My three-and-a half year old cat has just had his annual check and vaccinations, and I’ve been told he has to have two molar teeth extracted - at a cost of £626. The after care medicine and painkillers cost £78 - but online they are £17. Many pet drugs are excessively expensive versions of human drugs, so why are vets charging so much? This is a terrific exploitation of pet lovers, and I see the Competition and Marketing Authority is revewing vet fees, as 60% of the country’s vets are owned by 6 major conglomerations. Some online replies to this overcharging say say vets have to pay more for their drugs than the online costs, but if there is a large company owning so many practices, they should be able to offer economies of scale purchases. When I queried the cost the receptionist said she’d just had to pay £15 for a roll of disposable paper but £600+ for tooth extraction?
I know we have a higher standard of pet care now, but back in the day my cats never had vaccinations, only had flea treatment when needed, wandered in and out for basic cat food. We even treated abscesses with saline swabs and almost never saw a vet yet they all lived to a ripe old age.
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The litter tray
Extortionate Vets Bills
Coco1379 · 21/03/2024 09:11
mollyminniemo · 09/04/2024 09:51
I was recently charged £100 for a guinea pig UTI. Examined my pig 5 minutes. Given literally 5ml of pain relief and antibiotics. I’ve looked up the price to buy them direct online (sadly only with a vet prescription). A 20ml bottle is £7. So the vet absolutely ripped us off and they do to the majority of pet owners. Sadly this is why millions of pets are dying long slow painful deaths from illnesses/ even broken bones that people can’t afford to get treated OR simply put down at the first hurdle. It has to stop.
Kwasi · 09/04/2024 10:42
But what do you think the actual vet practice’s overheads are for 5 minutes?
mollyminniemo · 09/04/2024 09:51
I was recently charged £100 for a guinea pig UTI. Examined my pig 5 minutes. Given literally 5ml of pain relief and antibiotics. I’ve looked up the price to buy them direct online (sadly only with a vet prescription). A 20ml bottle is £7. So the vet absolutely ripped us off and they do to the majority of pet owners. Sadly this is why millions of pets are dying long slow painful deaths from illnesses/ even broken bones that people can’t afford to get treated OR simply put down at the first hurdle. It has to stop.
mollyminniemo · 09/04/2024 09:51
I was recently charged £100 for a guinea pig UTI. Examined my pig 5 minutes. Given literally 5ml of pain relief and antibiotics. I’ve looked up the price to buy them direct online (sadly only with a vet prescription). A 20ml bottle is £7. So the vet absolutely ripped us off and they do to the majority of pet owners. Sadly this is why millions of pets are dying long slow painful deaths from illnesses/ even broken bones that people can’t afford to get treated OR simply put down at the first hurdle. It has to stop.
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