vets

[earnshaw47]

why do vets charge £80 per month for tablets which cost £5 on the internet , who can afford that on top of their fees

What sort of tablets?
Are they prescription only?

So buy them off the internet then? It seems a bit of a non-issue.

I buy the prescription drugs one mine needs to take every day online. I have to buy the prescriptions from the vet, they charge £20 for each one which I think is a bit steep considering she’s on three different heart drugs, so a separate prescription for each. They last for six months. But even paying this I’ve saved £584 each six months for them buying online compared to what the vet was charging me. Online £145, from the vet , £729 .
Once, not that many years ago, the vet had to, by law, provide you with a prescription free for any drug they prescribed if you requested one, I know as I used to buy for another for mine then online. Once the law was scrapped they began to charge for writing a prescription. There are several really good online suppliers, very reliable, who I’ve used for years that I can recommend if you want. The drugs I’ve found are exactly the same brand, come in exactly the same packaging as those supplied by the vet bought from the vet.

Because they’re greedy. You can buy the prescription and get them on the internet. I use petdrugsonline.com

Veterinary practice's have to legally buy meds from a veterinary wholesaler , they are not allowed to buy them online as you can, they cannot get them any where near as cheap as you can online.
You are able to purchase a written prescription from your vets and then purchase the meds from your own sourced pet meds supplier.
Obviously by buying the meds online you loose the back up of the practice if the meds are not what you expected , that said any reputable supplier follows the prescription correctly , they also randomly check on the validity of the signature /script details by calling the practice that has produced the script .
Not all meds are available online and not all are cheaper online.

I’ve yet to find one that isn’t cheaper online.
I would have thought the online suppliers buy their stock from the same wholesalers , especially as they’re the same brands in the exact same packaging.

i was told you need a prescription

The vet will charge you for them to write a prescription and then you can buy online

@Suzi888

Because they’re greedy. You can buy the prescription and get them on the internet. I use petdrugsonline.com

You work for free then do you @Suzi888 ?

@earnshaw47
For many reasons.

1. Online pharmacies can buy drugs in significant quantities which makes them cheaper - economy of scale.

1. Vets are not allowed to purchase their stick from online pharmacies but must use regulated wholesalers. Vets cannot buy most drugs at cost from wholesalers for the price you can buy from online pharmacies. So they cannot price match without losing money.

1. Each prescription requires a review of the animal's medical history, a check of recent tests or exam results and consideration of any side effects. This takes time.

1. In order to keep drugs in stock and staff to do stock checks, drug orders and pharmacy services we have to pay overheads - building, heating, lighting, refrigeration, salaries.

Or if you're hard of thinking you can assume greed @Suzi888
But it's worth noting that many vet practices are closing, vets are in the shortage occupation list and many practices are struggling to recruit because the realities of the long hours and limited pay combined with dealing with members of the public who slander us at every turn mean that many vets no longer want to do this job. Might be worth considering when you're looking for a professional to write that prescription or to provide your pet with 24 hour emergency healthcare.

@Darklane

I’ve yet to find one that isn’t cheaper online. I would have thought the online suppliers buy their stock from the same wholesalers , especially as they’re the same brands in the exact same packaging.

The online pharmacies are able to buy direct from the manufacturers as they are regulated in a different way. Veterinary practices have to purchase from one of the three licensed wholesalers. Though that has changed with one major drug company in that the wholesaler no longer owns the stock it is merely delivered by them. Practices were told it would make prices clearer, all just smoke and mirrors for prices to go up to us. Veterinary practices are gradually altering their price structure and you will see professional fees ( consults/ ops etc) get more expensive and drug prices will be static/fall.

[quote Veterinari]@earnshaw47
For many reasons.

1. Online pharmacies can buy drugs in significant quantities which makes them cheaper - economy of scale.

1. Vets are not allowed to purchase their stick from online pharmacies but must use regulated wholesalers. Vets cannot buy most drugs at cost from wholesalers for the price you can buy from online pharmacies. So they cannot price match without losing money.

1. Each prescription requires a review of the animal's medical history, a check of recent tests or exam results and consideration of any side effects. This takes time.

