Discussion
I've had to take a few of my pets to the vets over the past few weeks and noticed that their charges seem to have escalated quite alarming recently, this is with two different vets. A visit 3 weeks ago cost £43 just for a 5 minute consultation with no meds, yesterday cost £65 but cat has flu so that included an antibiotic jab and to get two other cats vaccinated today cost £120. I seem to remember paying £25 for a consultation not so long ago so is this the norm, is it just the vets in my area (SE London) charging a lot or should I be changing my vet?
Not dissimilar to what to I pay at my local vets, in NW Essex.
For me, I choose a vet based on the care they give to my pets. Money simply doesn't come into it, I accept that risk with pet ownership. Not a dig at all, I promise, it's just that I wouldn't change my vet if they increased their prices a bit.
For me, I choose a vet based on the care they give to my pets. Money simply doesn't come into it, I accept that risk with pet ownership. Not a dig at all, I promise, it's just that I wouldn't change my vet if they increased their prices a bit.
Ekona said:
For me, I choose a vet based on the care they give to my pets. Money simply doesn't come into it, I accept that risk with pet ownership. Not a dig at all, I promise, it's just that I wouldn't change my vet if they increased their prices a bit.
This is the other problem, you seem to see a different vet each time and they are always youngsters since the practice owner has semi retired due to health issues. No disrespect to young or new vets but It's my pet's health that's at stake and I'm convinced their inexperience nearly killed my uncle's GSD a year or two ago.Were the vaccination charges for whole courses or just booster injections? If just boosters that's a bit steep but everything else sounds reasonable for London prices.
If you want to see the same vet each time ask the receptionist to make sure they make the appointment with the vet you ask to see. Accept you may have to be a bit flexible because not every vet will be there all the time. If the practice won't do this, or the vets are changing on a very frequent basis, change vets.
If you want to see the same vet each time ask the receptionist to make sure they make the appointment with the vet you ask to see. Accept you may have to be a bit flexible because not every vet will be there all the time. If the practice won't do this, or the vets are changing on a very frequent basis, change vets.
gd49 said:
Were the vaccination charges for whole courses or just booster injections? If just boosters that's a bit steep but everything else sounds reasonable for London prices.
The cats haven't been done for a few years so it'll be the whole course so not sure if I'll get charged again, I expect I will.A few months ago my Tortoises showed signs of acute and very serious septicaemia.
I saw it on Sunday night and decided it needed to be looked at ASAP.
So, an out-of-hours exotic specialist who is not my normal vet... consultation with antibiotics and an x-ray... £680 for half an hours work, thank you very much
I saw it on Sunday night and decided it needed to be looked at ASAP.
So, an out-of-hours exotic specialist who is not my normal vet... consultation with antibiotics and an x-ray... £680 for half an hours work, thank you very much
TigerS6 said:
A few months ago my Tortoises showed signs of acute and very serious septicaemia.
I saw it on Sunday night and decided it needed to be looked at ASAP.
So, an out-of-hours exotic specialist who is not my normal vet... consultation with antibiotics and an x-ray... £680 for half an hours work, thank you very much
Its criminal you have to shell that out!! I've just spent £700 for my mog to have a few days in and blood tests, so I feel a fraction of your pain.I saw it on Sunday night and decided it needed to be looked at ASAP.
So, an out-of-hours exotic specialist who is not my normal vet... consultation with antibiotics and an x-ray... £680 for half an hours work, thank you very much
myles1972 said:
Its criminal you have to shell that out!! I've just spent £700 for my mog to have a few days in and blood tests, so I feel a fraction of your pain.
It's not criminal, just expensive, you try getting a lawyer or other professional in the middle of the night or their weekend off, and I doubt you would be far off in terms of cost. You should always ask the likely cost of such care and then decide if your pet is worth it, rather than complain afterwards. I would also suggest you try setting up a business where staff have to work nights, it's not easy to find younger vets willing to give up their social life for such thankless work.TigerS6 said:
A few months ago my Tortoises showed signs of acute and very serious septicaemia.
