FabSwingers.com forum: Vet bills have gone through the roof

By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

lately £500 for a biopsy on a Guinea pig just to see what's wrong with it.

What are the prices like in your area.

Have a great day all.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

£2k in 6 months for a poor old dog with heart failure

Stay in school, be a vet!

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"£2k in 6 months for a poor old dog with heart failure

Stay in school, be a vet! "

It's just gone crazy to be honest.

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By *naswingdressWoman
over a year ago

Manchester (she/her)

I'm told veterinary clinics are hot spots for investment by hedge funds - your guinea pig is helping pay for someone's yacht.

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"I'm told veterinary clinics are hot spots for investment by hedge funds - your guinea pig is helping pay for someone's yacht."

Something is happening the prices have gone up so much.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We had to take our daughters hamster to the vet and they wanted us to pay just under £600 for an overnight stay and treatment

I thought they were kidding us on to begin with.

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By *estarossa.Woman
over a year ago

Flagrante

Recent years have seen the rise of the "Super Practice" and massive out of hours hospitals, charging extortionate fees.

Its driven by the insurance industry.

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"We had to take our daughters hamster to the vet and they wanted us to pay just under £600 for an overnight stay and treatment

I thought they were kidding us on to begin with. "

What can you do when it's your kids pet it's an impossible situation to be in.

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"Recent years have seen the rise of the "Super Practice" and massive out of hours hospitals, charging extortionate fees.

Its driven by the insurance industry."

So they get you to take out pet insurance.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"We had to take our daughters hamster to the vet and they wanted us to pay just under £600 for an overnight stay and treatment

I thought they were kidding us on to begin with.

What can you do when it's your kids pet it's an impossible situation to be in.

I know it’s heartbreaking and the last thing you want is to see your kids upset

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By *rMonkeyMan
over a year ago

Somewhere

Dog had issues with his eyes. 11 visits over 6 weeks, blood tests, various meds, just over £800.

£40 per visit, bloods were £100, rest was on medication.

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By *imbo59seMan
over a year ago

North Norfolk area

Older dog.....injury to elbow required surgery.. £4.5k. On medication for rest of life.....now a retired Gundog.

Younger dog ate something she shouldn't have, heart rate hit 200 bpm.....normal resting rate is about 75 bpm. 36 hours at vets, tests, drip etc..... £800+

Worth it for both of them, but thank God for insurance (appreciate it's not an automatic thought for Guinea Pigs, Hamsters etc though).

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"Dog had issues with his eyes. 11 visits over 6 weeks, blood tests, various meds, just over £800.

£40 per visit, bloods were £100, rest was on medication. "

Crazy money, they were charging £30 just for a small amount of paracetamol with a syringe for my dog when it got run over. Thing is a lot of our own Meds are fine for animals if you get the doses right.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I took my dog to the vets and he picked him up and looked at him and said "I'm going to have to put him down",I asked "Is it that serious?" and the vet said "No,he is just heavy"

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"Older dog.....injury to elbow required surgery.. £4.5k. On medication for rest of life.....now a retired Gundog.

Younger dog ate something she shouldn't have, heart rate hit 200 bpm.....normal resting rate is about 75 bpm. 36 hours at vets, tests, drip etc..... £800+

Worth it for both of them, but thank God for insurance (appreciate it's not an automatic thought for Guinea Pigs, Hamsters etc though). "

Good job you had insurance.

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"I took my dog to the vets and he picked him up and looked at him and said "I'm going to have to put him down",I asked "Is it that serious?" and the vet said "No,he is just heavy""

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By *elvet RopeMan
over a year ago

by the big field

"I'm told veterinary clinics are hot spots for investment by hedge funds - your guinea pig is helping pay for someone's yacht."

Yup! Large percentage of vets are now owned by 4-5 large companies

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

Vet bills have been crazy for years. Sadly insurance premiums are too and the bigger issue is the second an animal has any issue/treatment on a specific body part it's excluded from any future claims.

Small animal or large - it results in debt issues, animals going untreated and in many cases them being euthanised because treatment is unaffordable rather than because it wouldn't be effective.

And I say that as we've spent £20k+ in recent years on vet bills when others have told us they'd have got a gun out long ago.

I have no issue with paying for people's expertise. I do have issues with 500% mark ups on vet wrap, 200% mark ups on medicine available online at a fraction of the price and bullshit additional charges for call outs because its 5.01pm or your animal has chosen to get injured on a weekend.

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By *he love cats OP Couple
over a year ago

South Wales

"Vet bills have been crazy for years. Sadly insurance premiums are too and the bigger issue is the second an animal has any issue/treatment on a specific body part it's excluded from any future claims.

