vets, IMO can be expensive, that's why their first question is often 'are you insured?'

We tend to pay cash for any veterinary treatment. So far and 3 dogs and half a dozen horses/ponies, we're quids in. We discuss the problem and very often take a box rest and see approach. One of our collies we were told had cruciate ligament injury - we had sedation and xrays which we paid for. The problem was the dog in question we knew would not tolerate a cone and would do everything to destroy it. We also knew she'd chew out any stiches if she could. So all in all a bit tricky as she also is ball obsessed and wants to play and run about all the time. We took advice on how long it might take to recover, and effectively kept her indoors for 3 weeks, refused to play with her and bribed her to be still (she will sit for hours to wait for a treat) till her mind was off playing ball. Then, when she appeared sound, we walked her only in a straight line and kept her off running activities particularly chasing balls as she'd be turning lots and luckily the injury healed itself and didn't return - the past 3 years she's been happily running about at full pelt playing ball. Had it not worked I'm unsure we'd have let her have surgery, but we followed the non-surgery route advice with controlled exercise and it worked.

@bevelino

I have pet insurance, however that aside the vet fees are astronomical and over £3000 for a 4 day stay at the veterinary hospital for iv fluids, ultrasound scan and painkillers.

@Veterinari please don’t comment if you are unable to be polite.

I don't think @Veterinari was being rude at all. OP, you seem to just want to believe what you believe and are getting upset when you are put straight. If you think that vet prices are higher than human then you clearly have never paid for your healthcare. It is way more expensive for human care.

@Veterinari He also wasn't legislated by the veterinary medicines directorate

Could you just expand on this comment to Buddywoo please are you implying vets and medication in Spain is somehow lesser that that in the UK?

We did exactly that with our lab when her cruciate went. She had another good three years on it before she died.

Up to about 18 years ago we had pet rats, they sometimes get non-malignant tumours that can grow very large and need removing or the animal PTS. Back then an operation to remove the tumour would be about £60.

Since then I've heard from friends and family about how vet costs have increased massively.

Apparently the law has changed, it used to be that in order to own a vet practice, you had to be a vet. Now they can be owned by private finance groups, so in many cases the main motivation is money, and decisions are no longer up to the vets, they are just employees. People love their pets and will pay to keep them alive.

Now our children are older we've got some more rats, and I'm dreading if they become ill. I haven't contacted the vet since we last had pets, however a few months back I tried to contact them about a sick wild animal, and I couldn't get through. This is the vet that for the last half century has been the place you go to for help with any animal, at any time, wild or domestic. In the end I found help from a volunteer who helps wild animals.

I'm concerned that this vet is no longer as good as they were. I found out that you have to register your animals with them first, that never used to be the case.

@Veterinari I object to you saying I have slagged you off, I have said nothing personal about you.

For the record, I love my horse vet. He is as honest and as brutal as the day is long, no pussy footing round bad news, he tells it as it is. My last visit surprised me because it came in cheaper than expected

I do not discuss price with my friend, we tend to stay away from work chat and it is not her place to justify their prices.

Covid and the handing over of animals in the car park certainly doesn't help communication. Had we had a face to face consult, the removing of the bandage and the gaping wound would have been discussed. It's rather difficult when they give you the dog back as a fait accompli unbandaged.

I'm sure she will heal, it will just take time, possibly more time than if she had been treated elsewhere who had a different approach to the wound.

[quote BronwenFrideswide]**@Veterinari* He also wasn't legislated by the veterinary medicines directorate*

Could you just expand on this comment to Buddywoo please are you implying vets and medication in Spain is somehow lesser that that in the UK?[/quote]
The VMD legislates and controls all aspects of Uk vet medicines

www.gov.uk/government/collections/veterinary-medicines-guidance-notes-vmgns

This means all categorising, imports, licensing and sales of vet medicines are regulated separately from human medicines in the UK

There's a requirement called 'cascade' that vets must legally follow. Meaning that our ability to use generic drugs is legally limited. E.g. there will be human antibiotics that are cheaply available from human medical suppliers (because economy of scale) but vets must legally use the licensed veterinary medicine if it exists (even though it will be more expensive for the same formulation)

www.gov.uk/guidance/the-cascade-prescribing-unauthorised-medicines

These restrictions don't apply in all countries. They are developed in the UK to ensure food security and make sure only tested, licensed medications with no adverse effects are used in food producing animals. It's why we don't use the antibiotics and growth hormones that are common in farm animals outside of the UK. So there are good reasons for it.

But the downside is increased medicines costs.

People are now just making up stuff they think they've read on this thread...

[quote NiceTwin]@Veterinari I object to you saying I have slagged you off, I have said nothing personal about you.

For the record, I love my horse vet. He is as honest and as brutal as the day is long, no pussy footing round bad news, he tells it as it is. My last visit surprised me because it came in cheaper than expected

I do not discuss price with my friend, we tend to stay away from work chat and it is not her place to justify their prices.

Covid and the handing over of animals in the car park certainly doesn't help communication. Had we had a face to face consult, the removing of the bandage and the gaping wound would have been discussed. It's rather difficult when they give you the dog back as a fait accompli unbandaged.