I saw it on Sunday night and decided it needed to be looked at ASAP.
So, an out-of-hours exotic specialist who is not my normal vet... consultation with antibiotics and an x-ray... £680 for half an hours work, thank you very much
That's out of hours, expect expensive, I've had the same, a GSD tore a tendon on a Sunday morning, I took him to an emergency vet Sunday evening only for him to refer me to my own vet on Monday, all for £260. I don't really have a problem with their charges, It's out of hours, they don't see as many animals as a normal vet but have the same overheads plus extra wages to pay.I saw it on Sunday night and decided it needed to be looked at ASAP.
So, an out-of-hours exotic specialist who is not my normal vet... consultation with antibiotics and an x-ray... £680 for half an hours work, thank you very much
Back to my original question, going back a about 3 years one of my cats was run over and suffered a broken pelvis, two places. The cat was in the the vets for 3 days on a drip, had numerous x rays and care was excellent, the total bill came to £400 of which £300 was for x rays. I thought this was a relative bargain and is what I am basing the latest charges on but perhaps like everything prices have risen considerably and I'm out of touch.
bexVN said:
And did they save him?
Well, we had one set out of 6 antibiotic injections that night. the next day we got another set of 6 for the other tortoise at a cost of 80.So, did the anti-biotics work? yes absolutely.... did that 1 injection (the night before seeing our regular vet) do the job? well, we'll never know.
Of course I'm not complaining, they told me of the costs, and asked me if I wanted to continue, but I would never ever put a price on our animals heads.
I guess I was highlighting just how high the costs can go for seemingly basic stuff.
Thevet said:
myles1972 said:
Its criminal you have to shell that out!! I've just spent £700 for my mog to have a few days in and blood tests, so I feel a fraction of your pain.
It's not criminal, just expensive, you try getting a lawyer or other professional in the middle of the night or their weekend off, and I doubt you would be far off in terms of cost. You should always ask the likely cost of such care and then decide if your pet is worth it, rather than complain afterwards. I would also suggest you try setting up a business where staff have to work nights, it's not easy to find younger vets willing to give up their social life for such thankless work.Edited by myles1972 on Sunday 28th July 20:07
I personally do not begrudge my vets fees.
Once you've factored in the costs of years of training, premises, staff, equipment, stock of medicines, etc, I'm surprised they don't charge more.
At my practice (Gayton Vetinary Group in Redhill, Surrey) a vet consultation is £25, and a nurse appointment for tick removal (a dangerous job on Bob) is free.
Once you've factored in the costs of years of training, premises, staff, equipment, stock of medicines, etc, I'm surprised they don't charge more.
At my practice (Gayton Vetinary Group in Redhill, Surrey) a vet consultation is £25, and a nurse appointment for tick removal (a dangerous job on Bob
) is free.Edited by Mobile Chicane on Monday 29th July 13:54
My vet appears to have extortionate rates (great western exotics) but they are so top notch and a centre of excellence that you know they'll do their damn hardest for the pet.
However, even considering that, £80 for 10ml of painkillers which the fecking rabbit wouldn't take still hurts
However, even considering that, £80 for 10ml of painkillers which the fecking rabbit wouldn't take still hurts
Mobile Chicane said:
I personally do not begrudge my vets fees.
Once you've factored in the costs of years of training, premises, staff, equipment, stock of medicines, etc, I'm surprised they don't charge more.
At my practice (Gayton Vetinary Group in Redhill, Surrey) a vet consultation is £25, and a nurse appointment for tick removal (a dangerous job on Bob) is free.
Aye, I feel the same way - to the point that I'm prepared to drive them the 50 minutes for their checkups etc once we've moved.Once you've factored in the costs of years of training, premises, staff, equipment, stock of medicines, etc, I'm surprised they don't charge more.
At my practice (Gayton Vetinary Group in Redhill, Surrey) a vet consultation is £25, and a nurse appointment for tick removal (a dangerous job on Bob
) is free.Feldon's are open unbelievable hours to make it easy for people to bring their pets in, quite often without any appointments yet they still have to pay staff, rent, rates, electricity etc
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