Small animal or large - it results in debt issues, animals going untreated and in many cases them being euthanised because treatment is unaffordable rather than because it wouldn't be effective.

And I say that as we've spent £20k+ in recent years on vet bills when others have told us they'd have got a gun out long ago.

Totally agree.

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By *ikynminnyCouple
over a year ago

Blaydon

£8000 just before xmas for our dog first vet charged us 3500 without a clue what was wrong with her went to a specialist down stocton cost another 4500 but thank christ they saved her life xx

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By *ryandseeMan
over a year ago

Yorkshire

Pet insurance is a must these days and from day as preconditions don't forget covered. I was so grateful I had it for my dog as had some chronic issues. Yes premiums went up every year but still worthwhile for the amount it would have cost otherwise. Just my opinion of course.

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By *om and JennieCouple
over a year ago

Chams or Socials

Nearly £1800 for 2 grass seeds in paw that travelled up leg. Wouldn’t have minded so much but they missed the 2nd one 1st time so poor dog had to have a 2nd procedure & when I asked for a discount they said they undercharged 1st time!!!

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By *imbo59seMan
over a year ago

North Norfolk area

Small animal or large - it results in debt issues, animals going untreated and in many cases them being euthanised because treatment is unaffordable rather than because it wouldn't be effective.

And I say that as we've spent £20k+ in recent years on vet bills when others have told us they'd have got a gun out long ago.

Agree with most of the above, and would add.... £20 for a couple of minutes t/con "consultation"... they rang me!

Took both dogs in as they both had a bit of conjunctivitis, tried to charge me for 2 consultations......and failed!

However, if your Insurer excludes any further/ongoing treatment arising from a claim they have accepted as valid then you seriously need to change your Insurer!

I've had a variety of pet Insurers over the years, and not one has ever tried that as once they have accepted a claim as valid, then it is an existing condition, and ongoing treatment is included (I've just cancelled the policy on my older dog as the premium & excesses etc now somewhat exceed the claims for ongoing treatment.....3 years after the original claim).

If you change Insurers, then yes, it would be excluded as being a pre existing condition to the new Insurer.

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By *ullyMan
over a year ago

Near Clacton

It's because the price of new wheels for Porsche And the like have gone up.

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By *esmond and Molly JonesCouple
over a year ago

Watford

It's just another rip-off profession like solicitors and barristers.

The prices they charge for the work that they do is extortionate.

As somebody said earlier, this is driven by insurance and greedy vets.

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By *imbo59seMan
over a year ago

North Norfolk area

2 x Vets at my local Surgery ..... Merc and Range Rover!!

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By *esmond and Molly JonesCouple
over a year ago

Watford

One thing, I was once badly ripped off with massively overpriced steroid tablets that my dog had to have every single day for life.

I was getting them direct from the vet. I then looked online and found that these were far cheaper online (5X or 6X lower in price), so I simply insisted on a prescription, then took the prescription to my pharmacy.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

Small animal or large - it results in debt issues, animals going untreated and in many cases them being euthanised because treatment is unaffordable rather than because it wouldn't be effective.

And I say that as we've spent £20k+ in recent years on vet bills when others have told us they'd have got a gun out long ago.

Agree with most of the above, and would add.... £20 for a couple of minutes t/con "consultation"... they rang me!

Took both dogs in as they both had a bit of conjunctivitis, tried to charge me for 2 consultations......and failed!

However, if your Insurer excludes any further/ongoing treatment arising from a claim they have accepted as valid then you seriously need to change your Insurer!

If you change Insurers, then yes, it would be excluded as being a pre existing condition to the new Insurer. "

Nope.

Maybe you get better luck with dogs but not horses.

Any injury to a leg? Excluded from any future claims, although the other three will be fine (til they get a slight knock). Any gut related issue? Will be excluded from future issues including serious ones such as colic.

It gets to the point they won't cover anything from the neck down. Most people these days just rely on an emergency credit card kept in a tin until needed.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm very lucky to have my dog registered at a small private practice. She told me to get his medication online as it would be a lot cheaper. She also told me to give him 1 normal Paracetamol a day.

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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago

South Wales

"I took my dog to the vets and he picked him up and looked at him and said "I'm going to have to put him down",I asked "Is it that serious?" and the vet said "No,he is just heavy""

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By *imbo59seMan
over a year ago

North Norfolk area

"One thing, I was once badly ripped off with massively overpriced steroid tablets that my dog had to have every single day for life.

Try "Pet Drugs Online", at least 50% cheaper than a vet.