1. In order to keep drugs in stock and staff to do stock checks, drug orders and pharmacy services we have to pay overheads - building, heating, lighting, refrigeration, salaries.

Or if you're hard of thinking you can assume greed @Suzi888
But it's worth noting that many vet practices are closing, vets are in the shortage occupation list and many practices are struggling to recruit because the realities of the long hours and limited pay combined with dealing with members of the public who slander us at every turn mean that many vets no longer want to do this job. Might be worth considering when you're looking for a professional to write that prescription or to provide your pet with 24 hour emergency healthcare.
[/quote]
Thankyou very much , well said.
I am sick of the vet bashing threads on here lately ,the ignorance we read just shows how little people know of our profession , the stress , sheer bloody hard work , passion , compassion, financial outlay you know exactly what i describe I'm sure !
Probably the same types who tell us' money doesn't matter just do whatever' - then omit to pay the bill , sure you've had a few of them .
I shouldn't let a few anonymous people get my back up but they do .
Also they are quick to thank us when we can supply the drug they have left till the last minute to order which is now out of stock online but we have some as our wholesaler prioritises practices.

I know.
I'm pretty sure if I started threads asking - why do people have pets they can't afford? And other veterinary professionals chipped in with 'because they're neglectful/selfish' then there would (quite rightly) be an outcry from posters.

But it's totally fine to start threads on here insinuating vet costs are excessive and slandering us as greedy

@vetinari
🙄you again ...
They are the words of a retired vet I know. Everyone knows vets inflate prices, even vets. Otherwise they wouldn’t tell you to go elsewhere to buy the medications, would they. It’s hardly rocket science!

Oops pressed post too soon.
Yes they are greedy. Very greedy and they pray on people’s love of their animals and should be ashamed. I’d hate to be associated with the profession!

[quote Suzi888]@vetinari
🙄you again ...
They are the words of a retired vet I know. Everyone knows vets inflate prices, even vets. Otherwise they wouldn’t tell you to go elsewhere to buy the medications, would they. It’s hardly rocket science![/quote]
We are legally required to inform you that you may have a prescription to go elsewhere so we are merely carrying out our legal duty.
It is greedy to expect to be paid fairly for the job we trained long and hard and got in considerable debt to do. Our salaries lag far behind comparable professionals, if it was about the money we would be doing other things.
Owning a pet is expensive, private medical care whether it is for you or your pet is expensive.

[quote Suzi888]@vetinari
🙄you again ...
They are the words of a retired vet I know. Everyone knows vets inflate prices, even vets. Otherwise they wouldn’t tell you to go elsewhere to buy the medications, would they. It’s hardly rocket science![/quote]
You sound rather paranoid.

It's utterly impossible to have a sensible discussion with someone who thinks personal attacks and their own opinion are more valuable than actual reality and basic economics. The only thing you've contributed to this thread is name-calling. How valuable

I guess you hold doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in the same regard? After all they make their money from sick people. Paediatricians make their money from sick children - I expect they should work for free too?

@Suzi888
The average paediatrician salary in the Uk is £121k, (about 3x the pay of a vet) they make their money from sick children, are they 'greedy' too?

What is it you do for work by the way?
Apart from sitting behind a keyboard and attacking others

[quote Veterinari]@Suzi888
The average paediatrician salary in the Uk is £121k, (about 3x the pay of a vet) they make their money from sick children, are they 'greedy' too?

What is it you do for work by the way?
Apart from sitting behind a keyboard and attacking others[/quote]
You do the attacking. You repeatedly engage and never let anyone have an opinion. Ever.
I’m a housing manager.

I vet personally told me that the practice she used to own has been turned into a cash cow and the vets employed don’t care about animals. But hey, you know best. 🙄

Suzi888 - so from a comment told to you about a practice your friend used to own that is now a cash cow manned by vets that don't care about animals , you have decided that everyone in our profession are all greedy money grabbers who don't care much about the animals in our care .
How bizarre to come to that conclusion , you clearly show you have very little knowledge of the running of a veterinary practice and the types of people that inhabit them .
I do hope that you are not one of my clients , its quite upsetting knowing someone has so little trust .