I'm sure she will heal, it will just take time, possibly more time than if she had been treated elsewhere who had a different approach to the wound.[/quote]
You can object all you like. You might want to read what I actually wrote first though before objecting to things I did not say.

I'm sure she will heal, it will just take time, possibly more time than if she had been treated elsewhere who had a different approach to the wound.

I don't know why you're bothering to pay for veterinary treatment. You sound like an expert!

Please do not confuse your google search with my veterinary degree.
Thanks you, vets

Meds aren't always cheaper online, an old horse of ours required daily medication, our vet worked cheaper per month than buying online. I know this because I asked about writing a script, so they calculated the cost for me so I could compare.

If you think dog bills are pricey, try owning horses!

@Veterinari that's exactly the op he had! Thanks (I always forget the name). The vet said he was a bit of a miracle as he was weight bearing on his injured leg almost as soon as he came round from the anaesthetic.
He's a young cat and was very fit/healthy when he had the accident/operation I think this helped.

I just worry when I see him limping as I wonder if he's in pain and cats are so good at hiding being in pain.

It makes sense that a shorter leg will mean a bit of a limp.

Thanks again for the info.
I'm very grateful for vets and the team. I value you and the work you do.

On Tuesday my lovely lurcher was bitten on the leg (by a labradoodle ffs). There was a patch of skin missing - about an inch square.
I got home, called the vet who told me to come in as soon as I could. He was seen immediately, given options for treatment from a quick clean and cover (£) to sedation, stitches (££). I chose the stitches and they took him in, sorted him out, kept him in for 3 hours, cleaned up his diarrhoea, gave him some food, calmed him down and then called me to collect. I was treated with kindness and understanding. It cost me £350 which is a total bargain. I believe he was a total PITA but they were gentle and patient.
I had a root canal and crown pre-lockdown and it cost me £850 even with my dental plan. I had to wait for nearly an hour and the dentist made me feel like an inconvenience. I was in for 45 mins.
I guess some people have a bad experience with their vet or suspect that some treatment is unnecessary. I would suggest coming on here and asking @Veterinari who gives brilliant advice completely free of charge!

@GreyDoggo

On Tuesday my lovely lurcher was bitten on the leg (by a labradoodle ffs). There was a patch of skin missing - about an inch square. I got home, called the vet who told me to come in as soon as I could. He was seen immediately, given options for treatment from a quick clean and cover (£) to sedation, stitches (££). I chose the stitches and they took him in, sorted him out, kept him in for 3 hours, cleaned up his diarrhoea, gave him some food, calmed him down and then called me to collect. I was treated with kindness and understanding. It cost me £350 which is a total bargain. I believe he was a total PITA but they were gentle and patient. I had a root canal and crown pre-lockdown and it cost me £850 even with my dental plan. I had to wait for nearly an hour and the dentist made me feel like an inconvenience. I was in for 45 mins. I guess some people have a bad experience with their vet or suspect that some treatment is unnecessary. I would suggest coming on here and asking *@Veterinari* who gives brilliant advice completely free of charge!

Thanks but my skills are limited remotely - ethically and legally I can only advise on animals under my care. The rest is really just advice based on general principles.

There are also some really wonderful other vet and VN posters in these boards that I've learned lots from too.

But we do all have lives too and our advice would always be as a first course of action, speak to your own vet. If that relationship breaks down then seek help with another vet.

I have a wonderful vet, been with her for years & we have a great rapport. Privately owned practice. I often say wish she could treat me instead of our GP who isn’t great. Doors all locked since last March, rarely answer the phone, everyone complains but that’s another matter completely.
Just something about insurance. I know not everyone’s I’ll agree with me, so please don’t have a go, just saying what my experience has been.
I’ve been keeping, showing & breeding one of our very rarest Native British breeds for over 40 years, always right up there near or at the top of the Kennel Club at risk list. Rarely more than half a dozen litters bred a year, one year my litter of just three were the only ones that year registered, so I’ve kept a lot of dogs over the years, many vet visits although they are a pretty tough, healthy bunch.
My point, you’re wondering, I take out insurance fir any new puppies, just for a few week to tide them I totheir new homes, then the new owners can decide if they want to continue, change provider, just pay bills themselves. But I’ve never ever taken out insurance in my own dogs.
What I do is set aside a given amount each month to pay into a show rate savings account just for the dogs. I roughly pay what an insurance premium would be. Any vet bills come out of it .
Over the years it has more than covered all the bills, even a few hospital stays, operations, specialist referrals for my tiny different breed little shadow. Must say it’s a very healthy balance now, a good several thousand pounds, double figures. All vet bills happily covered but no surplus premiums to insurance companies.

Sorry, errors....
I know not everyone will agree with me.
And the less than half dozen litters a year was not just me, heaven forbid, but for everyone in the breed. Most years less than 40 puppies registered in the entire UK.

Oh dear...LOW rate savings account ( not show). Really wish mumsnet would install an edit facility

Because they know we'll pay anything for our pets! 😊