By law, Vets must provide a written prescription if requested, but they can (and do) charge (£20 the last one I got...... + VAT!!!)

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By *olymalelincsMan
over a year ago

southend

Absolutely crazy pricing here for vets and even harder when I was out of work as none of the charities actually cover my area.

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By *4bimMan
over a year ago

Farnborough Hampshire

Paid over £1000 to find out why my cat keeps being sick.

Blood test was £290 them an ultrasound was £500.

Add on injections and then special food for the cat and we still haven't found the problem.

New carpets are the next purchase

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By *imbo59seMan
over a year ago

North Norfolk area

Small animal or large - it results in debt issues, animals going untreated and in many cases them being euthanised because treatment is unaffordable rather than because it wouldn't be effective.

And I say that as we've spent £20k+ in recent years on vet bills when others have told us they'd have got a gun out long ago.

Agree with most of the above, and would add.... £20 for a couple of minutes t/con "consultation"... they rang me!

Took both dogs in as they both had a bit of conjunctivitis, tried to charge me for 2 consultations......and failed!

However, if your Insurer excludes any further/ongoing treatment arising from a claim they have accepted as valid then you seriously need to change your Insurer!

If you change Insurers, then yes, it would be excluded as being a pre existing condition to the new Insurer.

Nope.

Maybe you get better luck with dogs but not horses.

It gets to the point they won't cover anything from the neck down. Most people these days just rely on an emergency credit card kept in a tin until needed.

I'll bow to your greater knowledge, it must be something unique to Equine Insurance then. In over 30 years as an Insurance Underwriter it's not a scenario I've come across before.

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By *aitonelMan
over a year ago

Liverpool

Yes some vets are greedy (prices vary across practices and franchises) but they are still a business and costs are going up across the board for everyone, just like any other business.

For the most part people in the UK (not everyone) are blinded by the NHS and don't realise generally this is how none free healthcare works (give or take a detail or two).

Vets need to pay out for up to date medical equipment, medication, multiple vets and nurses, some have on site labs (not the breed!). Procedures are not quick and they have their own special business insurance to pay out. On top of energy and heating.

Plenty of student fees to pay back too.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

Small animal or large - it results in debt issues, animals going untreated and in many cases them being euthanised because treatment is unaffordable rather than because it wouldn't be effective.

And I say that as we've spent £20k+ in recent years on vet bills when others have told us they'd have got a gun out long ago.

Agree with most of the above, and would add.... £20 for a couple of minutes t/con "consultation"... they rang me!

Took both dogs in as they both had a bit of conjunctivitis, tried to charge me for 2 consultations......and failed!

However, if your Insurer excludes any further/ongoing treatment arising from a claim they have accepted as valid then you seriously need to change your Insurer!

If you change Insurers, then yes, it would be excluded as being a pre existing condition to the new Insurer.

Nope.

Maybe you get better luck with dogs but not horses.

It gets to the point they won't cover anything from the neck down. Most people these days just rely on an emergency credit card kept in a tin until needed.

I'll bow to your greater knowledge, it must be something unique to Equine Insurance then. In over 30 years as an Insurance Underwriter it's not a scenario I've come across before. "

It's got progressively worse over the last decade.

Even where there's been no confirmed diagnosis, if there's been an issue in a specific area requiring treatment then it'll be barred from future claims and stated as a specific exclusion.

Physical accidents (cuts to legs, contact wounds from fences/branches etc.) are different as classes as 'accidents' rather than 'illnesses' but where treatment in the form of dr*gs may resolve an issue, regardless of whether a specific diagnosis is made or not, you'll never be able to claim twice.

Bearing in mind if a vet advises your horse needs hospitalisation for colic surgery you're looking at around £20k minimum with no guarantees of success, meaning the majority of owners have little option but to euthanise. So if there's been a minor case of colic in the horse's lifetime that needed no actual treatment but involved a vet consultation and assessment (which most will) then there's fuck all chance of a claim.

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By *ullyMan
over a year ago

Near Clacton

Vets have never been cheap, but in these hard times their fees are extortionate, they seem to view every client as a new set of posh wheels for their Ferrari's.

Do your research online and you'll be surprised at what you can do yourself and save a lot of money. They are literally preying on our sentiments and love of our pets.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Pet insurance has been the only useful one I have ever taken out...

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By *ed MartinMan
over a year ago

Shefford

My dog needs regular medication that costs me £150/month, but it would be more than 4 times that if I didn’t just pay the vet for a prescription which I get filled at an online pharmacy. It’s exactly the same drug as the vet would give me. I don’t know how or why they think they can get away with that kind of mark-up.

