Vet price check
Discussion
Today I paid £52.50 for a 10-minute consultation with a good vet.
I also have a good private dentist, and he charges £35 for a 10-minute check-up.
Does the vet price seem about right, and if so, why do they charge 50% more than a private dentist? It seems to have happened over the last few years.
I also have a good private dentist, and he charges £35 for a 10-minute check-up.
Does the vet price seem about right, and if so, why do they charge 50% more than a private dentist? It seems to have happened over the last few years.
Turkish91 said:
I paid £57 for some f
king ear drops earlier. Absolute joke
£103 for 100ml of thyronorm. Somewhere in there has to be huge profit margins.king ear drops earlier. Absolute jokeMore worrying, think of all the people who bought pets in lockdown but now can't afford the bills due to the price of everything else.
FWIW a friend has just recommended https://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/
Thyronorm is only £48 there, less than half price (but you need a prescription from the vet).
Thyronorm is only £48 there, less than half price (but you need a prescription from the vet).
The funny thing for me is that normally if you bought something in a shop £103, then found it elsewhere for only £48, you'd take the £103 one back for a refund. Yet with vets we just shrug 'yeah OK whatever'. They never say 'That will be £103, is that OK?'. It's the same as buying a round of drinks - you don't get a quote first (that would make you look mean in front of your friends), you just stump up regardless. Slightly in the vets' defence, I can get appointments in a few days not 14 weeks, and what price Tiddles' health? You don't want a grumpy vet...
Boosted LS1 said:
Simpo Two said:
Boosted LS1 said:
As for a cat then it's an easy diy, just use sharp clippers.
Have you actually tried that? Mine would rip me to pieces!Never had to clip my cat's claws, they shed them naturally.
Big_Dog said:
Our cat has had a hip replacement that has failed some 5 weeks in. Next hip is a custom made dog one. Unfortunately I have a 20% contribution to the claim cost. My contribution would buy four more cats.
The bill is terrifying but it's quite a skill working on a huge variation of creatures and rare skills always seem to be expensive.
In any other industry, if something broke after 5 weeks you'd get a free replacement!The bill is terrifying but it's quite a skill working on a huge variation of creatures and rare skills always seem to be expensive.
My cat was £50 (well actually £40 but I made it up to £50), so cheap to buy if not to run...
Superleg48 said:
2. Drugs are expensive. All drugs, including human drugs. We have the NHS to shield us from these expensive costs. There is no NHS for dogs, so we have to pay the market rate for drugs.
3. You can save money just getting a script and sourcing your animal’s drugs online. If, like ours, your vet is fair with their pricing, you will not be stripped of the shirt off your back. It is, in my view, important to support your local vet as far as possible because….
If you can, find a good independent vet practice, even if it is not immediately local and strike up a relationship with them. They really appreciate it and makes a massive difference to the “how much?!”
I agree with much of your post. We are all very grateful when they fix Tiddles and we hand over our credit card. We're not looking to buy the cheapest vet. But in recent years the amount has sometimes surprised me and once shocked me. As for a 100ml bottle of thryronorm that's £103 at the vet and £47 online, which price would you say is 'market rate'? Some margin yes, but not over 100%.3. You can save money just getting a script and sourcing your animal’s drugs online. If, like ours, your vet is fair with their pricing, you will not be stripped of the shirt off your back. It is, in my view, important to support your local vet as far as possible because….
If you can, find a good independent vet practice, even if it is not immediately local and strike up a relationship with them. They really appreciate it and makes a massive difference to the “how much?!”
I'm also surprised by your comment that if you 'strike up a relationship' you'll get a better deal. The partner I try to see is excellent; we get on well because I have some science, and I even found him a new member of staff who just qualified as a VN. But the bills are still vastly higher than they were not so long ago.
Sheepshanks said:
In name only. It's a vets' practice not a hospital.Mr Spoon said:
The national shortage of vets has been superb in the Locum world. The way I see this, had practices had paid their vet surgeon staff an appropriate level, not expected them to work ridiculous hours and not overload them with consultations then we wouldn't be here.
You make it sound as if locums are striping it up 'because they can' - and Joe Petowner is paying the price.£40K is a king's ransom for a new graduate.
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