Sadly I think my vet practice is in for the money too :( Each time I go, there is a mention to something that cost extra money. The other day, I took my dog for her booster shots. The vet listened to the heart and concluded that she had a heart murmur of 1 or 2. Before I could ask what that meant, she went on to say that they'll monitor and do an ultrasound on her heart next time I brought her.

I was quite anxious about it so made an appointment with First Vet to discuss and they said that at 1 or 2, they wouldn't be worried, that it is common and as long as the dog is active and showing no sign of concern, they wouldn't expect them to get an ultrasound unless it got to 3 or more.

One time I called them to say I was concerned that she might have swallowed a bit of washing powder and they told me to bring her in and that they would probably need to wash up her stomach. I panicked, called First Vet, they looked at her via video, asked me questions, and then said that she would be ok and just to monitor her overnight. Sure enough, she was absolutely fine.

I don't trust the skills of the vets at our local practice and I would feel happy for them to treat my dog for something serious, but I sadly do believe they will try to push for tests that are not necessary for the money.

I’ve twice in the past had problems with a vet’s diagnosis. Two different vets at two different practices.
One of my Skyes had begun to limp. Took her in. The vet said it’s a problem with her growing plate in her shoulder, I’ll book her in for an operation, end of the week. Took her home, thought odd! She was walking fine three days ago so I put her on my grooming table & gave her a good going over, which incidentally the vet hadn’t done. Noticed she winced a bit when I touched her front paw. Pulled the hair back & found a tiny bit of puss coming from a nail bed. Took her back next day. Oh yes, a nail bed infection, here’s five days worth of antibiotics. Charged full price for two consultations, & of course antibiotics, but at least saved the cost of a misdiagnosed shoulder operation.

Second time, different vet practice. One went in for a minor operation. They rang at 3pm to say collect in an hour. When I got there she was only half conscious, icy cold. I asked them to keep her in till she was round properly but they refused, got quite insistent that she was fine, just needed to rest at home. Drove home with her next to me on the passenger seat I was so concerned. It was a boiling hot day, so hot that I’d had trouble starting my car at the vets as the mixture had evaporated in the carburettor. But she was still icy cold.
For three days following I took her back to the vet saying she’s still not right, hardly wakes, won’t eat. Oh she’s fine they said, just needs time.
On the next day she just managed to get on my knee on the sofa & after ten minutes was dead.
Needless to say none of my dogs ever crossed the door of that vet practice again.

If you honestly think your vets are ripping you off and only interested in money then change vets.
I think the NHS means we have little idea how much medication and treatment actually cost. Vets have to cover the cost of the medication, plus salaries, costs associated with their property plus scanners and machines needed to do all the work they do.
Ours are truly interested in what’s best for the pet. They have advised me against some very expensive options as they didn’t think it was in the best interest of the animal.
I choose to have my pets monitored and looked after by a vet.
You can choose to book an appointment and get a prescription to buy online if you prefer.
But don’t make out that all vets are money grabbing opportunists just because you have a pet that needs an expensive drug.

You do the attacking. You repeatedly engage and never let anyone have an opinion. Ever.

Please point out where I've called anyone names like you have it where you've given a reasoned response to the OPlike I have?

I’m a housing manager.
Does that mean you make your living from homeless people or those struggling to afford their own homes?

I vet personally told me that the practice she used to own has been turned into a cash cow and the vets employed don’t care about animals. But hey, you know best.

Oh ok - well if a single vet told you then it must be true. Odd that she sold her own practice to a corporate group employing uncaring vets when she clearly cares so much about animals and has such high ethics herself - why did she do that? I can totally see why you'd value the opinion of someone so utterly I corrupted by financial motivation

So people expect a prescription written by their vet to be free?

Have you every asked an NHS GP to countersign a document for you? Do you think you'd get that free? No you wouldn't. Even certain letters and reports will be charged for, or a copy of your medical history.

And that's from the 'free at point of contact' NHS.

And yet you expect your vet, in private practice, to give you a prescription without charge?