Just be grateful we live in a country where human medical care isn’t also privatised and owned by hedge funds.

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By *avexxMan
over a year ago

cheshire

yep pet insurance is a must..

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By *oo..Woman
over a year ago

Boo's World

I've recently started using a vets that isn't part of these "well known" chain branded ones and is a family owned practice instead and the bills are dramatically different in price.

Even basic yearly jabs and medicines were nearly half the price I was paying before.

May be worth researching some single practice/family run vets instead if you can find one nearby.

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By *ove2pleaseseukMan
over a year ago

Hastings

"We had to take our daughters hamster to the vet and they wanted us to pay just under £600 for an overnight stay and treatment

I thought they were kidding us on to begin with.

What can you do when it's your kids pet it's an impossible situation to be in.

I know it’s heartbreaking and the last thing you want is to see your kids upset

So will they not be upset when it dies of old age. Its a lesson of life. Are they up set when eating chicken nuggets that the chicken was killed so they could eat.

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By *ove2pleaseseukMan
over a year ago

Hastings

"My dog needs regular medication that costs me £150/month, but it would be more than 4 times that if I didn’t just pay the vet for a prescription which I get filled at an online pharmacy. It’s exactly the same drug as the vet would give me. I don’t know how or why they think they can get away with that kind of mark-up.

Just be grateful we live in a country where human medical care isn’t also privatised and owned by hedge funds."

Our dog was on pexion £1.20 each 4 a day vets can charge what they do as its there when you need it. And that costs investing in stock some vets could carry £150k of drugs if it goes out of date it bined. Its just business. Or I guess if you pet needs emergency antibiotics you could get a prescription and risk getting it on line 3/5 days later.

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

Vets are complete and utter piss takers and so is the entire pet industry.

I can't believe the prices I hear for buying animals and then for keeping them alive.

Sadly, a lot of the people caught up in this trade are those who can least afford it and also the most needy for the company of pets, or else have been seduced by a particular dog owning fashion trend they have seen on the telly.. Again it is often the least financially secure who follow these crazes.

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

"I'm told veterinary clinics are hot spots for investment by hedge funds - your guinea pig is helping pay for someone's yacht."

Way back in the 1960s, where I grew up, the island's vet had a yacht to rival that of the island's surgeon. Sailing yachts, of course, no brash motor yachts. They were the toys of the non professionals.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Some people spend more on their pets than they would on private health care for their families

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

"2 x Vets at my local Surgery ..... Merc and Range Rover!! "

You mean, just like all the customers with money coming out of their ear'oles!

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

zim very fortunate as I have three old cats who have nothing wrong with the. Well one has a heart murmur but doesn't have to take anything for it. My last cat that I had to have put to sleep as the emergency vet came to the house out of hours to put her to sleep and that cost £220. I also had an old cat with atheistis and her medication cost about ,£50 a month but it did give her a better quality of life

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Now we know where all the NHS dentists have gone...

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By *itvclaireTV/TS
over a year ago

Birmingham

Luckily our vets have a fantastic scheme of their own. We pay a modest monthly fee, and a lot of the costs are free or very heavily discounted. About 18 months ago one of our dogs swallowed something he shouldn't have. Multiple x-rays which should have been over £800 alone were all free. In the end with his eventual operation it would have cost in excess of £2000. We paid around £150.

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

"Luckily our vets have a fantastic scheme of their own. We pay a modest monthly fee, and a lot of the costs are free or very heavily discounted. About 18 months ago one of our dogs swallowed something he shouldn't have. Multiple x-rays which should have been over £800 alone were all free. In the end with his eventual operation it would have cost in excess of £2000. We paid around £150.

XX"

But what is the 'modest monthly fee' ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

But what is the 'modest monthly fee' ?"

Mine charges £17.99 per month. That would get me annual vaccine, flea treatment and a 6mthly health check. I've 2 dogs, an 8yr old and a 14yr old. Neither have required vet treatment that was costly thankfully. I dont have insurance but my daughter does and pays £30 a month with a £70 excess. Her dog has allergies and requires meds which are covered by the insurance. Funnily enough, and vet Bill's have been just below £70.

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By *itvclaireTV/TS
over a year ago

Birmingham

But what is the 'modest monthly fee' ?"

£20

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By *ornucopiaMan
over a year ago

Bexley

But what is the 'modest monthly fee' ?

£20

XX"

That doesn't sound too bad for something where claims are highly likely.

I pay just over half that for my buildings insurance, which I have never claimed on in my house owning lifetime.

I'd say you are getting better VFM than me!

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